Web Impresario Trask Discusses Sheriff Primary Defeat

For the best first-person post-mortem on electoral defeat this year, we turn to High Plains storyteller extraordinaire Matthew J. Trask, who picks up his Hubba's House hat to discuss the joys of running for sheriff and losing in Meade County. Trask challenged 20-year incumbent sheriff Ron Merwin with little more in his saddlebag than "lofty sentiments" and "five brand new white shirts." He wound up with 32% of the vote... and escaped having to spend weeks cooped up at Law Enforcement Training Academy.

Trask discusses his losing campaign with grace and wit:

On the campaign trail I met lots of people, and lots of dogs. The dogs, I found, are staunch advocates of private property rights. I also met a guinea (Coco is female, and her mistress has had her for two months.) Team Hubba attended the Piedmont Valley Volunteer Fire Department fundraiser, and the Hemp Hoedown, where we encountered enthusiatic but confused youngsters who alas were not from Meade County.

I also was overwhelmed by the support I got. Donations, a sign painting party on Mother’s Day (my own mother attended,) help putting up signs, free meals, places to stay, I lived like a guilty king for two and a half months [Matthew J. Trask, "I Guess You Ain't My Constitchency," Hubba's House, 2010.06.18].

Dear readers, enjoy the full story at Hubba's House. And congrats again, Matt, on politics done well and told well.

Review: Palin Book Lacks Intelligence, Analysis, Wit, Realism

I cite, without editorial comment, the review of citizen Sarah Palin's Going Rogue, newly posted by my friend and new Bard of White Owl Mr. Matthew J. Trask of Hubba's House:

...[Going Rogue] displays no intelligence, no analysis, no wit, and no realism. I really hate to say this, but it’s Chicken Soup for the Political Soccer Mom’s Soul.

There are no grammatical errors or errors of syntax, no misspellings and the paragraphs and chapters all line up nicely. It’s an easy read, too easy, like a glossy happy sixth grade textbook. I have read Civil War era “Lost Cause” treatises that were more realistic than this. It’s “rah rah go Alaska/America” with pedantic descriptons of Alaskan scenery, a few brief gushing sentences on Alaskan historical figures (William Seward,) and the most generic of quotes scattered here and there. For nuts on the fruitcake, we get the occasional unfunny soccer mom joke, not as in offensive, as in simply not funny [Matthew Trask, "Book Review: Going Rogue by Sarah Palin," Hubba's House, 2010.01.02].

Drop by Hubba's House to read the full review and leave your comments. Horseman, bibliophile, and imminent groom Mr. Trask is always happy to discuss literature and the affairs of this great nation.

South Dakota Public Broadcasting: #1 with Prairie Dog Poisoners!

Matthew J. Trask of Hubba's House gets interviewed by South Dakota Public Broadcasting for an upcoming Dakota Life, and of course, he flips the camera to interview SDPB's Bob Bosse. Demographic news flash for marketers and media moguls: prairie dog poisoners love public television—out in Hubba's neck of the woods, that's all they can pick up!

Tune in for the full interview at Hubba's House!

Munsterman "Convicted"? Pat, Send Cue Cards!

How not to explain why you're running for office:

"About three years ago I was convicted...."

—Scott Munsterman, interview with Matthew J. Trask, Hubba's House Podcast Program, 2009.09.03 [first video, around timestamp 3:10]

I'm sure the candidate and his campaign manager had a good chuckle. So should we all. If I had the time and talent, I'd put together a Munsterman mash-up, to the tune of "Working on the Chain Gang." Hey, the Decorum Forum is good at graphics and stuff... how about it, Bill? :-)

Hubba's House: South Dakota's Blooming Jon Stewart?

Matthew J. Trask, the mastermind of Hubba's House, generally steers clear of politics. But this weekend he scores a citizen media coup with a spontaneous 10-minute interview of South Dakota's elder statesman George McGovern.



Dang right I'm envious, Hubba! Envious... and proud of what we regular folks can do with a pocket camcorder and the Internet (though to call Matt "regular" is to be "loose with the truth"). It beats anything we see on regular local TV. It's Jon Stewart Lite: less political edge, but no lack of interesting political observations as quoteworthy as anything in that Sioux Falls paper (McGovern names Daschle as one of South Dakota's monumental historical figures; McGovern sees Heidepriem riding pro-Dem trend to gubernatorial victory in 2010). Hubba also interrupts less than Jon Stewart. That's good online TV!

Watching these two intelligent South Dakotans talk in a bookstore made me think how nice it would be if our current elected officials would sit down with regular folks for on-the-record conversations like this. Sure, Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin could take Michael Sanborn up on his invitation to a Decorum Forum town hall. But I'd be happy to see more moments like Hubba's interview with McGovern: no studio, no crowd, no particular agenda... just good conversation.

And note that title on the video: "Mr. McGovern and Me"—a nice reminder of how close we ought to be able to keep even our greatest political figures.

Reason #8347 I Love South Dakota: Hubba House Ranch Podcast!

Ten-gallon hat tip to John at South Dakota Magazine, who points us toward Hubba's House, the busiest blog in the Elm Springs metro area. Hubba, also known to horse and man as Matthew J. Trask, has been reporting online the goings-on at his family's West River hacienda since 2005. With videocasts like the following, I'm sorry I didn't find Hubba's House sooner:



Best line: "Show 'em that snow-manure pile. Wow, the wonders of nature."

Now why the heck would I want to live in New York City or some such urban cesspool when I can enjoy the glories of South Dakota? Keep up the good work, Hubba!