SOUTH DAKOTA STRAIGHT TALK

Two weeks ago posting on President Obama’s talk to America’s school children, I said, “The President is the leader of our Country and deserves our respect.” “When we disrespect the President, I said, “we disrespect ourselves.”

Then last Friday when reading a rather routine story in “The Washington Post” on national political fundraising I was shocked to see the following quote from none other than our Vice President who was speaking of possible GOP victories in the 2010 U S House election.

        "If they take them back, this is the end of the road for what Barack and I are trying to do,"

Vice President publicly called him by his given name not the President.  

The apparent lack of respect is not good for the Nation and not good politically for the President.

Extended Endbar (prompted in thinking about what the VPOTUS said) – Calling the President by his given name reminds me of the scene in the Aaron Sorkin written and Rob Reiner directed film (both super libs), “The American President.”  The film is very engaging and great stagecraft for political junkies, despite their politics. The scene between the President’s Chief of Staff played by Martin Sheen (who plays a great Robert E Lee in Ted Turner’s Gettysburg – can we get anymore liberal?(Turner not General Lee)) and a President Andrew Shepherd played by Michael Douglas.

The COS: Good night Mr. President

The President: When we're out of the office, and alone, you can call me Andy.

The COS: I beg your pardon, sir?

The President:  You were the best man at my wedding, for crying out loud. Call me Andy.

The COS: Whatever you say, Mr. President.

In another exchange prior to the one cited above the Chief of Staff also got off this exchange about addressing the President:

The COS: Nice shot, Mr. President.

The President: Nice shot, Mr. President? You won't even call me by my name when we're playing pool?

The COS: I will not do it playing pool, I will not do it in a school. I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them, Sam I Am.

Aaron Sorkin has reportedly dated Kristen Chenowith (a real talent and not too shabby) and New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd. Dating Dowd is a little hard to understand but it must be that writer’s thing or something. Sorkin is best known for his work on television’s “The West Wing.”

Among Sorkin’s other credits are “Sports Night”, for both stage and screen the outstanding “A Few Good Men”, and most recently for his screenwriting “Charlie Wilson’s War.”

Straight Talk Commentary – Those running OUR federal government (the President and the majority party) just can’t get enough of the government deepening itself in the ownership and operation of many facets of our economy and our lives.

President Obama last weekend suggested to the nation’s newspaper editors that he would be “HAPPY (emphasis added) to look” at proposals for a federal bailout of their industry. The very simple fact is that newspapers are a dead business model. The government has no business trying to save the dead tree day late news media than it does going into the buggy whip industry.

Despite all the moolah we might throw at the papers they can’t be saved!

Gathering and reporting local news is still vital and can be economically rewarding but a meaningful timing and delivery model needs to be figured out. Locally KELOland.com is light years (and I would guess financially) ahead of our Daily Planet who has a few good days but is always slow and flatfooted. Nothing personal it’s their Gutenberg  model.

Sidebar – Not to say I don’t appreciate the “Argus Leader”, they have been doing a nice job online occasionally  with their live streamed afternoon interviews with our local and federal officials and occasionally with sports interviews.

There are several other interesting arguments made in the following article from “The Week” magazine worth considering.

        The necessity of a free press to our Democracy

The fact that news organizations should be independent of those they cover

The nonsense that somehow all media will end up in conservative ownership

The nonsense that without newspapers there will be no one to check facts and provide a check and balance to the government

A Newspaper Bailout

The Week

September 22, 2009

Maybe President Obama was just being nice, said Craig Crawford in CQ Politics, when he told newspaper editors over the weekend that he would be "happy to look" at proposals for a federal bailout of their industry. "The idea seems dicey, at best"—not just because of "the cost in these times of rising federal debt and the public's growing fatigue with bailouts." The bottom line is that "newspapers that owe their lives to the government are probably not worth having."

Obama's rationale for considering the idea, said Ed Morrissey in Hot Air, was that newspapers are serious institutions that shape useful policy debates while the blogosphere just encourages partisan shouting. Not only is that untrue, but "I seem to recall something in the Constitution" that explicitly made what the press does "none of the federal government’s business." The government should never have stuck its nose in the insurance and automaking industries, "but this is much more dangerous."

