Tea Party Failure: Congress Productive, SD Voter Registration Stable

Supposedly the weird, multi-headed hydra we conveniently if inaccurately label the "Tea Party" aims to change American politics. The 9-12 Project, a subset of that "movement," claims to surround us.

I'm looking around, and I'm not seeing it. Whatever movement is afoot seems only a sideshow (some might say freak show) to the continuing strength of the two existing political parties.

Consider first this commentary from Ronald Brownstein in the National Journal. He finds that Democrats in Washington have pulled together more effectively than they did during the first two years of the Clinton Administration:

Today, Democrats face much the same electoral challenge as they did then: unyielding opposition from congressional Republicans and a growing grassroots conservative backlash. But after some wavering, Democrats this time have mostly responded by closing ranks, especially in the dramatic drive to complete health care reform. Democrats remain divided on immigration, climate change, and some other issues, but they have united enough to make this arguably the most productive legislative session for any Democratic president since Lyndon Johnson [Ronald Brownstein, "Dems' Governing Core Stays Intact," National Journal, 2010.04.03].

Tea Party kicks and spits, Dems get things done. Even where Dems have thrown conservatives a bone with votes dissenting from the President, their Tea Party allegiance isn't terribly deep. Consider the case of South Dakota Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. Our Blue Dog Democrat consistently hewed to the Tea party line on their signature issue, opposing health care reform. But a year of futile baying at the socialist moon was negated by one sudden liberal thunderclap: one liberal doctor challenged SHS, 3834 Democrats signed petitions, and SHS came scampering back to our side, promising not to vote to repeal the newly passed health care reform law just to get Kevin Weiland not to run against her in the primary.

Further evidence of the lack of any real Tea Party impact on politics comes from the latest voter registration numbers released Thursday by the South Dakota Secretary of State. If the Tea "Party" is really fed up with politics as usual, we might expect there to be a surge in citizens seeking alternative parties to carry their message to Washington and Pierre.

Figure 1: South Dakota Voter Registration, "Third" Parties
recent trend to April 1, 2010 (click chart to enlarge)

Since the manufacturing of the Tea Party in February 2009, parties other than the Dems and GOP have shown little growth. Add Constitution, Libertarian, and "Other," and since Feb 2009, South Dakota has seen a net increase of 14 official members in third parties, up 0.71%. A review of the candidates who have filed for South Dakota offices so far reveals only three Constitution Party candidates mustering the courage and signatures to run for statewide office. Not exactly a seismic shift in the political landscape.

Now compare those third party "gains" with the overall picture:

Figure 2: South Dakota Voter Registration, All Parties
recent trend to April 1, 2010 (click chart to enlarge)

See that flat blue line down by zero? That's where those third parties lie relative to registered Republicans, Democrats, and Independents in South Dakota. All three main registrations underwent the expected decline last fall as the Secretary of State struck inactive voters from the rolls. Since that culling, Independents have seen a stronger increase than Republicans by percentage, but there are still more new Republicans since November (1140) than Independents (758).

Now the conservatives among us may be able to cheer their side is gainin while Dems are losing—and indeed, Dems, since November, we've lost another 770 registered voters. But if I were a Tea Party activist who claims my movement isn't just an adjkunct of the Republican Party, I wouldn't be cheering too loudly that my movement has increased registration in that dominant political party.

These facts point to one simple conclusion: the Tea Bags aren't changing anything, at least not the way they want to claim. The Democrats in Congress are taking care of business. South Dakota Democrats are starting to tighten the leash on their Blue Dog Congresswoman (oooo... sounds like a show the RNC would pay money for). No third party is making any serious move to gain members or offer alternatives.

A year in, and on health care and in South Dakota, the Tea party has given us nothing but shouting.

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Update 2001.04.04 07:48 CDT: Cerberus Global Investments chairman Dan Quayle disagrees with me, fretting that the Tea Party is so successful it may go Perot, launch an actual third party, and destroy the GOP's chances of making gains in November. Quayle also recommends taking political cues from Sarah Palin.

Martin Luther King Commemoration Monday in Brookings

Given we have talk-radio-fueled psychos issuing ultimata to governors to quit or be "forcibly removed" and trailer-park soldier wannabes thinking it's God's will to kill cops and overthrow the government, maybe we should all take a moment to recall where such behavior can lead.

