Last updated on 2014.11.06
...or at least grit their teeth and keep fighting!
South Dakota Democrats need a bright side, and they need it now! Here are the top ten good things to come out of this mid-term election for South Dakota Democrats:
- Rep. Scott Parsley beat Daugaard-appointee Senator Chuck Jones for the District 8 Senate seat. Jones won his home county Moody and wild-west Sanborn, but Parsley's margins in home Lake and Miner carried him to a 355-vote margin for a 52%–48% win.
- Rep. Bernie Hunhoff jumps with Parsley to the Senate, beating back District 18 GOP challenge Matt Stone by a 897 votes, 56%–44%.
- Hunhoff and Parsley will have one more cat to herd: Democrats netted one seat in the Senate, bringing their total to 8.
- South Dakotans approved Initiated Measure 18, raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50 and adding indexed increases thereafter. Democrats put that measure on the ballot. Democrats now get to prove wrong all the economic doom-crying that anti-IM 18 forces offered.
- Initiated Measure 17 also passed, meaning health insurers will have to accept any willing and qualified doctor into their networks. It's hard to claim IM 17 as a liberal win when it was mostly a battle between rich doctors and richer doctors. But IM 17 will provide a working example of sensible government regulation giving South Dakotans more health care choice, not less. (It may also save us a little money, which we Democrats can spend on rebuilding the party!)
- Senator Al Franken won in Minnesota. That means he remains in an excellent position to bring a little campaign love to South Dakota Democrats in 2016. Nooo! you cry? Not Al Franken!! Come on, we haven't tried it yet. I'm telling you, bring Franken to the 2016 State Fair, get him to campaign with our 2016 nominees, draw some crowds! Franken has Minnesota mojo, and Minnesota is a lot like South Dakota. Let's try Al!
- The general beatdown received by Democrats should motivate healthy review and reform of philosophy and operating procedures in the South Dakota Democratic Party.
- Among other things, yesterday's results should prompt a very interesting contest for SDDP chairman. Among wildcard candidates to consider: Larry Pressler. The lovable Independent has promised to stick around South Dakota and stay involved. He got better than half Rick Weiland's results and three more big newspaper endorsements with a tenth of the money. He wants to fight partisan gridlock and serve South Dakota. He brings name recognition and policy chops. Maybe we Dems and Larry can find a mutually beneficial relationship.
- Rick Weiland knows where to get lunch in every town in South Dakota. His lunch directions and every-town connections will be an asset on which our 2016 candidates can build their campaigns.
- When the going gets tough, the blog gets going. The Madville Times thrives on serving as the loyal South Dakota opposition and speaking truth to power. I still have a whole bag of truth to speak, and with Mike Rounds completing a do-nothing GOP trifecta in our Congressional delegation, I have lots of power to oppose. Never has the mission of radical witness been more important in South Dakota. Never have I been more dedicated to carrying out that mission. Onward to the 2015 Legislature and the 2016 election!
Franken, Dayton and other Democrats I am familiar with won their re-elections there in Minnesota where I'll rejoin their electorate fairly soon. lol
Well the republicans are in power again, what could possibly go wrong? 8 years is a long time to be controlling the legislative actions of Washington which they did effectively while the Democrats said they were the majority. So really gang, it is the case of the new boss being the same as the old boss. The only real difference that I see is the way our military will now be abused in the mid east. But what the hell, you got to satisfy the military industrial system as that seems to be the only thing we are good at manufacturing.
I don't get how IM 17 was a partisan issue. Were Dems as forceful in its support and passage as they were with IM 18?
The demacratic party took a hosing yesterday in the land of Janklow. Like it or not the majority has spoken not in a whisper but with a "hell no" to progressive principles. Unless the party uses this to actually learn from their losses, it will be the same in 16 and beyond.
I know nobody wants to hear this right now but it has to be said. Rick didn't run a great campaign, he didn't run a good campaign, he ran a nice guy campaign on demacratic values in a hard leaning red state and lost by 20% points. You can dress it any way you want to but he got his ass handed to him.
Like it or not there are no more Goldwater dems and there arent any McGovern republicans, thats why Rick lost. More money would have been nice but it wasnt money that lost the race, it was the pitch and tone of the campaign. Its fine to preach to the choir and preserve your base, but if you cant grab the attention of the rest of the electorate it is just an "also ran" campaign, nothing more.
Rick had a club in his hands early but decided not to use it until it was just to late. By the time he played the EB5 card it was already four months past the time to score political points with the general public.
What I find the most disappointing about this election is complete lack of understanding in SD about where the money comes from to keep the state in the black. It would seem that the people continue to send those to congress whos party's policies are all designed to shut the federal money trane down.