It's also pointless, said Michael Masnick in Techdirt. "There are plenty of 'real reporters' who do plenty of 'serious fact-checking' within the blog world too." The idea that newspapers need to be given preferential treatment over other sources of news reporting "is pure folly."

"It is no secret the newspaper industry is in trouble," said the Delaware County, Penn., Daily Times in an editorial, but the Newspaper Revitalization Act proposed by Rep. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) is not the answer. The bill would give tax breaks to newspapers that turn themselves into non-profit corporations, and in return they would have to stop endorsing candidates. Newspapers do have to adapt to survive online competition -- but "a truly free press requires freedom from political or government intervention even when that intervention is well intentioned."

It's nice to hear people at least talking about a future for print journalism, said Phil Bronstein in the San Francisco Chronicle. A future without profit is better than no future at all. "I'm for supporting journalism, even if it takes a vote in Congress to get there."

The First American Benjamin Franklin must be turning over in his grave.

In Franklin’s City of Brotherly Love, The Free Library ofPhiladelphia announced yesterday that it is closing permanently due to lack of funding from the state government of Pennsylvania.

Ben Franklin who understood the power of words, the power of learning, and the power of a well educated citizenry, invented (as distinguished from founded) the first lending Library in 1731.

It is reasoned that the demise of The Free Library was victim to the economy but also to the digitization of job and government resources. Library usage is near all time highs but because of revenue pressures on government library funding has not kept up.

Knowledge and Education are the great equalizer in America. Free public education and public libraries are keystones to the assuring that America continues to be the land of opportunity. I often note that the free enterprise system of risk and reward is an essential element to our Freedom. Access to knowledge is essential to assure that hard work is rewarded and America is the land of opportunity. Franklin understood this.

Endbar – Library use is exploding in the Sioux Empire as well. Recent circulation data show that usage in the past year has increased 8.2%. Subjectively the number is even higher given the construction at the Main Branch in downtown Sioux Falls. Circulation at the main branch is down slightly (6.4%) because library patrons believe it is closed. IT’S OPEN! Also of note the Siouxland Libraries website, www.siouxlandlibraries.com usage increased over 30% this past year as more patrons are accessing the library online.

There was a political volcanic eruption in advance of the President’s back to school greeting to America’s schoolchildren last week. The President’s Men however brought it upon themselves and consequently their boss. The political lava like fallout was valid but should have been avoided.

The President’s cantankerous opponents were outraged (rightfully so) that included in the information and lesson plans distributed in advance of the President’s speech were details of ways students could help the President and his agenda. This was inappropriate.

The President of the United States talking to America’s school children is TOTALLY appropriate and I would even say a very good thing. His words should bring weight to the message that education in important and Job One!

The President is the leader of our Country and deserves our respect. When we disrespect him we disrespect ourselves. Former First Lady Laura Bush spoke on the issue saying it's "really important for everyone to respect the president of the United States." Like Mrs. Bush, I agree the coarseness of our politics is now disintegrating to the point that our government can accomplish little and frankly seems incapable of governing. The disrespect of our elected officials particularly our President is not healthy to the Nation. Strangely I believe it has more to do with us than the actors.

The loss of respect may have had it seeds with Lyndon Johnson and opposition to the Viet Nam war but likely surfaced with Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal. Bill Clinton without question took disrespect of the Presidency to new levels. Even the events of Rep. Joe Wilson (I agree basically with what he said – just don’t think the forum was appropriate) and the current retribution and blackmail demands by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi do not instill respect in the institutions they represent.

The President’s speech taken by itself without lesson plans and without any context that actions (and facts) speak louder than words was appropriate and had a great message – PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY -  The right message to the right group.

Unfortunately President Obama and his White House do not heed the creed. All of the major events of the first eight months of the Obama administration call for more government involvement in our lives leaving less room for personal responsibility and personal initiative.

Straight Talk Commentary – District 12 State Representative Blake Curd was featured in today’s “Sioux Falls Business Journal.” Curd has been all the political buzz in the past couple of weeks and is increasingly being talked about among GOP activists as a potential and very serious challenger to Mrs. Herseth Sandlin. That is appropriate because Dr. Curd is a very serious man.

