In Defense of Noem...

House candidates Kristi Noem and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin were supposed to face-off last Tuesday in Rapid City for the KOTA-TV Debate, but due to a "scheduling conflict" with a Siouxland Republican Women event, Noem was not able to show up despite agreeing to the debate this summer, reported the Rapid City Journal. 


But while I take issue with that, it's not what I am interested in discussing today.  


In response to Herseth-Sandlin's news release accusing Noem of “hiding out” because her “debate performances in August demonstrated she has little to offer when it comes to policy specifics” in a news release; her campaign manager, Joshua Shields had this to offer: 

 “Kristi and Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin have debated five times. They’ll debate at least two more times,” he said. “Kristi has consistently shown the clear differences between her and Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin’s record.”

Yes, Herseth Sandlin having one and Noem, not. Or is he defending her for not having policy specifics? Or has he just realized that they're campaign is solely rooted in negativity, and that his candidate has very little to offer beyond just a pretty face?

What Kristi Noem Isn't Telling You (...the Truth?)

So far the Noem campaign's bread and butter has revolved around attacking Stephanie Herseth Sandlin on any grounds imaginable, and telling voters what she WON'T do for South Dakota.

A prime example of this can be found on today's frontpage of Kristi Noem's website.

For those of you too lazy to click on the link, here's what I'm talking about: 

It would be understandable if just the scrolling messages were attacks on Stephanie, but EVEN the "Latest News" is all about Stephanie and not Kristi.

One may wonder with all this time and money being invested in attacking her opponent and telling us what she won't due for our state, when Noem is finally going to turn around tell us what she WILL do for South Dakota.

And since we're less than two weeks away from election day, and we still don't know, I think it's fair that we make a few inferences.

Based on her track record this campaign, you can bet your last speeding ticket that Noem will:

• continue to show a blatant disregard to the law (this time on a national scale)

• continue to lie to and mislead South Dakotans

• continue paralyzing partisan politics that keeps progress at a gridlock

      and

• pretend to push for a repeal of Healthcare Reform that brings countless benefits to South Dakota

Abortion: The non-issue of this election cycle

It is far too often that we get caught up on non-issues, that we blind ourselves to the actual issues at hand of the present day. 

Wednesday's Argus Leader would indicate that the powers that be are really making a similar play for a rejuvenation of the one issue voters in South Dakota to surge ahead of Stephanie Herseth Sandlin in these last few days before the election.

Today's issue of the Aberdeen American News also features a letter to the editor making the same type of appeal. The author states that she is "voting for Kristi Noem." Why? Because of "the life issue." What issue does she speak of? The Republicans vow for full repeal of healthcare reform, not modification. And no one can honestly say that they're ever going to be able to successfully follow through on that promise. There's really no paramount issue within the next two years that affects the 'life issue.' So really, it's an illusion. A political tactic only used to muster up support for a candidate that literally promises nothing. Put bluntly, the "life issue" is a non issue. 


And Noem doesn't even promise pro-lifers anything whatsoever. On her website, all she says in regards to the issue of life is that she "promises to maintain a 100% pro-life voting record." She doesn't promise to sponsor an all-out federal ban on abortion, she doesn't promise to press the issue of life, just when the issue does happen to come up vote the 'right' way. 


Her promise lacks conviction and would appear to be a coward's way of securing votes.

It seems to be a time honored tradition, "If you can't beat them on the issues, then let's talk about abortion."

If only we lived in a world of Aaron Sorkin's post-Vinik republican party... 

Noem the Patriot!

When HERSETH SANDLIN says she won't specifically vote for Pelosi and she is boo'd...



BUT

When NOEM refuses to say she will vote for Boehner and she is regarded as a "patriot".

Am I the only one finding this mildly humorous? Or is everyone just sick and tired of this third-rate attempt at poetic irony?