Last Tuesday, Tea-flavored Independent Gordon Howie filed around 5,200 signatures to qualify for the November ballot for South Dakota's open U.S. Senate seat. The SDGOP machine, heaving in revulsion at the former Republican's apostasy, acquired Howie's petition and began digging for errors that would kick Howie out of the race and protect their man Mike Rounds from a conservative challenge in the fall.
The deadline for challenging Howie's petition under was five business days from the date it was approved—today, five p.m. Central. The clock in Pierre struck five, and... silence. Two tumbleweeds chased each other across Highway. And in the distance, a coyote... no, wait, I think that's Gordon: Whoopee!
No announcement from Secretary of State Jason Gant. No press release from the Minnehaha County GOP. No challenge filed.
Neither is Howie subject to Attorney General Marty Jackley's apparent dragnet on petition violations. The Attorney General announced this morning that he is investigating "several" U.S. Senate candidates; this evening, we learn that when Marty says "several," he means "two": Annette Bosworth and Clayton Walker. We know at least some of Bosworth's petition violations (and my grapevine tells me some witnesses may be able to testify to crimes beyond the false oaths); what Gant reported to Jackley about Walker's petitions is anyone's guess.
With Howie quite possibly in the clear, the GOP and Team Rounds now face a grim post-primary challenge. Assuming Stace Nelson does not win the primary (that's the condition Howie has cited that would lead him to abandon his campaign), Rounds would face not one but two former Republicans turned independent challengers. SDGOP chairman Craig Lawrence has spotted Howie 12% in the general. He has spotted Larry Pressler 8%. That's 20%... and let's be realistic: most of that 20% is going to come from folks who would otherwise vote for Rounds. By The Displaced Plainsman's analysis and a default assumption that any random Republican can beat any random Democrat in South Dakota 60–40, we deduce another whoopee! echoing across the lonely prairie... from Team Weiland.
That clinic on the beach in Haiti is looking better all the time, the only question is if the Bosworth-Habers will head there before or after the primary election.
Curious whether USA Brendan Johnson will adhere to the same investigation/indictment schedule on Bendagate.
In MN even if a candidate does not win the primary or caucus, they can still choose to be on the general election ballot. Is that possible in SD?
As I said on another thread, Craig Lawrence is soliciting money from the GOP base, based on the fact that Pressler and Howie are on the November ballot.
I seriously doubt Mr. Howie is "in the clear." There are boogie men everywhere waiting to pounce on him from dark corners, and that little money-grubbing lying tax-cheating overgodding fellow is a far wetter oozing blight on the GOP than the young Dr. who some call a meat magician ever has been.
Grudz, I am baffled about why you still seem to support Bos. Seriously. After all this information has come to light, you don't mind? You don't seem like the type of person who'd approve of her behavior. Can you dispell my confusion? Thanks.
Speaker Boehner just beat back a primary challenge from the T-zone: maybe the
boombloom is off the Glock.Deb,
Perhaps grudz understands the criminal mind better than we do.
Larry and Roger, you are witty and fun to read. Gracias.
"""You don't seem like the type of person who'd approve of her behavior. Can you dispell my confusion? Thanks."""
.
And what type of person is Grud, Deb? I would expect more from you. His/hers, are just words and no actions. Talk is cheap and flattery fools the fools, as we continue to see year after year in our elections.
Is that a threat, Grudz.
Deb, there is no way for SD primary losers to get on the general election ballot. I think a presidential candidate can do that, since I just read in that Sioux Falls paper that Indies running for President get a different, post-primary deadline.
Les, there was no cheap shot. I am asking a sincere question. There is pretty solid evidence that Bos is not paying money she owes to her employees and that she has taken, and spent, money under false pretenses - the raffles. So I am asking Grudz why he continues to support her. I don't get it. I feel Grudz is a good one to ask because he's intelligent and reasonable.
Les, I think you didn't consider the source before you put fingers to keyboard. I'd like it if you asked me for clarification, rather than assuming I was taking a cheap shot. You can expect more of me, though I won't always live up to those expectations. This, Les, is not one of the latter times.
On the other hand, I do appreciate you addressing me directly.
Deb thinks Grudz is intelligent and reasonable.
Bree I was hoping nobody would notice I said that.
Seriously, I think Grudz loves tweaking Anyone Anywhere more than just about Anything else. But he's no dummy. In fact, at the end of the summer I'll be in RC and I'm hoping to join that gravy n taters group just once. I think it will be fun.
Then I'm off to Oregon! Go West Old Woman! Hahahaha!
"""Les, I think you didn't consider the source before you put fingers to keyboard. """"
.
Grud was the source I was considering. You read it on the internet so it must be true? Butt slapping love or kick butt criticism here and nobody knows anyone other than their words. Grud has been online for many more years than you've been here and to those here and dwc for those years, the character Grud, for those years, is just that. A character.
Okay Les. Sorry to misunderstand. I take it all back.