By Bill Harlan

With the Senate Ag Committee about to mark up a new farm bill, now comes an interesting bipartisan duo. See the AP story “Daschle, Dole tout changes in farm policy.” The two former Senate leaders say their plan could save $4.68 billion. They’d cap annual subsidies to individual farmers at $250,000, and they’d also promote biofuels.

Meanwhile, our own Republican Senator John Thune has his own bipartisan proposal. John T. and Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., hope to “spur the production of cellulosic ethanol” with their Biofuels Innovation Program Act. The BIP (that’s what they call it) calls for studying ethanol production from, among other plants, “fast growing trees.” Doghair pines in the Black Hills as a fuel source?

Meanwhile, my friend Sam Hurst, a documentary producer who writes a column for the RCJ, thinks farm bills as written — past, present and future — promote obesity and fail to save family farms. (The headline on the column, which should be fixed soon, is wrong. Sam doesn’t think “saving family farms perpetuates obesity …” He thinks FARM PROGRAMS do.)

Do the Double D’s offer sound advice? Will the Big BIPPER help solve fuel and farm problems? Is Congress making us fat? Major ag legislation looms. What’s in YOUR farm bill?

By Bill Harlan

A Blogmore reader has e-mailed us an interesting suggestion, aired on the “Bob and Tom” radio show, that is related to our digital spoof of John Thune in a NASCAR racing suit. (See “Gentlemen, start your corn” below.) The proposal is a law requiring candidates for public office to wear similar racing suits, with logos of all their contributors (aka sponsors) plainly displayed. The size of the logo would correspond to the size of the campaign donation.

Candidates might counter that Kevin and I should also wear suits with RCJ sponsor patches. I’m OK with that as long as we get a cut.

We love this idea.

How about one of these in your backyard? (I passed this wind farm in southwestern Minnesota in April, hence the snow.)

By Bill Harlan

OK, that song rip-off headline doesn’t work so well. But see today’s RCJ editorial recommending extending the “Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit.” Our editorial board thinks this will help develop wind energy. I raised this question a couple days ago, in the map that went with my “Gentlemen, start your corn” post. One problem in South Dakota is the lack of transmission lines. See my column from this past legislative session for a unique solution that didn’t make it out of committee.

As I pointed out in Feburary, South Dakota ranks fourth in the nation in potential power generation from wind. And the number of wind turbines nationwide is expected to increase by more than 25 percent next year. But South Dakota ranks 23rd in the nation in current wind-energy output.

I kind of like these guys, but they ARE huge. People in some parts of the country are actually fighting them, saying they spoil the view. On the other hand, the view from a Humvee in Fallujah ain’t so hot, either, if you get my energy drift.

By Kevin Woster

Check out the post by Sibson below, from a thread on Herseth and other things, and tell me if I erred in approving it:

So you are saying she will be promoting the abortion of babies instead of having them.

Comment by Steve Sibson — 5/27/2007 @ 12:39 pm

Fleming was very offended by it, and apparently thought I shouldn’t have approved it. (That’s approved it, not necessarily approved of it…)

What do you think?

By Bill Harlan

A story in today’s NYT reports an interesting idea from Maine. See “With Tuition Waiver, Maine Invests in Its ‘First People.’” The University of Maine has a North American Indian Waiver and Scholarship Program. An excerpt from the NYT:

The scholarship pays for tuition, fees, room and board for any undergraduate or graduate student who can prove membership in a state or federally recognized tribe or can prove direct descent from a member. Members of recognized Canadian tribes are also eligible, though students from outside Maine must first live in the state for one year to establish residency.

South Dakota reservation counties are perennially listed as among the poorest in America. Could a program like this make a dent? I have no idea what it would cost, but it’s an interesting idea.

