South Dakota probably has one of the smallest LGBT populations of any state but we probably have far more influence per captia in Washington, DC than any other state.

Just look at some of the major players from South Dakota who are rocking the nation’s capitol:

• My good friend Jon Hoadley (Vermillion) is the executive director the National Stonewall Democrats.
  

I've never seen anything like it. 

Before the polls opened at my precinct's polling place in Harrisburg, SD at the United Methodist Church, the large parking lot was full, there were cars parked on the street, and there was a long line stretching out the door.

I'm not sure what it means other than the potential for a very large turnout.  Harrisburg is overwhelming Republican.  Are these motivated Republican voters or have they tired from eight years of Bush and will vote Democrat?  Did the well oiled Republican machine get folks out?  Was it the best GOTV effort that state Democrats have ever run for local candidates?

I don't have a clue.  I think it bodes well for Democrats and Barack Obama, but that's why they play the game.

Regardless, it's a good day for our democracy.

Now, do your part and go vote!

I just had my point and shoot with me this evening at the Sioux Falls Labor Temple for the State Democratic Party Pre-Election Rally. 

It featured Senators Tim Johnson and George McGovern, Representatives Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Max Sandlin, State Senator Scott Heidepriem, and PUC Commission candidate Matt McLarty.

It was a packed house!

Democratic commentator Mark Shields reminds Sen. Barack Obama--and frankly, all political candidates--that elections aren't about them but about the voters.

Shields is afraid Barack is going to make the same mistakes that Vice President Walter Mondale and Senators John Kerry and Hillary Clinton made, saying they were ready to be President.

The nugget:

The identical mistake was made in the messages sent, a quarter century apart, by these two Democrats: A presidential campaign -- especially a successful campaign that will enable the winner to lead the nation -- is not about the candidate; a successful presidential campaign is about the voters. It's also obviously about the country, the future and the differences with your opponent.

It's an important reminder for all candidates in all parties at all levels--it's about the voters, stupid.

Cross posted to Kansas Watch and South Dakota Watch.

Technorati Tags: Mark Shields, Barack Obama, candidates, 2008 Election

Ok, I’ve thought about it.

Sen. Tim Johnson’s decision not to debate state Rep. Joel Dykstra is brilliant political strategy.

The Senator has difficulty speaking. He has to speak slowly. Neither of these issues contribute to debating success.

Even more brilliant, however, is campaign manager Steve Jarding’s timing in releasing this.

On a Friday, when you take out the trash to the media, and just under three months from the election.

The story will die down this weekend, particularly on TV, where TV news tations run basically skeleton crews. By Monday, the story is four days old. By the end of next week, the story will be gone—the “legs” will have fallen off.

So, my Republican friends, whine while you can. Your window is closing.

And this puts Rep. Dykstra in a terrible box. He too can complain about not having an opponent to debate—for a while. But he can’t keep yipping about this in September and October and November. What’s done is done. Johnson ain’t debating. He’ll have to talk about other, more substantive things, like what he’d do as Senator. And Dykstra doesn’t have the money to do that now and likely won’t anytime soon.

So, from a political strategy point of view, Johnson’s decision not debate and its timing are brilliant.

Brilliant, but bad for our democracy.

Next to perhaps maybe SDPTV’s Stephanie Rissler, I’ve probably produced more political debates for TV han anyone else in South Dakota. During my time at SDPTV (and before that at KTWU-TV in Topeka, KS), I took the view that political debates were one of the most important things broadcasters—particularly public broadcasting stations—do. While sometimes contrived and stuffy and limiting, debates allow citizens to see the candidates discuss a broad range of issues, face one another, and give citizens the chance to compare and contrast in a “one stop shopping” setting.

Political debates are good for our democracy.

