South Dakota Politics

Argus Leader finally covers Russell Means' endorsement of Thune

The institutional bias of the Argus Leader can be readily observed today, under an AP report headlined "Means: Thune doesn't want my campaign help."

You can read the original AP story HERE.

The bias is not in the content of the piece, but the timing of its publication. The AL has a knack for immediately following up on AP reports that reflect negatively on John Thune, but completely ignoring AP stories that reflect positively on John Thune. When the AP reported Means' endorsement of Thune last February, the AL completely ignored it. This is selective bias at its finest

The AL has engaged in a similar pattern of bias with stories from Roll Call, the Capitol Hill publication. When Roll Call publishes stories that reflect negatively on John Thune, the AL reports the story the very next day. However, when Roll Call publishes stories reflecting negatively on Tom Daschle, the AL completely ignores them. For more on this pattern of institutional bias, click HERE, and to learn more about what I think is behind this bias, click HERE.

DVT has more.

I'm back

I'm back. Hopefully, I won't have to take the bar exam ever again.

As I anticipated, this week has been eventful. Argus Leader executive editor Randell Beck offered a clarification of his "If Hitler were alive today, he'd be a blogger" comment. That comment made it around the world, and even the Wall Street Journal took notice.

Also, Tom Daschle has lamely declined John Thune's offer of having 66 joint appearances around the state over the next five weeks. I think Daschle has missed an opportunity here.

Quote of the Day

"If Hitler were alive today, he'd have his own blog." -- Argus Leader executive editor Randell Beck in a column today headlined "Web log junkies welcome here."

DVT, Quentin Riggins, and Andrew Sullivan have more.

I'm off to Pierre to sit for the bar exam, which concludes on Wednesday. I really hate to have to be gone when it's shaping up to be a very interesting week. Don't forget to listen to South Dakota Public Radio tomorrow at 7:32 AM and 5:32 PM for a feature story on South Dakota blogs.

I'll be back to blogging on Thursday.

If you can't beat'em, join'em

Some of the editors at the Argus Leader tentatively enter the blogosphere. Assistant managing editor Patrick Lalley is conspicuously absent from the lineup, however. That's strange, because it seems the purpose of the AL's "blog" is to answer questions about their political coverage, which is Lalley's bailiwick.

Nevertheless, this is an encouraging development, and I'm sure I speak for the entire Dakota Alliance in warmly welcoming these AL editors to the blogosphere.

(Via DVT.)

SD Public Radio to air feature on Dakota blogs

Earlier this week, I announced that an interesting story was slated to emerge in South Dakota in the near future. Now, it can be revealed that South Dakota Public Radio has discovered the blogging phenomena that has swept the plains of this state, and has developed a feature on the subject that will air on Monday, July 26. It's slated to run at 7:32 AM and 5:32 PM. There will also be a promo that should air all weekend.

Be sure to listen in. It should be interesting. It's refreshing to know that some in the local mainstream media can fit blogs into their worldview.

Herseth supports "Marriage Protection Act of 2004"

The AP has a story today headlined "House OKs Gay Marriage Jurisdiction Bill." Excerpt:

Stung by a Senate setback on gay marriage, Republicans passed legislation in the House Thursday to prevent federal courts from ordering states to recognize same-sex unions sanctioned elsewhere.

According to the House roll call vote, Rep. Herseth joined with most Republicans to support this bill.

Daschle blocks three more judicial nominations

Senator Daschle today successfully filibustered three more judicial nominations. You can view the roll call votes for the three HERE, HERE, and HERE. The nominees are respectively Henry W. Saad, Richard A. Griffin, and David W. McKeague.

This comes on the heels of the successful filibuster of William G. Myers III earlier this week.

All in all, not a bad week's worth of obstruction.

In a timely editorial today headlined "Daschle's Dead Zone," the Wall Street Journal publishes a long list of legislation with bipartisan support that Senator Daschle has effectively obstructed.

This is rich

Editor & Publisher magazine has named the Argus Leader one of "10 newspapers that do it right."

According to Gannett, "The Argus Leader was cited for its approach to projects and the newspaper's 'determination to be a regional, even statewide voice.'"

Story now set to emerge next week

The story that I mentioned earlier this week was tentatively slated to emerge today has now been slated to emerge sometime next week. That's all to the better anyway, as I'll have more time to digest and analyze the story when it does surface. Stay tuned.

