South Dakota Politics

Sports Blogging

I was at the two basketball games of DSU vs. USF and DWU vs. Peru State last night and during halftime they announced Minnesota's tremendous lead over Texas Tech in the Insight Bowl (35-7 at that time).  Yet, Texas made a huge comeback and, in the process, entered the record books:

The Gophers football team played arguably its finest half of football this season before halftime and built a 38-7 lead against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the third quarter of the Insight Bowl

. . .

And then gave it all away.

Shannon Woods' 3-yard touchdown run in overtime capped the largest comeback in NCAA Division I-A bowl game history as Texas Tech stunned Minnesota 44-41 before an announced crowd of 48,391 at Sun Devil Stadium.

"Needless to say, that was a game of two different halves," Gophers coach Glen Mason said. "All coaches preach that no lead is sufficient until the clock says it's mathematically impossible to come back."

Dakota Wesleyan won their game last night and will face DSU tonight.  They won their last game against them, but DSU is sure pesky on defense so we'll see what happens.  Later today, my Iowa Hawkeyes face the Texas Longhorns in the Alamo Bowl.  Go Hawkeyes!

UPDATE:  Well, things didn't go so well for Iowa.  Tomorrow the Broncos play San Francisco, and Denver must win to make it into the playoffs (depending on the results of the Kansas City game).  Hopefully their game goes a little better.

More Troops Or Fewer Troops, That Is The Question

Joe Lieberman calls for more troops in Iraq.  Barak Obama dissents.  Both agree that the status quo cannot continue.  Obama's piece is indicative of a remarkable phenomenon taking place in certain quarters on the left wherein their deference to the opinions of the military is breathtaking.   It is not up to the generals to make policy; that is a civilian job.  First, it is not as though the military speaks with one voice on any particular matter.  Also, as has been discussed on this site before, Lincoln did not defer to his generals' desires, indeed he opposed them frequently.  Was President Truman wrong to fire Douglas MacArthur in Korea for opposing administration policy?   History is on Truman's side.  One foolishly ignores military opinion, but war is a political act, so it should be political leaders who set policy.  A couple decades ago one would never have heard the call from certain left-leaning circles to defer so easily to military opinion.  Of course conservatives have found a new respect for the civilian management of war.  I guess times have changed.

My Great Grandmother's Grave

Maudy, as we called her, was born fourteen years after the end of the Civil War. 

Hussein Execution

If my TV is correct (and it has never lied to me), Saddam Hussein is to be executed at 10:00 EST, or about 4 minutes from when I type this. 

Another thought: Why does the Family Research Council need a military analyst?  The guy is on Hannity and Colmes right now.  I am watching this show because of the execution.  Watching tonight confirms my wisdom in failing to watch every other night.

Update: According to Arab news, Saddam Hussein is dead.  Ding Dong. 

Update II: I guess both Fox and CNN are saying Saddam is dead. 

Fate Worse Than Death

Maybe instead of executing Saddam Hussein, we can force him to watch The View for the rest of his life.  That must be a kind of living Hell. 

The Vanishing Family Farm

Check out this thorough take on the plight of the family farm and how federal policy encourages the dissolution of smaller farms.  One effect of the decline in the number of farms and, naturally, farmers is the depopulation smaller towns that existed to support the farm community.  The article points to an issue that agriculture communities must struggle with: the small family farm no longer makes much economic sense, but we still like the idea of its existence.  Economically, the nation would be better off with few large and efficient farms.  But as is usually the case with the creative destruction caused by the market, overall economic gain is small solace for those left behind by economic efficiency. 

More On Moderation

A few weeks ago I blogged on moderation, in part using Harry Jaffa's interpretation of Lincoln to argue in defense of moderation and against extremism.  Reader James Drake reminds us via email that Harry Jaffa in fact wrote the Goldwater line "Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice."  See here for some thoughts and a fine corrective.  We should advocate strongly for liberty, courage, and all other virtues.  But I still maintain that we should not argue for extreme interpretations of liberty or courage.

Snow Blogging

Many of our readers are South Dakota expatriates who enjoy us blogging on the rather, um, exciting South Dakota weather.  Today we got our first real snow here in Aberdeen.  Here are a couple pictures from the South Dakota country side.  More specifically these were taken today on the north side of Richmond Lake, northwest of Aberdeen.

