In Politics: Nationally: The Election is over and the wrong side won. Despite all the celebration on the Republican side however, nationally, as votes continue to roll in, it turns out that the Republican victory was very narrow and Trump himself received less than 50% of the popular vote, 49.83% and dropping as of this morning. The Republican margin in the US House of Representatives is extremely narrow too (220-214) and only the Republican gerrymandering in North Carolina and Florida with the partisan approval of the US Supreme Court produced their victory.
Unfortunately, the closeness of these races doesn’t change the fact that Republicans control all three branches of government (including a very partisan Supreme Court) for the first time since the late 1920’s, which, coincidentally, coincides with the date Republicans want to turn time back to. No social security, no department of education, no department of health and human services (if you need help, it is just proof God doesn’t like you). The election may have been close but the future will be hell for many and for most of us in the end.
In Politics: South Dakota: The one positive outcome of Trump’s election for South Dakotans is the promotion of our beauty queen Governor out of the State and into the Office of Homeland Security for the Trump administration. I have no idea what she will do there other than whatever bidding Trump desires at Homeland Security but she will prove to be good eye candy for Trump at Cabinet Meeting photo ops. At least she will not bother us in South Dakota any more. I pray (vigorously) the Senate approves her.
The South Dakota Democratic Party (SDDP) performed miserably in 2024 and lost two of its previous 11 seats in the 105 seat South Dakota Legislature. Marginally relevant before, South Dakota Democrats now are mostly irrelevant. If they continue on their current course they will quickly become absolutely irrelevant.
Their failure in 2024 was entirely foreseeable given the SDDP’s current Leadership’s focus on ideological purity rather than electoral success. Since their recall of their Chairperson Jennifer Slaight-Hansen last July for suggesting economic issues get greater emphasis than LGBTQ issues, the GOP has increased its voter registration plurality over the SDDP by 21,147 voters. The GOP now has 318,423 registered voters to the SDDP’s 146,204. In percentage terms, since the recall of Slaight-Hansen the GOP’s share of all South Dakota voters increased from 49.8% to 50.8% while the SDDP’s share decreased from 24.8% to 23.3%.
It is enough to turn a Democrat to drink. I think I will!
Scott, it was a clear mandate despite the percentages when you look at the results here:
Republicans control:
U.S Executive Office,
U.S Senate,
U.S House,
U.S Supreme Court 6 to 3 (with one pick coming)
33 State Legislatures,
31 State Governors,
29 State Attorney Generals,
31 State Supreme Courts
Majority of All County Commissions
Majority of All County Sheriffs
I believe Trump is going to appoint all of his Cabinet Picks in “recess” of the Senate, by way of Article 2, Section 3
Interesting, Strategy if this Plays Out:
On January 3, 2025 the New Congress gets sworn into office, new members take their chairs;
On January 6, 2025 the new Congress certifies the 2024 Election Results, confirming that Donald J Trump won the election;
On January 20, 2025 – Donald Trump is Sworn into Office as 47th President of the United States of America.
What happens next will be very interesting, and revolutionary!!
a. Donald Trump signs a ton of Executive Orders,
b. Donald Trump positions himself to fill all vacant cabinet seats.
c. Donald Trump’s next move will completely surprise Congress!
Article 2, Section 3:
He shall give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient. In a extraordinary occasion, he will adjourn Congress to such times as he shall think proper, then he will receive ambassadors and other public ministers;
he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, furthermore, he will have power to fill up all vacancies that will happen during the recess of the Senate, granting commissions that will expire at the end of their next session, and shall commission all the officers of the United States. And finally, he will re-convene both U.S Senate and House to bring them together to discuss, draft, and adopt all such laws as he as necessary to carry out his effective agenda. All this will be done within the first 30 to 45 days (January 7 to February 7).
He will create that Extraordinary situation by signing an Executive order to Declare an Emergency at the Border, Stopping the Foreign invasion, by closing the border, providing to Congress a report of his findings, thus allowing him to “Adjourn” both houses of Congress, under his powers as per Article 2, Section 3. He will have the Supreme Court, the State Governors, and Legislatures on his side, meaning the “Republic” will defend his decisions.
I find it fascinating that Mike Z. always talks about states’ rights, but he has no problem with federal executive orders by Trump or recess appointments without the advice and consent of the Senate.
The SDDP? Well, what prevents the SD GOP from placing RV voter mailbox centers in all of the legislative districts in which Democrats have a chance of winning? When that happens, then it’s lights off. #BananaRepublic
Khaki Mike claims that having a president appoint cabinet members via recess appointments is “revolutionary.” Indeed, it is. It’s such actions that eventually lead to a revolution. Having the President use recess appointments to that level is the action of a king and not an elected president, but then again KM thinks that giving a president all of these powers by default is somehow good for states’ rights….. Whatever……
The people handed over government to one man. Historically, this is when freedom becomes sacrificed. Nero became happy when Rome Burned. Everything thus far has been naming a least qualified cabinet and angering the world with tariffs. I’m watching as the number one nation declines into a land locked fly over states. When the dollar is replaced with Bitcoin, there’s no trading prowess. Can FDR be reincarnated with A-eye? It will take bigger crimes to restore Rule of Law.
And…as he has done with everything in his life, fail bigly (bigley?). Hang on for the ride!
One issue that most of you are missing, Donald Trump is transferring power to the States, not to the National Govt. He is bringing in Patriots into this cabinet, not appointing people from within the establishment. You all also miss the fact the Constitution gives to Donald Trump to adjourn Congress thus Making all his appointments in recess, the States gave him that power in 1789. We are in “Check Mate” right now, Trump gave them one last chance during his first term, they screwed up, his Presidency was suspended, and now its back. IF you fail to give the Patriots their Appointments, then we shall grab the power from you.
Mike, there is something I learned a long time ago, neither party has a solution. So blind allegiance is just that. I want you to think about that. When Tom Daschle voted for the war in Iraq, it was a bridge to far for me and I registered Indy and I have not looked back. You need to look at individuals, that’s why I worked on several campaigns for Republicans, because I believed in their ideals not their party make up. There are good ideas and bad ideas, and guess; what both parties are good at it, division is never a solution. Sometimes I feel sorry for you Mike and probably the reason I let you comment.
“….IF you fail to give the Patriots their Appointments, then we shall grab the power from you….”
Wow, for some reason, that doesn’t sound too lowercase democratic to me…. What would the original patriots think of this?
Scott, let not we begin these comments to stoke division. It does not bother me if you restrict my comments or not. But I appreciate the comments that you do allow to go forward. I do not need anyone to feel sorry for me. That is why I am inviting you to participate in precinct forums where I invite voters to meet and greet in the future. However, you and I may disagree politically, but I can attest, that we have common agreements on many issues. You may not agree with me on the America First Agenda, and I may not agree with you on the Sustainability Plan. That is not division, nor is it wrong for two people not to agree. It is a free country. But, you let me and others to comment on this forum cause of our 1st Amendment Right to agree or disagree with each others opinion. Let alone you and I find common ground related to many state and local matters.