By Bill Harlan

The Blogmorite known as Paladn suggested a topic on RCJ headlines, which have been the much discussed on Rapid Reply recently. Our headline “Indian picked to lead Rapid City Central” topped a story last Sunday about the new principal at Rapid City’s largest high school. Mike Talley, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, is in fact the first Native American principal at Central, which has many Indian students. The fact that Mike Talley is a member of a tribe is socially significant, therefore, and it was a big part of the story. Still, the headlined rankled many. The RCJ editorial board weighed in on Friday with Headline about principal should have been phrased differently and a call for an “American Indian advisory board.”

I thought the headline was jarring. Note that the current online version is “Native American picked ….” Does that fix a problem? Do you agree there a problem with the first headline? If there was, what was it?

In defense of copy editors, they write headlines on deadline, under pressure. Yes, it’s their job. But they’re also human. Words that seem neutral on a pagination monitor in the evening can take on a different tone when printed 30,000 times on paper and distributed all over western South Dakota the next morning.

By Kevin Woster

Because it’s Saturday, and because I’m the weekend reporter and between call-backs on a story about TIFs and the RC mayor’s race, I’m looking for subjects even more important than finding the perfect super-hero title for Steve Sibson.

(I’m always open to suggestions there, by the way…..)

(I’m also willing to consider posts dealing with the news story I’m working on - which is Alan Hanks’ challenge to debate the demerits of TIFs in an open-forum, public free-for-all with Mayor Shaw, candidate Tom Johnson, developers Bill Freytag and Hani Shafai, as well as Johnny Depp, if he happens to be in the neighborhood on other business….Hanks wants backup, by the way, from Sam Kooiker, Alan Aker, Mike Sanborn and Donnie Brasco, if he happens to be traveling with Depp…)

But for just a moment, would somebody please tell me what they think Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin will be doing two years from today?

Still serving in the U.S. House?

Serving in the U.S. House and taking aim at Sen. John Thune in 2010?

Still serving in the U.S. House and preparing for her campaign for governor in 2010?

Serving in the U.S. Senate?

Serving as U.S. agriculture secretary under President Hillary Rodham Clinton?

Riding horses back on the ranch near Houghton?

By Bill Harlan

In the NYT see the article by Marie Horrigan of Congressional Quarterly headlined: “As Sen. Johnson Recovers, South Dakota GOP Plans Get More Robust.”

An excerpt:

So far, two possible candidates have edged up to the plate. State Rep. Joel D. Dykstra and self-employed businessman Sam Kephart have been vocal in stating their interest in the race, though neither has filed paperwork with the FEC to launch a candidacy.

By Bill Harlan

If Sen. John Thune were entering the Coca Cola 600 this weekend … but he’s not. (Digitoon by Steve McEnroe/Journal Staff. Not to be confused with reality)

On the eve of the Coca Cola 600 and the Indianapolis 500, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. and Sen. Even Bayh, D-Ind., have urged NASCAR to convert to ethanol, the “fuel of the future.”

In a written statement Thursday, Thune said:

“Red, white and blue already runs through the engines of NASCAR, so why not a clean-burning American-made fuel like ethanol, too? As an American original that has captured the hearts of millions of fans, young and old, NASCAR has the unique opportunity to set an example for Americans nationwide about the importance of making the switch from unreliable sources of foreign oil to homegrown alternative fuels like ethanol.”

Bayh’s statement said, in part:

“No one loves this country more than auto racing fans, and NASCAR has a unique opportunity to take a step that will help the environment and help our national security. Our dependence on foreign oil is putting the United States in the disturbing position of bankrolling both sides in the War on Terror. We should be looking to the Midwest, not the Mideast, for our fuel.”

Wow. American farmers, the flag, the environment and NASCAR team up against the terrorists. All they lack is the APBA. (Apple Pie Bakers of America.) Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Who can argue against reducing our use of foreign oil? And you’ve got to admit, South Dakota’s junior senator has a certain Gordon-esque quality.

