Time for a fresh perspective at Republican HQ

A note at http://www.dakotawarcollege.com/ about Max Wetz and his new wife (last I knew also an employee of the South Dakota Republican Party) having purchased a house in Pierre. PP theorizes that this could mean a long term stay at the party for Max.

This idea caused me to question a few things that are happening in our party in the last several years. In the 80's and 90's it seemed that the party had a natural selection approach to staffing that followed two very basic principals:

1. We hired young, hungry people, that wanted to prove themselves and paid them way less than they probably deserved and worked them like dogs for a few years. At the end of this time period the staffers left with their expieriences to make their way in the world (some in politics, others in the private sector), make real money, and generally further the Republican way of life. It was a great way to develop future party leaders. This is where we have seen people like Lance Russell, Patrick Davis, Hugh Weber, Herb Jones, and most recently Jason Glodt come from. All of these people have gone on to sucess in different areas of the political spectrum.

2. If you did not exceed the standard that was set for you, you also left. You left completely of your own volition, and made room for the young turks that were chomping at the bit to get your job so that they could prove that they had what it took to join the ranks of the people in #1.

After the performance of the party during the last election cycle, some of the staff at Republican HQ are looking a little long in the tooth. With the loss of seats in the House and Senate in 2006 and the upcoming important national elections we may be facing, you would think we would be looking for fresh horses to carry us through the 2008 season. The fact that we still have the same Executive Director and Political Director (Amanda Dotson) shows that this is the team that we are planning on going forward with.

Amanda has been with the party since at least 2002 and Max since 2005. We have not had a stellar record of performance lately. These are good people, but they seem tired to me; like they are just punching a clock and taking home a check at a 9 to 5 job (If you wish to verify this, go by the party office after 5:00 any day and you will see that no one is there.) These are not the hungry young people that the party needs right now.

I hope that we will see some changes coming soon from the Republican Party. We need fresh legs with a fresh perspective if we are going to maintain control of the Legislature and have a chance at winning races for our Congressional seats.

An addition for the fact concious:

A post in the comments at www.dakotawarcollege.com questioned my facts, so I did some verifying. Here is what I found:

The links below show that in 2005-06 the make up of the house was 51R-19D. In 2007 it was 50R-20D.

The Senate was 25R-10D in 2005-2006 and is now 20R-15D.

But thank for keeping me honest!

http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2006/hourost.htm

http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2007/hourost.htm

Dakota Radio Group brings more of the same to State Capitol's radio

This isn't really a political post except for the fact that it pertains to radio in the state capitol. For years Pierre South Dakota has dwelt in the steamy, smelly armpit of the state when it comes to format choices on your radio dial. We only get about five choices on the FM dial (including NPR) and the AM stations vary depending on the weather and what time of day it is (we have two stations that are based in this town.

For some reason two of these stations (95.3 KLXS and Dakota Radio Group's River 92.7) have seemed to always have a similar format. In the 90's they were both classic rock, in the aughts (2000's) they were both equally horrible as top forty alternative pop crap stations. Finally 95.3 chose a format that, in my opinion, made them the more listenable when they became BOB-FM. A format of not having a format. Playing music the way on might program an ipod play list (ex. country song, 70' rock song, rap song, 80's hair band song, etc, etc, etc.) All different, and if you don't like the song that is playing the next on will be nothing like it.

Lately, Dakota Radio group had an opportunity to buy a new frequency when 100.1 became available in the Pierre area. They bought it and set up a new transmitter, and had an opportunity to bring something new and exciting to Pierre. You'll never guess what the cutting edge minds at Dakota Radio Group came up with as a format. The exact same thing as BOB-FM, or as one of there ad salespeople told me this weekend "It's just like BOB-FM, but only better."

I understand that radio is a business, and that Dakota Radio Group did this because they figure they can sell some advertising, and maybe steal a few customers away from the competition. But I say they screwed up here. We have very little choice in radio as it is, why bring in more of the same. Is there a rule that you can't be innovative in the radio business in Pierre.

Anyway, I'll close this rant by sending a great big BOO to Dakota Radio Group for their lack of creativity and making a decision that in no way enriched our community in any way. Stop piling on the crap and be original!

Ted Klaudt sentenced to 44 years of being cornholed

After what seems like forever, Ted Klaudt has been sentenced to 44 years in the State Penitentiary. And for a change he has been taken into custody by law enforcement (I guess that they finally decided to take things off Klaudt's schedule.) He will now be escorted to Meade County to be sentenced for the crimes he committed there.

Considering that he could have been sentenced to 100 years I think he is getting off a little light. I know with his health and age 44 years is probably a life sentence, but why not send a message. Someone (probably family) actually suggested that his "good works" should be considered in his sentencing. A lot of legislators have done a lot of good things, and I don't think any of them would deserve any leniency when it comes to crimes of this magnitude.

