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Meade Dems Advocating Weiland for State Party Chair

Following Minnehaha County Commissioner Jeff Barth's announcement that he'd like to chair the South Dakota Democratic Party, the Meade County Democrats are spending money to promote a different candidate:

Meade County Democrats, sponsored Facebook post promoting Rick Weiland for SDDP chair, screen cap 2014.11.24
Meade County Democrats, sponsored Facebook post, screen cap 2014.11.23

A lot of People for Rick Weiland want him to be the next Chairman of the South Dakota Democratic Party, and we want it too. D.C. Democrats let us down in 2014, not SD Dems. Rick is the best person to present our populist message over the next few years... and to help prevent the Keystone XL pipeline from crossing Meade County! [Meade County Democrats, sponsored Facebook post, downloaded 2014.11.23]

I see no official report that Weiland is seeking to chair the SDDP. The State Central Committee will elect a new chair at its next meeting on December 13.

27 Comments

  1. Bill Fleming 2014.11.24

    Have you asked Rick if he wants the job, Cory?

  2. larry kurtz 2014.11.24

    Good on the Meade County Dems! Bill makes a great point: why would Rick want to serve our party in such a capacity?

  3. Joseph.Voigt 2014.11.24

    Chair is great and everything, but they need to find a Director and staff, who are from South Dakota, who understand the party, the issues, etc. And then pay them enough that if they do a good job they don't leave at the first time of something better.

  4. judy judy 2014.11.24

    I would be a mistake for Rick to seek the Chairperson position. He ran a great campaign but why make enemies in the internal battles of the current South Dakota Democratic Party when he has earned the stature to promote progressive causes and influence the Party from a respectful distance while waiting for the next opportunity as a candidate or an executive appointment. He doesn't have to carry the water for others and he certainly doesn't need the job.

  5. tara volesky 2014.11.24

    That's why he would be good because he would not be carrying water for the Democrat elites. He's all about the people. I don't know Mr. Barth, but he seems like he would also make a fine chairman. I think it's great to give it to someone who has a passion to do it.

  6. Taunia 2014.11.24

    Fun idea, but judy and the others are correct.

    Rick is a candidate that can win. Rick can stand on his own two feet and get more done in SD than he can as chair of the party, and getting mired in the muck and harming a future campaign.

    Don't let Rick become the Elizabeth Warren to Harry Reid.

  7. South DaCola 2014.11.24

    Ann Tornberg said at Forum on Friday that Weiland was considering running for chair, but has not made up his mind. I also spoke with his campaign manager, and she said that he was considering a run also, but hasn't decided. She thought it would be a good move for him and encouraged him to run for it.

  8. mike from iowa 2014.11.24

    SDDP will select new chair six days after Pearl Harbor remembrance-wingnuts heads explode. Prompts wingnut backlash. You'll pay for this outrage,traitors! SD wingnuts threaten death for any Staples outlet that would consider doing business with Dems. Dems cave and go quietly into that goodnight.

  9. barry freed 2014.11.25

    Not a political junkie and realize this is going to ruffle feathers on this blog, but I see no difference between the two parties in the State Legislature and hence, no reward in putting more of the same in Office. There may be differences, but they aren't easily discerned, as the taste difference of Coke and Pepsi. I'm sure the Lobbyists see no difference when writing their checks to both sides advocating for one position on a vote.
    Weiland has worked too hard to associate with them. He should start running now for XL Pipeline Thune's seat as an Independent; he was the only candidate that showed a possibility of worth to persons who aren't corporations.
    That said, please educate and list what State Democrats might have done in the past, or could do this year as the minority. There are no Parliamentary Maneuvers available to them? They appear to go along quietly with the majority. One might have to go along in the end, but there is no kicking or screaming. Do they believe?

  10. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.11.25

    Barry, my feathers remain unruffled. I take your point that Democrats don't appear to do much to distinguish themselves from Republicans in Pierre. But that's partly an illusion: there are so few Dems in Pierre that their distinct proposals (restoring per-student-allocation to where statute would have put them without Daugaard's cuts, nixing food tax, implementing corporate income tax, redistricting by non-partisan commission) don't see the light of media coverage. Many Dems do indeed feel forced into endless compromise to have hope of passing even one good proposal from their side of the aisle.

    Democrats need to recognize that their compromising positions weaken their ability to distinguish themselves, to the point where smart folks like you honestly can't see the difference. Give me 105 Legislative candidates of my Democratic persuasion, win me something much closer to a functional majority in the Legislature, and we'll show you the real difference between Democrats and Republicans.

    Rick Weiland hasn't told us yet whether that's the kind of leadership he'd provide to the SDDP. He tells the RCJ that he's been asked about seeking the chairmanship but hasn't decided whether he wants to pursue the job.

  11. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.11.25

    Hey, South Dacola! What did Zach say about the party direction Friday?