The Brookings Public Library hosts a commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King on Monday, April 5, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will include a presentation of Dr. King's April 4, 1967, "Beyond Vietnam" speech, along with a photo montage by local artist Phyllis Cole-Dai. A group discussion will follow. The program is sponsored by the Brookings Humans Rights Committee (yes, the city has one!).

That MLK speech has come to my attention often. Some key lines:

...We are called to play the Good Samaritan on life's roadside . . . but one day we must come to see that the whole Jericho road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see that a system that produces beggars needs to be repaved. We are called to be the Good Samaritan, but after you lift so many people out of the ditch you start to ask, maybe the whole road to Jericho needs to be repaved....

...A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.

Martin Luther King's calls for social justice sprang from his Christianity. Those calls provoked rage from whites desperate to "take our country back!" from people who don't "deserve" America. The same rage that led to King's murder by a racist thug 22 years ago Sunday sounds uncomfortably familiar to today's politics.

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Read more: Bob Herbert discusses the relevance of Dr. King's 1967 speech to today's foreign policy in Afghanistan... a costly endeavor of our federal government about which Tea Bags are confusedly and confusingly silent.

Green Notes: Sioux Falls Smart Speakers, Florida Super-Smart Grid

Good Friday goes grey, but this morning's Web reading has me feeling green!

In local green news, the Plain Green Conference is bringing all sorts of smart people to Sioux Falls April 28 and 29 to talk about green building, green science, and green thinking:

The Plain Green Conference and Marketplace is two days of advancing sustainability on the Northern Plains. Connect, learn and take action with hundreds of other attendees and star-power keynotes, plus green exhibitors and two days of workshops and breakouts (conservation design planning, green healthcare, eco-affordable home building, green office makeovers, LEED, straw bale construction, EPA compliance, permaculture and much more).

Cool! Here's co-organizer Joe Bartmann's pitch:



Two big speakers on the agenda: Cameron Sinclair, founder of Architecture for Humanity; and Mitchell Joachim, co-founder of Terrefuge.

If you attend Plain Green, you might find yourself conversing with fellow South Dakotans about the smart grid. That innovation, such as the smart grid planned by our Sioux Valley Energy, is supposed to make better use of electricity. But Tallahasse, Florida, is building a super-smart grid to save electricity, gas, and water! The city will implement smart meters and software to help customers monitor and optimize their use of all three utilities. The system will also help utility crews locate and fix problems faster.

This three-in-one smart grid, the first such system in the U.S., could save the city $100K a year in current dollars. According to Mayor John Marks, "We started the investment in smart grid technology before it took off as a smart concept nationally. That's important for our customers as the bottom line is that they will be able to save energy, save water and save money." That's green everyone can love!

Big Government/Bad Rhetoric Week on MDL Editorial Pages

Madison Daily Leader publisher Jon Hunter gets his groove back this week with not one but three editorials. Interestingly, every one of these missives will bring tears to the eyes of the anti-nanny-state free-market fundamentalists who count on hunter to counter the liberal socialist media:

1. On Monday, Hunter cheers the Governor's veto of fireworks on Christmas Eve. MDL thus agrees with the Madville Times, saddening Republican readers everywhere. Government restricting your right to play with explosives after Christmas Eve vigil—might as well impose martial law, right?
2. On Tuesday, Hunter boosts the Census... which we all know is just a plot to organize the internment camps for subversive elements.
3. On Thursday, Hunter stretches his brain and advocates economic sanctions, a gross intrusion of government power on your right to conduct free market activities with whomever you want. How dare big government forbid you from buying Cuban cigars?
   

Worth noting: Hunter advocates economic sanctions, even though their "terms don't make much sense," even though "we don't know much more" about economic sanctions beyond a one-line definition, even though "it isn't clear whether economic sanctions are effective," and even though "most analysts" believe sanctions against "Middle East enemies" are "too small to matter."

"Nevertheless," concludes Hunter, "we believe sanctions should continue and even expand, adding another tool to help fight terrorism around the world."

The Jon Hunter School of Logic and Rhetoric: make four points against a policy, then advocate more of it. Ah, so he is still a Republican!

