Maybe not, but it seems every time I read something on David’s blog or hear him talk on the AL’s ‘100 Eyes’ show, he is defending state Republicans. Don’t get me wrong, David knows his shit, he is a fountain of information when it comes to political science. But he ain’t no J-Ellis, who has continually walked the non-partisan road in his reporting.
David reminds me of current Thune-Bag staffer, Jon Lauck who ran a pro ‘Thune’ blog under the guise of independence during the Daschle campaign, while getting paid by the Thune campaign and taxpayers as a professor at SDSU.
David, I like your reporting, and I think you are very knowledgeable, but don’t be a Lauck. Be a man. Report in a non-partisan fashion.
I think the tip-off (there have been several) was when he ran after Noem like a school girl at a Justin Bieber concert druing Dakotafest. He gets this weird sparkle in his eye when Republicans come a knocking.
Wow: Montgomery can’t catch a break. Dakota War College calls him a lapdog for Dems. I add that coverage and this post together and conclude that Montgomery must the perfect balanced reporter, torquing off both sides.
If I were a reporter, I’d be running after my Congresswoman with a gleam in my eye, too. Their’s headline gold in those quotes!
There are a lot worse-looking congressional representatives out there.
Montgomery strikes me as a hopeless political junkie. He loves his beat. That may make him starry-eyed at times, but he goes after his subjects. And he lets the chips fall where they may. And the fact he makes you pout and enrages that Brookings blowhard and his cult proves the point. When you piss off both sides, you’re scoring some points.
Oh, I’m not mad about it, and like I said, I think he is a fantastic reporter. I just hear him make excuses for Republicans way to often.
Reminds me of Dave Kranz… he used to say he got as much hate mail from the left as he did from the right, so that must mean he was doing a pretty good job at being unbiased.
As to Montgomery, I’ll admit I have no idea who he is, but that probably has to do with the fact I don’t subscribe to the Paywall Leader and I don’t even reach my limit of free articles each month… so needless to say I don’t spend a lot of time reading their stuff.
That said it makes sense to chase after Noem to get a quote because she is known to say a lot of things which are either entertaining, or things that really don’t make a lot of sense. For instance she recently stated the reason she has missed so many committee meetings is because she has “to decide where to go to be more effective for South Dakota”.
Note she spent much of her first term working towards her college degree and riding horses for photo-ops, so I guess we all know where she is most effective.
Lauck intimidated him when he misquoted Thune a while back. The Thune folks went bolistic and called for his removal from the RCJ. Same with the Noem campaign in 2010 (which was an extension of the Thune people).
Notice how Montgomery drags his feet when writing stories about the Cap and Tax issues facing Varilek. When they didn’t come out fast enough the SDWC called him out and tried to intimidate him. I’m sure the noem people did the same or the SD GOP.
Montgomery is just gun shy when it comes to the political heavy’s in SD coming down on him.
Ellis and Montgomery are two of our states best reporters but Ellis isn’t going to be pushed around. Montgomery will get beyond the intimidation at some point but for now he’s going to try and avoid the scorn. (I’ve also heard he has a thing for some of the hotter female noem staffers.)
Lauck is a known character assassin. Until Noem distances herself from his agressive take no prisoners approach she won’t make it beyond 2014. Thune wouldn’t have either but Lauck respects Thune and understands he’s the boss. Lauck thinks Kristi is an empty head that he can control. I don’t like him.
Craig,
Dave Kranz was well-informed about local issues.
David Montgomery is NOT.
Terry Woster. Now there was a balanced reporter.
Mr. Kranz was mostly harmless.
Heil Thune!
http://arguspoliblog.tumblr.com/post/31747535989/sodak-delegation-best-looking-in-congress
Just another republican Gomer. An open minded press would sell more papers.