The Doctor is taking a hard look at becoming a candidate. Besides stumping on the health care issue with presentations in Watertown and Sioux Falls in the past couple of weeks (He is an opponent of further Federalization), he spent several of the past few days at the State Fair talking to South Dakotans.

He would make an excellent candidate because he is quiet and reasoned. He does not rant and rave. He backs up his positions with facts.

I previously posted on Blake’s seriousness and I would add seriousness of purpose stating he is what is rare in our State Legislature, “A Reader.” He actually reads the Legislation. When the Federal Stimulus money was introduced into the balancing the State Budget equation, he became a student and studied the Stimulus law that was rushed through in Washington last February.

Curd was one of the 5 GOP House members to vote against the 2010 State Budget. Note his comment in the Business Journal article when asked what issue he hoped to challenge in the 2010 Session.

“We have to strive to arrive at a budget that does not contain a structural deficit and does not commit us to unsustainable future spending.”

Curd is a focused individual and he should not be underestimated as a Statewide candidate.

D.C. Trip Sparked Curd’s Political Interests

By: Rosemarry McCoy

Sioux Falls Business Journal

September 9, 2009

The Question and Answer feature helps readers learn more about people in the medical community. This Q&A profiles Dr. R. Blake Curd, a hand, microvascular and orthopedic surgeon at the Orthopedic Institute and a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives.

Q: How did you become interested in your field?

A: “I was always interested in medicine; as a boy I believed I would be a doctor. I was fascinated by the challenge of operating with a microscope and the microscopic instruments. I loved the mechanical part of orthopedic surgery and the satisfaction of ‘fixing’ things that were broken in people.”

Q: How many years have you been in your profession?

A: “Finished medical school in 1991 at age 23.”

Q: What is a typical day like?

A: “Up at 5, exercise for 60 to 90 minutes, news, time with kids, kids to school, surgery begins between 6:30 and 7 and runs until 6 p.m. or later on surgery days. Office starts around 7:30 a.m. and runs until 5:30 or 6 p.m. on office days. Professional reading after, home with kids and their events. Pleasure reading and political information gathering – reading/Internet/communications – until 11:30 p.m. or midnight and then begin again.”

Q: What type of changes or advancements are occurring in your field?

A: “Better pain control, better hardware, smaller incisions, less time in the hospital, less infection, improved technology. Cosmetic hand surgery is becoming popular.”

Q: What is the most common procedure you perform?

A: “Carpal tunnel release.”

Q: What do you enjoy most about your work?

A: “Meeting new people, understanding who they are and what they need to get better, developing that plan with them and then implementing it.”

Q: What is the biggest challenge?

A: “Understanding what a patient wants or needs and then balancing that with what is technically possible.”

Q: What are South Dakota’s biggest needs in the field?

A: “We – hand and microvascular surgeons – are in short supply nationally and internationally. South Dakota faces the same challenge.”

Q: How did you become interested in politics?

A: “I was asked to travel to D.C. to talk about physician and patient rights. I had no interest in political office and believed my trip would have no impact. I found quite the opposite to be the case. My trip, and numerous subsequent visits, made a difference, not only on a national level, but also in me. The initial trip lit a fire inside me for a different type of public service that burns brighter now than ever.”

Q: What issue do you hope to champion in the Legislature next year?

A: “We have to strive to arrive at a budget that does not contain a structural deficit and does not commit us to unsustainable future spending.”

The Curd File 

Name: Dr. R. Blake Curd
Occupation: Hand, microvascular and orthopedic surgeon, Orthopedic Institute
Hometown: Atlantic, Iowa; Omaha; Kansas City from third grade on
Age: 41
Background: Received his medical degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Medicine in 1991; commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve in 1987; served until 2000 when he was honorably discharged as a major in the Air Force Medical Corps; became a partner at the Orthopedic Institute in 2001
Family: Wife, Debbie; three children: Ellie, Rilie and Zachary
Hobbies: Bagpipes, aviation, scuba, cycling, snowboarding, mountains, guitar

Marty Jackley, was sworn in today as the 30^th South Dakota Attorney General. He replaced Larry Long who the Governor appointed as a Circuit Judge in the Second Judicial Circuit.