Health care, I guess we dont need that.
Education, the last time a chunck of money showed up it was used to balance the states budget so that must not be important.
Clean water, man you can get that off th shelf at the 7-11.
ADC, WIK, Headstart, most of the title programs, and school loans will only be available to those that dont need em.
Now a new pipeline, thats what the state needs, never mind the fact that there will be almost zero impact to the economy, just a liability. And yet the three critters that SD is sending to DC will help over ride the first veto of this congress to do just that.
Rick tried to run on principles and lost. I could have told anybody that would listen that would happen. Mike Rounds doesnt have any principles, but he does have the most important qualification that a candidate from South Dakota can have, an R before his name.
The Blindman
Well stated Bill/Blindman!
John T, correct: both parties appeared to steer clear of entanglement in IM 17. I do not consider passage of IM 17 a victory for the party itself. I'm saying it's something Democrats can now keep an eye on and use as fodder for future policy arguments... to the extent policy arguments matter.
Meanwhile out on the Rez:
http://blog.keloland.com/politicsinkeloland/2014/11/04/disinfranchising-voters-or-following-federal-law-or-both/
Hawks is still in the game in District 9 by 7 votes as of 15 hours after the polls close here.
The day Obama was elected I felt the dark cloud you all feel this morning. My prediction... Economy crashes in an unprecedented way by fall 2015 and this new Republican majority in the Senate and House will be blamed for the fruit of these last six years of wrecklessness. Actually the fundamental fiscal problems started long before Obama. Neither party has the will or support to do the drastic things needed to rectify the problems. Trimming entitlements even slightly will prompt significant civil unrest.
America is in real trouble no matter who won last night. Aren't I a ray of sunshine? We need leaders not ideologues and people pleasers.
Or community organizers. Leaders are needed.
I see that you read the Fed news like I do Mr. Hickey. I agree that there will be a tumble as the bond buying has now been eliminated and was going to be eliminated before this election. The economy has to stand on its own merit now and it may be one helluva bump in the road in the next 6 to 9 months, but a bump shall be had. They will see at the next election cycle that the only thing that will save South Dakota and all of the rest of the welfare states is a stimulus. So once again that will balance your budget in the state house. Funny how that works is it not. The real dark cloud over your house was the fact that South Dakota was for far in the red before Obama that the only way to get out would have been for you guys to declare bankruptcy. The Black dude bailed you out and you all hate him for that. Well, get ready to get your hate on for whomever replaces him because that is the road we are heading down.
The SD Democrats had a chance in this Senate race to run on principle and win.
They had a chance to elect a leader who could work with people like Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders and show us all the way forward. They had a chance to rein in the errant, activist right-wing SCOTUS and fix their f*#+-ups. They had a chance to keep a crony capitalist out of office, and send a message to the rest of them.
They blew it.
I'm think I'm done with them, Dithmer.
I'm goin' rogue. ;-)
Jerry, exactly right. Obama threw the goofballs out here in SD a lifeboat, and they got pissed because the seats weren't comfortable enough.
I do not share the optimism. It is clear that you simple need to stand on hate and fear to win an election in this state as long as you have an "R" behind your name. I can't remember which state it was from where the a GOP leader said that all we need to do is beat them down and hold their head under water until they can't breathe anymore.
That is how I feel today. The problem is that when things go south due to the policies of this party, they will find some way to blame the other person and the party loyalists will drink the Kool-aid. They will simply watch Fox and believe the e-mails that show up.
Everyone else will be busy trying to stay alive in the new version of the Hunger Games to be able to mount any sort of challenge. I have become the new David Newquist.
Too many people in SD will still only vote for anyone with an (R) after their name. I am convinced Jesus Christ could run as a Democrat, and all these "good Christians" would still not vote for him.
More good news: after years of mourning the loss of Mt. Blogmore, I have become a big Madville fan. Thanks Cory, for your incisive commentary, and particularly for your first-rate journalism covering EB-5. When I am over my grief owing to Senator Pressler's loss (give me a year) I hope to become a regular here. Mostly, this is for Fleming's benefit.
This was all my fault, and I am sorry.
Kate, exactly. Jesus got out voted too. That doesn't mean he was wrong, right Hickey? ;-)
As per Plato, one problem with democracy is this:
"Why should 8 fools overrule two wise men?"
Voting doesn't mean anything if you can't or won't think before you do it.
Thanks Cory for your optimistic outlook. It is striking that SD voters made a huge positive statement in supporting IM 18.
We as a nation are moving forward in some areas too! Voters in Oregon, Alaska, and DC appear to have finally legalized recreational pot. Same-sex marriages are flourishing around the country. Unemployment went down and the stock market went up during the Democrats tenure in the Senate majority.