9-12ers Bring Nelson, Curd, Howie to Madison Tonight

Memo to Nelson campaign: brief out your response to my cousin's imminent question: "So what do you think of full-reserve banking?"

The local Glenn Beck fan club is hosting three political candidates at its Good Friday meeting, one of whom actually stands a chance of winning. The Madison 9-12 Project is hosting a conversation with Secretary of State Chris Nelson, District 12 State Representative R. Blake Curd, and District 30 State Senator Gordon Howie to Madison tonight, 6 p.m., VFW.

Gubernatorial Candidate Gordon Howie will be attendance. He will be talking about his candidacy and the South Dakota Health Care Freedom Act.

U.S. House candidates Chris Nelson and Blake Curd will also be there. I am sure they are eager to shake babies and kiss hands... or something like that... [Jason Bjorklund, meeting announcement, Madison 9-12 Project calendar].

One clarification: the Health Care Freedom bill is Tea Bag Republican Senator Howie's third attempt to nullify health care reform by declaring federal law invalid in South Dakota. (Next step: abolishing the Civil Rights Act and expropriating Ellsworth AFB, to be renamed Fort Sumter.) 9-12 organizer Jason Bjorklund is organizing a petition drive to put Howie's twice-failed legislation on the November ballot as an initiated law, and Howie and the 9-12ers will be stumping for signers tonight.

I am pleased to see the 9-12ers advancing from raging and flag-waving to canvassing for real civic action. Too bad their first project would cost the state a half million dollars in futile litigation.

But hey, they're also giving out free hot dogs! Come eat, come meet and greet! Tonight, Madison VFW, 6 p.m.

Lake County Unemployment Down to 5.8% in February

Dang: I got so excited with political news last week, I missed the jobs numbers from the Department of Labor! The job situation got a little better in Lake County: 60 people jumped back into our labor force, and 70 more people got jobs! Lake County's February unemployment rate thus reached 5.8%, down from 6.0% in January.

If we can continue that number of new jobs each month, we could meet the LAIC's Forward Madison job goals by the end of April, 2011. Keep your fingers crossed!

Unemployment went down two ticks in Brookings County, too; our northeast neighbors remain the septa-county region leader with just 4.0% unemployment (still one of the highest rates of unemployment in Brookings in two decades). Unemployment went down for most of our county neighbors, but jobless numbers stayed steady in moody (7.8%) and climbed in Kingsbury (6.4%).

Jurors: No Web for You!

I've not had the pleasure, but I've always been eager to serve on a jury. But ouch—serving on a jury could kill my blog stats!

Across the nation, courts are struggling to catch up with and reign in the runaway use of new media. Georgia judges are mulling a modification to jury instructions that would specifically warn jurors not to use Web sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google....

Earlier this year, federal courts led the way on the issue by adopting a set of so-called "Twitter instructions" for district judges to deter jurors' use of electronic devices or media. The instructions are to be read to jurors at the start of trial and before deliberations. They also warn against visits to any Internet chat room, blog or Web site such as Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, YouTube or Twitter [Andria Simmons, "Georgia Court to Bar Jurors from Internet," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2010.03.30].

My debate judging experience helps me understand the need to keep jurors away from outside information and focused strictly on the information the contending parties present. But to spend a long trial offline—oh, the price of citizenship!

Make Money from Ethanol... or Vice Versa?

I don't do April Fools (I do recommend tickling as an alternative).

But if you think government subsidies for ethanol are a waste of money, you might want to read this humor from the Environmental Working Group, which announces simoleonase, a new enzyme that might be the ethanol industry's salvation:

With today’s breakthrough, we no longer have to engage in the grossly inefficient process of using taxpayer subsidies to fund cultivation of feedstocks like corn that are then converted into ethanol. With simoleonase enzyme, we are converting cold, hard US dollars directly into clean, green ethanol produced right here in the US. We’re eliminating the middleman, delivering a quality product to the American taxpayer and moving closer to energy independence.

Our initial tests show that $50 bills have the right moisture content and density for maximum ethanol output, and therefore our agency will ramp up printing of those bills in order to feed the demand expected by ethanol producers ["New Simoleonase Enzyme a Magic Bullet for Ethanol Industry?" Environmental Working Group, 2010.04.01].

