South Dakota Politics

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."