Daschle a strong voice for Earthjustice

Senator Daschle often likes to tell us he's a strong voice for South Dakota's farmers and ranchers. But after Daschle's vote yesterday to deny William G. Myers III an up or down vote on his nomination to the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, defying the request of many South Dakota agricultural interests to support the Myers nomination, it's clear that Tom Daschle is only a strong voice for Earthjustice, the Sierra Club, and Friends of the Earth.

Quentin Riggins also weighs in on this topic.

After yesterday's vote, today's edition of The Hill reports that Majority Leader Frist is once again mulling the "nuclear option" in a piece headlined "Frist backs rule change on judges."

The indispensable Howard Bashman has more.

Daschle blocks Myers nomination

DVT reports that Senator Daschle voted against the nomination of William G. Myers III to the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. John Thune's campaign issued a press release in response with the headline "Thune disappointed in Daschle for siding with liberal extremists over South Dakota farmers and ranchers."

The AP has a report headlined "Democrats Block Bush Judicial Pick."

Earlier today, I quoted an excerpt from a piece written by Alan Simpson, a distinguished former senator from Wyoming in which he stated:

Later today, the members of the Senate will face a significant choice. They can either take an honest step towards restoring some semblance of reason to the most reversed circuit court in the nation, or they can surrender to the left-wing special-interest groups, who want to keep their unfair home-court advantage in the Ninth Circuit.

As observed by John Thune, Senator Daschle has surrendered to the left-wing special-interest groups, leaving South Dakota farmers and ranchers in the lurch.

Myers nomination blocked

The nomination of William G. Myers III to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has been blocked by 44 senators. I don't know how Senator Daschle voted, but when the roll call vote is published on the Senate's website, I'll post the information.

John Thune urged Tom Daschle to vote for the nomination, and Rapid City Journal political reporter Denise Ross has a story on the issue headlined "Judge vote on Senate's desk." As DVT notes, the Argus Leader skipped the story.

National Review Online has a piece by Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming supporting the Myers nomination headlined "One for the Ninth; Confirm Meyers, already." Excerpt:

Later today, the members of the Senate will face a significant choice. They can either take an honest step towards restoring some semblance of reason to the most reversed circuit court in the nation, or they can surrender to the left-wing special-interest groups, who want to keep their unfair home-court advantage in the Ninth Circuit. For the sake of the poorly served residents of the Ninth Circuit and the nation as a whole, let's hope that they take the high road and confirm Bill Myers.

Thune calls on Daschle to support Myers nomination

John Thune today called on Tom Daschle to support the nomination of William G. Myers III to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The nomination will face a filibuster tomorrow. The state's cattle industry strongly supports Myers, and is strongly urging Senator Daschle to support the nomination and use his vaunted clout to defeat the filibuster.

Howard Bashman has more.

Bar exam looming

I sit for the bar exam next week, so posting will be sparse for the next ten days. I'll try to get at least one post published per day, though.

Meanwhile, watch for an interesting story tentatively set to emerge on Wednesday that will reverberate around South Dakota.

For something completely out of left field, note that one of South Dakota's federal judges is a blog reader, according to a story in today's Wall Street Journal headlined "Law Professor's Web Log Is Jurists' Must-Read."

Astounding figures

This brief report speaks volumes about how Tom Daschle has lost touch with South Dakota.

The New Republic runs correction on Hug Gate

Next week's edition of The New Republic carries the following "correction" on Hug Gate under the headline "Consider the Source":

In an article about the influence of Michael Moore on the Democratic Party ("Crashing the Party," July 19), Jason Zengerle noted that the filmmaker had recently boasted to Time about his warm post-movie reception from Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, despite Moore's merciless lampooning of the senator in Fahrenheit 9/11. After attending a screening of the film, Moore told Time, Daschle "gave me a hug and said he felt bad and that we were all gonna fight [Bush] from now on. I thanked him for being a good sport."

But it turns out Moore and Daschle aren't so close--or at least not close enough to have hugged. "I know we senators all tend to look alike," Daschle told reporters. "But I arrived late to the film and had to leave early for Senate votes. I didn't meet Mr. Moore." Maybe this episode will shake the faith of Daschle and his fellow Democrats in Moore's other stories.