By Bill Harlan

The Washington Post reports this morning that only 11 percent of Americans think current gasoline prices would curtail driving habits “in the coming weeks,” but three of 10 might skip a summer trip. If my math is correct — and there’s no reason to think it should be after all these years — that would translate to 900,000 tourists skipping Mount Rushmore.

The story reports results of a poll:

“The average price that drivers said would compel them to significantly cut back on their driving was $4.38 a gallon. In the western United States, where gasoline prices are typically higher than in the rest of the country, the average respondent said the price would have to hit $5.12 a gallon.
“In fact, the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA)* yesterday reported that gasoline consumption last week was up 2.6 percent from the same week a year earlier, slightly higher than the trend so far this year.”

So tell us, Blogmorites, what’s YOUR tipping point? (My colleague, Kevin W., already answered this question in his column.)

PS:

Check out the EIA’s South Dakota profile, where you’ll find this map and AMAZING FACTS. The blue hatching is wind energy potential. The brown cross-hatching is geothermal.

By Bill Harlan

Three of the eight candidates for Rapid City mayor responded to our first experimental Blogmore mayoral debate. (Scroll down.” ) Some might say our debate glass is 62.5 percent empty. We prefer to consider it 37.5 percent full. So here we go again. And remember, this topic is for candidates only. They don’t know it’s coming yet, so be patient.

An opportunity for candidates

One of the most dreaded tasks reporters face is writing a news story on deadline about a candidate forum with multiple participants. Usually you’ve got to distill each candidate into two or three column inches. Which remarks to choose? Which to leave out? How to be fair? No matter what you choose to emphasize, someone will disagree with it.

City hall reporter Scott Aust faced that in spades at the eight-candidate mayoral forum Tuesday night in Rapid City. I thought he did a great job. Here’s his story. Great minds, however, can disagree. So here’s the offer we’re making to the eight candidates:

Hit the “comment” button below and tell us the rest of the story. What did you say Tuesday night that you wish Scott had reported? How would you elaborate on the points he did report? What would you add to give more context to your remarks?

Same rules apply as the first Blogmore mayoral debate. Comments under this topic are for candidates only. Please follow the same rules as in the earlier post. You can be brief or go long. Multiple posts are OK, as long as you are one of the eight. The rest of Blogmore will get a similar topic later this morning.
(more…)

By Bill Harlan

The charges against Joey Cox have been dropped. Cox is the young man arrested at SD Tech earlier this month for “failure to vacate.”

Tech Veep Julie Smoragiewicz had told Cox a two-week notice was required to demonstrate on campus. Many Blogmorites think that requirement is too restrictive. See the Bob Ellis column. (See also my May 10 Mount Blogmore Post, “Free speech at Tech.”) At least one Blogmorite compares this case to the now famous “MPEACH W” license plate. (See Kevin’s “Free speech” topic on May 4.)

Both cases were dropped, but with a difference. Heather Morijah got to keep her plates; Joey Cox didn’t get to demonstrate.

The Cox case was dropped “in the interest of justice,” according to the prosecutor. Was justice served?

PS: See also Katie Brown’s story this morning (”this” being Thursday”).

By Bill Harlan

A South Dakota connection to Rudy Giuliani was revealed last weekend in a Washington Post story headlined “Giuliani Maverick at Justice.” The story is about the politics of appointing U.S. attorneys in the early 1980s — a topic much in the news today. An excerpt:

South Dakota’s Republican senators told Attorney General William French Smith it was unacceptable for Giuliani to resist their choice of a Reagan loyalist who had little experience in federal court.
“We were shocked last week to receive a letter from Associate Attorney General Rudolph W. Giuliani indicating that the Justice Department takes exception,” Sens. James Abdnor and Larry Pressler wrote, in papers released by the National Archives. The senators said indignantly that their selection followed “the most democratic and open procedure ever used in filling patronage positions in the state.”

and on the jump …

In the South Dakota case, Giuliani apparently was unmoved by the senators’ pitch for Philip K. Hogen, who proclaimed his “devotion to vigorous law enforcement and the principles for which a landslide of American voters supported the Reagan Administration last November.”

