Get out your credit cards, this election is gonna cost yah.
Maybe I am the stupid one here to honestly believe Kermit could compete with someone who outspent him, out strategized him and in the end mislead the public on a multitude of issues. But it’s easy to promise stuff when you have no record.
I am actually glad Mike won by such a large margin, because now he has a clear mandate. You know what that means don’t you? High expectations. Remember how quickly Obama has fallen from the graces?
I hope Mike is successful, but once he screws up, he is going to have a lot of voters to kiss up to. Better grow some thick skin, quick, because a smile and a wink isn’t gonna fix back upped sewers.
BTW, am I the only one that found it strange that none of his former peers or fellow employees at First Premier endorsed him? Not one single one. Things that make you go hmmm.
In the end, I am still very proud of my support of Kermit, he told the truth throughout the campaign, and sometimes people didn’t like the answer. Oh well. I told Kermit tonight that there wasn’t anything he could have done differently. It is truly a sad day in America when deception gets more votes then the truth, but hey, business as usual in Sioux Falls city politics.
Mike should be a fun one to watch, I wonder how long before he gavels me?
I will be on a blog break for awhile, I’ll be back though, real soon.
Oh, a couple more things I found out tonight;
One of Mike’s former co-workers was going to do a video about his experience working with him (that was not pro-Mike) But he backed out.
Brown and Costello were going to endorse Staggers publicly but would only do it if Peterson was on board, Peterson backed out.
The girls from the Dakota Women blog were very active in Mike’s campaign (I knew there was a reason why I didn’t want to vote for him)
Highlights of the night;
Kermit’s daughter Ayn told KELO-TV that would not get to interview Kermit until last (behind KSFY and KDLT) It was a wonderful moment.
Leslee Unruh hugged me. (have fun with that).
Leslee Unruh hugged me. (have fun with that).
Lewis did you check your wallet after that?
You know a guys bad if you and Leslee Unruh agree he’s bad. LOL
Huether’s victory primarily shows the power of a tightly-run campaign. That counts for something in a city that is getting more administratively challenging. But you’re right, it’s going to come at a cost. Mike better be ready to have people banging on the door, wanting some answers from “their man.”
Money and the machine won. Sad day for politics but sadder still that that seems to be the norm these days. No wonder our country is in such dire fiscal and moral straits.
Helga-
Funny you bring that up, we talked about taking Federal money last night and Leslee told me that it is a nightmare getting money from the feds.
Sky- Yeah, isn’t that the truth, even my fellow liberal Democrat Madison Blogger is a little weary about the new mayor;
http://blog.keloland.com/issues/2010/04/28/mayor-huether-my-ambivalence/
NLH- Mandates are fun on victory night, not so fun on inaugural day.
PJ – You pretty much summed it up. I also found out last night that an ‘expert’ in absentee voting was the point person for Mike’s campaign. She gives seminars on how to find and get those votes.
First let me say that my prediction was spot on. I said Mike would win by 12 points plus or minus 3, and his victory was within this margin. I just felt that the last ditch effort of Kermit to label himself a Republican and Mike as a Democrat backfired because Kermit forgot that Sioux Falls is a rather progressive town.
In any case he did what he could, and all we can do now is hope that Mike lives up to his promises and improves the city. He does have some good ideas and last night he made it clear that he wants to take Kermit’s message of fiscal responsibility to heart… so we can only hope he stands by that.
L3wis: am I the only one that found it strange that none of his former peers or fellow employees at First Premier endorsed him?
It isn’t strange at all. Mike is a Democrat, and his former peers can’t be seen publicly supporting a Democrat for fear of getting on the wrong side of T. Denny.
If anything that should be a good thing because we know now that he is no longer affiliated with them he shouldn’t have any reason to show them loyalty… especially when the higher ups were clearly in support of other candidates.
It is time to close the book on Mike’s time at First Premier and open a new book as his time as our mayor. If Mike plays his cards right, he can turn all these sour grapes into some tasty wine – but he will need to package it in a box instead of bottles if he wants to mingle with the Staggers crowd.
I still believe that a large percentage of the votes were not ‘pro-Mike’ votes but ‘anti-Staggers’ votes. And you are right, I hope he does a good job, we all do, besides it will be fun to watch a bunch of newbies fumble through this the first year or so with Brown as the soul elder statesman on the council.
Wait a second – Leslee Unruh was complaining about how hard it is to get federal funds???? That’s priceless.
No, she was complaining that once you got them it was a pain in the ass.
Leslie hugged you? Did Pastor Steve give you a kiss on the cheek? What kind of crowd are you running with l3wis?
Mike and Kermit were the best 2 candidates. The bright side, Munson is over with. Huether will be surprised how much undisclosed damage Munson left.
Kermit should be relieved he’s not faced with impossible circumstances. He can go back to benefiting his students with more experience now that he’s run for higher office.
Huether should focus on Home Rule Dictatorship and Camera Tickets. Bringing the city out of the closet on these matters is a sure road to the governor’s office.
I’m feeling frisky and in the mood for civil disobedience. Is anyone up for making a right on red at 10th and Minnesota say 10 times or so?
scott’s a reformed T E A B A G G E R
It’s like being born again to an atheist/agnostic
BLOG BREAK!
