Sibby Online

Rural verse Urban

David Kranz does a puff piece on Stephanie Herseth in today’s Argus Leader. Herseth does make a good point:

"What I have found is that, for the most part, these issues aren't partisan. They're regional," Herseth said Friday in her first report to the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce's regular Inside Washington program since taking office June 2.

"While the divisions between Democrats and Republicans dominate the press, the more relevant divisions are between rural states like South Dakota and urban areas like New York City and Los Angeles."

Given the battle between rural verse urban, should South Dakota pick the farmer from South Dakota or the carpet bagging east-coast lawyer?

As we have found out with Tim Johnson and Tom Daschle, sometimes the conservative rural interests are compromised in exchange for the pork. As a Democrat Herseth will be asked to change her conservative vote if she wants continued Democrat support of South Dakota funding. The advantage that Diedrich (and also John Thune) have is they can continue to vote conservative on social issues without the Republicans threatening to remove support for South Dakota funding.

The people of South Dakota should realize that Dasche’s trying to have it both ways is not good for South Dakota. If we want a conservative to represent South Dakota, we should be sending a person whose party will allow them to be conservative.

A call to action

SDP has linked to a Powerline report that details the Associated Press report that has been pulled because it was factually incorrect. Instead of issuing a correction, they instead rewrote the report without the error.

SDP and now DVT have noted Randell Beck’s misstatement of fact regarding the Hampton fundraising and his refusal to correct it. Perhaps this excerpt from Hinderaker’s Powerline post applies to the Argus Leader:

Is this the most astonishing example of media bias I can remember? Offhand, yes. It is sheer, malicious fabrication and slander--of President Bush and of Republicans generally--in what purports to be a brief, factual account of Bush's speech.

What this shows, I guess, is that the establishment media are in a full panic mode over John Kerry's prospects. Any semblance of professionalism, or even basic honesty, in this instance, is gone.

I heard that some personnel at the Argus Leader are “frantic” about the impact the Dakota Blog Alliance is having in South Dakota. Bloggers are ready to point out the errors of media, including their outright fabrications. Makes me wonder how Randell Beck can continue to put out his propaganda without thinking he may be doing further damage to the negative reputation that the Argus Leader has created for itself.

Tom Daschle is on the ropes because the people of this State are finding out the truth about the Washington DC Tom Daschle. As the Argus Leader brags about how great they are by digging deep and showing every little pimple on the butts of Republicans, they refuse to do the same with Democrats like Daschle.

Their gig is over. As the people of this State become more informed by learning the truth, the Argus Leader can go down in the flames of Tom Daschle.

This is a call to action. Time for emails and letter to the editor by every Sibby Online reader. The people will prevail, but only if the people take action. This year, for the sake of our Nation, we must not let the Argus Leader, who is owned by big corporate media giant Gannett, to continue misleading the people of South Dakota. We have an obligation as citizens to protect the democratic process in a free country. The time to fight is now.

For the first time the people have us bloggers to give heavy air support, but the battle cannot be eon without the efforts of troops on the ground. Those troops are you.

Diedrich at State Fair Saturday

As mentioned, the Larry Diedrich campaign has been flexible with the State Fair administration. Here is a revised schedule with Diedrich at the Freedom Stage at noon Saturday:

Revised schedule, Congressional candidate Larry Diedrich
Sept. 4, 2004

Congressional candidate Larry Diedrich accepted an invitation from the South Dakota State Fair Board to speak for 30 minutes, beginning at noon, on Freedom Stage.

“I’m so excited to have this opportunity to be part of the State Fair,” Diedrich said. “I always look forward to the fair and am honored to have been an invited guest.”

Saturday, Sept. 4
10 a.m. South Dakota State Fair, Huron
12 p.m. Freedom Stage, South Dakota State Fair, Huron

Herseth and Daschle avoid ‘live’ debates

Last night I spoke with a Diedrich campaign staffer regarding the cancellation of the State Fair debate with Stephanie Herseth. Apparently there were some changes regarding timing requested by the State Fair administration and the Diedrich campaign was willing to be flexible. There was some sort of problem with the Herseth camp.

