By Denise Ross

In case you missed Morning Edition this am - or if you always miss it - here’s a story about a potential wind farm near Winner. And, of course, the requisite trouble over the lack of transmission lines.

As in, we need the transmission lines before the wind turbines will do anybody much good. Stimulus, anyone?

Also, anybody know Joel Keierleber or happen to be Joel Keierleber? I thought he sounded good and did South Dakota proud.

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By Susan

I’ve often thought that presidents should have a person whose job it is to shoot down stupid ideas before they can play out and become giant publicity fiascos. Headline News this morning did a run down of the top five gaffs Obama has committed in his first 100 days. They are as follows: being involved in the goofy delivery of the oath, allowing his children to interrupt his wife, bumping his head on the roof of his aircraft, messing up the teleprompting and stepping on his wife’s dress.

Number One may now be Monday’s Defense Department photo shoot fly by of the Statue of Liberty. Oddly people on their way to work in lower Manhatten were panicked at the site of a 747 and an F-16 circling the statue. Apparently it brought back memories of 9-11. I imagine the briefing where this idea came up: much head nodding and enthusiasm. “Yes, photos of Airforce 1 and the New York City skyline, what could be better?” Here’s where I imagine the Secretary of Dumb to weigh in. “Stop, think what you’re saying. Big planes, New York City, people on their way to work. Ring any bells?”

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By Denise Ross

It was an emphatic, unequivocal statement on a conference all with more than 20 reporters Thursday morning.

I haven’t ruled anything out, Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin said.

It was the last answer to a series of questions about her plans for 2010, questions that started with a potential run for governor and ended with, “Have you ruled out a run for the Senate?”

SHS said she plans to make a decision sometime this summer, and she clearly doesn’t intend to bend to any pressure stemming from others’ waiting on her decision.

I plan to make a decision sometime this summer. It could be early summer; it could be late summer.

…

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By Denise Ross

He might be aiming for the title of Hardest Working Man in Show Business. South Dakota’s own John Thune, in charge of outreach for basically all of the nation’s Republicans (see post below), also has another job besides his day job, according to The Hill.

Baby needs a new pair of shoes:

Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) head the Senatorial Trust Club, for $15,000 donors.

As The Hill piece explains, no longer can GOP senators simply throw some cash at the National Republican Senatorial Committee and go about their merry way. Now they must show up at fundraisers and hobnob with donors. So many parties, so few Republican senators, I guess.

Thune isn’t at the top of this pyramid, however.

Cornyn has tapped Sens. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) to handle the NRSC’s Majority Makers, the donor club for those who contribute the maximum $30,400. 

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By Denise Ross

Or maybe he’s just a very good GOP soldier. In any case, Politico takes a look at his relatively new job as the Senate GOP conference vice chairman (read that ambassador to anyone who will listen):

(Thune) is attempting to go beyond the traditional Republican coalition groups and renew ties after two poor election cycles. And facing a White House with a strong grass-roots operation, Thune is trying to spread the GOP’s message directly to groups with members across the country in an attempt to build broader opposition to a host of Democratic initiatives …

… Thune and Senate Republicans think that effectively explaining their opposition to groups affected by legislation will yield greater benefits once their members begin pressuring Democratic legislators to defect from Obama’s agenda.

(Tim and Stephanie, you have been warned. It might all just be a Republican trap.)

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By Susan “the recently silent” Smith

MSNBC is reporting someone threw tea bags on the lawn of the White House today during the Capitol demonstration. Apparently someone has also dubbed the protest the Largest Grassroots Demonstration Ever. Interesting. I also saw a MaoBama sign.

 In other news, The American News in Aberdeen is reporting that the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission predicts a new carbon rating policy could increase South Dakota utility rates by 48 percent.

Read the full story here: http://anedit.sx.atl.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090415/NEWS10/904150256

And turn those lights out already.

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Photos by Mr. Hoghouse

Here are more photos from Wednesday’s tea party event in Rapid City, with special attention paid to the plethora of signage.

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Photos by Mr. Hoghouse, David Larson

Mr. Hoghouse stopped by Rapid City’s tea party today and took some photos. (I was not in attendance, as the little munchkin required my presence at home, so I don’t have any extra reporting to pass along. Just the photos.)

Here are 2 photos that show the large turnout over the noon hour. Stop back later for more photos. I have to run an errand. (6ish pm Mountain Time.)

UPDATE: Here are a few more photos. A second post to follow.

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By Denise Ross

Sadly, someone with the resources of Leo Hindery Jr. is going to blow his wad on a hapless and hopeless scheme to start charging fees to read news online. There’s just one problem: People won’t pay.

Former Colorado cable TV executive and investor Leo Hindery Jr. is one of three principals in Journalism Online LLC, a national venture announced Tuesday to help newspapers and magazines collect revenue for online content.

Online news leaks through a much looser seive than did music in the hey-day of Napster-ish file-sharing. (And we all know how well that is still working out for the old school music recording industry.) There is only one version of Brittany’s “Oops … I Did it Again,” while there are typically multiple versions of coverage of any given news event. Plus consuming news is arguably a much more transient experience than assembling a soundtrack for one’s life.

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By Denise Ross

Since President Obama has lifted some restrictions re: Cuba, I’ve been wondering about opening up trade with Hemmingway’s former hide-away and how much that might affect our farmers here in South Dakota.

I recall that former SD Secretary of State Joyce Hazeltine led a delegation some years ago to Cuba that focused on potential grain exports. Anyone else remember this? (Or participate?)

I’ve also heard it reported that the decision of whether to lift the embargo is up to Congress, not the president. If so, does anyone know if any of our big 3 have made public statements about this?

What should their positions be? It’s hard for me to get too worked up about punishing Cuba for being Communist, but then I wasn’t around during the Cuban missle crisis. Plus I’ve always wanted to visit myself. (See above Hemmingway reference for a clue as to why.)

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