Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Rick Weiland visited the Lakota spiritual camp protesting the Keystone XL pipeline near Ideal on Friday:
Looks like the Indians have a cowboy on their side. Contrary to John Tsitrian's read, opposition to Keystone XL resonates beyond the traditional reservation vote.
The Rosebud Sioux Tribe is leading opposition to Keystone XL with Oyate Wahacanka Woecun, "Shield the People," which is building alliances to keep the black snake from the north out of South Dakota. This video explains their protest as a mix of spiritualism (I should be nervous) and a practical commitment to protecting the basic necessities of life.
Shield The People - Oyate Wahacanka from Oyate Wahacanka on Vimeo.
For some people, Rick Weiland in on the side of the spirits. But for all of us, Weiland's on the side of good stewardship of the earth that keeps us all alive.
Rick's making the most of his categorical opposition to KXL, which is about his only option. At this point he has to shine it on. Happily for him, his campaign isn't turning on this particular fulcrum because we already know that South Dakotans as a whole support it by a nearly 3-to-1 margin. Not sure where you sense it's "resonating" beyond the "traditional reservation vote."
I don't understand how so many people can support KXL. It is going to leak. At some point, it is guaranteed to do irreparable damage to our environment. The only questions are, when it will happen and how extensive the damage will be. Long term, there is little to no economic benefit. The oil boom in North Dakota has a very dark side. I have to wonder if South Dakotans were truly educated on KXL, would so many still support it?
SDBlue besides more than likely SD voters are not properly educated everything in our state is geared towards short term gain and damned the long term consequences. Actually that attitude is nationally but it is especially true here in SD and if we had a different approach to education, economic development, rather than promoting low wages and other things rather than what has been happening in Pierre this pipeline might have been torpedoed right away.
Clean water is going to become more and more scarce with climate change and the input of chemicals in our environment. Once our sources are contaminated it really be costly for us.
It makes me sad, Lynn. I saw a meme on Facebook the other day that read, "We treat this planet as if we had another one to go to." I often wonder how different our world would be had we adopted the ways of the Native Americans rather than trying to annihilate them.
John Tsitrian, if in fact South Dakotans are for the KXL by three to one I would posit that it is not a deciding factor for the "three" on who they vote for while it is the major issue for those of us that are the "one".
In other Native American news, there's a GOTV campaign going on that is attracting national attention.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/10/17/1337358/-Boosted-by-your-donations-campaign-to-get-out-the-Indian-vote-in-South-Dakota-showing-good-results
I would urge all of you who can to vote for John Yellow Bird Steele.
I can't believe South Dakotans want to ruin West River and the Black Hills. Once it's built, the jobs will be gone. Once the first pipeline spill happens (and it WILL happen it's just a matter of when) it will not be attractive at all to the thousands of tourists that enjoy your Black Hills. Gee, it just seems like SD want to make their stupid as unappealing as possible with notorious anti-gay bills and now an ugly pipeline that will benefit NO South Dakotans, just some rich Canadian owners.
I meant to say 'it seems as if South Dakotans want to make their state as unappealing as possible.
I've always wondered whether the ranchers of the land the proposed pipeline goes through are actually for this. Has any newspaper ever interviewed them?
John, when I read about the possible pipeline, I automatically think about the gold mining industry. Back in the days of gold mining there were the same things said about gold mining, "Jobs!" "Wealth," and other buzzwords.
Fast forward, the gold mining industry faded to next to nothing because it cost more to mine the gold than what it was worth. Now, all we have is the ugliness of what the gold mining industry left behind. No jobs, no wealth, no anything, just the ugliness.
That is what will eventually happen with the pipeline. It will cost more to pump the oil through the pipeline than what it will be worth, and there will be no jobs, no wealth. What will be left behind is the ugliness of the pipeline and the environmental damage caused by the pipeline and the oil spills.
It is too bad that people are thinking with just the buzzwords without thinking about the long term effects. But maybe people think that by the time the pipeline fever dies, they will be long dead, and will no longer care.
Jenny, most landowners crossed by the KXL are against the pipeline. Almost all in SD, save one, have either signed easements or were served with eminent domain. It is almost impossible for a property owner to win an eminent domain case in court. I am a landowner by Draper that is slated to be crossed by the KXL, some of us have been fighting the KXL for six years.