Some good things got done in SD, via the voters, and across the Country, via voters, Democrats, and the Courts. Despite not winning everything, Progressives can still follow the example of James Brown:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t08ejaQqWjY
Yes, I knew that, Don.
And you know me.
I'll ALWAYS say I told you so. :-)
Rick Weiland should have appeared at a coyote calling event armed to the teeth, but making accurate shots with his 22-250 camouflaged Remington while arguing the merits of this fine tool against the .223. He could have then said that he will miss shooting these pesky varmints while he is in Washington making sure that those other pesky varmints do not cross our borders and bring that Ebola with them. He looks up and sees a jet in the sky then tells the camera that speaking of Ebola, we should quarantine the flights from Africa and that he is not a Muslim. Crikey, today we would be calling him landslide Rick.
I see an odd creature forming here. Is it possible attitudes here could accept a Frankenfeld and he could love a rogue Fleming?. No inverse to debate about now?
.
Bill, you've been rogue for the last 7 years I've known of you. :)
Pastor Steve says: "Neither party has the will or support to do the drastic things needed to rectify the problems."
You have the chance to show a great example. Take South Dakota out of the ranks of being a welfare state. You've been in how long? You and the GOP have scared people with the whole deficit Armageddon since Obama was elected...yet you keep going back to the trough.
What will you do..right now and right here in South Dakota as an elected leader of the majority party to right this evil you keep talking about?
"Neither party has the will or support to do the drastic things needed to rectify the problems."
That is because both parties are controlled by the ruling elite.
http://www.atlanteanconspiracy.com/2008/07/committee-of-300.html
Pastor Steve, I hope you can see how the rank hypocrisy of the South Dakota GOP can be so frustrating when the reality is juxtaposed against your party's platitudes and actions.
Sorry Cory but I'm done. Yesterday was my last time voting. I'm tired. When this state elects someone who is under Federal investigaton enough is enough. I've seen the people on this state vote against their best interests time after time and I'm done.
Good words Jana, but I fear they fall on deaf ears with Mr. Hickey. You see, he could actually have done some things for the state of South Dakota in his position. But he knows full well that his position is a tenuous one indeed. There is no way the legislature wants to move the state forward as in Medicaid expansion or the actual financing of a disgraceful education system. They have no one to blame that on as they are in complete control so that means they all work together for failure. Failure means they keep their jobs and most importantly for Mr. Hickey, his pulpit. Count on Mr. Hickey and the rest, to continue to do absolutely nothing that will help the state and to continue to do everything they can to enrich those that pull their strings.
Owen, I know you are disappointed. Hell, we all are. Not just because our choices lost, but because a common criminal won. But as others have said, there were some positive things that happened for the state that you voted for as did the rest of us who think fairness is important. Rounds won, but did he really win anything? Time will tell, but don't stop voting. Just reconsider if you want to vote for those that say they represent us, you know, you can leave those as blank as their promises. The initiatives are important for the folks who live here, consider that and continue to do your part for a better situation for them.
Did I see your name on a ballot, Jer? Owen is giving up. You continue to spit fire. Something about leading with honey? Or get off your ass ands meet em nose to nose.
Tired.
Owen sums up the root of Democratic defeat. David Newquist has identified this problem regularly. And I have a hard time asking any regular citizen to keep playing what MJL aptly describes as our own Hunger Games.
But I'm going to ask. I won't hold it against you if you tell me to sit on a tack. But I'm going to ask.
I blame Frankenfeld. A year to grieve? Come on, I took one good night's sleep. Cowboy up! We've got work to do. How about it: do you and Pressler want to take over the Democratic Party? Should we cannibalize the SDDP and form a fusion party with all your Indies? Join the game!
Short of that, thanks for reading the blog, Don. I'll keep giving it all I've got. (If you know some rich patrons with some mad money, tell them to ring my tip jar, and I can do even more! :-D )
Most of the folks I've asked about voting, whether they did or didn't, say it doesn't matter anyway. It won't change anything. A daily tour bus to Pierre during sessin would change more than your vote ever will.
Maybe it's the civil unrest you speak of. The poor who would be hurt by cuts to entitlements have neither a voice or power...what are they going to do, occupy main street Volga?
Cut the corporate welfare and their isn't civil unrest there is an even worse unrest...that of campaign dollars.
Your party would never even consider cuts to agricultural subsidies, fat checks to campaign donors as welfare payments to boost their business and send profits out of state, buy more planes, spend Christian tax dollars to enhance gambling and usury (keep fighting) and then have the nerve to say that "Under God the People Rule."
Out of one side of your mouth you say free market and out of the other (and out of taxpayer pockets) you hand out millions to millionaires to create low wage jobs.
