Here’s the rest of the story

Randell Beck’s 9/12/04 column concerned partisan politics within the Sioux Falls City Council:

Luckily, we were able to belly right up to the bar to order our $6 coffees. As we waited, I glanced around the room, which was pretty empty except for a group of folks gathered about a round table in a far, dark corner.

Gosh, I said to my companions, could that be City Councilman Darrin Smith over there? Wait a minute ... isn't that Councilman Kevin Kavanaugh? And Andy Howes. Oh my, I think that's good old Vernon Brown sitting right next to him.

Yep, you guessed it. I'd stumbled, unwittingly, across a nest of Democrats.

Beck went on to say:

I bring this to your attention primarily to dispel any idyllic notion you might harbor that membership on the Sioux Falls City Council - in this age of polarized political debate - invokes a type of old-fashioned public service that puts aside partisan loyalties.

Today’s Argus Leader has a Reader’s Forum column by Vernon Brown. We learn whom Randell Beck was having a $6 coffee with:

Funny, Beck forgot to mention the he was “lurking” there with Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson. In fact, Beck and another editor were meeting the senator for what appeared to be an awfully friendly coffee.

Brown’s column ended with this:

Well, to steal a line from another former journalist, Beck didn’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Beck’s column made this point:

If dumb luck can lead me to the Democrats, imagine what a little planning can do.

Yes, maybe with a little planning you can have coffee with the Democrat you endorsed in the 2002 Senate race.

UPDATE: SDP has more.