Archive for July, 2009
Just another word for nothin’ left to lose
By Denise Ross
South Dakota’s own John Thune has launched the Health Freedom blog, and, frankly, it’s killing me.
C’mon guys, you can do better than giving in to the reflexive GOP urge to name everything “freedom.” You know how some things become parodies of themselves? Don’t let it happen to your campaign. Or your candidate.
So aside from a title that suggests, I guess, that one is free to be healthy - and who could argue with that, right? - how’s the blog itself? Well, it borrows heavily from the fine blogging tradition of quoting from MSM articles. Borrows heavily might fall a bit short. It does this and offers no extra commentary designed to generate discussion. This post is typical:
5 commentsPolitico: Liberals gag over health deal
Reported by Politico:
SHS: ‘I’m not able to support healthcare bill in current form’
By Denise Ross
South Dakota’s congresswoman, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, told reporters Thursday that she can’t support any of the various versions of health care reform legislation now being worked on in the US House.
I’m not able to support the bill in its current form, she said on a conference call.
SHS said she believes the well-known Blue Dog coalition, of which she is a leader, has had a positive impact on the House bill(s) - especially when it comes to cost containment, but she’s more interested in what might come out of the Senate Finance Committee.
6 commentsThe bill started out where the more liberal members of the (House Dem) caucus wanted to be. …
(What comes out of Senate Finance) will be a product I might find more appealing than what emerges from committees in the House. I’m pleased I’ll have time to see what this group comes up with in the Senate.
SHS and Blue Dogs have Obama over a barrel on health care reform
By Denise Ross
As one political observer put it to me, The Blue Dogs have never been so en vogue. I’m guessing they’re not so popular around 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, however.
The US House’s Blue Dog coalition of moderate/conservative Dems is now mentioned in most stories about the ongoing Capitol Hill healthcare reform debate. That’s because they have become the gatekeepers on any legislation. If they like it, it moves forward. If they don’t, it’s see ya later.
South Dakota’s own Stephanie Herseth Sandlin holds a key post in Blue Dog leadership, maker her bluer than blue I suppose. And today she’s delivering the bad news that what had just yesterday been proclaimed a “breakthrough” probably isn’t after all. So say the Blue Dogs.
2 commentsRep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., a co-chair of the centrist House Blue Dog Democrat Coalition, told reporters that the deal is being re-assessed because the Congressional Budget Office found it would only save $2 billion over 10 years.
Heidepriem v. GOP - they’re out of their corners
By Denise Ross
I won’t be redundant, but the fracas that’s erupted over Dem Scott Heidepriem’s entry into the 2010 gubernatorial race is getting good - and it’s only been a day.
First, the SD War College has the state GOP’s, um, missive titled The phoniest man in South Dakota to run for governor. You’d think there’d be nowhere but nicer to go from there, but the GOP has proven you wrong.
Says the not-a-bit-delicate PP:
OUCH!
I think my jaw is still a little slack after reading this. The SDGOP didn’t pull any punches. At all.
Second, Heidepriem responds on the Decorum Forum calling the SD GOP liars, liars, pants on fires. He doesn’t own a BMW, he says, so how can he be selling one as they claim he is? If his Sioux Falls home is a mansion, he’s still living in it, which they claim he’s not. And he’s still in good standing at his country club, which they also claim he’s not. (Yes, Heidepriem is the Democrat in the race.)
2 commentsCOLUMN: SHS says why she didn’t run for governor
By Denise Ross
In a word, the answer is Zachary. So the very reason I predicted Stephanie Herseth Sandlin would run for governor turns out to be the reason she won’t. (I think I’m going to start predicting that I won’t win the Powerball.)
Earlier this month, South Dakota’s lone US House member ended the suspense that had preoccupied any legitimate political junkie who follows events in the Rushmore State. She will run for re-election to the US House, the least risky move. In a recent newspaper column, I did a Q&A with SHS about her decision-making process. It boiled down to the potential for a grueling gubernatorial campaign and the likely detrimental effects that would have on her 7-month-old son, Zachary Lars. (Read the full column on the jump.)