Remember Noel Hamiel’s proposal to move the KSFY TV Thune/Daschle debate to the Corn Palace? Today’s Mitchell Daily Republic informs us that Daschle appears to be “paranoid” about live audiences:

There won’t be a Daschle/Thune debate at the Corn Palace after all.

Instead, the Oct. 18 debate will stay at the KSFY studio in Sioux Falls as originally planned.

Although there was initial support for the idea, the Daschle camp resisted, saying it was concerned about security and crowd control. Those concerns were echoed by the television sponsors.

We couldn’t disagree more.

The Corn Palace has hosted every conceivable kind of event during its storied history, including political debates. The staff is experienced in dealing with security issues. Plans are drawn up and implemented. Nothing, including crowd control, is left to chance.

If this state has reached a point where a candidate for statewide office will debate only in the sterility and protection of a TV studio, instead of on a Corn Palace stage or in an auditorium in another community, it is indeed a sad state of affairs.

What’s at stake is an important and cherished part of the political process. The people deserve to get a look at the candidates and see how they perform under debate conditions. When candidates for other high office debate - including those running for president - they often do so before live audiences. It simply goes against the democratic grain to hold the debates between Daschle and Thune behind doors closed to the people they are elected to serve.

Of course we’re pleased that the candidates have agreed to seven more debates. It’s just a darn shame that a few of them, at least, aren’t going to be held in places outside of Sioux Falls or Rapid City and in front of the citizens who will elect them.

Diedrich and REO Speedwagon in Mitchell

Larry Diedrich was in Mitchell last night. He attended the REO Speedwagon concert at the Corn Palace. My wife Kathy and I had third row seats and had a great time. Kevin Cronin the lead singer was wearing a corn-patterned shirt.

Here is an excerpt from today’s Mitchell Daily Republic:

REO Speedwagon lead singer Kevin Cronin walked onto the Corn Palace stage Thursday night sporting a corn-patterned shirt and tight black pants. After the first two songs, he stripped away his kernel attire to reveal a simple black tank and then threw his guitar pick into the crowd.

About 1,400 people attended the REO Speedwagon concert Thursday night at the Palace, which can seat 3,000 people for the Corn Palace Festival shows.

“Since we are in the Corn Palace, be very careful - the walls literally have ears,” Cronin said. “It’s our first time here and we just love it.”

REO Speedwagon performed a 15-song list that included fan favorites such as “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” “Keep On Loving You,” “Time For Me to Fly,” and “Building The Bridge,” a song former President Bill Clinton adopted as his campaign theme in 1996.

After the concert we went to the Davison County Republican office to watch President Bush address the Republican Convention. Afterwards some of us got pictured with Diedrich. I am standing next to Larry in Rock N Roll mode…no ponytail.

No Zell in the Argus

From a Sibby Online reader:

I just read your post on the Argus reporting of the 3700 Republicans for Daschle, but nothing about the Zell Miller speech at the convention. Unbelievable!

When I read the Argus front page this morning, I was immediately angry. In fact, I sat down at my computer and sent the following post to the Argus online forum thread "Republican Convention" :

"I don't think anybody has much doubt what the front page of the Argus Leader would look like if a long time Republican had addressed the Democratic convention and laid devastating charges against Bush. But today, after Democratic Senator Zell Miller mercilessly blistered the far-left candidate of his own party at the Republican convention, it is as though he didn't even speak. Senator Miller couldn't even get his name on page one of this "fair and balanced" newspaper.

"Let's get real. Why would the vice-president's blast at Kerry be the headline? Isn't that what everyone would expect? As with favoritism of Tom Daschle, the great indictment against this paper isn't always what is reported, but what isn't reported."

Certainly, any person of average intelligence can perceive the breathtakingly biased reporting that South Dakotans must endure from this extreme left-wing rag. It seems their flimsy claim at objectivity is now being completely jettisoned in a desperate attempt to save their far-left favorites in the upcoming election.

