April 2017
Drinking Liberally fills us in on some interesting tidbits
Seems there is going to be some shakeups in the SD Dem party next weekend, or maybe not;
In South Dakota: Next weekend the South Dakota Democratic Party (SDDP) will hold its McGovern Day dinner, the SDDP’s big annual gathering and fundraiser. Keith Ellison, Congressman from neighboring Minnesota and National Democratic Party Vice-chair, is scheduled to be the featured speaker. Keith was one of the few Democratic office holders who endorsed Bernie Sanders, the Socialist from Vermont, in the 2016 Democratic Presidential Primaries. He said Bernie reminded him of Jack Lemmon in that greatest of all Minnesota ice fishing movies, “Grumpy Old Men”.
The SDDP will hold a state Central Committee meeting in conjunction with the dinner. Constitutional amendments, which could lead to an election of state party officers at this same meeting, have been introduced. To quote from a letter from Rachelle Norberg summarizing the proposed amendments, “One of the most important changes in the proposed amendment is the moving of State Officer elections to a spring window on odd-numbered years, typically held at the same time as the McGovern Day fundraiser. If passed, this change causes an election of new officers to be held April 29th, 2017. Please ensure all potential officer candidates are given adequate notice to the best of your ability”
There could be fireworks at the Central Committee meeting, folks!!! Rumor has it that Paula Hawks wants Ann Tornberg’s job.
I am not a big fan of the current SDDP Chair, but a snap election, initiated in this manner, with almost no notice, seems deeply arrogant on the part of the conspirators and very wrong-headed. This appears to be a palace coup by Powers behind the throne. Changing one Queen for another is not progress even if the new Queen would be substantially taller. Change requires changing the Powers that be.
I would agree with the mighty Pooh-Bah, change can be good, but you have to do it carefully. I keep telling the Dems I would return to the party if they get their poop in groop, looks like I will be an Indy for the indefinite future.
Sioux Falls Parks Director responds appropriately to Breast Feeding incident
It seems Director Kearney had to do a lot of ‘Sucking Up’ yesterday 🙂 But I will have to give him credit, he actually handled the situation the way a public official should;
Admitted they made a mistake.
Apologized for the mistake.
Taking corrective action.
Trust me, I still don’t trust Don farther then I can spill a glass of milk, but he did what I wish more public officials in Sioux Falls would do, admitting they made a mistake and correcting it.
Is Huether using the media to take the temperature of voters?
Argus Leader‘s Stu Whitney is doing a two-part interview with Huether about his political future. Not sure what, if anything will be revealed. We have been down the road of Huether crying wolf several times over the past couple of months. From his changing registration to indy press conference, to his several non announcements with B-N-B and Brian Allen. Will this time be any different?
I wonder if Huether is using Whitney to take the temperature of voters if or what he should run for. I think Congress would be his road of least resistance. But he has had his eye on governor for years. I think he would have a better chance of beating Noem then Jackley, but I also think his chances of winning are higher facing Krebs or Johnson. There is also the rumor that he may hope Diamond Jim wins as mayor and pose as a placeholder so Huether can run for the job again in 2022 (like he is Janklow 🙁
So, I guess we will wait and see if he pulls the trigger, or if he continues to cry wolf about a possible state wide run.
Personally, if I was the Publisher of the AL or Whitney, I would have made it clear with Huether there would be NO interview unless he was making an official announcement.
Local media typo of the day
I often get a chuckle out of some of the typos from our local media, but this one really made me laugh. I heard that community theatre is going to follow this production up with ‘Godswell’ 🙂