Who do you think you are, a city employee?
Wait, they’re all breaks but consider work commuting to/from neighboring cities.
You’ve worked hard uncompensated here yet trying to get by as an average Sioux Falls middle class minimum wage resident.
If you take a vacation, stay away from Arizona. With new check your citizenship law, not safe if you’re white. Instead of sun shield use kevlar vest.
“born again to atheist/agnostic”
Worse, you’re parents are both sex changed surgery. Either way you’re f—ed.
Considering the majority of the DakotaWomen don’t currently live in SF, it would be a little weird for us to be involved in his campaign. Where do you get this stuff?
Okay, let me rephrase it, Angie was involved in the campaign. Sorry, I hope that clarifies it for you.
And secondly, as much as Mike tried to shake the Democratic label during the race, make no mistake, it was about a victory for the Democrats. You don’t hire one of the best Democratic strategists in the country to run your campaign if you are not wanting a democratic win.
And if by “involved” you mean “didn’t do any calls, canvassing, donating, or fundraising,” that would be accurate.
l3wis says:
Funny you bring that up, we talked about taking Federal money last night and Leslee told me that it is a nightmare getting money from the feds.
Good news, glad to hear it. Amazing how wingers complain about others on the gov’t. dole, but when they do it not a problem.
Are you back now from your blog break?
Yeah, the Unruhs aren’t as principled as I wish sometimes. They’re not principled Anti-Government conservatives. I told her, even though I’m pro-life — I found myself on the opposite side of the pro-life movement about half the time during the Bush administration, because they were all about getting government welfare for Ultrasound machines and stuff like that.
Government’s the problem!
But, I guess when they say it, it only applies to the things they don’t want.
Anti-Blogger (Blogger) Todd Epp sent me this email today;
Scott:
Not to gloat but to gloat, The Heat kicked Dr. No around the room like a tomato can yesterday. Must have been all the support Mike pulled from former Harrisburg residents that was the difference. Better luck next time. Maybe it’s not too late for Kermit to run as an independent for Governor.
Todd
MY RESPONSE;
Todd-
Well, he spent almost three times more money then Kermit. It wasn’t a surprise. Also, word on the street is that 50% of Huether’s votes were ‘anti-staggers’ votes not ‘pro-Mike’ votes. Even Dems that I talked to, who voted for Mike, are not crazy about him, they just know what to expect from Kermit.
I hope Mike is successful, because trust me, if he is not, I won’t be the only one riding his ass.
Angie – But you were involved? Right?
What is it with you liberal democrats and admitting your party affiliation and support? My friends have busted my balls about my support for Kermit, but I am not embarrassed about it, I told my liberal friends, my conservative friends, my indy friends about Kermit, Hell, I blogged about it. Are you proud of your association with Mike or not?
Not that it’s your business, but the extent of my “involvement” was to stop by the get-together at Huether’s office last night. It was the first time I had been there. If that’s your bar for me and 4 other women being “heavily involved,” then I guess you’re right.
I’m done explaining myself. Find another “story,” maybe one with actual facts this time.
Okay, thanks for the clarification.
Wow…What a shame that Sioux Falls turned down a great man like Kermit Staggers. I tell you this because I am from California and we are is a big mess over here! We would have given ANYTHING to have a unbelievable man like Kermit. I also tell you this because I am his sister-in-law and Kermit is a awesome man of God and the real deal. It is hard hearing all the negative things people are saying about him. That just tells me you don’t know him.
I often have told people that say negative things about him I ask if they have met him, and they would change their opinion. I have met Mike Huether. He’s is a nice guy who understands what is going on around him, but he isn’t genuine, my bullshit detector went off the charts the first time we had a face to face convo.
I had my own little blog break for a few days, but here’s my better late than never take on the race;
Like I said before, I respect Kermit, particularly his intellect and his level of commitment. And I know he would’ve done his best as Mayor, but I think his ultimate undoing was his inability and/or unwillingness to make a reach (any reach) over to the pro-business types of Sioux Falls, most of whom stayed home. I watched as much of him in the last month as I had in the last year and yes you can credit him for staying on message, but if the message is doing you more harm than good it’s a moot point. I guess I just never saw Kermit articulate a vision for Sioux Falls beyond low taxes, low regulations & snow gates.
Huether was/is flawed, beatable and was arguably the least qualifed of the entire lot minus Janoct. It’s not like he didn’t leave the door open for people to hammer away at him, as I did on a couple occasions.
I also saw Kermit losing by a similar percentage as the indoor pool vote, and in yet another low turnout election. I just hope Mike and this new Council can keep one eye on the future and while also keeping one on the balance sheet, as that would truly be very Staggersesque.
It is depressing either way, but also exciting.
Starting fresh with a new mayor and council is going to be fun. I have been talking to local media types (and a couple insiders) we are all salivating either way, failure or success, trust me. While most think I am negative, I want to see positive things happen in Sioux Falls. I will give them the benefit of the doubt, but don’t think for a minute I won’t be watching.
The new Kindergarten class starts May 17. I say we attend the swearing in and go have a South DaCola fest (before and after)