Sibby at Mitchell's Rodeo Parade

Sibby Online has posted some great pictures of John Thune, Larry Diedrich and Stephanie Herseth at Mitchell's Rodeo Parade today.

Is Daschle for the ranchers or the extreme environmentalists?

The Senate is scheduled to vote on the nomination of William G. Myers III to the federal appellate bench next Tuesday. The AP has this report.

The Cattle Network has a missive headlined "Cattlemen vs. Extreme Environmentalists in US Senate Next Week." Excerpt:

Please contact your Democratic Senator and ask them to ask Senator Daschle to allow an up or down vote on Bill Myers’ nomination. Bill Myers’ nomination should not be filibustered in the Senate just because he worked for ranchers and the cattle industry – which is why he is opposed by environmentalists. Therefore, we need cattlemen and women that have Democratic Senators to begin aggressively calling these offices and asking them not to filibuster Bill Myers’ nomination, and should there be a filibuster, to vote YES for CLOTURE and allow an up or down vote on the appointment of Bill Myers to the 9th Circuit.

Earlier this week, the Aberdeen American News published an opinion piece written by the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association's director and executive director headlined "Daschle should allow vote on judge."

Will Daschle's obligations to the national Democratic Party outweigh his obligations to South Dakota ranchers on this issue? Or will he "reluctantly" support the nomination but sit on the sidelines and do nothing to battle against a Democratic-led filibuster?

Buckley on Daschle and gay marriage

William F. Buckley, the founder of National Review, has just published a new piece headlined "Circle-Squaring by Daschle; The South Dakota senator and marriage." Excerpt:

Now consider Senator Daschle's plight. Most of the leaders in his party who oppose the amendment do so on the grounds that it impairs gay rights. They aren't saying exactly that, but the essence of what moves them is what they'd call one more step in gay liberation. If non-gays can marry, so should gays be permitted to "marry."

But that by no means is the position being taken by Senator Daschle in his nervous fight to survive. He says the amendment is "unnecessary." Why? Because South Dakota law prohibits same-sex marriage, and the federal Defense of Marriage Act means South Dakota does not have to recognize same-sex marriages from other states.

If it were actually so, the movement to amend the Constitution would indeed be unnecessary. But it isn't so because there are judicial activists in the land who tend to edge the argument about marriage over not into what state legislatures have done, but into the great sunlight of rights that inhere in us at birth, endowments of nature/philosophy/the Bill of Rights/the Areopagitica, whatever.

IBD on Daschle and gay marriage

Investor's Business Daily has an interesting opinion piece today headlined "Courting Trouble." Excerpt:

We have to agree with Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle that, as he put it this week, there is no "urgent need" to amend the Constitution right now to defend traditional marriage.

Federal law is clear. It defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman, and it declares that no state can be forced to honor same-sex marriages established under another state's law.

This law, the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, strikes the right balance between state and federal powers. As long as it stands, states are free to make their own decisions on same-sex unions without imposing their choices on others.

But for a man who says he believes that "marriage is a sacred union between men and women," Daschle sounds remarkably serene about the less immediate future.

"In South Dakota," he declared, "we've never had a single same-sex marriage and we won't have any." How can he be so sure?

The truth is, he can't. The future of same-sex marriage is not just up to states, and it's not just up to Congress. It's also up to the courts, especially the Supreme Court. And whatever the people of South Dakota or any other state believe, they could wake up one morning to find marriage redefined with no regard for their opinions.

NPR on the Four Directions Committee

NPR has a story in today's Morning Edition headlined "Native Americans Challenge S.D. Voter I.D. Law." The piece contains quotes from Brett Healy, executive director of the "non-partisan" Four Directions Committee.

WaPo's gossip columnist comments on The Hug

The Washington Post's Richard Leiby, who reported this week that Michael Moore stands by his claim that Tom Daschle hugged him and said he "felt bad" about supporting the Iraq war, made the following comment in a "Live Online" discussion today:

[Daschle] seemed pretty mellow last time I saw him, but if his anxiety has increased lately, maybe it's because he did NOT get a hug from Michael Moore. (Our column had all the info on the "Daschle denies hugging Moore" controversy earlier this week, but I'm happy to fill space by providing more, more, Moore)

The wonders of Photoshop

DVT has a humorous "picture" of Tom Daschle and Michael Moore shaking hands.