The swearing in ceremony was held in Sioux Falls at the Minnehaha Old Court House Museum. As many as three hundred attended the event emceed by the outgoing Attorney General. In attendance were many members of the Bar including several members of the Judiciary, State Legislature, Law Enforcement, Assistant Attorney Generals, Assistant U S Attorneys, and friends of Marty Jackley.

The Governor was there and spoke very briefly. The new AG was sworn in by his father Mike Jackley. The senior Jackley a retired attorney from Sturgis has been active in Republican and State politics for many years. Mike served as Meade County States Attorney for 12 years.

The ceremony was also attended by President Obama’s nominee to replace Jackley as U S Attorney for the District of South Dakota, Brendan Johnson. Johnson son of Senator Tim Johnson is expected to be confirmed very shortly when the Congress returns to session next week. Johnson’s confirmation could come as early as next week with Justice Sotomayor’s confirmation off the plate of the U S Senate Judiciary Committee. The Acting (Interim) U S Attorney for South Dakota is Dennis Holmes, a long time Assistant U S Attorney.

Marty Jackley is an outstanding replacement for Long who served as General for about 7 years, as Chief Deputy Attorney General for Mark Barnett for 12 years and prior to that for perhaps nearing 20 years as the Bennett County States Attorney. Long is a fair minded man and will be a good Judge.

Jackley brings quite a resume to his new office. He grew up in the Sturgis area. He is a graduate of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology with a degree in Electrical Engineering and the University of South Dakota Law School. Upon graduating from law school in 1995 Marty served as a law clerk for Chief Federal Judge Dick Battey. Leaving his Clerk’s position in 1997 Marty was associated with the Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson law firm in Rapid City. During that time he also served as needed as a Special Assistant Attorney General in Butte, Fall River, Custer, and Meade Counties prosecuting controlled substance felonies. In 2006 President Bush nominated and the U S Senate confirmed his as U S Attorney for South Dakota. In 2008 Marty Jackley received the South Dakota Prosecutor of the Year Award from the South Dakota State’s Attorney’s Association.

Last evening many of Marty Jackley’ s friends, associates from the U S Attorney’s Office, and other members of the legal fraternity had a dinner at the Downtown Holiday Inn in Sioux Falls to wish the new Top Cop well as he embarked on his new job. I was not there but it was reported to me that perhaps the most notable kudos given to the exiting U S Attorney was from Senior Federal Judge Lawrence Piersol. Judge Piersol in his remarks said that under Jackley’s leadership, attorney’s under Jackley's direction were always prepared and only presented facts they could absolutely substantiate. When some facts were not on their side of the argument they did not take up the Court’s time by saying they were. (note – this is my interpretation of what the Judge said and any errors are mine – though in any event my source said His Honor's remarks were flattering.) This is a pretty high compliment given the partisan nature of the Judge who before he sat on the Bench was the Democrat Majority Leader in the South Dakota Legislature.  Judge Piersol also led Tom Daschle’s legal effort in the recount effort when Daschle won his first election in 1978 to the District 1 U S Congressional seat. (Daschle won by 139 votes – 64683 to 64544).

Jackley will hit the ground running and there will be little transition time in the AG’s office with the arrival of a new boss. Jackley might be the best qualified person to ever become Attorney General coming directly from running a large prosecutor’s office. His experience with Native American law as USA is especially notable.

I expect Marty to seek the Republican nomination in 2010. In earlier press reports he said he will give the election some thought after taking office. He will clearly be the favorite as the incumbent to win the GOP nomination. Jackley prior to serving as U S Attorney was active in the Republican Party. Growing up in Meade County and living in both Rapid City and Sioux Falls gives him a statewide base.

For the Democrats, they better start looking for some First Class talent to oppose him if they want to have any chance to win the Attorney General’s office. Recycling Ron Volesky again is not a winning formula.

It is very safe to say that today there is another political star ascending in South Dakota.

Partisanship has gotten in the way of fair play again with the political gamesmanship surrounding the replacement of Senator Ted Kennedy.