Arafat

Captain's Quarters:  State Dept Confirms Arafat Masterminded Murder Of American Diplomats

Saddam Execution

Just over three years after Saddam Hussein emerged from his spider hole in Iraq, the Iraqi people finally will have vengeance.  Saddam attempted, with some success, to transform his trial into political theater, using it as a platform to speak against the American occupation and inspire Ba'athist remnants to conduct terrorist attacks.  Despite several members of the court being assassinated or attacked, the tribunal convicted Saddam for crimes consistent with the evidence.  But the New York Times isn't happy:

The important question was never really about whether Saddam Hussein was guilty of crimes against humanity. The public record is bulging with the lengthy litany of his vile and unforgivable atrocities: genocidal assaults against the Kurds; aggressive wars against Iran and Kuwait; use of internationally banned weapons like nerve gas; systematic torture of countless thousands of political prisoners.

What really mattered was whether an Iraq freed from his death grip could hold him accountable in a way that nurtured hope for a better future. A carefully conducted, scrupulously fair trial could have helped undo some of the damage inflicted by his rule. It could have set a precedent for the rule of law in a country scarred by decades of arbitrary vindictiveness. It could have fostered a new national unity in an Iraq long manipulated through its religious and ethnic divisions.

It could have, but it didn’t. After a flawed, politicized and divisive trial, Mr. Hussein was handed his sentence: death by hanging. This week, in a cursory 15-minute proceeding, an appeals court upheld that sentence and ordered that it be carried out posthaste. Most Iraqis are now so preoccupied with shielding their families from looming civil war that they seem to have little emotion left to spend on Mr. Hussein or, more important, on their own fading dreams of a new and better Iraq.

This is comical.  The New York Times wants a trial that doesn't "rush" to judgment of his "vile and unforgivable atrocities" because it won't "nurture hope" or create "a new and better Iraq."  Yet, the purpose of trials is not to nurture hope but rather to determine the guilt or innocence of the accused.  Trials serve to protect society and work as a deterrent.  But the Times simply complains about a verdict and sentence that even they admit is justified by the evidence.  To echo various other bloggers, perhaps the Times should not "rush" to opine.

War Protest?

Remember the war protest that the South Dakota Peace and Justice Center was going to hold?  I guess attendance was pretty low:

In Rapid City, about a dozen people read the names of some of the 2,984 U.S. military deaths to date in Iraq in front of the congressional offices of Rep. Stephanie Herseth, D-S.D., before moving to the offices of Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., and Tim Johnson, D-S.D., to do the same.

...

"As many have remarked in recent months, there are no good options left in Iraq." Herseth said. "What is clear is that we need to do more to train and equip Iraqi security forces so that we can turn over a stable democratic Iraq to its leaders. Like all South Dakotans, I am extremely proud of the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces, and I share concerns regarding the safety of our soldiers serving in the Middle East.

"I will continue working to ensure our servicemen and women receive the equipment and resources they need and deserve to successfully complete their mission and return home," she said.

SDWC asks the most important question: "If a protest was held and a reporter hadn't been called..... Would anyone have noticed?"

Media Whore Alert

After spending some time decking the halls, I am back in the state.  I will celebrate by being on KELO radio Friday morning during the 9:00 hour.  We will discuss energy policy and other items facing the new Congress.

Microsoft Handing Out Free Laptops

If I could only be so lucky:

"According to at least six bloggers, Microsoft has been sending out free top-of-the-line laptops pre-loaded with Vista as a 'no strings attached gifts'. This 'reward' for their hard work on covering tech in general is coincidentally right before the launch of Vista to consumers. To be clear, these weren't loans, they were gifts, and they were top-of-the-line Acer Ferrari laptops. Microsoft blogger Long Zheng broke the silence over the source of the freebies."