Daschle's early exit "raised eyebrows"

The Washington Post has a piece headlined "South Dakota's Allure Tops Boston's." Excerpt:

Daschle will speak at the convention in Boston on its second day, July 27, then return to South Dakota late the next day, 24 hours before Kerry delivers his acceptance speech at the gathering's finale. Daschle's schedule, reported yesterday by Roll Call, raised some eyebrows among congressional Democrats.

Noting that Daschle faces a tough reelection challenge from Republican John Thune, who often ties him to the Democratic Party's most liberal figures, they wondered if the senator wanted to avoid posing on the podium for the big balloon drop alongside Kerry, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (Mass.) and others.

Even congressional Democrats are saying Daschle is distancing himself from Kerry.

Does this mean there's no "post-convention" party?

In another indication that Senator Daschle is trying to distance himself from John Kerry by leaving the convention early, note that a party was scheduled to be held at the end of the convention in Tom Daschle's honor, according to a recent report in the Chicago Sun-Times:

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States is throwing a post-convention party at a club near the Fleet Center, where the convention is being held, to honor Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.)

It looks like Daschle made a last-minute decision here.

AP: Daschle to forego Demo convention finale

The AP's Dennis Gale has a piece headlined "Daschle to forego Demo convention finale." Excerpt:

Tom Daschle, leader of the Democrats in the U.S. Senate, won't be in Boston when presumptive presidential nominee John Kerry addresses his party's convention.

Daschle will be at the convention earlier in the week but plans to campaign for re-election in South Dakota later that week. The convention starts July 26 at Boston's Fleet Center.

"I thought it would be fun to watch John Kerry speak from South Dakota with South Dakotans," Daschle said Thursday.

That's the reason Daschle is giving for skipping the finale, but DVT notes a report from the National Journal's Hotline that indicates the real reason.

UPDATE: This is strange behavior for a man who is a co-chair of the convention.

Daschle distancing himself from Kerry?

DVT notes a report in the Capitol Hill publication Roll Call today headlined "Members Fill DNC Roster" which begins:

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle is leaving the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night to return to South Dakota to campaign for his re-election bid, forcing him to miss Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry’s acceptance speech.

Right. I think it's more likely that Daschle can't afford to have pictures like the one below jittering on thousands of South Dakota television screens.

This Reuters picture was taken March 11, 2004, at the conclusion of a press conference in which John Kerry refused to apologize for calling President Bush and his advisors “the most crooked ... lying group I’ve ever seen.” Tom Daschle didn't take the opportunity to decry the "startling meanness" of Kerry's comment, and instead shook hands with Kerry and mugged for the cameras.

Fineman: Frist fumbled FMA

Newsweek's Howard Fineman has an interesting news analysis headlined "How Frist fumbled on gay marriage amendment; Procedural mistake lets Democrats avoid voting on hot-button issue." Excerpt:

Rather than seek an up-or-down vote on a toughly worded version of the amendment, Frist and his allies (led by Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania) allowed discussion of a second, milder one. But since that one (which would leave latitude to the states) might actually pass, Democrats opted to mount a filibuster. As a result, the central (and only) vote turned out to be on a motion to shut off debate — a harder vote to use in an attack TV ad.

So apparently, Tom Daschle filibustered the FMA because alternative language to the amendment might actually have gotten 67 votes. On top of that, Daschle filibustered the FMA after promising not to.

South Dakota ranchers call on Daschle to support Myers

The Aberdeen American News has an interesting guest editorial today by the South Dakota Cattlemen Association headlined "Daschle should allow vote on judge" urging Senator Daschle to support the nomination of William G. Myers III to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Excerpt from the editorial:

We hope Sen. Daschle will hear our call and allow the Myers nomination to come to a full vote in the Senate. We are constantly reminded how powerful the minority leader position is. The senator should use his power to help South Dakota producers in this important matter.

NYT discusses Thune commercial

The New York Times has a piece today discussing John Thune's first television ad headlined "The Kids on the Trail." Excerpt:

Now John Thune, who is trying to unseat Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle in South Dakota, is getting into the act. Or at least his kids are. Mr. Thune's first television ad of the campaign features his two red-headed daughters, Brittany and Larissa, doing a teen riff on their dad, complete with an outtake when the girls giggle over a mispronunciation of ethanol.

"We just wanted you to know that we think our dad would make a really great senator," Larissa Thune says before the pair pokes a bit of fun at their father. Not exactly an independent endorsement, but apparently part of a trend in 2004.