You are an elected leader...do something!
Be bold. Zero base the budget using no federal dollars and let the chips fall where they may.
You can be that leader you speak of.
Thanks for putting yesterday in as positive a light as possible, Cory. Feeling pretty despondent today. I do disagree on a couple of things, however:
1. While I'm so thankful that Franken won his race, bringing him here to campaign will mean nothing. To most South Dakotans, he's just "Stuart Smalley from SNL" - they have no clue about his policies and the hard work he's been doing for years to educate the public and fight for the middle class. Also, there are some glaring differences between MN and SD - MN tends to take care of their poor, and their roads, far better than we do, among other things. They also have a state income tax and nobody's died because of it - who'da thought? Their tax structure, to state income tax, to the no tax on basic necessities (food, clothing, prescriptions) are the way things SHOULD be done in a state that cares about the well being of their citizens. That will NEVER happen here.
2. Larry Pressler is not, and will not ever be, a partner to the Dems. I thought it was nice that he had reserved seating at the District last night for the GOP party; at least you would have thought he could be an "Independent" until the last votes were counted.
Having said that, keep fighting the good fight, Cory. We appreciate you!!
The eleventh reason for South Dakota Democrats to cheer:
An "active" investigation of EB-5 is being conducted by the FBI
SD Republicans, whether they want to admit it or not, know that the Dems are good people that have an earnest desire to better people's lives. The minimum wage is a huge ideological win for SD that will help (a little) struggling low wage workers. South Dakotans should thank the Dems for getting it on the ballot, as I'm quite certain pro-family value republicans wouldn't have done it.
Robin Page, if you're reading this, please don't give up on SD politics. We need people like you fighting for a better education system, better access to mental health care and the oppressed. I wish you the best!
Rounds is under federal investigation? Rounds is not EB-5 no more than Obama is Fast and Furious. People they trust in director roles can do bad things without having the supervising authority complicit with the illegal activities. It is apparent that when Democrats keep repeating speculation, they delude themselves into thinking it is fact. They are blaming all their shortcomings on supposed uninformed voters following party lines, yet they can't even see how their delusional efforts to create such a web of misinformation has backfired into making them all look like tinfoil wearing conspiracy theorists. After all the crap that was thrown at the wall, it slid down faster than the relevance of Obama's peace prize. They tried to bring down the entire GOP by trying to involve everyone they could, thereby diluting any valid concrete criticisms they could have actually used. The day they claimed Benda was murdered and it was a coverup by investigators and prosecutors, they lost the support of an entire investigation staff, friends, and family members of all those personally tied to the investigation. The more they accused people of speculative crimes and wrongdoing with no proof, they lost more and more voters. The one thing they did do successfully, was tick off an entire Republican base that showed up in droves to send a message. I think Democrats had a chance. It was a shoe-in for SHS so she wasn't doing Democrats any favors by not getting into the race. They should have stuck to what they could prove and quit trying to act like prosecutors who had no understanding of the law. I guess I can't blame them when Crago can't even interpret the law correctly and makes foolish statements about how Rounds should not be allowed to be elected....and he's a lawyer. They should have concentrated on getting people registered and to the polls. If I were to ask most of my friends who didn't vote, a majority would be Democrats. I don't understand how they can't even motivate their base to get out and vote, but then I understand how lazy/entitled my generation is. I was really hoping to see them win over Olson and Jensen, those clowns need to go. My overall analysis and take it for what it's worth: Dems didn't have the support from even their biggest players and they led a campaign based on something they could never prove. They were doomed from the start. You can thank SHS for your loss, b/c she single handedly could have taken this one and brought a lot of life back to the party. Dems failed to unite their base and I think SHS was the key to that.
It's funny that Republicans portray Obama as a liberal. He's so far from the liberal platform. Obama is very moderate; Wall Street loves him, insurance companies love him. The one percent has gotten richer under him. A true liberal wouldn't be able to win today.
Given the results of yesterday's election, there are some harsh truths that South Dakota and national Democrats need to face.
Foremost is what happened to Democratic pride? What kind of party are we when our candidates have to turn their backs on the leader of our party, President Obama, and maintain a safe distance from him while supporting his policies.
Charging into the fire should always be our strategy, without it we will lose every time. Why do we allow the Republican party to dictate our electoral strategies by making the South Dakota electorate fear President Obama and other national leaders?
What would we lose by inviting the president, Bill and Hillary and other party leaders to our state to campaign for statewide Democrats. Are we so cowardly that we cannot acknowledge our president and ask for his help? We forget that President Obama was twice elected and we somehow see that as shame.
Like I said, we no longer have anything to lose by charging into Cory's fire and everything to gain. It is past time that the SDDP gets bold and become a year long advocate for South Democrats. That is what the Republican Party did in our state and nationally and they won.
