Skip to content

On Camera: Bolin v. Heidelberger on RL 19. Off Camera: Legislative Trash Talk!

Heidelberger and Bolin—imagine how much more fun Pierre would be with us going head to head in the Senate.
Heidelberger and Bolin—imagine how much more fun Pierre would be with us going head to head in the Senate. (Chad Skiles, don’t let that stop you from winning!)

Rep. Jim Bolin (R-16/Canton) and I made some excellent TV today. Then he trash-talked me. What fun!

KELO TV’s Anna Peters invited Rep. Bolin and me to the downtown Sioux Falls studio to talk about Referred Law 19, the Incumbent Protection Plan. We sat down with Brady Mallory this morning to tape a segment for Sunday night’s Inside KELOLand. (What? It’s not live? I should have done my Craig Ferguson impression!)

I’ll let KELO broadcast the big show Sunday before we hash out the arguments here. But after nine minutes of spectacular clash (our mutual friend Leo will love this debate!), the red light winked off, we shook hands, shared mild pleasantries… and then, with an eye toward November 8, Jim said, Sorry, Cory, you’re not going to join the club.

The club? I’m a Marxist: I don’t plan to join the club. I’m running against “The Club.”

Wishing the red light would wink back on, I said, See you in January, in Pierre.

Yes, said Jim. From the gallery.

Persistent cuss, that Jim. I look forward to doing more TV with Jim.

20 Comments

  1. grudznick

    Not only do both you dashing fellows have pretty swell haircuts, you are both persistently stubborn and boneheaded on some issues. If Mr. H makes it to the legislatures I hope you draw seats next to each other so the talking can escalate all winter long and spill into the blogs.

  2. MC

    There is an old, (not quite that old) saying in television.

    Mind your words, every microphone is hot
    Mind your actions, every camera is rolling.

    just because the little red light went out, doesn’t mean it didn’t get recorded to some hard drive somewhere.

  3. owen reitzel

    Bolin is a jerk.

  4. grudznick

    I think Mr. Bolin is a fine fellow. He has many accomplishments in the legislatures, I have heard.

  5. mike from iowa

    Sorry, Cory, you’re not going to join the club.

    Another wingnut, another threat against a Democrat. Where’s Jackley when you need the law enforced?

  6. I saw you discussing Referred Law 19 on SDPB tonight, Cory. Great job.

    Attorney General Jackley, on the other hand, lost about fifteen integrity points.

  7. Darin Larson

    The club? Which club would that be? Would it be the one that continues to treat SD like their own little fiefdom with favors to be doled out and corruption to be overlooked? Or would it be the club that has no vision for the future of SD beyond keeping taxes for the wealthy low and sales taxes on food high? Would it be the club that advocates smaller government in principle, but yet gets wrapped up in social issues that would involve the government in the extremely private matters of individual citizens?

    Is this the same club that treats our education funding as if it was the runt of the litter? Or is this the club that decides that we value education so little in SD that it has to be a full-blown crisis before teacher pay is increased? Is this the same club that decided that we should fund this state’s government on the backs of the poor and elderly while wealthier individuals enjoy paying proportionately less in taxes? And finally, is this the same club that protects its members by strategically choosing the voters that will favor its own election?

    You know what? I’m not sure this club is one to be held in high esteem if they continually govern like its 1959. Of course, to change the club, it is going to take some serious effort by new members or some serious initiative work (as in initiated measures or constitutional amendments).

  8. Don Coyote

    @Darin Larson: “You know what? I’m not sure this club is one to be held in high esteem if they continually govern like its 1959.”

    How ironic. In 1959 the Democrats not only controlled the Governor’s office (Herseth) but also the Sec of State, AG and …. wait for it …. the State Senate. You know “The Club”. ;-) Too funny.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_party_strength_in_South_Dakota

  9. Darin Larson

    Coyote, the Democrats can be forgiven for governing like it was 1959 because it was 1959. Governing like its 1959 in 2016 is not a laughing matter. When the Democrats still had a role in state government in 1959, they still had to compromise and craft bipartisan legislation. These are concepts that are long forgotten by the GOP of 2016.

  10. Jenny

    It’s hard to believe the funny looking Bolin dude with the weird haircut would say that. No, not really.

  11. Daniel Buresh

    Is that all you got on him Jenny? Stay Classy! I had the pleasure of golfing with Bolin and although he can be very forward, the man was very nice and was willing to listen to me even when my ideas didn’t fit directly into our parties platform. The polarization needs to stop and people need to start listening to each other and taking their ideas into consideration.

  12. Jenny

    Come on, Daniel, tell that to Bolin.
    “You’re not going to join the club” was a middle school-like childish comment to make. It says it all about what is wrong in GOP heavily dominated South Dakota.
    It’s what makes people not interested in participating in the political process.
    Just how is one supposed to respond to a comment like that? Are we supposed to smile and be proud of our SD right wing boys and their self-entitled Pierre club?
    I’m glad Cory put it on the blog. Hopefully it will turn enough people off to vote for people that are not interested in being in ‘The Club’. Leaders that will represent real hardworking class South Dakotans instead of their own special interests.

  13. Jenny

    Speaking of Sioux Falls and it’s news circuits, has anyone heard about the big shakeup at that Sioux Falls paper? Is it true that they let go of Patrick Lalley and the 100 Eyes Show and they let a bunch of other people go?

  14. MC

    Jenny, the answer is yes. The dust is still settling there.

  15. Given my own home perm, I take no position on any other candidates’ coiffures.

    Daniel, I agree that Bolin can be a fascinating, engaging, sharp-witted conversation partner. Sunday’s broadcast will bear that out. But his argument on constitutionality may strike even you as specious at best, dissembling or dishonest at worst.

  16. Jon H

    Well the South Dakota citizens should be interested in a legislator referring to what he does in Pierre as being in a special club. I always thought that legislator’s were sent to Pierre to represent the citizens of South Dakota. Makes me concerned about how the club would handle citizens tax money. Do they divide it up? Do they shave off a piece for themselves. Why do members of the club have a closed caucus? Why don’t they want the citizens they represent to know what goes on in their caucus? Oh yeah–it is a club. Citizens don’t need to know what goes on in the special club. Oh and by the way we have a rather large shortfall in our budget this year. Where did it go? Ask the special Club!

  17. Thomas

    Proud to be a former student of Mr. Bolin! GO JIM GO,

  18. Porter Lansing

    Nick. If we need any advice on fashion accessories, you’re our Princess. Concerning politics … you’re highly ignorable.

  19. Thomas, I think I would have enjoyed Mr. Bolin’s social studies classes as well. I’ll join you in chanting “Go, Jim, Go… home to Canton!” ;-)

Comments are closed.