So, in other words, don't be surprised if the amount of computer tech information and reviews suddenly go on the rise at SDP!  Is it a bribe?  Perhaps.  But it comes with a free Acer Ferrari (not to mention Windows Vista) which is far better than my Dell Inspiron 1100 and 8200 (I've become somewhat disenchanted with Dell computers, but that's a story for another time).  Plus, it'd be fun to give Vista a spin.  Who would I be to complain if I get one?  Then again, I might start feeling guilty and decide to give away or auction off the laptop.  We'll never know, because I'll never get one.  Hat tip to Insty.

Saddam to be Hanged by Sunday

NBC News:

Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, sentenced to death for his role in 148 killings in 1982, will have his sentence carried out by Sunday, NBC News reported Thursday. According to a U.S. military officer who spoke on condition of anonymity, Saddam will be hanged before the start of the Eid religious holiday, which begins at sundown Saturday.

The hanging could take place as early as Friday, NBC’s Richard Engel reported.

The U.S. military received a formal request from the Iraqi government to transfer Saddam to Iraqi authorities, NBC reported on Thursday, which is one of the final steps required before his execution. His sentence, handed down last month, ordered that he be hanged within 30 days.

DM&E

Argus Leader:

The U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Thursday ruled on three issues dealing with the Dakota Minnesota & Eastern’s plan to extend its line more than 200 miles to Wyoming’s Powder River Basin to haul coal mined there to power plants in the Midwest and East.

Those three issues were the only remaining legal challenges to the federal Surface Transportation Board’s approval of the DM&E proposal.

The court ruled in favor of the railroad on all three points.

It concluded the STB was not required to take into account the DM&E’s purchase of a railroad on its eastern end, the IMRL, when the STB reviewed the environmental impact of the coal-hauling project.

Johnson Improving

The Argus Leader reports that Senator Johnson's medical condition is thankfully beginning to improve:

A doctor for Sen. Tim Johnson today said the senator is gradually being weaned off medication that has kept him sedated since brain surgery Dec. 13.

“Senator Johnson’s overall general medical condition has improved and he is gradually being weaned from the sedation,” Dr. Vivek Deshmukh, a neurosurgeon at The George Washington University Hospital in Washington, said Thursday. “He is opening his eyes and is responsive to his wife.”

Johnson is in critical but stable condition recovering from arteriovenous malformation, a condition that causes arteries and veins to grow abnormally large and sometimes burst. He had bleeding in his brain Dec. 13 and underwent emergency surgery that day.

Johnson’s 60th birthday is today. Spokeswoman Julianne Fisher said the Johnson family has gathered at the hospital to mark the occasion at the senator’s bedside.

“They had planned a party for him, but it’s been postponed,” Fisher said. “He’s responding to (his wife, Barbara) and the tests are encouraging.”

The Surfer Cometh!

Marvel Comics's first Fantastic Four movie was big disappointment due to a weak plot.  But the casting and special effects were great.  A sequel is due out in 2007.  It includes one of my favorite comic book characters: the Silver Surfer.  The surfer was the sidekick of an immensely powerful being called Galactus.  The latter made his living devouring whole worlds.  The surfer saved his own, far off planet, by agreeing to become the servant of Galactus.  That is how the Surfer got his own considerable powers (flight, energy beams, etc).  The Surfer betrays Galactus when his master attempts to devour the Earth, with terrible results for himself.  Okay, so I'm seven years old again.  But I am looking forward to this one. 

President Ford

Almost all of the commentary on Gearld Ford's passing has been positive, as is quite proper.  He was an entirely decent man who became President through no fault of his own, and served during one of the most difficult episodes in the nation's history. 

He was also in well over his head.  I had the pleasure of meeting Ford when he came to campus at Claremont Graduate School.  The Head of the Government Department, George Blair, managed to be myself and another Grad student into a "closed" talk that Ford gave.  He could not answer any interesting questions and in fact got some basic stuff wrong.  Lots of people said the same thing about Reagan, but Reagan had a quality of judgment that Ford lacked.  Still, he made way for Jimmy Carter's presidency, and that in turn paved the way for Reagan.  Maybe that alone is enough of an achievement. 

Powerline mentions Ford's ridiculous Whip Inflation Now campaign.  The idea that price controls and citizen spirit could alter basic economic facts is a pretty good indication of the low-watt thinking that characterized Ford's time in office.  There was in fact no conservative wing yet in existence in government.  The worse that one can say about President Ford on that score is that he was typical. 