I also sent the Argus a personal email a couple of days ago, asking them about the claim from their blog that they have reported on "Daschle in the Hamptons" on two different occasions. I asked them if they would cite the dates and articles of such reports to help substantiate this claim, since nobody can seem to find them. Their web site says they will attempt to answer any email questions within 48 hours. Well, we are now past 48 hours, but no response. Maybe today?

(DVT has more on the No Zell in the Argus crap)

The Argus Leader…NOT AGAIN!

(Editor's note to repeat readers: I have important updates [Zell smokes Daschle] to this post)
The Argus Leader had no problem covering the 3700 Republicans supporting Tom Daschle, featuring Don Frankenfeld whose pocket book is more important than principles. But where is the speech by Democrat Zell Miller at the Republican convention?

WorldNetDaily has a report titled, “Zell Miller indicts Democratic Party”:

Sen. Zell Miller, a Democrat from Georgia, delivered a blistering attack on his own party tonight at the Republican convention here.

The man who delivered a keynote address for his own party in 1992, tonight indicted the Democrats as a party that has been hijacked by leadership that cannot be trusted with American security.

Unlike Frankenfeld, Miller is a man of principle:

"Now, while young Americans are dying in the sands of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan, our nation is being torn apart and made weaker because of the Democrat's manic obsession to bring down our commander in chief," he said. "What has happened to the party I've spent my life working in? I can remember when Democrats believed that it was the duty of America to fight for freedom over tyranny."

It was an amazing speech that did not fit the worldview held by the editors of the Argus Leader. For them it’s news when a few greedy registered Republicans support a Democrat based on their special self-interest. But it is too embarrassing to report when a Democrat supports Republicans based on principles.

UPDATE: A Sibby Online reader sent me this email:

if you get the opportunity try to get the text of Zell's comments to Chris Mathews where he let loose with both barrels blasting not only chris mathews but got in "the straw that broke his back with the Democratic Caucus" Daschle's 11 times blocking the home land security bill. Putting collective bargaining above National Securrity. It was very damning to Daschle. Am sure that the Argus Leader won't mention it.

Here's the transcript:

MILLER: By coming to Washington and seeing firsthand what a mess it is and how far out the Senate Democrats are.

They are off the chart as far as being with the mainstream of America. I think the straw that broke the camel‘s back was the homeland security measure, when, time after time, John Kerry and the Democrats put collective bargaining above homeland security. That did it for me.

MATTHEWS: Well, that did it for Max Cleland as well, didn‘t it?

MILLER: It surely did. And probably Jean Carnahan.

And nobody is to blame, except—well, they are to blame because they voted that way. But who is really to blame is Tom Daschle for insisting that they do it 11 times over a four-months period. It was dumb.

MATTHEWS: And, well, you could argue that it was politically dumb of Max Cleland to support the labor unions in Georgia against what looked like the national interests. My question is, is it good for America to impugn that vote as a vote against the security of this country?

MILLER: That vote was not impugned. He did not get defeated because of that ad that you like to talk about. You can‘t vote with Tom Daschle 85 percent of the time and be expected to be able to be reelected in Georgia. You know that much about Georgia and the South.

Ouch! I would imagine Zell gets a huge chuckle out of the Daschle "Bush Hug" ad.

Another Update: Looks like Zell also took out Matthews. Maybe we can get Zell to come to South Dakota and straighten out Randell Beck and the rest of the Argus Leader Democrat shills.

Video Link

UPDATE three: Rush Limbaugh played the Zell comments regarding Daschle at 12:30 Central. Rush says his next newletter will cover Zell zeroing in on Daschle.

Zell Miller keynote speaker

As I am looking forward to Zell Miller’s keynote address at the Republican convention, I think back to my 25 years as a registered Democrat. Also I remember Zell Miller’s keynote address at the NRA convention on April 22, 2002 and the Tom Daschle lead vote on the floor of the Senate in support of the anti-gun Million Mom March organized by Handgun Control, Incorporated in May 2000:

Yesterday afternoon, the folks over at Handgun Control, Incorporated issued a press release criticizing me for being here tonight. They accused me of "courting" the NRA, saying you didn't represent mainstream America. Well, I haven't courted anybody since my wife, Shirley, said, "Yes" ... 48 years ago.