News media and the blogs have reported pretty extensively on the political kabuki theatre and hypocrisy surrounding Senator Kennedy’s replacement. Senator Kennedy himself got into the act only the week before his death when he suggested the Massachusetts succession law be changed to allow the Governor to appoint an interim replacement until an election could be held. This change contradicts Senator Kennedy’s previous successful effort that changed the law from the power of gubernatorial appointment (that he now favors) to holding a Special Election with no interim appointment..

Senator Kennedy’s motives are driven by the party of the Governor sitting in the Massachusetts State House at the time of an appointment. Thus Democrat Governor = Interim Appointment; Republican Governor = Special Election.

In 2004 the Governor was Mitt Romney, a Republican when Kennedy wanted to change the law in the event Senator John Kerry was elected President. Obviously given his concerns on his own impending vacancy of the office he did not want an election but rather have the Democrat Governor, Deval Patrick appoint his replacement.

Regardless of which method is best laws should not be changed for specific circumstances. It is not good public policy and you should play the game fairly and not change the game to suit your best interests.

I posted previously in Following the Rules,  

We expect that laws and rules will be administered and enforced blindly and equality without regard as to the Who.

On Monday, Governor Patrick called a Special Election (as required by current law) to be held in mid January 2010. The Democrat controlled State Legislature is also currently considering changing the law to allow the Governor to make the special appointment. We will see very shortly how this plays out.

Past as Prologue - Contemporaneously with this bit of theatre is the cha cha cha that the Dem politicos are doing in Massachusetts either to obtain the appointment if there is one or to run for the Special Election. Filing deadline for the partisan primaries is October 19^th. Several non Kennedys have expressed an interest. Mass Attorney General Martha Coakley is in the race. Considering running are Marty Meehan a former U S Congressman and President of the University of Massachusetts -Lowell, and current Congressmen Ed Markey, Stephen Lynch, and Michael Capuano.

The Kennedy’s want to hold onto the seat, it has belonged to them since 1953 (56 years ago).

Rumored in the past day or so Governor Patrick wanted to make an appointment if there is to be one to Kennedy’s widow, Vicki. Reportedly Mrs. Kennedy is not interested. Former 6 term U S Congressman, Joseph P. Kennedy II, son of Bobby and Ethel has been positioning himself to be the heir to the Kennedy Senate seat. I posted previously that Ted Kennedy’s son, U S Congressman from Rhode Island was his likely successor. However after watching the moving and passionate tribute by son Ted Kennedy, Jr. at the funeral in the Basilica on Saturday, my money is now on Ted Junior. if he wants it. His tribute to his Dad was the highlight of the day in terms of eulogies.

When one of the Kennedys becomes a candidate, it is all over.

Colonel Andrea Thompson is an important new South Dakota blogger posting on a timely and interesting topic – A Soldier’s Look at the War in Afghanistan.

Today is a mark it on the calendar day for Colonel Andrea Thompson. She reported to her new assignment as the Senior Intelligence Officer to Commanding General McChrystal’s staff in Kabul, Afghanistan and today also marks her 21^st anniversary as a U S Soldier. Her blog that is informative, engaging and full of pictures gives a boots on the ground view of a Soldier’s life at War.

Andrea Thompson is a graduate of Harrisburg High School (she was Homecoming Queen). She received her BA in Journalism and Spanish from the University of South Dakota. Upon graduation she was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Corps. While serving in the Army she earned a Master’s of Science degree from Long Island University in Leader Development and Counseling. She is a graduate of several Military Schools including Command and General Staff College and recently graduated from National War College with a Master’s of Science Degree in National Security Strategies.  

Colonel Thompson has a varied and distinguished career traveling extensively worldwide. She has served previously in Afghanistan and twice in Iraq. From 2005 to 2007 she served as Assistant Chief of Staff for the 101^st Airborne Division. From 2007 to 2008 she served as a Special Assistant to the Army Chief of Staff.

A very accomplished soldier she has been awarded among a longer list the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Humanitarian Service Medal, the Overseas Service ribbon (4), the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Parachutist’s Badge.

Andrea is the daughter of South Dakota political campaign consultant and former S D GOP Executive Director Georgia Hanson (a very proud Mother).

