Henry Red Cloud, Democratic candidate for Public Utilities Commission, has been gathering supplies to support the “Water Protectors” protest camp at the Cannonball–Missouri confluence in North Dakotan. Red Cloud is also working the Dakota Access protests to drum up support for his campaign. Monday he issued this statement on Facebook to distinguish himself from his opponent, Commissioner Chris Nelson:
Let’s stand up and do something really important about the pipeline approval process!
My Republican opponent for the open seat on the Public Utilities Commission is Chris Nelson. He led the effort to approve the Dakota Access Pipeline. Illinois gets the oil, South Dakota gets the liability, the headaches and the spills.
Who does Chris Nelson work for – Big Oil or South Dakota?
Overall Chris puts a lot of effort into protecting the interests of oil companies rather than protecting South Dakota farmers, ranchers, tribes and all us regular citizens. For instance, he rejected South Dakotan farmers’ request that the Dakota Access Pipeline be routed around rather through their properties. And he called pipeline opponents’ request for an Environmental Impact Statement on the pipeline “out of line”… before rejecting it.
Who does Chris Nelson work for – Big Oil or South Dakota? [Henry Red Cloud, Facebook post, 2016.09.05]
Commissioner Nelson did vote for the Dakota Access pipeline last November.
Red Cloud is also taking a lead role in a meeting of tribal leaders at the protest camp this week:
Sacred Pipes not Sacrilegious Pipelines!
History is not something that happened a long time ago. It unfolds before us even to this day and this weekend will be a historic moment.
Wendell Yellow Bull Jr. is the keeper of Mahpiya Luta’s Fort Laramie Treaty pipe. He will travel to the Cannon Ball camp this week as will Arvol Looking Horse, Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe. They and other headsmen will meet and combine their smoke, their prayers and their wisdom in the Council Tipi that has been constructed at the camp. Wendell has asked me to lead the pipe into the camp and to be the speaker in the Council Tipi on behalf of Mahpiya Luta’s pipe and spirit.
I am humbled and greatly honored to be part of this historical meeting. I go with a good heart for Mother Earth, for her tears our water and for all the children who will come after us.
Let the Seven Council Fires burn bright and may we gather again as one Great Nation – Očhéthi Šakówiŋ [Henry Red Cloud, Facebook post, 2016.09.08].
The White House honored Red Cloud two years ago for his work on renewable energy in Indian Country. Perhaps Red Cloud can get the White House to pay attention to this nonrenewable-energy threat to Indian Country and everyone’s water.
Yes our puc commissioner did that but Hanson voted against it but then he voted for Xle if I am correct .I find it amusing these three jokers think it’s all right to come on people’s land.B it what do you expect from Nelson he is a career politician.
After the testimony was complete on the PUC hearing for the Dakota Access pipeline the final step was to vote yes or no. Chris Nelson voted to approve. State treasurer Rich Sattgast, who filled in for Kristie Fiegen because of conflict of interests, voted to approve. Sattgast basically was out to lunch during the hearing and it was obvious that he was Daugaard’s man who was there to cast Daugaard’s vote. Gary Hansen voted to deny the permit. His main stated reason was that he didn’t like the way that DAPL treated landowners.
I say this to show that not all commissioners were in agreement on issuing the permit. Daugaard was able to stack the deck with his appointment of Sattgast. Possibly the decision may have gone the other way if Fiegen hadn’t recused herself. She did so because a family member owned land crossed by the DAPL.
Chris Nelson’s view of the Missouri River after Dakota Access http://siberiantimes.com/ecology/others/news/n0727-red-alert-as-river-turns-puce-from-pollution-in-arctic/
Nelson is the typical republican that supports Trump who gushes over Putin, so it is clear they all do not want clear water, that is for sissies. Vote for someone who actually gives a care about all of South Dakota, not just the oil guys. Vote HRC!
More importantly, vote Henry Red Cloud for PUC so we can put an end to all the shenanigans.
Our land, water, and quality of life should not be sacrificed in support of the waning fossil fuel industry.
Don’t punish me with brutality Marvin Gaye’s lyrics, http://www.metrolyrics.com/whats-going-on-lyrics-marvin-gaye.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-dakota-access-oil-pipeline-20160909-story.html
This article from Chi-Tribune has authorities now claiming Indians used hatchets and knives to attack security guards. Also says some guards were injured while Indians just had dog bites.