Daniel,
Show me where I said Rounds was under investigation, and be specific.
i saw shs speak at McGovern days 2012? and she said nothing.
I am a lawyer and if evidence has not been lost in your cover-up, we may be smiling when rounds and many more are held to account.
nobody that knows anything about suicide, and I hope there is no one else, believes it to be murder without proof. speculators are just that, gossip comes cheap, so does stigma.
but the tens of thousands of law enforcement, investigators, deputy sheriffs who likely see smoke yet whose hands were tied by daugaard and jackley, may be smiling too.
how people vote against their own interests when obfuscation, refusal to investigate based on politics, and big money all muddy the water (e.g. IM 18 continues to be "he said/she said" no matter which big money side you listen to), begs the question. the peoples vote has been neutralized in oh so many ways.
We don't even know what Koch Brothers did while here in the state.
The elections were declared before the poorest voters in the state were still voting. No surprise to them, I suspect.
Roger, I wasn't talking to you. I was talking about the numerous people who have made similar statements to this: "When this state elects someone who is under Federal investigation enough is enough"
"but the tens of thousands of law enforcement, investigators, deputy sheriffs who likely see smoke yet whose hands were tied by daugaard and jackley"
and the misinformation and speculation continues.
Roger, were you on the Reservations yesterday? How was voter turnout there?
Daniel: B.S. Rounds is much more EB-5 than Obama is Fast and Furious. NSU's lawyer says Rounds came up with the idea and interviewed Bollen. He attended a meeting with EB-5/Epoch Star principals in 2009. If you had smoking guns like that on President Obama, you'd be shouting impeach and I'd be running for cover.
Jenny, good question. What's the disposition of those "provisional" ballots?
http://electionresults.sd.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=CTYALL&map=CTY&cty=65&name=Shannon
In more good news, Jeff Barth wins re-election as a Minnehaha County Commissioner!
Note here that Shannon county is showing significantly lower voter turnout than every other voting district in the state. It's a head scratcher.
http://electionresults.sd.gov/resultsVoterTurnout.aspx
Oh please refrain from implying that "Rounds is not EB-5 no more than Obama is Fast and Furious", what a farce. Rounds put this EB-5 together here in South Dakota, Mike Rounds. Fast and Furious was put together by Bush not Obama, a huge difference.
We can crap in one hand and say that Mike Rounds is guilty in the other and see what one fills the fastest. The fact is, the FBI confirmed this is an open investigation. Who really gives a care what the local authorities think about this EB-5, they had the opportunity to actually do something but did not do so. Larry Pressler, a republican or whatever, declared publicly that Benda may have been murdered. I never heard Weiland, Robinson or anyone else declare that. I would like to actually see the autopsy and the investigation that was there both before and after his death though and wonder why that is not available to put that rumor that was put forth, to rest.
The only difference, EB-5 is a federally allowed program and Fast and Furious was not. Starting EB-5 does not put Rounds into any wrongdoing like F&F would have put Obama. They both are only tied to the specific wrongdoing through speculation and actions of their directors. Claiming Rounds is guilty because he gave the avenue for someone to possibly take advantage is no different than Obama putting his support in a director that took advantage with his authority. They are both tied through speculation, and their directors actions are trying to be tied to them. If you can tie Rounds to Benda's wrongdoing, I can tie Holder to Obama's. My point stands.
Not that it means much, Cory, but over at the War Toilet there is sure not much traffic there. I thought for sure, all there would the war patriots would be gloating with all their wins. Your blog has a lot more traffic.
If Bill's going rogue, I'm all ears.
Shannon County had a whopping 34% voter turnout? What the....I thought there was a big get the vote out going on there yesterday?
After morning coffee, I heard too many troubling comments. Ranging from I didn't vote to we've always just voted Republican.
When I asked if women should be paid the same as men, we found total agreement.
If I were to summarize it, I would say that we need to educate like the R's do and make it fit on a bumper sticker...nuanced reasoning isn't working.
In the immortal words of James Carville..."It's the economy stupid."
"Welcome to South Dakota...One of the Worst States for Women." Although I doubt the tourism department will put that on a license plate.
Of course there are bumper stickers...hmmm
Only 50% voter turnout for the state's bigesst grab - Minnehaha County? What is this, disenfranchised citizens? There's your voting block right there SDDP, if you can get them to come out of the woodwork.
Mine as well. Rounds will be dogged by this make no mistake as this investigation continues. Some time from now, the verdict will be in and that will be that.
so when did regents open files to jackley's investigators?
did those include the files joop took? no. did they include email files? dunnoh.
they opened the formal litigation documents to the public when, yesterday? a few days before the election!!