Hogen eventually got the job and served 10 years.

By Bill Harlan

Three of eight candidates for mayor of Rapid City have responded to Mount Blogmore’s debate challenge. Our hats tip to Sam Kooiker, Gary Hargens and Bonnie Redden. In the Major Leagues, that batting average would get us a big signing bonus, so we’re declaring the experiment a success in the making. And we’re going to post other questions for candidates.

The missing candidates might simply be too busy to respond. Or they don’t see any benefit. And let’s face it, comments on Blogmore can be subject to harsh personal criticism from anonyous Blogmorites. Or even non-anonymous Blogmorites. I don’t know if Mayor Jim Shaw was including the blogosphere in his remarks last night at a forum, but he did address the nature of political criticism. Here’s an excerpt from RCJ reporter Scott Aust’s story:

Mayor Jim Shaw said there is a “massive, menacing monster” of negativity attacking the community.

“It’s always been there, lurking, usually afraid to come out from where it lives in the sinister shadows of uncertainty, under the heavy rock of misinformation, around the corner of half-truths and innuendo,” he said.

Gulp. The blogosphere’s middle names are “uncertainty, misinformation and innuendo.” But I’d argue that the same could be said about another evil invention, movable type. Some would cure this, at least in part, by demanding that real names be attached. An argument for anonymity is that it allows people into the debate who are afraid of economic and social retaliation for unpopular views. Another is that reporters have received anonymous tips since the dawn of journalism. The blogosphere opens a small portal to that world. (We DO still filter comments.)

Also, plenty of people are willing to sign their names to uncertain and misinformed innuendos. Some of them are even running for office.

That debate will continue. More specifically, I’m interested in the mayor’s charge of excessive negativity in Rapid City, especially in light of the on-again-off-again Rushmont project.

Gosh, I’ve opened two cans of worms here: anonymity and negativity.

By Bill Harlan

The post below is for candidates. The rest of Blogmore can respond here.

By Bill Harlan

And so begins our candidates only Mount Blogmore experiment — hailed by some, reviled by others, not available in stores.

Eight candidates are vying for mayor of Rapid City:
-Mayor Jim Shaw
-Alderman Sam Kooiker
-Alderman Tom Johnson
-State Rep. Alan Hanks
-Gary Hargens
-Patrick Dowling
-Bonnie Redden
-Jerry Knispel

Only those eight candidates, using their real names, will be permitted to comment on this particular topic. See the previous post for a wide variety of suggested questions. Almost all of them have merit, but, given today’s Page A1 top story on the Rushmont project, I’ve decided to almalgamate several suggestions into one. Here it is:

The setup

Rapid City has a history of city participation in building infrastructure and encouraging development — and we’re not just talking roads, bridges and sewers. Examples include Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City Regional Airport, the City-School Administration Building, the Journey Museum, not to mention hockey rinks, swimming pools and the like. The city’s flagship amenity, the Rapid Creek bike path, was a government project. The city uses 2012 funds, TIFs and other mechanisms for public and public-private projects.

The question
As mayor in 2007-2009, how would you guide city participation in big capital improvement projects and private-public development deals, like the Rushmont proposal? (Be specific. Show your work.)

And remember, if you are not running for mayor of Rapid City, please do not try to comment on this topic. See the “non-candidate” topic above, wherein all of Blogmore can respond to this question and to candidate responses. (If there are any. Lacking subpoena power, the Mount reluctantly admits the possiblity of a gaping void in the comment section.)

By Bill Harlan

As a Blogmore experiment, on Tuesday (May 22) we’ll post a topic that will pose a question to the eight candidates for Rapid City mayor. I’ve e-mailed all of them with heads-up. We’ll nail this topic to the Mount Blogmore door at at the crack of dawn on Tuesday, then let the candidates have at it.