You can view Thune's ad, titled "Fresh Start," by clicking HERE.

WaPo: Michael Moore stands by his claim Daschle hugged him

The Washington Post is reporting that Michael Moore stands by his claim reported in Time magazine that Tom Daschle hugged him after the premiere of "Fahrenheit 9/11" and told Moore he "felt bad" about supporting the Iraq war. Tom Daschle subsequently denied Moore's claim, and said he'd never met or talked to Michael Moore in his life. This whole situation is just getting curiouser and curiouser.

(Kudos to DVT for catching the WaPo graf.)

Daschle filibusters amendment after promising not to

Today's Aberdeen American News has a piece headlined "Daschle against gay marriage amendment." Excerpt:

Linda Schauer of Leola, director of Concerned Women for America of South Dakota, had harsh words for Daschle. In a press release, she said he "has promised the homosexual lobby that he would ensure the defeat of the Federal Marriage Amendment."

She said she hopes Daschle doesn't attempt to filibuster the measure. Constituents have a right to know where Daschle stands on the issue, Schauer said.

A filibuster won't happen, according to Daschle's camp. Daschle said Tuesday that he will allow an up-or-down vote on the original amendment proposed by Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo.

But just an hour ago, Daschle successfully filibustered the FMA. The AP has a report headlined "Senate Scuttles Gay Marriage Amendment."

Daschle voted to support the filibuster of the FMA, and you can examine the roll call vote HERE.

Judge Piersol testifies before Senate panel

Judge Piersol, a federal trial judge here in South Dakota, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this week regarding the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding federal sentencing guidelines. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer has the quote in a story headlined "High Court sentence views flummox judges."

Bloomberg: Daschle to block FMA

"Gay-Marriage Bill to Be Blocked in U.S. Senate, Daschle Says": Bloomberg has an article today that begins, "Democrats will prevent a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage from coming to a vote in the U.S. Senate, Minority Leader Tom Daschle said."

Meanwhile, Governor Rounds has sent a letter to Senators Tom Daschle and Tim Johnson asking them to support the Federal Marriage Amendment.

DVT has more.

Hemmingsen: Daschle loading Thune's cannon

South Dakota television icon Steve Hemmingsen has a post headlined "From Nicey-Nice To Obviously-Obvious." Excerpt:

Is Senator Tom Daschle loading John Thune's cannon for him or what? Daschle's latest proposal sounds like the plot of an Elmer Fudd rabbit chase.

Daschle suddenly proclaims that he finds Rural America in decline and has a five-point plan to stop it. John Thune promptly asks where has our Tom been for the last thirty years. Heck, why not make it fifty. Having grown up in Rural America, the peak years I remember were in the 1950's. We've been in a noticeable slide ever since.

Minneapolis Star Tribune notices the Dakota Alliance

"It's busy on the blogs in S. Dakota." That's the headline of a story in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. More:

On the ground in South Dakota, the race between Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and Republican challenger John Thune has been running below most news media radar, but it sure hasn't in the blogosphere.

Daschle opponents have set up at least three Web logs with the sole intention of smoking him out and helping defeat him.

Most recently, last week they climbed all over a story in Time magazine, which reported that Daschle hugged Michael Moore, director of "Fahrenheit 9/11," after a Washington, D.C., screening.

By the end of last week, Daschle had issued a statement saying he had never met Moore and had left the screening early so he could cast a vote in the Senate.

The incident prompted conservative radio talk show host and columnist Hugh Hewitt to comment: "The influence of blogging on politics is nowhere more obvious than in South Dakota. Tom Daschle has long sold himself as a moderate to South Dakota voters, and has done so with the assistance of a very friendly local press. But now the locals get the news via a stream of serious reporters trawling the national press and Internet sites for the real news on the hyper-partisan Daschle."

There's more than three. We can't forget Ryne McClaren and Quentin Riggins.