Daugaard announced the state deleted Benda emails. Deleted. Did you hear that?
If we had transparency to SDGOP held info that would be fatal to your party you could not smugly say "speculation" and be done with it.
how hard did you work to get your people elected, by the way?
"Just Good Enough"
That was the title to a column written by Randall Beck, the old publisher of the Argus Leader. Gotta admit, he was right on the money.
Does anyone have a link to that old piece?
Jenny,
No I wasn't on the reservation yesterday but I did maintain a steady contact down there.
Until we have counted Jackley "provisional" ballots, we don't really have an accurate count. Remember that the two polling places that opened late were in Pine Ridge, the largest voting center, and in Oglala which is relatively small for state elections, but large for reservation elections.
Daniel,
Let me see if I fully understand what you are saying. Let's assume that there is smoke in the Fast and Furious scandal, Republicans will automatically assume that President Obama is guilty of something.
But more to the point of a financial scandal, again let's assume that President Obama set up Solyndra to fail so that he and his cronies could reap the cream off the bankruptcy.
Now, how does one justify the other? President Obama allowed Solyndra to fail and got rich, Mike Rounds allows EB-5 and Northern Beef Packers to fail and it is not his fault. Do I understand you correctly, Daniel?
Daniel's excuse for Rounds is like the kid that got caught throwing rocks at cars and said "yeah I threw a rock, but the other kids did it too".
The good news is that the fiscal conservatives in the governor's office have paid millions to have NEEDTOBREATHE represent the state in our float in the Macy's day parade.
Guess I missed that in all of the GOP speeches last night on fiscal conservatism.
Could have been my surprise at using gay rights activist music from Maclemore.
Seems the better choice for tourism and the state would have been Brule.
But hey, NEEDTOBREATHE is from South Carolina...so they're at least half right.
Roger, how many "provisional" ballots are we talking about out there, do you know? Rough guess?
Don't beat a dead horse: The Blindman is right. At least the signs will come down and the stupid phone calls stop. Those signs are handy to remake for garage or for sale signs.
John, there are ± 8,200 registered voters in Shannon county. The SOS site says only ± 2,700 of them voted.
Word of mouth is that there was a high turnout in Shannon county.
The news media reports that a number of votes have been set aside as "provisional" because, through no fault of the voters, the poles opened and closed an hour late.
Wanting to have everyone's vote counted isn't beating a dead horse.
I'm willing to bet that if it was your vote, you would want to have it counted.
If I'm wrong about that, then why do you bother to vote?
...polls... sorry.
IF you people want political power, then switch to the SDGOP and join the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club.
Bill,
I haven't been able to find out even an estimate of the provisional ballots. Sorry
The latest information I got from Pine Ridge was that Jackley would be waiting for a judge to rule on the legality of the extended voting hours.
Bill I was referring to Cory's post to climb back on the saddle. The Blindman is saying be more realistic about the political atmosphere here. The Democratic party in SD can't be a liberal one if they want to have any power. Unless they like losing.
Oh, okay John. I thought you were talking about counting votes. Thanks for clarifying. I have a very nuanced argument with your and Dithmer's assertion about "liberals" but I'll save it for later when I'm in a less abrasive mood. :-)
wingnuts are like prostitutes. They don't want you to compromise your principles,they want you to pay them to help compromise their principles.
Cory, I just wish that some the name recognition could stay within the party. Why doesn't heidepriem, billion, or varicella stick around after defeat? Brush up on their message, raise some money, and lose the gap?
I meant varilek
Kristofer, I agree, we need to have some more long-term candidates. Some folks stick with it and slog it out a couple three times in the Legislative races. We need to find ways to build candidates up into a winning network, turn their experience, win or lose, into help for future races.
When they don't stick around, I suspect it's for reasons like Owen has expressed: they get tired. Why go through such abuse to get nothing? Why should Rick Weiland try again after going to every town twice and still only getting 29.5% of the vote? (Hint: the answer is love!!!)
Thanks for trying to cheer me up Cory and Jerry but I've had it. When people vote for somebody who is under Federal investigation how can we expect them to vote for a Democrat? No time to concentrate on my job sports and grandchildren.
Then to top this terrible day off my dad's best friend Jim Cordts passed away. Not a day to remember
Oh, Jen Sundem! I appreciate the warnings on Franken and Pressler. We should indeed approach both with caution. However, I'm just full of optimism today: I believe that we could break down some of that prejudice against Franken by presenting South Dakotans with the real Al Franken. As for Pressler... well, if he's really an ally fo the Republicans, then the worst that could happen if we ask him to get involved with Democrats is that he'd tell us no, right?