Andrea Thompson spoke in June at the Minnehaha County GOP monthly luncheon briefly about the War on Terrorism. She took several questions and I was extremely impressed. She was a total professional; Knowledgeable and a great communicator. No politics though – strictly a pro. She perfectly finessed any question about U S Policy or criticism of the Commander in Chief.

Afghanistan Update – As Colonel Thompson arrives in Kabul, reports are General McChrystal is preparing a report for the President that may include a build up of forces similar to the Iraqi surge. If such a request does come, it comes at a time when opposition to the War in Afghanistan is building with both American public opinion and the Congress.

I continue to strongly support the War on Terror. United States efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan are essential to American Security.  Al-Qaeda wants to annihilate Western Culture, That includes Jews first and Americans regardless of their faith second, then Europeans. The Terrorists must be stopped.

I am thankful and totally support our American forces and Heroes like Andrea Thompson.

Check out her blog, Andrea’s Adventures at: http://andreasafghanadventures.blogspot.com/

Senator Edward Moore Kennedy who has been part of the political landscape for close to half a century has passed on. Unless you have been living under a rock on a different planet you already knew this. The report of his death was the entire Associated Press radio newscast at 7am this morning. No other story. No Ben Bernanke being reappointed … no nothing but Teddy Kennedy. Few Americans, I included can remember when Teddy Kennedy wasn’t a U S Senator.

Recollections

I first heard of Ted Kennedy during the 1960 Presidential campaign when he briefly visited Fort Worth. Kennedy was just out of the University Of Virginia Law School and was making the rounds stumping for the Kennedy – Johnson ticket.

The reason I remember Ted showing up was a close childhood buddy had his picture published in “The Fort Worth Press" with the young Ted Kennedy. My friend’s family was active in the Democrat party and Ricky’s dad had been a delegate or alternate to the Los Angeles Convention and as far as I know, Doc Rapfogel was the only Texan in Los Angeles who was supporting Adlai Stevenson. The Rapfogel’s were really liberal. They hadn’t at least initially supported JFK either. Texas was supporting their favorite son, Senate Majority Leader, Lyndon Baines Johnson. It is important to note that conservative Texans were not a lead pipe cinch to support Kennedy even with Johnson on the ticket. JFK / LBJ won Texas in November 50.52% to 48.52% for Nixon / Lodge. It has been suggested that John Kennedy and Landslide Lyndon had a little help in the counties in South Texas west of Corpus Christi. Seven counties including the infamous Duval County went Democrat with over 90% of the vote. That is another story for another time.

The nation next heard from Teddy Kennedy when he became a candidate in 1962 to fill the seat vacated by his Brother the President. Had his name been Edward Moore he would never been elected. But that wasn’t his name, it was Ted Kennedy. His brother was President, his father was a wealthy self made Irish American businessman (movies and bootlegging not to forget rumored philanderer) who had served as President Franklin D Roosevelt’s Ambassador to the Court of St. James (Great Britain), and his grandfather was John F. “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald who had been the popular Mayor of Boston. Kennedy won the Democrat primary for the Special Election by a 2 to 1 margin and defeated the Republican in the Special with 55% of the vote.

Reflecting, Kennedy served in the Senate for 47 years. The Constitution provides that to serve in the U S Senate you must be 30 years old. Kennedy died yesterday at the age of 77!

My next recollection of Teddy Kennedy was a national news story about there now being two brothers in the U S Senate. The story focused on Senator Ted picking up older brother Bobby, the newly elected Senator from New York, and taking him to work when the Senate convened in 1965. Later in 1968 the then elder Kennedy campaigned for President and like his older brother John F Kennedy was assassinated.

Life moves on to 1969, the Chappaquiddick incident and the drowning of Mary Jo Kopechne, a former campaign assistant for Bobby Kennedy. The “incident” became a national scandal and detoured Ted’s running for President in 1972 helping leave the way open for George Mc Govern. For his part in the accident, Senator Kennedy pled guilty for leaving the scene of an accident and received a suspended sentence.

Kennedy’s ambition though was not throttled. He sought the nomination in 1980 against the Democrat incumbent President Jimmy Carter. Kennedy lost to the party apparatus and resigned himself to just trying to be a good U S Senator.

