The Mitchell Daily Republic put an analysis of Jon Lauck's book on their front page today. Excerpt:
Lauck said Thune's decision to enter the race was "clinched" by what Thune saw as Daschle's inexcusable failure in November 2003 to actively support an energy bill that sought to boost ethanol production. Democrats, of whom Daschle was the Senate leader, filibustered the bill. Thune seized on the episode as evidence of "obstructionism" by the Daschle-led Democrats and used it as a central campaign issue.
"Daschle's obligation to his Senate caucus had helped undermine a major piece of legislation important to farmers in South Dakota," Lauck wrote. "Daschle faced a difficult choice: he could serve as the partisan leader of the Senate Democrats, thrust and parry with Senator Frist, and serve as the loyal opposition to President Bush in an age of partisan bickering, or he could fully represent his state's interests. But he could not do both."
And of course here is what created the South Dakota blogosphere:
Lauck also devotes attention to the rise of the "blogosphere," which he contends was a crucial influence on the race. Anti-Daschle bloggers, working independently of the mainstream media, blogged about the senator's every move and "provided a stark contrast to LBJ's years as leader, when he could differentiate his Texas statements from his pronouncements in Washington."
A primary reason for the ascendance of blogs in South Dakota, according to Lauck, was the lack of critical Daschle coverage by South Dakota's largest newspaper, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Lauck repeatedly criticized the Argus and its political reporter, David Kranz, for what Lauck and other bloggers perceived as the newspaper's pro-Daschle bias. Lauck said Daschle had benefited his entire career from positive coverage by the Argus, but "the Internet scrambled longtime political practices."
Lauck quoted national blogger, radio host and law professor Hugh Hewitt as saying during the race that the "influence of blogging on politics is nowhere more obvious than in South Dakota."
Now we now why David Kranz has not mentioned this book in a column. My contribution to that revelation was also included in the book. And I say that as a testament to those who think they can't make a difference. If you don't try, you won't. The very premise of America's freedom is an involved, educated and informed citizenry. I think that is what we have lost, and I think the blogosphere is our only hope to bring that back.
I have a copy and have gotten about a third of the way through it. There is a lot of interesting historical items that I did not know about both Daschle and Thune. For those on the left, if you can over look Lauck's admitted right bias, I think you will find the book interesting.
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