But I look around this room, and all I see is mainstream America! I see a room full of patriots who love their country and all it stands for. And there is nowhere I'd rather be tonight than right here with you, on the picket line of freedom's defense!

I suspect the following will also be part of Zell’s message tonight:

Somehow the media and pundits conveniently overlook that Freedom is not partisan. She does not label herself with an "R" or a "D." She welcomes all who would embrace and defend her. She is neither bound by political party, nor heritage, nor station in life, nor evil act of terrorism.

The boundless nature of Freedom has never been more evident than on September 11. Evil cowards may attack concrete and metal, but they can never destroy the steel of the righteous American heart longing to live free!

President Bush was right when he urged Americans to get back to living, working and raising our families. To BE free, we must LIVE free. I am very proud of our President. Because to DEFEND freedom, we must FIGHT for freedom.

The following excerpt reminds be of John Thune:

What many do not understand is that the gun issue is not just about guns. It's about values. It's about setting priorities. It's about personal freedom. It's about trust.

And when you get right down to it, that's what elections are about: TRUST, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. At the core of a free society is the trust "We the People" place in candidates when we elect them to office to serve our values. And, as Mr. Heston so eloquently stated during the last campaign, "Freedom runs in every race."

Today, our freedom faces a far greater threat than that of any anti-gun politician. If we don't remain as vigilant as ever, freedom could be lost forever.

This is why I work so hard to support John Thune. This race is about freedom. I am proud to post the words of our Founding Founders that Zell Miller used in his speech:

Tell that to Thomas Jefferson, who said, "No free man shall EVER be debarred the use of arms."

Or Samuel Adams, who said, "The Constitution shall NEVER be construed to authorize Congress ... to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms."

Tell that to James Madison, the Father of the Constitution, who explained that the Constitution preserves "the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation where the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."

And Thomas Paine, the writer of Common Sense, that pamphlet that inspired the Revolution, who wrote, "Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world."

Or finally, Patrick Henry, who warned us to "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. SUSPECT EVERYONE who approaches that jewel."

Based on my efforts to defend the Second Amendment...beware of Tom Daschle.

Glenn Reynolds on bloggers impact

Hugh Hewitt posted some of Glen Reynold’s Wall Street Journal column (subscription required):

"With accredited bloggers at both conventions, this can fairly be called the first presidential election to be blogged. And that just might matter -- though if it does, it will be as much because of big-media vices as it is of bloggers' virtues.... Does this mean that blogs will work in the Bush campaign's favor? Not inevitably, and there are plenty of lefty blogs doing their best to beat Mr. Bush. But so long as the mainstream media are lazy, and biased -- and strongly in favor of a Democrat -- the fact-checking and media-bypassing power of the blogosphere is likely to disproportionately favor Republicans. That's not so much a reflection on blogs, alas, as it is a reflection on big media."

I would say the big media would include Gannett, who owns the Argus Leader.

Daschle campaign running low on funds?

Yesterday afternoon Steve Hildebrand, Daschle’s Campaign Manager, sent out an email asking for more money. Excerpt:

As John Thune is being shuffled from fundraising event to fundraising event all over New York, you can help match what he's doing -- because together, with thousands of other people just like you, you care enough to make sure that Tom Daschle remains a progressive voice in the United States Senate.

Reality check!! First who was raising money in the Hamptons not long ago? Second, I just get a kick out of lefties who use the word progressive to describe themselves. There is nothing progressive about the Daschle Dead Zone.

Hildebrand also made this outrageous statement:

He'll probably have to hire more out-of-state conservatives just to help him carry all the money back to South Dakota.

Who is the one with over 90% contributions from out-of-state? Tom Daschle…and the biggest contributors are trial lawyers. THus the need to meet about the tort reform ads.

The Daschle campaign is getting really desperate which is also evidenced by the “Bush Hug” ad. Perhaps all the talk about it has caused the Daschle campaign to think about making new ads…thus the need for more money. But after over a year of ads, Daschle just keeps falling further behind.