Here’s the twist: the only participants in this topic will be the candidates themselves. We’ll offer a parallel topic so the rest of the Mount can comment, but our experiment is to see how many of the eight candidates will participate in an ongoing discussion. The municipal election is June 5. Our hope is this discussion will continue through the election.

But Blogmorites can start participating now. Suggest a question (as a comment here). What would YOU like to ask all eight candidates?

By Bill Harlan

Inspired once again by allegations of a state legislator having sexual contact with a legislative page, South Dakota lawmakers are considering an ethics code. Mount Blogmore being here to help, I urge a trip to the Web site of the National Conference of State Legislatures, which offers an entire ethics package, in a boxed set, including a DVD. In fact, you can watch a sample clip at the site.

The package is titled “Reflections: Being Ethical in Today’s Legislature.” The promo says:

Our goal is to give you easy-to-use materials to help you facilitate a discussion of:
• Why ethics is important in the public sector;
• How participants define ethics and why this is different from following the law;
• The ethical dilemma in the three case studies;
• How to resolve an ethical dilemma;
• The intersection of compromise and ethics;
• Conflict of interest in the legislative process; and
• How this workshop might affect participants’ approaches to ethical behavior.

Although having sex with minors under your supervision doesn’t seem like an “ethics” question so much as a question of “you have the right to remain silent,” the idea of a formal code can lead to interesting discussions. My first formal introduction to a code of ethics was in a summer job selling encyclopedias door to door. We weren’t selling the books, our manager insisted. We were giving them away for free, as long as the recipients paid $489 for 10 years of yearbooks. “Ethics are fine,” he told us. “Just don’t get any on the walls.” (I have no idea what that means, but I’ve never forgotten it.)

The RCJ, by the way, just adopted a revised ethics code for news staff. If you want to buy us lunch, you’ll have to do it through a bank in the Caymans. The Society of Professional Journalists also has a long and detailed ethics code.

How about you, Blogmorites? Any suggestions for ethics codes for legislators? For journalists? For Blogmorites?

By Bill Harlan

Working from home, Sen. Tim Johnson on Friday called for AG Alberto Gonzales to resign. The statement:

At the time of his confirmation to be Attorney General I said that Gonzales’ record made him unqualified to take on the role of representing the American justice system to the rest of the world. As the father of a soldier who served in combat in both Afghanistan and Iraq, I was particularly concerned that our nation’s utilization of torture creates an environment where other nations and other organizations feel they have justification for torturing our troops or citizens.

Since that time, Gonzales has mishandled his position as Attorney General, most glaringly in the firing of up to nine U.S. Attorneys. The recent investigations have further weakened my confidence in his leadership. There has been a litany of evidence that has come forth during his tenure that casts serious doubt on his ability to lead the Justice Department, and I think it is time for him to step down. I would agree with a growing list of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and would cast a vote of no confidence for Attorney General Gonzales. It is time to return trust and integrity to the Justice Department. The American people deserve better.

See also this AP story about Gonzalez. (Link is to the NYT version. Can’t find ours.)

By Kevin Woster

Because I like News Man’s Blogmore name so much, I bring you his issue: Closed caucuses.

Bad or good?

News Man says bad. I agree.

The state Legislature has become a remarkably open process in most ways, with a great deal of public opportunity to understand issues and comment prior to legislative votes. Except for those goofy final hours of the session when rules get suspended and decisions of real magnitude can be made by small conference committees standing in Capitol hallways surrounded by paid lobbyists, it’s a system that provides great public access.

But those final-hours rules suspensions are another issue, well worth their own discussion.

For now, and limiting ourselves to the caucus question, why not go back to the days of Joe Barnett, one of the best and most powerful legislators I’ve ever covered, and his open caucuses?

And why - as News Man wonders - isn’t a closed caucus a violation of the open-meetings law?