By Denise Ross

Reliably red? Not any more, according to Gallup, which last year had South Dakota as “competitive.” Now, we’re blue. (I swear it’s true.)

There’s nary a red state left, with our neighbor Wyoming holding fast. After polling from January-June, Gallup now lists South Dakota as “Leans Democratic,” one step away from full-on blueness.

While one cannot discern this from examining our state Legislature and Governor, it does add a great dinner party topic as we head into 2010. Who knows, maybe even John Thune will have a contest.

Says Gallup:

Only four states show a sizeable Republican advantage in party identification, the same number as in 2008. That compares to 29 states plus the District of Columbia with sizeable Democratic advantages, also unchanged from last year.

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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.

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By Denise Ross

An astute observer asks via back-channel communication:  Does the board make-up of the new Ellsworth Development Authority make sense, geographically speaking?

Here’s the list:

• Jeffory Erickson, Sioux Falls
• Gary Grittner, Fort Pierre
• Mark Johnston, Sioux Falls
• Glen Kane, Rapid City
• Stanley Porch, Wanblee
• Bruce Rampelberg, Rapid City (Chairman)
• Mark Roby, Watertown 

Johnston, an Iowa native, did live in Rapid City, working for the National Guard, before Gov. Rounds tapped him to be his press secretary back in 2003.  

Still, the list does seem a bit non-Black Hills-centric. And while Fort Pierre is technically West River, it’s not exactly Belle Fourche. And why only Rapid City represented from the Black Hills. No Box Elder? Hows about a former legislator or two?

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By Denise Ross

GOP gubernatorial candidate Dave Knudson is completing a few days of campaigning in the Black Hills, and he carved out a few minutes for Hoghouse Blog.

I’ll post the details and a photo on Thursday.

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By Susan

Two columns in Friday’s Argus Leader had a similar message for the GOP: Beat the opposition with strong candidates not outdated rhetoric.  David Kranz wrote about StopStephanie.com, the new Web Site launched by the state’s Republican Party to “highlight the radical liberal voting record” of Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. And also, Kranz deduces with his keen eye for political machinations (possibly while wearing a deerstalker and puffing a pipe) that it is also to throw a wrench in any plans she may have to win re-election to her seat.

Joel Rosenthal, former chairman of the state Republican Party said in Kranz’s column that the votes detailed on the site have to do with Herseth Sandlins’ votes on “spending all this money” but argues that the best defense against the state’s lone congresswoman is finding a qualified candidate to run against her.

“Be for something, not against something,” he argues.

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By Denise Ross

Mel Olson is now on the Mitchell City Council. Alan Hanks was just re-elected mayor of Rapid City. We hear often of Kermit Staggers’ antics on the Sioux Falls City Council. Ed McLaughlin used to be mayor of Rapid City. Mark Kirkeby went from the Pennington County Commission to the statehouse. Before Jerry Apa was a state budget hawk, he was raising hell on the Lawrence County Commission - and was a regular in the audience at the Lead City Commission. Tom Nelson is still the mayor of Lead. Tom Hennies is on Rapid City’s planning commission.

There seems to be a trend among some state lawmakers. It seems more natural to me to go from local to state, but there are plenty who go the other way, too. What other former state lawmakers have found a home in local politics? I know I’m missing folks; my powers are limited.

I’ll update this post with answers as they come in.

UPDATE: Michael Schumacher writes in to point out that Lou Sebert is mayor of Mitchell. I shoulda remembered that one.

 AND Larry Mann writes in to point out the all-too-obvious - Dave Munson, mayor of the largest city in the state, served several years in the Legislature.

So now I’m feeling a little, uh what’s the word, dumb, but this does illustrate a trend, no?

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By Denise Ross

While surfing SD news sites - and procrastinating on the blogging - I learned that one-time Dem gubernatorial prospect Mel Olson appears headed to the Mitchell City Council. The fine residents of Mitchell have to vote, of course, but in the meantime the Mitchell Daily Republic has a reader poll up online about the contest.

Given Olson’s flair for framing the questions of the day in especially dramatic-tinged-with-humor fashion, he’s a reporters dream. That style also has plenty of appeal to voters, even if it drives his opponents mad.

His line about why he ultimately would not run for governor:

There are a million reasons not to run for governor, and they all have George Washington’s picture on them. *

And that, folks in the political biz will tell you, means that Mel didn’t want it badly enough. City council must seem more managable, not to mention close to home.  

So, if you’re a fan of Mel’s, you can go vote for him - in the newspaper site. If you’re not a fan, you could vote against him. And we’ll soon see how most of those Mitchell residents feel about him.

While we’re quoting Mel’s greatest hits, I recall two from his days as House minority leader when budgetary issues were - shocking - at the fore.

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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 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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