Mr. Red Cloud, I can’t vote for you,being from iowa, but I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor to straighten out these messes.
The media has made its bed as usual, where were the arrows? Did the guards suffer scalp wounds? They not only are paid by the oil barons and their brethren, they are showing fascism works without being questioned. Laws and contracts are not going to be followed or honored, we only need see how the TPP is written to see the future.
Chicago Tribune all fluffy about Bundy in Oregon though http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-oregon-militia-bundy-standoff-20160104-story.html
Native issues on things that reporters have hated since the time of L. Frank Baum, the Indian hater from Aberdeen.
Just today, S.Dak. Corn Growers Association and S. Dak. Corn Utilization Council published an article in their newsletter endorsing Dakota access pipeline and siding with the oil company in its fight with the tribes and affected landowners. This is one corn growing farmer that will never contribute one more penny to these two organizations from my check-off dollars, and I urge all corn farmers to do the same by refunding your check-off withholdings and to voice your disapproval to these groups’ board members and staff. How does this oil pipeline help to promote ethanol and clean drinking water? The Missouri River is the source of drinking water for nearly the entire state of S. Dak. It must not be put at risk!
@Ed Thanks for information regarding SD Corn Growers Association and SD Corn Utilization Council endorsement of DAPL. It appears that these two organizations share the same website http://www.sdcorn.org I did not see any endorsement on their website. Although I did note that Doug Noem is the Secretary/Treasurer for SD Corn Growers Association. Is he related to our Rep. Kristi Noem?
I would like to hear from the Water Districts. I wonder how farmers who irrigate to produce corn for ethanol are “true environmentalists”. Our world has gone whacky for money!
Here are the spills in North Dakota including the largest one ever for continental US. Mostly pipeline incidents and the gallons spilled to 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/11/23/us/north-dakota-spill-database.html?_r=0
To me, it begs the question of how much was the PUC paid to look the other way to sign off on this sure spill operation? Chris Nelson must spend time with his family now as should the rest of the crew there. The political position has been corrupted to even consider this as a workable idea.
Here is a complaint about the shoddy workmanship under Lake Sakakawea http://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/former-worker-says-lake-at-risk-of-oil-leak-pipeline/article_37636560-3d35-541c-a48c-51dfde7e5210.html
This information was available to the PUC in South Dakota and they still green lighted the project. The PUC has an obligation to all of the citizens of this state to insure that our water is protected from hazards such as this. They have failed in their jobs and have failed as stewards to the posts they were elected to fulfill.
well done jerry and paul. Hope Red Cloud is following this. if he get’s in, these issues will at least get some discussion before the inevitable 2 to 1 votes. but after a few years, we’ll have a real inroad on the PUC and therefore the SDGOP stranglehold on SD politics and welfare. patience. pace ourselves
Mr. Cloud probably has a snowball’s chance of getting elected, but if he does then I, for one, welcome his new views on the environment and hope he focuses his campouts here in South Dakota.
Thanks leslie, but all of the comments on this thread are all very relevant. Leo’s link was something that I had not seen as this was what I spotted http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/295223-obama-administration-orders-nd-pipeline-construction-to-stop Ed posted the turncoat corn producers organization. So thanks from all of us.
The real name is Red Cloud, Mr. Grudznick. You are one of the reasons I do not post my name here on this site. You would not do my name justice as I presume you feel the same way with your pseudo name.
Republican “Red” Grudz fits u in every way. still just a child. Meet us at Sylvan Lake in the morning for a thank-you prayer for Black Elk Peak.
No democrat has more than a snowball’s chance in this state but then we haven’t given you EB5/suicide and MCEC fraud/murder. we’ll get there. But keep it up buddy
Ms. leslie, I did not mean to get your goat but he is here, next to Mr. jerry’s goat. Mr. Red Cloud, whose name I misread thinking Red was a middle or first name, clearly is an accomplished fellow.
I will try to see you at the lake if you do not plan to climb up far as I cannot walk up even that easy way. I would recommend a prayer for Black Elk Peak be performed at the top of the rock or maybe outside state owned lands so coming in from a different direction. It would be the way Nicholas Black Elk (soon to be Sainted by the Catholic Church) would have done it.
you are so full of sheit grudz. I pity your grandchildren. there is no walk tomorrow. you are free to lounge at the lake. say hello to Harney’s relative.