DVT joins the ranks of the doubtful

DVT has a post regarding "Hug Gate" (Michael Moore's claim that he hugged Tom Daschle after the premiere of "Fahrenheit 9/11" and Daschle's categorical denial of it) headlined "Hug Gate: Daschle's Alibi Implausible." DVT persuasively notes, among other things, that The New Republic reported Daschle was among those giving a standing ovation at the end of the movie. TNR is unlikely to report such an important fact inaccurately. To underscore that notion, TNR's Jason Zengerle has assured me that his editors are looking into the accuracy of Michael Moore's claim, after Zengerle wrote a piece for this week's edition citing it:

Moore's parallel presidential campaign poses a dilemma for Democrats. The Kerry campaign--mindful of the heat Wesley Clark took in the Democratic primaries when Moore, appearing on stage with Clark at a rally, accused President Bush of being a "deserter"--is keeping its distance. While it obviously appreciates the scrutiny Moore and his film are bringing to bear on the Bush administration, a campaign spokesperson was quick to announce that the Massachusetts senator hasn't seen Fahrenheit 9/11 and doesn't plan to. "The campaign will keep an arm's length from the film," says a Kerry adviser. "There's no upside to embracing a filmmaker who is likely to pop off at any moment with statements as inflammatory as they are impolitic."

Other Democrats, however, aren't so chary of Moore or his effort. In late June, Moore had a VIP screening of Fahrenheit 9/11 at Washington, D.C.'s Uptown Theater. In attendance were a host of prominent Democrats--including Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, Florida Senator Bob Graham, California Senator Barbara Boxer, and numerous members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Even some of Fahrenheit 9/11's favorite targets, such as Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle--who Moore mercilessly lampoons in the movie for being insufficiently opposed to Bush and the war in Iraq--dutifully showed up. (After the screening, Moore told Time, Daschle "gave me a hug and said he felt bad and that we were all gonna fight from now on. I thanked him for being a good sport.")

Although the applause at the Washington, D.C., event was more muted than at the New York and Los Angeles VIP screenings, where liberal celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Rob Reiner gave it raucous receptions, the presence of so many Democrats--especially those Senate Democrats, who delayed a vote on a defense bill so they could attend--spoke louder than any standing ovation.

(Emphases added.) That's it at the end of the day, isn't it? Daschle's mere presence at the premiere speaks volumes about how out of touch he is with the red state values of South Dakota.

Redstate.org

Jay Reding is announcing that he will be contributing electoral analysis on the Daschle v. Thune race to Red State, a new Republican community blog. Jay's keen mind and excellent writing will make his analyses a must-read.

Boston Herald columnist doesn't believe Daschle's denial

Margery Eagan, a columnist for the Boston Herald, in a piece headlined "What's up with all this John-John touchy-feely?" has this to say about The Illusory Hug:

I should note that Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, perhaps concerned by the Caressa-Kerry hoopla, now denies bear-hugging "Fahrenheit 9/11'' director Michael Moore at the film's June premiere. No one believes him.

Sibby's stellar sleuthing. LGF (and Kranz!) pick up on The Illusory Hug

David Kranz, the dean of South Dakota political reporters, has a report today headlined "Timing of votes cast doubt on Moore claim of Daschle hug."

Meanwhile, Sibby has done some great investigatory work regarding the timing of the Senate votes on the night of Michael Moore's DC premiere. It seems that most of the senators reportedly at the premiere were voting around the time they were reportedly giving the movie a standing ovation. Strange.

Finally, Little Green Footballs takes note of The Illusory Hug and comments: "Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle would like us all to know that he absolutely did not, under any circumstances, hug Michael Moore."

Well, he'd like all South Dakotans to know, anyway.

UPDATE: If you haven't seen it already, don't miss the story in yesterday's Washington Times headlined "Daschle cool on plaudits for '9/11.'" Excerpt:

Dick Wadhams, campaign manager for Daschle challenger John Thune, said Mr. Daschle trotted out the case-of-mistaken-identity excuse only after being criticized for his coziness with Mr. Moore from voters in South Dakota, where Mr. Bush received 60 percent of the vote in 2000.

"As usual, Tom Daschle wants it both ways," he said. "He wants to go to the premiere and lend credence to the movie, but he doesn't want to be judged for it by voters. It's typical Daschle doublespeak."

Daschle in Vermillion today

Senator Daschle held a barbecue today here in Vermillion at Prentis Park around noon. I strolled in late, hung out for awhile, and took the picture shown above. I also had a nice chat with Bob the Daschle Guy as I was leaving. He's a mensch. He told me his parents love to see his picture on the Dakota Alliance blogs. I'm glad to hear they're readers.