Further, I am not aware of any candidate for major office in SD since 1986 refusing to participate in at least one debate. Rep. Tom Daschle debated Sen. Jim Abnor in 1986. Sen. Larry Pressler debated Ted Muenster and a couple of other third party candidatess in 1990. Rep. Tim Johnson debated Sen. Pressler in 1996. Rep. John Thune debated Sen. Johnson in 2002. Thune debated Sen. Tom Daschle in 2004. I also think every single gubernatorial candidate during that time debated.

South Dakotans expect their candidates—even popular incumbents—to debate. It is very much a part of our political history and fabric.

Unless there’s a miracle—and they do happen once in a while in politics—Sen. Johnson will be re-elected to a third term to the US Senate in November.

The political operative in me completely understands why Sen. Johnson doesn’t want to debate. But the citizen and idealist in me thinks its bad for our South Dakota democracy to not see the candidates for U.S. Senate on a stage at least once, so we, the people of South Dakota, can measure the mettle of the men who wish to represent us.

Technorati Tags: debates, South Dakota, US Senate, Joel Dykstra, Tim Johnson

On my way back from court Wednesday around noon, I ran into my good friend (yes, he actually is) Mitch Krebs, Gov. Rounds’ press secretary, and Paul Kinsman, SD Secretary of Revenue, in front of the County Treasurer’s office in Sioux Falls.

When I had walked through the Minnehaha Administration building at 8:30 a.m. on my way to court, the line for the treasurer stretched from the treasurer’s office almost to the doors to the new courthouse building—about 80 yards.

At noon, the line was down to about ten people.

What had happened?

Apparently Treasurer Pam Nelson had been “convinced” by County Commissioners and Kinsman to open an express lane to help people who only had renewals. That’s a majority of the business.

The second thing was that Kinsman flew—yes, via airplane—a Revenue employee to help the treasurer’s office.

The change in the length of the lines in the intervening three hours was dramatic.

As I have been tough on Gov. Mike Rounds in this deal, I thought it only fair to point out that he did provide at least a partial solution to Minnehaha County’s woes and that things were better for citizens waiting in line.

And in talking to Paul and Mitch, it was clear that this was not a political issue to them but a governmental services issue that they were trying to fix.

There are still problems with the new computer system. But because people lowered their rhetoric, a problem improved and the citizens got better service.

That’s the way government is supposed to run—whether Democrats, Republicans, or independents are in charge.

Technorati Tags: WaitGate, Pam Nelson, Paul Kinsman, Mike Rounds, Mitch Krebs, Minnehaha County, licensing, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The BushFailureBus (The Bush Legacy Bus) is parked smack-dab in front of my law firm, Galland Law Firm, at 317 N. Main in Sioux Falls, across the street from Sen. John Thune’s state office.

The bus is open from 3-5 p.m. today. Come drop by if you have the time!

Technorati Tags: BushFailureBush, The Bush Legacy, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, George W. Bush

Here is a short clip I shot on my Fuji Finepix of Sen. Barack Obama’s remarks on the need for the New GI Bill in Sioux Falls today at the Vets for Obama pancake feed.

Technorati Tags: veterans, New GI Bill, Barack Obama, 2008 election, South Dakota Primary

Let me show and tell you about why Barack Obama is different.

This morning after his speech about veterans’ issues at the Vets for Obama gathering in Sioux Falls, he went around to every table and talked to every person and shook every hand and posed for every photograph.

But that isn’t the amazing part.

At the table next to ours was Christine Johnson and her children, Jordan, age 5, and Abbey, age 7.

Barack comes over to meet the Johnsons. He notices that Jordan has some dogtags on.

His dad’s dog tags.

Abbey says, “This is a very sad day.”

Barack asks why. Mrs. Johnson explains that her husband, Tech Sgt. Dan Johnson with the South Dakota Air National Guard, had shipped out just prior to the event for Iraq.

For his third tour in Iraq.

Barack got down to the kids’ level and said. “I will bring your daddy home. I will bring him home safe.”

He then posed for the photo you see.

A wonderful moment.