Memphis Ribs

I have been out of WiFi range for several days, while spending Christmas with the family.  Today I managed to get connected in a Hastings which, unlike the Barnes and Noble, doesn't charge for internet connections. 

I spend the day in Memphis with the family.  We ate at the Rendezvous, possible the best place for pork ribs on the planet.  They cook them with a dry rub that is wonderful, but they do provide sauce.  I tend to alternate between the dry, authentic taste, and their special vinegar sauce. 

Our waiter is the last guy on the left, Percy.  He served Presidents and Vice Presidents on Airforce One and Two, and joined the Rendezvous in 1970.  This is not your average rib place.

Percy took the picture below. They guy in the hat is my kid brother, Dave, who makes guitars around the cornor at the Gibson plant. 

More on Ford

It should be noted that former President Ford was a local boy, hailing from Omaha, Nebraska.  Mount Blogmore also takes the time to remember Ford's visit to South Dakota.

UPDATE:  Ford biographer Yanek Mieczkowski remembers the former president in "Lessons from America's Oldest President."  Hat tip to Cliopatria.  And speaking of history, Ed Morrissey looks at Ford's pardon of Nixon.  I'm in Morrissey's camp on this one.  Ford's pardon was well-intentioned, but ultimately the wrong move.

The Argus Monopoly

Scott Hudson:

10. Argus Leader Magazine Monopoly. The daily paper is guilty of plenty of indiscretions, but their underhanded attempt to get rid of the city’s independent publications was indefensible. Businesses across the city were (supposedly) asked to sign contracts that removed any non-Gannett publication from their stores…unless these publishers paid the Argus for rack space. Luckily, an outcry from not only the publishers but businesses who claimed to have never seen this contract forced the daily paper to back down.

Dems Trying to Force Out Sutton

South Dakota War College:

The word is that his new caucus leader has already asked him to resign. They know they don't want him to put them through the unenviable task of trying to defend him on the senate floor. Allegedly groping a young male employee sexually is going to put national level media here to cover it.

Defending him before the hearing is one thing. Defending him after the tale is told is another.

If he puts them through it, I don't think they're going to very nice about it. No matter how good his attorneys are. The Dems know if the story is compelling enough, (which I hear it is) they have no other choice.

Obit Blogging: Gerald Ford

The Associated Press reports that former President Gerald Ford has passed away:

Gerald R. Ford, who picked up the pieces of Richard Nixon's scandal- shattered White House as the 38th and only unelected president in America's history, has died, his wife, Betty, said Tuesday. He was 93.

"My family joins me in sharing the difficult news that Gerald Ford, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather has passed away at 93 years of age," Mrs. Ford said in a brief statement issued from her husband's office in Rancho Mirage. "His life was filled with love of God, his family and his country."

The statement did not say where Ford died or list a cause of death. Ford had battled pneumonia in January 2006 and underwent two heart treatments _ including an angioplasty _ in August at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

He was the longest living president, followed by Ronald Reagan, who also died at 93. Ford had been living at his desert home in Rancho Mirage, Calif., about 130 miles east of Los Angeles.

Related thoughts from Ed Morrissey.  I'm afraid I don't know enough about his presidency to add any commentary (as Mr. Morrissey has done), but I hope my colleagues will be able to weigh in.

Eating Alone

Power Line:  Troops halp Jon Carry in Irak

Star Tribune Sold

From the Star Tribune:

A private equity firm has reached an agreement to buy the Star Tribune from the McClatchy Co., publisher Keith Moyer announced today.

Avista Capital Partners, an investment group focused on media, healthcare and energy companies, will pay $530 million for the newspaper, which Sacramento, Calif.-based McClatchy bought from Cowles Media Co. in 1998 for $1.4 billion.

UPDATE:  More thoughts from the Minnesota bloggers at Power Line and Captain's Quarters.

Protest Outside of Herseth's Office

Argus Leader:

The South Dakota Peace & Justice Center members will hold a memorial Thursday  for all those who have died in the Iraq war.

Honored will be the men, women and children civilians; Iraqi soldiers; soldiers from other countries; civilian contractors, and the 3,000 U.S. soldiers.

