Pat Powers responds to conservatives who are now throwing rocks at Dan Lederman with this:
Let me start that conversation by noting that they’re still there. Conservative Republicans have long assumed the mantle of Republican leadership in this state. It’s been reflected in the party’s platform growing ever more conservative over the years. In fact, some use the term ‘conservative’ interchangeably with ‘Republican.’
When party leadership is as conservative as it is up and down the board; strongly pro-life, pro-gun, etcetera and so on, I’d argue that the divisions in the GOP are less a matter of philosophical divisions, and more a matter that those who are not in charge are busy trying to figure out how they can become the people in charge.
It’s not a matter of philosophy as much as it is of coalitions, and if you can break them by throwing enough rocks.
I would agree that the pro-life and pro-gun issues has bad strong support by most, but not all Republicans in leadership. With Governor Daugaard vetoing right carry, Pat's argument starts to lose weight. But what really brings down his argument is the two major tax increases in the areas of transportation and education which are blatant examples of tax and spend liberalism, as the SDGOP Establishment joined forces with the Democratic Establishment. The SDGOP's economic development thru crony capitalism and big government has now bubbled up scandals such as EB-5. There has been SDGOP leadership against holding accountable those Republicans who were responsible for oversight in regard to the Gear-up scandal. It is the liberal factionof ther SDDGOP that has sacrificed conservative principles in order to protect their liberal coalition.
And I have more proof. Extreme leftist Cory Heidelberger is stepping up to defend Dan Lederman:
In a letter dated February 2 and sent to Lederman’s bail bonds business address in Newton, Iowa, 51 disgruntled South Dakota Republicans tell Lederman that his Iowa voting registration, which he maintained until last October, nullifies his status as South Dakota Republican Party chair. They actually call Lederman’s sham-chair activities “illegal” and demand he cease representing himself as a party official.
What Republicans would say such things about their party leader? Here are the names that stick out to this liberal observer:
- Rep. Blaine B. Campbell (R-35/Rapid City), who is not term-limited from his House seat.
- Mike Mueller, husband of Rep. Julie Frye-Mueller (R-30/Rapid City) and president of Citizens for Liberty, who irked the Lederman machine with their 2017 legislator scorecard.
- Florence Thompson, a Black Hills extremist who refers to transgender South Dakotans as “(unmentionable) people“.
- Jack Ray Henry Heyd, who intended to circulate a potty-panic initiative petition last year but was waved off by higher powers in the Sharia-for-Jesus movement.
- Tara Volesky, Mitchell Republican and frequent blogospheric pot-stirrer.
- Michael Boyle, whom I’ll speculate is the same Baptist Bircher Michael Boyle who’s running for District 19 House (and who just guaranteed the GOP will find primary challengers for him).
- Lora Hubbel, who is running a fringe campaign for the Republican nomination for Governor.
The letter gives no sign that the signers have any replacement chair in mind, which one would think would be a vital part of any plan to oust the sitting chair.
When you have liberal observer like Cory Heidelberger defend you from the actions of conservatives, then you should know that you are a liberal. I think Cory's example with regard to the 2017 legislator scoreboard completely destroys Pat Power's argument that the current actions is not about conservative principles. Exposing the voting records of incumbent liberal Republicans in primaries is called "negative campaigning" by the SDGOP Establishment machine and the accomplices in the South Dakota media.
This is yet another example of how the problems created by the liberal big government agenda is driven both parties, with both Republican and Democratic Establishment bloggers defending the current dysfunctional system of legalized corruption. Republicans mislead their constituents with the premise that they stand for limited government, and the Democrats mislead their constitutions with the premise that big government is for the little guy. It is only with the truth that people with come to realize that both sides are pulling the divide and conquer agenda by getting us to think there really is a difference worth fighting for between the two political parties. It is only after the truth becomes well known that we can them go forward with picking the right people to lead our government. Even though they may have different agendas, both Cory and Pat are wrong to attack those who are not happy with the SDGOP Establishment's control over what goes on in Pierre. And Cory proves that the Democrats are no better. All they want is a bigger piece of the taxpayers' pie.
I have no regrets exposing Cory Heidelberger and the South Dakota Democratic Party as the flaccid political novices they are.
Without any leadership the entire group is doomed to ignominy. After allowing unaffiliated voters to influence their elections the South Dakota Democratic Party should abandon the primary process and nominate candidates at their state conventions.
Lawrence and Brookings County used to be Democratic strongholds but now the party can't even field candidates in either locale.
Democrats are losing even more credibility with young people and American Indians. That South Dakota Republicans prop up illegal drug use and project an ethics black hole while ignoring a potential revenue source is just more evidence of red state collapse.
But, a red moocher state like South Dakota is powered by sin: video lootery, a loan shark industry that preys on the least fortunate, a massive gambling addiction and a too-big-to-jail banking racket fill in the gaps created by lobbyists who enjoy the protection of single-party tyranny. Fact is: the best way to a strong two party system in South Dakota is for arch-conservatives to launch a third party. South Dakota's most ardent earth haters are still looking for principled conservatives to run in statewide elections. Shad Olson, Stace Nelson, Neal Tapio and Lora Hubbel could be those candidates.
SDDP has exactly nothing to lose by being revolutionary.
Pass a corporate income tax, end video lootery, reduce the number of South Dakota counties to 25, turn Dakota State University into a community college, and adopt my cannabis template: the kurtz solution painted on a thumbnail.
Posted by: larry kurtz | February 20, 2018 at 08:41 AM
By your definition Pat Powers isn't a christian and doesn't support the US Constitution or its principles, Steve; yet you have given him a free pass to bludgeon your chosen candidates without remorse.
My guess? You're as big a hypocrite as he is.
Posted by: larry kurtz | February 22, 2018 at 10:23 AM