The ranchers don't really have any leadership representing them to fight against the pipeline, do they? It's sad, even Murdo boy, John Thune, is all pro-pipeline. What does Thune say to ranchers like you, Paul?
The company in which I am a partner was given a contract to do soil work in Nebraska when the route was changed. It was pulled when the project was put on hold. After learning about the type of 'oil' that was going to come down that pipeline, I have changed my mind about the need usefulness of the Keystone XL coming through SD. I want to thank the people posting on here for opening my mind about the real issues of the project and alternatives.
I just want to shout out a big THANK YOU to Francis, for having an open mind. It has been a dwindling breed in South Dakota.
There may well be more South Dakotans that want this snake just like there were that we were led to believe wanted ETSI or that wanted Lone Tree. Janklow did his usual dirty dealings, just like Mike Rounds and the legislature approved it just like they do stuff today. The ETSI was perhaps killed by the railroad and may just happen once again only this time, the black snake. Why oh why do reasonable people think they can trust republican only government? I have more faith in a coiled rattlesnake than this bunch of criminals.
Jenny, when TransCanada first came into the country in the spring of 2008 some landowners in northwestern SD asked Dakota Rural Action, a grassroots agricultural and environmental group, for help in organizing to better deal with TC. DRA formed a landowners group and it's members controlled a third of the 313 miles across SD. Our goal was to obtain a fairer easement than the one that TC was offering. Remember that at this time in 2009/2010 there was no talk of stopping the KXL, DRA was one of the first groups in the battle. DRA will be closely involved in the upcoming PUC hearings in which TC has to prove that nothing has changed during the last four years in order to re-certify their expired permit, DRA feels otherwise and that many things have changed, one of the biggest being the actual need for the KXL. Dakota Rural Action and many native grassroots groups have formed alliances to fight the pipeline.
http://youtu.be/2-BIdfigmrY <----Weiland
Jenny, John Thune, who I've known a long time beings as how we are from neighboring towns of Murdo and Draper, is for the pipeline because President Obama is against it. The Republicans have always tried to sell themselves as being for property rights, don't you believe it. We have tried to lobby for eminent domain reform in the state legislature, they wouldn't give us the time of day.
Ryan, off topic... but worth promotion to a post, since Weiland's declaration in support fo medical marijuana shows he's not afraid to buck conventional wisdom and take progressive positions in the interest of giving people medical choices and better quality of life.
Rick's opposition to the pipeline is likely to drive the Sioux to the polls in solid numbers, of course they will vote for Rick and any candidate opposed to the pipeline.
On Pine Ridge, the other issue of interest to the resident is changing the name of Shannon County, there were 1800 people who signed Rep. Kevin Killers petition to change the name, that is a significant number for the reservation if they turn out and vote.
Also, on Nov. 4 the Oglala Sioux Tribe is holding their general election with my good friend and former business partner John Steele making a another bid for the presidency, he was only 19 votes short of getting the 50% required to prevent a run off.
The tribe has some important issues with plenty of votes to make some big decision affecting them.
Francis, thank you for your support! Share your expertise with your fellow voters!
Paul, I still rankle at the fundamental contradiction. Property rights advocates cannot support this pipeline. Even non-absolutists need to make the case that the sacrifice of property rights is worth the gains in economic utility, and that case has not been made.
cory-please dont campaign on med-mary for weiland unless he wants to focus on that issue in this red state. it could hurt him. you didnt do corrina any favors early on as she was coming out of the blocks with that 1000 kathys debacle. imho :o
That sweet weed is what drags down some solid people like my good friend Bob, and the a lesser extent of solidness people like Mr. kurtz. The sweet weed sucks down weak character people and turns them unproductive and societal leaches. I do respect libbies like Mr. H who keeps his head above that sort of moral decay. Stay away from the sweet weed, it will melt your minds.
Mr. C is right about John Yellow Bird Steele.
If you can get out and vote, Vote Steele.
character has nothin to do wid' it grudz. if we can agree on that you are a better man than i.
Damn, Ryan Gaddy is crying out for attention with his totally irrelevant link.
See me! See me!
Anything for attention.
Who is Ryan Gaddy?
It's a good video. It's simple, clear, and makes their point. The Daily Kos post is well-received too, and readers have been contributing financially to the res GOTV effort, $100,000+ so far. They can put a new tire on the War Pony!