Shantel Krebs is playing the snake angle. In her latest campaign ad, instead of touting her brave 2016 rattler shooting (since her primary opponent Dusty Johnson can strike back with his better documented and more dramatic rattler axing), the Bad River Banger recruits Reptile Gardens PR man John Brockelsby to hype her herpetological prowess:
Congress is filled with many unsavory critters. Although they might not be as venomous as the ones we have here, they’re certainly just as low and probably a lot more dangerous.
But not Shantel Krebs. She’s been a longtime supporter of the tourist industry in South Dakota and a good friend of mine for many years.
So take it from me, Johnny B. I taught Shantel myself how to wrangle a snake. So you can be sure she’ll be ready to take on Congress [John Brockelsby, Krebs for Congress campaign ad, posted 2018.04.03].
This ad is, of course, all metaphor and no substance or logic.
- The claim that Congress is full of snakes would seem to indict the party that controls Congress, and that’s Shantel’s party. This text makes Krebs sound like our current Congressional delegation, constantly excusing their failures by saying Washington is broken, even though they have been part of Washington for years.
- Calling Congress “unsavory” and “dangerous” contributes to the Trumpian agenda of undermining faith in civic institutions and replacing it with the Stalinist cult of personality (the same thinking that lets people hate Congress but love their Congressperson).
- Calling the creatures on display at Reptile Gardens “unsavory” and “low” seems to undermine efforts to promote tourism—Come to South Dakota! See our unsavory and low attractions!
- Supporting tourism does not prove a candidate is not a snake. Plenty of elected officials do favors for various industries all the time yet can still be underhanded, corrupt, and not worth electing.
- The same may be said of being a good friend. Donald Trump claims to have many good friends (though I suspect his narcissism prevents his developing any true friendship), but he is still the most dangerous snake in the world.
- Handling lizards requires very different skills from handling parliamentary debate, legislative negotiations, and constituent service. If the skills were identical, we’d elect Johnny B.
But again, I’m working to hard to find logic in campaign rhetoric. Team Krebs isn’t making a logical argument. The campaign just wants gut-reaction Republican primary voters to hear a man in a West River hat tell them to vote for the lady who smiling handles a powerful, writhing snake.
Congress is full of snakes.
If they don’t control the spending (both parties), they are going to get booted.
Cory, what was your critique of the ad when the the democrats had “Paul Ryan” push a granny in a wheelchair over a cliff a few years ago?
Dusty and Shantel are competing for the title of worst political commercials of this election cycle. Will they have a Big Top at the SD Republican convention this summer to showcase their “talents?”
Jason wants to distract us by talking Wisconsin politics. Jason has no response to the specific statements I made, especially the comment that Krebs is calling the Republican-majority Congress “full of snakes.” A declaration of “fullness” cannot apply solely to the minority.
Darin, I haven’t caught the Dusty show. Do elaborate! I welcome your reviews.
Dusty says in his ad that he will never be “outworked,” but does that include quitting a job he had just been re-elected to so he could take another political job?
Dusty’s ad is on that 2nd rate SD political website in the stories and it was supposed to start airing yesterday.
Dems in Wisconsin did win the Supreme Court seat against immense odds. They have a chance at a couple more seats in the lege when special elections are held. Walker is very nervous people are catching on to his for korporations only management style.
Now back to our regularly scheduled arguing.
Cory,
The wheelchair ad by democrats was not Wisconsin politics. It was national dealing with Ryan’s plan to fix medicare.
Did you not know that?
We know just who the Lizard People are, eh?
Johnny! I guess I hardly knew ye.
Weren’t you the first guy to get popped in the Rapid City High School for weed? And now you are pairing off with this nice SoDak woman who has gone chicken-with-head-cut-off on Trump.
Weird, man.
Jason still doesn’t want to talk about what the blog post is about. He doesn’t want to address my fun and easily debatable critique of Shantel’s ad. He just keeps pushing his own topics. Rude, really.
Cory,
Let’s start with your point #1. What evidence do you have she is indicting Republicans?
What’s with the snakes? Is that simply the ad image du jour this year in SouDakota?
Eeuuwwwww!
I know, Debbo. Where are the images of candidates milking cows and inseminating bulls?
Jason, I stated my logic pretty clearly at 09:03 and in the original post. Your question is redundant.
I hadn’t seen Shantel’s “snaky” commercial, so thanks Cory for posting this. I did see Dusty’s the other night……. oh my.
Juxtapose those two commercials with a real, intellectually, smart Tim Bjorkman who wants to show SD voters who he really is, what he thinks, and how current policies (set by GOP) are not the way to go. He doesn’t rely on gimmick-ery and stupid sloganeering.
Unfortunately, I have to ad nauseum witness dueling Jackley/Noem commercials in the evening hours, usually while I’m eating. Again, gimmicks and check boxing. I think a “Two Cents” comment in the Rapid City Journal said it all this morning—-
“I think Jackley’s horse is better looking than Kristi’s”. (whoever wrote this, “gets” what is going on”
Shantel, you fooled me. When you first stepped into the SOS office, I was impressed. Now? Snake whispering commercials? Gawd.
Enjoyed seeing this. LOL Congress is full of snakes, of that I’m quite sure and they sit on both sides of the aisle. It’s time we sent people to Congress who’ve been more than just politicians all their lives. At least Shantel has experience in the business world where poor little boy, Dusty, is nothing more than a professional politician. The last thing we need in Wash. is another poor excuse like Mike Rounds, so Shantel has my vote!
“poor little boy” Dusty? Obviously, you haven’t met the man. He’s 41, only three years younger than Shantel. He’s a husband and father. He’s no “little boy.”
Dusty also killed a rattlesnake with an axe.