[No, no, no, not Mr. Cordts? Terrible event. Great guy. Take your time, Owen.]
North Dakota and Colorado defeated Personhood ballot initiatives!! That should make all liberals happy, but I bet Hickey isn't happy.
Thanks, LibStuck! Keep those causes for hope coming!
(And get ready to celebrate when the Rosenbrahns win their marriage-equality lawsuit.)
Amy Klobuchar is the MN Senator who is beloved edge to edge, corner to corner. Next time she runs, she'll probably get 80%. If someone is going to come to SD, it should be Klobuchar. BTW, she is fairly average in appearance and demeanor. Not threatening to insecure SD ammosexuals and similar males.
LOVE Amy Klobuchar! She and Al alone make me want to move back there.
Alaska wingnuts voted in a carpetbagger,liar from Ohio and ousted the fifth most powerful Senate Dem who voted with wingnuts on several occasions and was a native Alaskan. No long term candidates for wingnut Alaska.
Mike, maybe their new found freedom to pursue the magical herb will mellow them some.
Move to Alaska and make a change mfi.
No need,Les. I can stay here and watch you wingnuts in South Dakota eat your own and your children. Besides I'm scared to death of bears.
Trying to picture Mike setting up a little greenhouse in an igloo and having melting issues. LOL
Charging into the fire is not what this new bunch of crazies will do. This is 2010 redux after the "shellacking". This bunch will continue to do nothing and hope like hell they can win the whitehouse in 2016. So, we have two more years of government shutdowns along with the loud noise of a do nothing country that watches the slow motion of its bridges, roads and other infrastructure crumble. The good news part one is that there are two years to kick out the likes of Schumer, Wasserman-Shulz and anyone else with like ideas to find someone to go back to the 50 state strategy like its author, Howard Dean. The good news part deuce, is that the working poor will have an indexed wage increase as something to thank the Democratic party for, so not all is bad.
The study of history is a good thing. Stop the chicken little thinking and now that in a President's 2nd term there is an average opposition party pick up of 6 Senate seats and 25 in the House.
Senate 7 and House 10.
This is like groundhog day except the GOP failed on the House side.
"Let me see if I fully understand what you are saying. Let's assume that there is smoke in the Fast and Furious scandal, Republicans will automatically assume that President Obama is guilty of something."
I think it pretty apparent that letting guns go across the border was a bad idea which rests on Holder's shoulders. I wouldn't initially blame Obama but I'm sure Republicans as a whole will.
"But more to the point of a financial scandal, again let's assume that President Obama set up Solyndra to fail so that he and his cronies could reap the cream off the bankruptcy.
Now, how does one justify the other? President Obama allowed Solyndra to fail and got rich, Mike Rounds allows EB-5 and Northern Beef Packers to fail and it is not his fault. Do I understand you correctly, Daniel?"
Not sure how you are understanding me actually. I don't believe Obama had ill intentions with Solyndra anymore than Rounds did with NBP. They are both high risk projects outside of normal investors which make them both highly volatile and have greater risks for failure. Where and when things went wrong probably started on the day to day management of the companies themselves, not the funding source.
"Daniel's excuse for Rounds is like the kid that got caught throwing rocks at cars and said "yeah I threw a rock, but the other kids did it too"."
I don't put words in your mouth to make your arguments appear childish so don't do it to me. To make a comparison, I'm saying Obama and Rounds oversaw Holder and Benda while they had keys to the rock cabinet. Instead of building a foundation for success with those rocks, they went outside their authority and broke the law with them.
Daniel,
So do Holder and Obama failures with Fast and Furious and Solyndra justify Rounds failure, by either criminal actions or incompetence, of GOED/EB-5 and Northern Beef Packers?
By all appearances Republicans have consistently implied that because we may have a national scandal a South Dakota scandal is okay.
Shouldn't all scandals be treated individually?
"So do Holder and Obama failures with Fast and Furious and Solyndra justify Rounds failure, by either criminal actions or incompetence, of GOED/EB-5 and Northern Beef Packers?"
No they do not. Both programs made mistakes. I don't think we disagree on that. The disagreement comes with whether or not that illegal activity was known by their superiors or even directed by their superiors. I think Benda saw a cash cow and tried to see how he could get in on some of it. I think Joop is the result of timing. Bad economy in 2008, don't want any hiccups with the transition, send it to the guy who knows how to keep the foreign money coming in. Now, where the privatization idea came from, IDK, but I can see it being easy to make that change when you can follow 48 other states down that path. Or I should say, it would be easy to get people to follow the idea to privatization if that is the norm. Almost sounds like the push may have started in the BOR. I really don't think they understood the amount of money that could be skimmed in fees because they never charged that rate of fees themselves. I think the bigger issues lies with our audit policies and even HR policies. Do they do exit interviews in gov't? Bank officers are required to take 5 consecutive days off so an internal review can take place. Why aren't we doing that in government? A new email policy based on job grade would be a good idea as well.