Who says environmentalists have no sense of humor?

Republicans Get All the Punchlines This Week

I hate it when the Republicans get all the good punchlines.

1. Pastor Steve Hickey now gets to joke about how Dr. Kevin Weiland has assumed the title for shortest South Dakota Congressional campaign ever (not to mention most signatures collected from eager party activists whose hopes are then single-handedly crushed).
2. Pat Powers gets to put flip-flops on his blog to make fun of Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin for switching her position on health care reform just to keep Weiland off the ballot.
3. GOP House candidates R. Blake Curd and Kristi Noem pile on with the same criticism. There is a difference between voting against a bill and later promising not to vote to repeal it... but that difference is so thin and the promise so empty (SHS will not face a repeal vote this session, and even if she survives November, the 112th Congress is unlikely to seriously consider repeal... and President Obama would veto it anyway) that I'd just make an ass of myself trying to defend it.
   
4. And just to top it off, South Dakota Dems make history by letting a sitting Senator go unchallenged for re-election. Ugh.

But is there a bright side? I'm working on that. Stay tuned!

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Update 10:31 CDT: No punchlines here: Dr. Weiland tells Kevin Woster that pressure from Washington and his own sense of family values caused him to make the wrenching call Tuesday afternoon. And before he quit, Weiland said directly to SHS, "No, you’re wrong. You’re on the wrong side of history. This is human rights for health care."

Inbox: Hildebrand Decries SHS Political Tactics on Weiland

From my inbox this morning, a letter from Steve Hildebrand:

3,834 South Dakota Democrats Are Demanding Change
March 31, 2010

Friends,

In case you haven't heard, Kevin Weiland made an 11th-hour decision not to run in the Democratic primary for Congress against Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.

While I share the disappointment expressed by many, Kevin's departure from the race doesn't change my belief that our current Representative has veered from the priorities important to everyday people.

Sadly, Representative Herseth Sandlin talks a good game, but consistently takes a walk on some of the most important issues facing our country. She says we need to curb the harmful effects of climate change, but then votes against the most important energy reform legislation of our time. She says she has worked for reforming health care since she got into office, but when sweeping and historic health care reform legislation had a real chance for passage, she not only voted against it on multiple occasions, she actually advocated for its defeat.

It's been difficult to count on Stephanie to do what's right. During health care, she joined every Republican member of the House and Senate by voting no. She sided with Republicans and big oil companies by voting to allow drilling in Alaska. She sided with the NRA when she voted to allow firearms in our national parks and loosen the ban on handguns in Washington, DC. And she joined supporters of discrimination when she voted for a Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriage.

On issue after issue --the big ones -- the ones that prove a politician's mettle and define their character -- Stephanie has gone astray.

I'm not alone in how I feel. In the short six days of the Weiland for Congress campaign, nearly 4,000 South Dakota Democrats signed petitions seeking an alternative. What if we had two weeks or 30 days to gather signatures? No doubt we could have increased the number to 10,000 or maybe even 20,000.

We can hope that 4,000 Democrats joining together sends a strong message to Stephanie. The disappointment in her voting record reaches far beyond the four walls of my office and it comes from some of the most experienced and respected people in this state. It includes former congressional staffers, her former campaign chair and chair of the Republicans for Herseth Committee who switched parties to become a Democrat. Those who signed petitions include hundreds who gave campaign contributions and gave their time to help her win past elections.

I've learned a lot about the political process over the last week. What stood out most was the energy and excitement that I saw from these 4,000 Democrats who showed a hunger for new leadership. I hadn't seen anything like in South Dakota before. It was energizing. People put their lives on hold to follow their convictions. You've all inspired me to continue to speak out when I see injustice, when my convictions conflict with a political leader -- whether Republican or Democrat.

In the final 24 hours of this six-day-long Weiland for Congress campaign, I saw the best of politics and the worst. The best was the engagement of everyday people who believed they could make a difference. The worst was Stephanie's use of typical Washington political tactics to pressure Kevin from challenging her in the Democratic primary. She recruited House Democratic Leaders (minus Speaker Pelosi) to put pressure on Kevin. She nervously sought help from current and former Democratic elected officials from South Dakota. And she was even calling Kevin to ask what political favors she could provide in order keep him from running.