I just felt that what is best for Zachary is what balance we’ve been able to find these past seven months, she told me.
So the question we will never know the answer to - and the question I neglected to ask - is if she were not a new mother, would she have made a different decision?
I do think she was tempted by the prospect of a gubernatorial run, as evidenced by her answer given on the jump. She clearly had thought it through. She’d even listened to pitches promoting the Pierre school district for the future young scholar, Zachary.
She also said her decision isn’t part of some grand scheme to run for Tim Johnson’s Senate seat in four years. She re-iterated what Johnson’s staff says - don’t assume he’s retiring at the end of this term.
Sen. Johnson retiring is an assumption it’s too soon for anyone to make.
Read everything Stephanie told me by clicking “CLICK HERE” below.
No commentsNew York Daily News hits Thune on gun bill
By Denise Ross
It’s not hard to find East Coast media - especially in NYC - taking on South Dakota’s own John Thune over his (failed) proposal to have concealed carry gun permits recognized by other states. But the New York Daily News did it in graphic form, which is great for blogs.
Personally, I’m not familiar with the Country Corn Maze. Anyone else? Of course it’s great fun for coastal big city types to make themselves feel more sophisticated by making fun of us out here in flyover country.
The murder comparison is an attention grabber, though.
Meanwhile, the NYDN had plenty to say about Thune’s gun bill, including this:
1 commentThe senator from the state that kills Wild Bill Hickok every day for tourists says we would be safer with gun-toting yahoos walking around Central Park.
SHS and Blue Dogs pile on redistricting bill
By Denise Ross
I’ve been remiss in not posting this before now. Shortly after I wrote a newspaper column about Sen. Tim Johnson staking out lonely but historic ground in trying to reform the nation’s broken system for drawing congressional districts, South Dakota’s own Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and her fellow Blue Dog Dems showed up to make it a party. (Read the press release on the jump.)
“All too often redistricting is plagued by partisan politics, and this bill seeks to remove that from this process,” said one of SHS’s fellow Blue Dogs.
I could be happier only if this bill could get as much attention as did Sen. John Thune’s concealed-carry bill. And if Thune spoke up in favor of this, too. Beuhler?
No commentsCQ on SD’s gov race: The Abdnor-Janklow connection
By Denise Ross
CQPolitics examines an intriguing dynamic in South Dakota’s upcoming gubernatorial election process and neglects to mention a key fact. (Read it all here.)
First, the omission, in a name, is Steve Jarding. Since Jarding is advising all-but-declared Democratic candidate Scott Heidepriem - and one presumes will manage the campaign - Republicans ought not breathe too easily since Congreswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin bowed out. Jarding plays to win, is a national expert in electing Democrats in red states and has a solid track record. He’s like the Democrats’ Dick Wadhams. Combine him with a credible candidate and watch out.
Next, the intriguing dynamic - Republicans could be so fractured after a primary contest that the winner would be sufficiently weakened for a general election defeat. Sorta like 1986 when Tom Daschle won his Senate seat after Sen. Jim Abdnor narrowly defeated Gov. Bill Janklow in a, um, spirited primary.
No commentsFacebook tech support request
By Denise Ross
Can anyone tell me why Facebook (for me) has suddenly turned all Chinese? Or, more importantly, how to fix it?
I can’t even log in right now, since the only language I know is English. (I tried to learn French in college. It didn’t take. I can ask you if you’re eating ham in the library bathroom, however.)
1 commentGratuitous baby photo at 6 months
By Denise Ross
It’s been far too long since I posted a photo of the little piggy. Here’s David Alexander Larson just shy of turning 6 months old.
He eats rice and vegetables.
He has two adorable teeth.
He scoots a bit.
All things that the baby lovers among the Hoghouse readership will want to know.
I’ll say this for parenthood - the time does fly by.
5 comments