But there’s more.

My wife Donna is next to meet him. She is now crying because of the great warmth, humanity, and compassion Barack showed the Johnsons. She is crying like I haven’t seen her cry in quite awhile.

Barack goes up to her and say, “Hello! And why are you crying?”

Donna gets out that she was so moved by how he talked to the Johnsons about their father and husband. She also manages to get out that like Barack’s mother, she too was born in Kansas.

Barack breaks the tension and replies, “Well then, we’re cousins!” and proceeds to give her a very warm hug.

Everything was then ok.

Folks, I have to tell you something. This man is brilliant. He wants to lead our country in a better direction. But what he brings is something I’m not sure any of our other Presidents have had in such abundance since maybe Franklin D. Roosevelt—he has an empathy and compassion for people that defies the slings and arrows of “snobby intellectual” and “elitist” that the Rightwing tries to fling at him.

Barack Obama gives a damn about people. It shows. He’s not faking. He is as real as it gets.

Boy, does it show.

We have a very special person in Barack Obama that transcends politics as we know it—race, age, gender, party, whatever else you want to add.

In the period of just a couple of minutes, he gave hope to people.

I saw it with my own eyes.

Technorati Tags: hope, veterans, Barack Obama, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, South Dakota Air National Guard, Iraq War

Sphere: Related Content

Seriously, I didn’t seek to make any comments with my former brothers in the press at the Sioux Falls Vets for Obama event today.

I swear to God Randy, that’s true!

But apparently I have some sort of pheromone that attracts the press. Here are a couple stories from today.

From The Page at Time magazine:

“It’s going to take a lot of guts to do what he’s promising, but I think he can do it.”

Todd Epp, 49, of Harrisburg, echoed that.

“I think he obviously understands that you’ve got to surround yourself with good people. And I think he’s smart enough to understand to know what he doesn’t know. He doesn’t have arrogance and I think that will carry him far. And I’m sure he has people behind him to advise him,” he said.

And from the AP (via Fox News):

“It’s going to take a lot of guts to do what he’s promising, but I think he can do it.”

Todd Epp, 49, of Harrisburg, echoed that.

“I think he obviously understands that you’ve got to surround yourself with good people. And I think he’s smart enough to understand to know what he doesn’t know. He doesn’t have arrogance and I think that will carry him far. And I’m sure he has people behind him to advise him,” he said.

Technorati Tags: AP, Time, The Page, Barack Obama, veterans, Iraq War, 2008 election, South Dakota Primary

Through sheer luck, my friend and former Marine Lynn Hart of Flandreau invited Donna and I to accompany him and his girl friend (and my friend) Helen Gilbert, also of Flandreau, to Sen. Barack Obama’s Vets for Obama pancake feed at the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds this morning.

Finally, I met the Man Crush!

And yes, he’s even dreamier in person!

Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, veterans, pancakes

Here are photos I took at the Sen. Barack Obama rally outside of the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD today (Sunday).


Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Corn Palace, Mitchell, South Dakota, 2008 election, South Dakota Primary

My wife Donna (Dr. Donna M. Osment-Epp, Ph.D.) was on a panel discussion yesterday in Brookings of women who support Sen. Barack Obama for President.

Other panelists included former SDSU President Peggy Gordon Miller, State Senator Nancy Turbak Berry of Watertown, and attorney Cathy Piersol of Sioux Falls.

Dr. Miller said she supported Barack for a number of reasons, key among them his plans to forgive student loans to college graduates who go into teaching and other helping professions.

Cathy said she thought Barack offered voters character, inspiration, and hope.

Sen. Turbak said that she was formerly a Sen. John Edwards supporter. Edwards is a fellow trial lawyer. She said that she came to support Barck because of the hope he gives.

Donna said she too had been an Edwards supporter and only lately came to be a Barack supporter. (Darn independent thinking women!) She said she had issues with how Sen. Hillary Clinton tried to work with health care reform when she was First Lady. She also said she was motivated by Barack’s message of one person making a difference.