Thank you for your pity, Ms. leslie. I am sorry you are unable to attend the prayer walk tomorrow at the base of Black Elk Peak.
you are a propagandist, nothing more. no ethics.
Leo, their support of Dakota Access appears on page seven of their printed publication called Emerge. I don’t know anything about their web sites.
Just like Ms. Clinton and that Slick Rick fellow, Ms. leslie. Just like Ms. Clinton. Trump too.
Ed, if I may ask this of you, what would it take to have you and folks like you to bring support to change at the PUC with votes to get Chris Nelson out of there for starters. Producers like yourself have voice that is respected. A sign in a corn field speaks volumes. It is past time for us all to stop thinking of leaving things the way they are or have been and time for real change. It will only happen when we have seen enough and had enough of the same kind of government shoved down our throats. This looks like the starting point as he has shown complete disregard for his job and his state. I hope others are aware of his Mr. Nelson’s dereliction of his duties to our water and our state.
Jerry, I have never supported Chris Nelson for the PUC and certainly won’t now. In fact, I never supported any of the current PUC commissioners because I knew they were shills for big oil. Sadly, most farmers in my area think this pipeline is okay because of the large sums of money they were given for easements and believe it will free up rail cars for grain transportation. There are also a lot of racists in our state who you hear disparaging the Native American protectors. As a rural water user, I have contacted my water association and voiced my opposition to this pipeline since the Missouri River is our source of water. I am doing what I can.
Thanks Ed, I know the feeling about the racists. Glad you do what you can and how you can do it. The money for the easements is just to much to let go for some of them. I would imagine that they like to call it something other than what it is, a bribe to look the other way.
For what it is worth, it is always good to cross a trail with someone like yourself.
Henry Red Cloud is just the man that will help end this pipeline
The South Dakota Corn Growers are reiterating support for Dakota Access that they expressed in this February 4, 2015, letter to the PUC. SD Corn Growers President Keith Alverson cited the rail-capacity issue, the importance of oil alongside ethanol, and the superior safety of pipelines over other means of transporting oil. Alverson expressed concern about effects on “farmland, drainage systems and water bodies” but suggested a “fair and transparent process” by PUC and DAPL would suffice to assuage those concerns.
Ed, I appreciate your comments and I do agree with most of them. However, most farmers signed easements because they knew that eminent domain laws are such that there is very little chance of winning a challenge to eminent domain in court. The easement money received was a secondary consideration.
Cory, your research skills truly amaze me. To find this obscure letter from the Corn Growers to the PUC on the Dakota Access docket is good work.
I don’t get the part about corn growers supporting oil. Oil companies have made a well known point that they hate ethanol and have tried to stop subsidies for it.
Back to the main point, has there ever been a pipeline that has not leaked at some point? I have been looking and have not found any, so far. I believe half the pipe for DAPL is American made and the rest may be a figment of someone’s imagination with similar design standards.
One last thing-Jill Stein was charged with defacing property-spray painting on a bulldozer. What charges are leveled at DAPL for defacing sacred burial grounds???
perhaps the best thing that could happen is the Dakota just build their own nation
and become a separate nation altogether
pine ridge reservation is one poorest places in united states
they would fare much better of being a state of it own
the united states from the whole history never help these people
being a state the Lakota could protect their lands
either way the oil pipeline a bad deal for the Lakota people
and oil in their water would force the Lakota from there
land because without water there is no life
henry red cloud is the right man for the job to get things done
Public Utilities Commission would have it best treasure to have
a man like Henry Red Cloud the man has a heart and money don’t move this man
love moves this man of the land.
HENRY RED CLOUD
told us has a human family
these words
Mother Earth is not a machine
http://www.tageblatt.lu/wissen/story/27810108
On Thursday, North Dakota’s archaeologist said that piece of private land was not previously surveyed by the state would be surveyed next week and that if artifacts are found, pipeline work still could cease.
Read more at http://wonkette.com/606430/nice-time-obama-administration-cavalry-comes-puts-hold-on-north-dakota-pipeline#wjMUHhB83f6KKJEW.99
Google is my best friend, Paul. Imagine trying to track down documents like that twenty years ago.