  12. Les 2014.11.25

    You Dems had one leader in Kathy Tyler and left her to walk the gauntlet alone. You had SHS and left her to her own devices and helped to unelect her. Any Dem legislator has a voice to the people is they wish to use it. Stace Nelson is an example of how your party legislators could make their voices heard.
    Weiland has no business running your state party unless he wishes to spend the rest of his life as a has been.

  13. larry kurtz 2014.11.25

    Les: you've been commenting on Madville for a long time and that's the first post where you spoke truth.

  14. leslie 2014.11.25

    bull about Tyler and Herseth. where were you looking to finance Kathy's defense? Herseth and weiland, reid and daschle, we don't know the details but she could have announced and ran. she had no fire in her belly the night in Sx Falls she could have stood up and tried to defend her legacy.

    weiland's future, you might be right. one outa three. not so good.

  15. leslie 2014.11.25

    bf-such a tired refrain. there is a schism in the country. don't you see it? which side are you on? oh, ah, er, they're so much alike ...bahhubbug!!

  16. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.11.25

    Les, what do you mean we left Tyler to walk the gantlet alone? Are you talking this blog, the SDDP, all Dems, the voters in District 4, or what? And are you talking financial assistance? Ground troops to help shore up the campaign? Are you talking about a selfish refusal to deploy resources à la Harry Reid, or are you talking about a broader lack of resources specific to the SDDP that prevents them helping any candidate in need?

    And what chair can we find who will change whichever situation you find unacceptable?

  17. mike from iowa 2014.11.25

    Coke in a can tastes like,i imagine,Clarence Thomas pubic hair. Pepsi tastes like old guy pajamas mingled with the smell of pipe tobacco/viagra.(again in my imagination) Very big difference to a trained nose.

  18. Les 2014.11.25

    I'm speaking of all who were aware of attacks on Tyler, including my party. Maddville chose to continue attacking folks like me who at least care enough to work for two party balance instead of going full on protecting what you had.
    .
    Rick Weiland is the only top of the heap Dem that comes to mind I could vote for.. You lost our votes for Rick by attacking personally rather than discussing our ideas. Bernie has lost any respect I had by standing behind Kathy Tyler's skirt, or possibly not even standing. Sorry Deb.

  19. Les 2014.11.25

    Mfi, I think Kurse needs you over on the Dakota
    Regressive!

  20. tara volesky 2014.11.25

    Barry and Les hit the nail on the head, the Democrat Party are Wimps with the exception of Weiland and Tyler. I don't care if there are only 6 Democrats in Pierre, you have a voice and can speak out about injustices that are happening 12 months out of the year. Remember, you are elected public officials 12 months out of the year, not 2. Pepsi, Coke, take your pick, I see no difference.

  21. larry kurtz 2014.11.25

    Barry, Les and Tara are speaking truth today. Let's get to work, Dems.

  22. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.11.25

    All right, then: Tyler for chair, Weiland for executive director? Or one of them for chair, the other for on-the-road Democratic ambassador, laying the ground work for a statewide campaign in 2016?

  23. barry freed 2014.11.26

    Sorry Larry, I am no "Dem". I am a hard working South Dakotan and the Dems have shown me nothing to earn my labors.
    Johnson is a Dem and what did he do? From his only two or three Op-eds written during the whole campaign season, one would think he was the one running for office. He could have written about the good things happening with the ACA, but no. He could have reinforced Weiland's message, but no. Johnson came from a humble SD beginning and became the 65th richest member of Congress. That's what he did.
    Here's what the Dems in Pierre can do: Wear a Live Streaming Video Camera from the time they leave for the Capitol until they retire at night. Let's hear what goes on in the hallways and bars in Pierre. If they are different, then let them prove it.
    No, they will opt for their share of no bid contracts on the two new 3/4 $Billion Sports Stadiums, the taxes spent in their District, and remain quiet and subservient.

  24. larry kurtz 2014.11.26

    Barry, sorry you feel that way: Senator Johnson and his dedicated staff have brought outreach and millions of dollars to programs essential to South Dakotans while Sen. Thune and Rep. Noem have brought nothing but dissent, obstruction and controversy.

  25. leslie 2014.11.26

    les, working for two party system by voting for pretzel (I)? pls explain.

    bf-we are not trying to earn your labor. we are just us and we all work hard. join a party and get to work. if you can't see the diff between parties, you missed lucas, wismer and tyler stand up to impossible odds and money.

  26. Les 2014.11.26

    An Indie in DC is a giant step away from an Indie in SD with a D party total of 12 legis. I will guarantee I've voted for more D's than anyone here has voted R.
    .
    The collective thought here will never propagate a Dem force in SD. I am comfortable with an honest candidate I can agree with a percentage of the time while the Dems here castigate or castrate any any and all thoughts not totally aligned with their agenda. The lies are as common and repeated as often as a Rove. Youve learned well.

  27. larry kurtz 2014.11.26

    Les makes a good point: for all the unaffiliated and Libertarian numbers no one from other than the two major national parties serves in the legislature. Outlier?

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