Anyway, it shouldn't be long and Ted will be in the pen, taking his punishment. And as I have said before, I hope he has a long healthy future in front of him. I for one will have no problem paying my share of his health care.

Hopefully he will run into some friends of mine in there, as I do know a few guys in the pen (and I'm talking about lonely guys with no future.) Maybe they will be lucky enough to run into Ted and let him know what it's like to have your innocence taken from you against your will.

Too bad a judge can't pass down that sentence. It is certainly deserved.

Rusty

Romney Wins, Giuliani Strategy Looking More Realistic

Mitt Romney wins the Michigan primary and Giuliani's strategy to wait until the later states is looking like it may pay off for him. So far none of the candidate on the Republican side looks like a clear front runner. I for one think this may prove fortuitous for the one candidate that I (and the late Gerald Ford) think could win this election.

I will be looking forward to see what the "Liberal Media" will say about this. I think we will see a new round of endorsements for Senator John McCain (the dinosaur of the Republican Party) that I think has no chance to win. I could support Giuliani or Romney (Huckabee is a little too fiscally moderate for me) but McCain is definitely on the outs with me as a candidate.

I guess we will see what happens in South Carolina. Huckabee will probably win, but thanks to the last two contests he won't have a mandate.

Watch this space for more updates as Super Tuesday approaches.

Rusty

Klaudt out and about.

Saw on the news today that Ted Klaudt will not be appearing at another sentencing due to alledged heart pain. I smell something fishy.

Here is my theory. I think that Ted is afraid to go to jail and is feigning heart problems to avoid sentencing and jail time while he gets up the courage to kill himself. Giving him the opportunity to control his own destiny and go out on his own terms. Given the nature of his crimes it definately seems like he likes to be in control.

I hope he's on suicide watch where ever he is. I don't want him to miss one miserable minute of the rest of his life once someone in law enforcement or the judiciary gets his butt back to SD to face the music. We're counting on you to protect and serve.

Rusty

Budget cuts ahead, SDSEO wants to be last on the chopping block

The governor made his State of the State address today and some lawmakers have suggested that state employees may not recieve a wage increase this year. And just like I would expect a union to do, the SDSEO cried foul; suggesting that state employees should not face life without a raise. I have a problem with this due to the fact that Governor Rounds also suggested that there should be cuts in several other sectors of the government.

First and foremost on my list, law enforcement. If there is going to be cuts in the State of South Dakota I would hope that all of us (including state employees) would agree that belt tightening should come in the form of salaries and not public safety. If the legislators can dig up more money I hope they will use it to (as I think Andy Garcia would say it) protect the citizenry and property of the people of the State of South Dakota.

State employees fill an important role in our world, and I only wish them the best, the economy in Pierre depends on their income. But I think they (at least the stand up state employees that I know) would be willing to make a sacrafice this year for the greater good.

Rusty

Thanks to www.dakotawarcollege.com for the welcome

Thanks to PP for the added attention to the Gribble Report. I thought that I would have to work a little harder for my first real attention. And as things are in the blogosphere I have already been called out by an anonymous poster. As I replied at PP site I will try my best to be more entertaining. When you have to compete with other established bloggers I realize the bar is set higher. I will try my best to meet that expectation. Look for more to come here soon.

Rusty

Ted Klaudt avoiding Prison, claiming weak heart.

I made a few comments regarding this issue at http://www.dakotawarcollege.com/ and it has actually got me so upset that I have decided to start my own blog. Not just to address this issue, as I stated in my new profile description I will post on many different topics, this will just be the first and as a result the one that no one will probably ever read. But here it goes...

I am still in complete shock that Ted Klaudt still has his freedom and no one in the MSM or the government is making any kind of noise about it. Is South Dakota law enforcement on the scene to make sure this fat piece of crap isn't trying to escape or, what I think would be even worse, killing himself.

Ted Klaudt did some horrible things to some innocent people that he was assigned to protect. Not to mention took advantage of all of us as voters with his lies and deceit. Usually I feel like Republican elected officials take it on the chin when they do something even moderately questionable; let alone the heinous crime of child molestation. Ted Klaudt took the pussy way out, and tried to fight his crimes in court. Up until now I see him as being largely unapologetic. Now he is hiding in North Dakota.

Ted Klaudt needs to get to jail as soon as possible. And I hope when he gets there he lives a long, long time. He will probably be allowed to serve his time in some manner that will protect him from the kinds of punishment that less known child molesters suffer at the hands of inmates in any criminal justice system. But I hope not. I hope he spends the rest of a long miserable life paying the price for what he did to innocent children in his care.

We need to get him back home as soon as possible.