Henry Red Cloud for Public Utilities Commission
this would be the first time to save the clean air and water for are children
Mike, you continue to ask for logical consistency in a political system that doesn’t do well on consistency. I don’t approve of vandalism: Stein and Dakota Access should both be held accountable, in proportion to the damage they have done.
Statehood for the tribes, medicine turtle? Uh oh—I might have to invite Larry Kurtz back to the show. ;-)
Paul, I agree that many reluctant landowners were intimidated into giving easements by the threat of eminent domain. For what it’s worth, I confronted Chris Nelson last year at our county fair as to why he thought eminent domain should be given to a for profit, private, foreign corporation in regards to Dakota Access and Keystone. His response was that the PUC had nothing to do with granting eminent domain use, that was done by the legislature. I then asked, if that was the case, why didn’t the PUC appear before the legislature and oppose the action on behalf of the constituents they were supposed to be protecting? His response was he didn’t think it was his responsibility. That’s why I would never vote for him for anything.
From what I saw, Stein was spray painting on the blade which is the business end of the dozer. This is shined up by scraping the soil. Her “vandalism” will be gone in the first ten minutes that that dozer operates. It did less harm than someone walking across your lawn.
We used to paint moldboards and coulters on the four and 6 bottom plows after use to prevent rust. The first few minutes of the next plowing session had everything scoured up nice and shiny. Stein was prolly doing DAPL a bigly favor.
Did the same with the chisel plow unless it was too cold.
Somehow if DAPL claims they were just helping to locate ancient burial sites and stuff, I, for one, won’t believe them.
Attention Standing Rock Sioux, you can change things in the state just like you did when you put Heidi Heitkamp into office http://www.indianz.com/News/2012/007665.asp, your vote counts and that is why republicans are taking it away. Don’t let them, act quickly or you loose. They hope you sit this out so they can keep pushing the envelope further for other endangerment. GOTV in Indian Country http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/01/22/native-voters-turned-away-polls-sue-north-dakota-163158
What is going on in South Dakota for the GOTV? Is there a movement on the reservations and other areas?
Good point, Ed, about eminent domain. Not enough people talk about that issue with pipelines. Conservative Republicans like Chris Nelson ought to be outraged by eminent domain and speaking up for private property rights against the encroachment of Texas-based Energy Partners and Canada-based TransCanada. Instead, as you saw with Commissioner Nelson, they shrug it off, unwilling to connect the dots on their outrage over the unwise Kelo v New London (2005) decision and their acquiescence to using eminent domain to transfer property rights from one private entity to another to build pipelines.
http://fortune.com/2016/09/11/dakota-access-piepine-results/
Fortune Mag makes a couple of interesting statements. One is the Justice Dept will not allow pipeline construction near Lake Oahe (the stay originally was until AC of E had a chance to review plans). The second is that Bakken crude is apparently destined to be shipped overseas. It will be routed through Illinois and then to the Gulf. Or it may end up in Cushing, Chokelahoma on its way to the Gulf.
So much for energy independence in the US of A.
My state senator Troy Heinert introduced a bill in the last legislative session that would have required a pipeline company to get their major permits before the PUC would issue a permit. Commissioner Chris Nelson testified against Troy’s bill. It did not pass. If Troy’s bill had already been in place TransCanada would not have an easement across my land for the Keystone XL.
I do not feel that Chris Nelson is acting in the best interests of South Dakota’s citizens.
It seems that Chris Nelson is acting in the best interests of Chris Nelson. Donald Trump says that he has paid off everyone to get what he wants, Everyone. His own words. Why wouldn’t a guy like Hamm do the same? Here is Trump “You know, it’s interesting. I was looking at the ones I’m running against. I’ve contributed to most of them — can you believe it? I’ve contributed to most of them. And one of them said, No, I don’t think you’ve contributed to me. They found out I did. I contribute to everybody. I’ve given to Democrats. I’ve given to Hillary. I’ve given to everybody, because that was my job. I’ve got to give to them. because when I want something I get it. When I call, they kiss my ass. It’s true. They kiss my ass. It’s true.” The real name of the game should be The Art of the Steal. Yes, they take his call and they take his money and they go against the best wishes of those that elected them. Time to clean the joint up, starting with Chris Nelson.