In the final moments before the 5 pm filing deadline, Stephanie and her Congressional staff were negotiating with Kevin, language to include in a joint statement if he agreed not to run. At the same time, one of my staff was sitting in his car outside the Secretary of State's office with petitions containing 3,834 signatures from passionate Democrats from every part of South Dakota.

When all was said and done, Stephanie's only promise was to vote against any effort to repeal the health care bill. In reality, there is virtually no chance that repeal could pass the House or Senate and even if it did, I believe President Obama would veto it. So she conceded to nothing. Nothing.

Has Stephanie learned anything in the last week. Does she understand the anger and disappointment felt by thousands of South Dakota Democrats? Will our feelings be taken into account when we need her vote on the big issues?

Or will this last week's activities -- and her success in getting Kevin to back down, embolden her even more?

Only time will tell.

We need to continue using our voice and our vote -- challenging politics as usual and pressuring those who oppose issues containing the fundamental corps beliefs that make us Democrats. It's simply too important.

So I respectfully ask you not to be discouraged or disappointed. We didn't lose yesterday. We sent a powerful message to the Congresswoman that her re-election doesn't matter to us when she walks away from the big issues.

Thanks for your commitment and advocacy!


Steve H

Displaced Plainsman: Different Accountability for Teachers and Republicans?

Far be it from me to tell Republicans how to spend their free time and money. If Republicans want to go to topless lesbian bondage clubs, well, as long as the lesbians don't mind, let 'em. I'm sure this week's little brouhaha isn't the first time politicians have enjoyed some adult entertainment. (Anyone care to take names at the Hop Scotch in Fort Pierre?)

But new online pal Displaced Plainsman offers this observation on double standards for accountability (I quote in full, as DP is brief but effective):

Michael Steele, head of the RNC, apparently isn't responsible for the staffer who took people to a lesbian/bondage themed club. High school teachers, however, are responsible for how their students perform on NCLB tests.

Most stats say that kids are away from school 91% of the time. I have contact with my students about 55 minutes a day. I'm willing to bet that Steele has more contact with his staffers than I have with my students. Isn't there a double standard here? [Displaced Plainsman, 2010.03.30]

Anyone who has watched Star Trek knows the captain is always responsible for the actions of his crew. Kirk up, Mr. Steele!

Regents Cut 37 Programs; DSU Loses 2

The South Dakota Board of Regents is meeting in Aberdeen this week. Among items already disposed of on their agenda: cutting low-enrollment academic programs at our six public universities. Last fall, we opened the school year with new Regents exec Jack Warner telling us that majors and specializations producing 20 graduates or fewer every four years would have to justify their continued existence. 176 such programs faced a "comprehensive productivity study."

Yesterday, the Regents pulled the trigger on 37 of those programs. The full list of programs cut is available in PDF here.

Madison's own Dakota State University was a bit nervous: we're small already, so it's not hard to find small programs. And the smaller the school, the more numbers fluctuate. Still, we got off easy, it appears: The Regents are targeting just two of DSU's programs for termination:

• BS in Scientific Forensics Technology (3 graduates)
• AS in Office Management (7 grads)

Two programs cut. Not bad, considering Northern State is losing six programs. SDSU loses five, USD nine. Hardest hit: Black Hills State, which loses 15 programs, eight of which had no graduates in the last four years. (So if a tree falls in the woods and no one is studying it, does it really make a sound?)

The Regents make three other sets of recommendations for small programs: Consolidate with another program in the system, retain but review further, and retain for critical need. DSU's list:

Consolidate

• BS in Physical Science (2 grads—merge with BHSU)

Retain, but further review (so stay nervous)

• BS in English for Information Systems (14)
• BS in Biology for Information Systems (17)
• AS in Application Programming (3)
• BBA in Management for Information Systems (11)
• BS in Professional Accountancy (9 grads; 26 more in BBA in accounting)

Retain for critical need (off the hook!)

• BS in Health Information Administration (18 grads, fed by AS program with 29 grads)
• BS in Respiratory Care (13 grads, fed by AS prog w. 69 grads)
• BSE (Education) in Biology (5)
• BSE in Business (7)
• BSE in Computer (11)
• BSE in English (5)
• BSE in Mathematics (8)
• BSE in Physical Education (18)