"By all appearances Republicans have consistently implied that because we may have a national scandal a South Dakota scandal is okay.
Shouldn't all scandals be treated individually?"
Yes they should, but I haven't gotten the same impression from Republicans as you have.
2014 is like a stinker in the wind now kids, lets move on and build on what we now know. First is to reconfigure the SDDP into something workable and get rid of the part that pushed the party in the direction it went this year. The old Democratic party just needs to be like a good soldier and retire to let new thinking enter the fold. There is no advise they can give that is really of any use other than the direction of the restrooms, other than that, nothing.
Lets begin at the beginning and put some quality folks out to get this started. If you want the job of representative, put a plan out that shows you will actually go to work (I am talking to you Corrina). If you want to be governor of the state, act like it (I am talking to you Susan). Democrats need to stand and take actual credit for putting the minimum wage up for voting consideration and they should be putting pressure right now with their allies on the Medicaid Expansion. There are weak links in the republican legislature, lets find the guy or gal and run against them with these types of populism. Strategists for all of this, reach out into the blogs or other areas for some insight, it is clear that yours is foggy. We all need to get some skin in the game because republicans are clearly after our hides.
Daniel,
Perhaps we are both jumping the gun, well maybe.
What we are waiting for is the results of "active FBI investigation, supposedly they will becoming soon since their investigation has been going on for a year. You'd think that they would have closed the book on Felon Elect-Rounds if he had no involvement in the scam.
As a self described Watergate historian, it is interesting to see the similarities between the Nixon scandal and the Rounds scandal.
Rounds lied to the public twice that we know of on EB-5, how many more lies has he told to investigators and his own staff?
Lying and perjury have brought down more politicians than actually getting caught with a brief case full of state or federal money.
Roger,
It's an active FBI Investigation into EB-5. I don't believe they are after Rounds, but taking a closer look at Joop. We will find out eventually.
And I'm not familiar with the lies you are speaking of. Could you point them out specifically? If you are talking about the acknowledgment of the notice of summons for the lawsuit, I find that a bit of a stretch.
Greetings Cory ~ I'm typically too busy to read and write to blogs but I genuinely try to read yours when able. I owe you a phone call; however, I feel my thoughts should be shared with a wider audience.
Weiland was not fighting the battle all by himself. When no one else entered the race to run against Noem, I did, and I executed a true "grass roots" campaign. I hope folks will somewhat appreciate that I resigned from a significant position in DC that paid my sons' college tuition to return home and give it "my all". In just barely a year, I maneuvered cross-country, purchased a home in Rapid City, and tried to maintain a solid team that was primarily focused on unseating Noem versus filling their personal coiffeurs or priming their resume. There were very few that could endure constant, cross-country travel and working seven days a week for more than a couple months.
I also personally hand carried the minimum wage petition and (from the very beginning) touted the importance of reducing our national deficit, health care reform, education, and opposed the Keystone Pipeline. I'm personally past the gripe about partisan politics and simply expect South Dakotans to "step up to the plate" and vote those not worthy out of office. I've served to defend countries (placing my life at risk) where governance does not exist, and corruption prevails, and to know we have folks at home who are "fed up" with voting is shameful.
I never accepted a cent in salary during my campaign while Noem voted against re-opening the government and drew full pay. Her family has garnered 3+ million dollars in subsidies while I offered to give up 1/2 of my salary to S.D. non-profit organizations upon election.
I absolutely agree ~ I needed a stellar Campaign Manager, a seasoned financial director, and at least one solid TV ad. If I decide to run again in the very near term, I will be looking for resumes too!
The DCCC didn't cough up a cent, nor do I think the DSCC or Super-PACs would have helped Rick if there wasn't an ongoing scandal. The SDDC would have sorely struggled without million-dollar funding in the last month. I even transformed my campaign office in Rapid City to an all-candidate Dem office while there was a flurry of folks working in the Sioux Falls office. Lord knows we need better support in West River.
Let's not overlook that I was able to pull 1/3 of the votes against Noem with (again) barely a year on the ground and having visited over 200 towns or cities. I believe that was better stats than Rick and Susan whereas they both had better name recognition.
I'm in contact with key folks across our great state and sincerely hope to stay the course as they've graciously asked. Otherwise, I may choose to depart and gain a more secure, political foothold elsewhere. As almost my entire family resides in South Dakota, they know I love them dearly, and I will always look out for their best interest regardless of where I serve.
Ok ~ off my soapbox. More to follow.