He was. I disagreed with him about 99% of the time and certainly did not condone much of his private personal behavior. When I became active in partisan politics, Teddy Kennedy became a useful and active target for Republican fundraising and rallying the GOP base. The faithful just could not stand him.

At best there are only ten to fifteen Senators in Washington that make any significant difference. Kennedy was one of them. On the Democrat side Tom Daschle and Daniel Patrick Moynihan were also. Just for balance on the GOP side are Richard Lugar and Orrin Hatch. John Thune too is working his way to the front ranks as a mover and shaker in the Capitol. Some of Kennedy’s best legislative work included the 1981 Jobs Training Partnership Act (that replaced CETA that was Carter’s government employment program) and working with President Bush on the No Child Left Behind Act.

Senator Kennedy, a member of the Senate Labor Committee worked with Senator Dan Quayle to change CETA to JTPA. The case in effectiveness of both Kennedy and Quayle is detailed in an interesting monograph, “The Making of a Senator: Dan Quayle.”

Since Kennedy was diagnosed with brain cancer he has not been active. Because I most most often disagree with his Extreme Liberal positions he has not been missed by me. I don’t think he is a great man as he is being lauded by so many but I do respect his work if not him. He has been described as the Last Lion of the Kennedys. I hope he is and the Kennedy dynasty has worn out their welcome.  

One final parting shot – Senator Kennedy’s death in light of his strong long time commitment to Nationalized Health Care should not be used by the President and his Party to make him a martyr for the so called health care reform that is being debated.

I do genuinely hope that he rests in peace.

His three brothers each gave their life for our Country and they deserve our respect.

Sioux Falls now has two more candidates for Mayor for next April’s election. City Councilman Pat Costello as expected has filed the Intention to Run Document with the City Clerks office.  Also declaring to become a candidate is Joshua Bradley. Bradley who is unknown in my political circle is a customer sales and service representative for Qwest.

Pat Costello is the only small businessman thus far in the Mayor’s race. Costello I expect will bring the pragmatic hands on problem solving to the Mayor’s office as he has done to his several restaurant enterprises. Costello also is a Certified Public Accountant and thus a numbers guy. On the City Council he has demonstrated these skills in his understanding of the City Budget and the more complex financial issues that have come before the Council.

Costello generally is progressive in advancing City growth, while at times opposing revenue increases preferring to pinch the penny whenever possible. It’s been a pretty narrow line for Pat to balance his pro growth and economic development and his naturally conservative philosophies. Pat is a member of the Sioux Falls Costello clan that has been active in Sioux Falls development for many years. I am not aware that Pat has any involvement with Costello Companies.

Costello perhaps at this point the only home grown candidate originally from Sioux Falls and thus may have a slight advantage in garnering support and cash; but I would not sell Bill Peterson, Mike Huether, or Vernon Brown short in garnering support. It is important to remember that perhaps forty to fifty percent of Sioux Falls residents were not raised here either.

The Queen City’s Mayor’s race will be a rough and tumble and may be exciting.

Quick Question – Can Kermit Staggers who has been making voter contact and surreptitiously campaigning like a madman be far behind in announcing for Mayor?

Council Races Shaping Up – The Harley Davidson guy, Jim Entenman has filed for one of the At Large spots. Entenman is a big Sioux Falls and South Dakota tourism and visitor promoter and activist (also another small businessman).

Filing for the Central District is Michelle Erpenbach. Erpenbach is a writer and editor for the Good Samaritan Society, and it should be noted the wife of campaign politico Steve Erpenbach. Steve held different positions with the SD Democrat Party and Tom Daschle throughout Daschle’s Senate career. Currently he is President and CEO of the S D State University Foundation.

Currently filed for Gerald Beniga’s seat in the Southeast District are Sue Aguilar and Bob Christensen. Aguilar is a former Sioux Falls School Board member. Bob Christensen is the owner of Barber’s Inn. Working with Christensen’s campaign is political operative Georgia Hansen who also is working with the Brown for Mayor campaign.

Another At Large spot currently remains void but that should change soon.

Expect the list of candidates to continue to grow even more rapidly as we move forward.