Brokaw in Yankton

I enjoyed reading a piece slated to appear in tommorrow's Minneapolis Star-Tribune headlined "You can go home again, and Tom Brokaw often does." Excerpt:

[Tom Brokaw] says he gets the grounding he needs to do his high-profile job from his Midwestern roots.

"It helps me do what I do when I sit in that big chair every night at 6:30 surrounded by all these monumental events that are going on around the world," he said.

"It really always helps keep the rest of my life in some perspective to know what's going on in these communities in the heartland and about the pace of life here and the kind of long view about what they want to do. They don't get hysterical about the day-to-day news as those of us who live in New York. ... They kind of reserve their judgment and take in lots of information before deciding or coming to a conclusion about something."

Moorewatch weighs in

Moorewatch says Michael Moore's seemingly false claim that he hugged Tom Daschle and that Daschle apologized to him for supporting the war is just more evidence that Moore is a pathological liar.

Meanwhile, The New Republic's Jason Zengerle has a piece in next week's edition alluding to Time magazine's report of Moore's claim. I e-mailed Zengerle about Daschle's denial, and he responded that his editors would look into it and maybe publish a correction. Good for them.

SDP in Washington Times

Look, mom! SDP gets mentioned in today's Washington Times!

Drudge links to story of Daschle's denial

Now Drudge has linked to the Rapid City Journal's online report that Tom Daschle has denied hugging Michael Moore after the Washington premiere of "Fahrenheit 9/11" as reported in Time magazine's cover story this week.

Instapundit links to Hugh Hewitt's piece on Dakota Alliance

Instapundit notes Hugh Hewitt's observation that "The influence of blogging on politics is nowhere more obvious than in South Dakota."

To underscore that point, the Rapid City Journal is reporting in its online edition that Daschle is denying ever hugging or talking to Michael Moore in his life.

NYT on SD Senate race and same-sex marriage

The New York Times has a piece for tomorrow's edition headlined "Senate Braces Itself for Fight on Gay Marriage." Excerpt:

The political implications for the debate in Congressional races became clear on Thursday as well. John Thune, a former House member challenging the Senate Democratic leader, Tom Daschle, in South Dakota, traveled the state to express his support of the amendment. His aides said he would air his first radio advertisement of the campaign on Friday focusing on that subject.

"Tom Daschle ought to be terrified of this issue," said Dick Wadhams, Mr. Thune's campaign manager.

In a statement, Mr. Daschle said the existing federal law had not been tested and predicted it would be upheld. "The regulation of marriage has long been under the purview of the states, and I believe that is where it should remain," he said.

Thune lobbies Daschle to vote for FMA

John Thune traveled around the state today holding press conferences announcing his support for the Federal Marriage Amendment, and urging Tom Daschle to support it as well. Sibby has a report (with pictures) on Thune's press conference in Mitchell today.

Thune also held a press conference in Rapid City, and KOTA, a local TV station, has this report.

KELO-TV reported on the Thune press conference held in Sioux Falls.

The Washington Post has a story for tomorrow's edition headlined "Congress to take up proposals to ban gay marriage." Excerpt:

The issue is prominent in some congressional races, such as the Senate race in South Dakota, where Republican John Thune is pressing Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle to support a constitutional amendment. Daschle, like Kerry, has said states should deal with the issue.

Thanks, Hugh

I'd like to echo DVT's words of thanks to Hugh Hewitt for his tremendous piece in today's Daily Standard, the online version of the Weekly Standard. I especially like the following excerpt from Hewitt's piece:

The influence of blogging on politics is nowhere more obvious than in South Dakota. Tom Daschle has long sold himself as a moderate to South Dakota voters, and has done so with the assistance of a very friendly local press. But now the locals get the news via a stream of serious reporters trawling the national press and internet sites for the real news on the hyper-partisan Daschle. The result is that, for the first time in Daschle's political life, he will have to run on his record, not on what he presents as his record.

Well put.

UPDATE: John Thune was a guest on Hugh Hewitt's national radio show today, and a source tells me the Dakota Alliance was a topic of conversation.

Hugh Hewitt plugs Dakota Alliance

Hugh Hewitt is taking note of Senator Daschle's embrace of Michael Moore in a piece headlined "Trouble in South Dakota." Hugh also takes the opportunity to point out the effect of the Dakota Alliance on the Senate race in South Dakota. Unfortunately, I have to get back to studying for the bar exam. More on this later.