Angie Hatton of Brookings moderated the panel. She said she had been a Hillary supporter but came to support Barack because of her mother Lois.

There were nearly 50 people at the meeting—not bad for one of the few nice Saturdays we’ve had in South Dakota in months.

This was the first time I had met Dr. Miller. (I know Nancy and Cathy through my work as a fellow lawyer and Democrat.) She is just a tiny little thing but an absolute dynamo of energy, Southern charm, and humor. Plus, she’s very, very smart. What a great lady!

It was an impressive panel of women of accomplishment. Donna is rather shy and doesn’t like to do things like this. She was great, speaking from both her head and her heart. Once again I was reminded that I had married way above myself.

(Sorry about the quality of the photos. I forgot my camera as we ran out the door and had to use my Motorola Q to take pictures.)

Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Brookings, South Dakota, women, Women for Obama, 2008 election, South Dakota Primary

I am on KCPO-TV's "The Facts" at 10:30 a.m. CT today (Sunday). I am talking about the upcoming June 3d South Dakota primary, particularly the Obama/Clinton race. I also touch on the District 15 Democrat House race and the Hyperion vote in Union County.

Technorati Tags: KCPO, The Facts, Todd Epp, South Dakota Primary, 2008 Election

Maybe we’re going about this abortion thing all wrong.

South Dakotans believe that they are so superior with their “South Dakota Values.”

This past legislative session, these “Superior Dance of Values” apparently include greatly expanding alcohol sales and consumption here in The Mt. Rushmore State.

Now, last time I looked, what is one of society’s greatest evils?

Alcoholism.

It destroys those who drink. It destroys families of alcoholics. And alcoholics who drink and drive often kill and maim others.

So, what’s the solution?

Make alcohol more available, says our state legislature, by letting local wineries serve and sell their homemade hooch at fairs and expositions. By letting cities distribute more liquor licenses regardless of city population.

I’m no prude. I like beer, wine, and spirits. Life always seems a little better after a tomato beer with green olives floating in it.

But I can handle my alcohol. It’s just all those other South Dakotans who can’t.

Yet unlike abortion, we in South Dakota support our drinkers’ and alcoholics non-family value of partaking of alcohol.

Why?  What’s the differencce?

Because the state is in on the vig.  Sorry, that’s a gambling term for part of the take or interest. The state gets taxes from alcohol sales.

So, why not tax abortions? Like alcohol, abortion is not what the Superior Dance Crowd thinks is a “family value.” But alcohol is acceptable and even promoted because it is a revenue source.

Why not abortions?

The state could put a tax on the procedure and call it the “Fetus Protection Excise Tax.” The state could promote our low cost of abortions (hey, our doctors and nurses probably also work for less pay like the rest of us—it is a competitive advantage) compared to other states. While still attempting to outlaw abortions, the Fetus Tax could be set aside for the expensive U.S. Supreme Court that would likely occur if such a bill passes.

Further, Fetus Tax revenues over and above the amount for legal fees could either go into the general fund, or, as Gov. Mike Rounds likes to do, send the revenue to a Zygote Trust Fund and only use the interest that is accrued for the state budget and never touch the principle.

I mean, this is how the alcohol business works. The state on the one hand tries to stem drunk driving and under aged drinking by education and law enforcement; on the other hand, it promotes local wineries and vodka mills and Big Box retailers so they can sell more brews, vino, and rot gut.

Leslee Unruh, Roger Hunt, Gov. Rounds, I think I’ve found some common ground for us all!  Don’t stop abortions, tax them!  It’s the South Dakota Way—taxing what we find to be odious.

Technorati Tags: abortion, alcohol, alcoholism, South Dakota, Gov. Mike Rounds, Leslee Unruh, Roger Hunt, fetus, Fetus Protection Excise Tax, Zygote Trust Fund, zygotes