South Dakota Politics

Daschle Watch

Dave Kranz:

Tom Daschle sounded like something more than a former senator Wednesday when he called for the beginning of troop withdrawal from Iraq next year.

His speech at Northwestern University in Illinois, in which he urged that the United States remove 80,000 of its 150,000 troops by the end of 2006, seemed more tailored for a presidential candidate.

"Included in those 80,000 troops should be all of the Guard and Reserve forces still active in Iraq," Daschle said. "We learned the hard way with Katrina that we do our homeland security a disservice if we keep the National Guard tied down in Iraq when their governors - and their families - need them here at home."

And this, from the Chicago Tribune:

Adding his voice to the newly aggressive chorus of Democrats calling for changes in the U.S. conduct of the war in Iraq, former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle urged withdrawal of 80,000 of the more than 150,000 American troops next year.

Speaking Wednesday at Northwestern University, Daschle also said he had been given "misleading information" by the Bush administration about Iraq's weapons before the war, but said he could not go into specifics.

"I wish I could share with you the misleading information I personally was provided in September and October of 2002," he said in remarks scheduled for delivery at Northwestern University in Evanston.

The misrepresentations, Daschle said, underscore the need for Congress to repair the nation's foreign policy initiatives in order to restore the public's trust in the use of U.S. military power.

Remember that Daschle voted FOR this war.  What is interesting is that Daschle seems to be positioning himself to be another George McGovern, which makes sense because Daschle's hero is McGovern and Daschle use to hold McGovern's Senate seat.  If not McGovern, then he is beginning to look like Howard Dean of the next presidential race:  the most left-wing candidate.

Tracey Schmitt says it all:

A spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, Tracey Schmitt, described Daschle's comments as "a transparent search for relevance."

South Dakota '06

Former South Dakota GOP Chairman Joel Rosenthal weighs in on the Democrats' candidate for governor in 2006.  Excerpt:

No Surprise! With his pre announcement announcement this past week Ron Volesky announced yet again he would announce his candidacy for Governor. His announcement will come on November 4^th to capitalize on any newsworthiness of the “one year out” syndrome. Ron is a mediahound and his greatest ability is to cultivate the media and “get press.”

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.