The names of the deceased soldiers from South Dakota will be read.

The events are scheduled as follows for Thursday:

4 to 6 p.m. at U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth's office, Sioux Falls;

Noon to 2 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. at the U.S. Post Office in Brookings;

Noon to 2 p.m. at Herseth's office in Rapid city;
7 p.m., Presentation Convent chapel in Aberdeen.

Also, there will be a meeting from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at Third and Dakota in Huron.

We Are Marshall

My family and I went to the movie We Are Marshall yesterday and, to anyone considering it, I highly recommend going.  On November 14, 1970, the Marshall Football team, except four injured starters and the freshman, were killed in a plane crash while returning from their game against the East Carolina University Pirates.  The film centralized around the community's recovery and the film was truly heartfelt, the acting superb, and is probably one of the best movies I've seen in a while.  Give Michael McBride's review of the movie a read, which is better than anything I can muster up at the moment.

The Top SD Stories: The Media's View

A couple weeks ago SDWC put together an excellent list of the top South Dakota political stories of 2006.  The Associated Press has also prepared a list of the top South Dakota stories (not necessarily political news, but most of the results are).  Here was their take:

Here are the year's top 10 news stories:

1. South Dakota voters defeat an abortion ban.

2. Gov. Mike Rounds orders a last-minute delay in the Elijah Page execution.

3. South Dakotans decide 11 ballot issues.

4. Sixty school districts sue the state over education funding.

5. A state senator from Flandreau is accused of groping a legislative page.

6. South Dakota suffers through a continuing drought.

(tie) The Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern coal train project gets final regulatory approval.

8. A philanthropist donates $70 million toward the Homestake science lab effort.

9. Ellsworth Air Force Base is picked for a financial services center.

10. Gov. Mike Rounds wins re-election.

Be sure to read the whole thing.

The New Media

The Christian Science Monitor looks at the changing status of blogs and the new media.  HT to Instapundit.

Saddam Hussein Headed for Execution?

Rumor has it that Saddam Hussein has lost his court appeal and, if true, will face execution within thirty days.  Check back later today for updates.

CONFIRMED:  Hussein will get the short rope within thirty days.

Merry Christmas!

"For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

We wish all of our friends, supporters, and detractors a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and a happy new year!  It's been a fun year and, with a new Congress coming in and a presidential race intensifying, the coming year should be a great time to debate policy and direction.  We greatly appreciate all of your support.  I'll be spending the day with family and I hope all of you have the opportunity to do the same.  Keep in your thoughts and prayers our soldiers laying their lives on the line all over the world; remember Senator Johnson today and continue to pray for his recovery; and remember all of those who cannot enjoy this Christmas Day for whatever reasons.

Target Pulls Che Merchandise

From the Associated Press:

Target Corp said on Friday it had pulled a CD carrying case bearing Ernesto "Che" Guevara's image after an outcry by critics who label the Marxist revolutionary a murderer and totalitarian symbol.

Target had touted a music disc carrying case for Che admirers emblazoned with the Argentine-born guerrilla's iconic 1960 portrait by Alberto Diaz, or "Korda." A set of small earphones was superimposed on the image, suggesting he was tuned in to an iPod or other music player.

"It is never our intent to offend any of our guests through the merchandise we carry," Target said in a statement. "We have made the decision to remove this item from our shelves and we sincerely apologize for any discomfort this situation may have caused our guests."

Che must be spinning in his grave.  Imagine the irony of the anti-capitalist firebrand becoming a capitalist brand.

Iranians Detained in Iraq

New York Times:

The American military is holding at least four Iranians in Iraq, including men the Bush administration called senior military officials, who were seized in a pair of raids late last week aimed at people suspected of conducting attacks on Iraqi security forces, according to senior Iraqi and American officials in Baghdad and Washington.

...

Gordon D. Johndroe, the spokesman for the National Security Council, said two Iranian diplomats were among those initially detained in the raids. The two had papers showing that they were accredited to work in Iraq, and he said they were turned over to the Iraqi authorities and released. He confirmed that a group of other Iranians, including the military officials, remained in custody while an investigation continued, and he said, “We continue to work with the government of Iraq on the status of the detainees.”