I haven’t gotten the official announcement from party leadership, but C.J. Abernathey says he won the South Dakota Libertarian Party’s nomination to lead the ever-fledgling party into deeper ignominy—er, to run for Governor. Abernathey offers a victory speech on video; Novotny lifts this concession (but the proper spelling) from a speech Theodore Roosevelt made in France after his Presidency:
I would like to thank every one for my recent endeavor in politics. Albeit that endeavor was unsecessful. I have gained much kowledge and insight into politics. And I realize destiny controls all. I was destined to be here as well destined not to move forward. I have proven I’ll take up any endeavor or challenge in life. As Theodore Roosevelt said. ” it’s not the critic who counts, nor the man who points how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the areana, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly..who’s knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best, knows triumph of high achievment, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know niether victory nor defeat [Steve Novotny, Facebook statement, 2018.04.14].
Snowstorn be darned, Abernathey and Novotny both made it to Sioux Falls to debate the the Libertarian convention last night. Their portion of the show begins at 39:45 in this video from Facebook:
I’ve only skimmed the video—I can only stand to listen to so much of Abernathey’s ranting about conspiracy theories and his rage at Child Protection Services. But Abernathey appears to have won the debate on youth and dynamism. Novotny seems to have done a better job of referring to specific South Dakota issues while Abernathey kept running back to his prefab abstract shower speeches. However, Novotny sounded far less enthusiastic about running for office, and alternative-party candidates need to grab attention. Abernathey will certainly grab attention… it’s just too bad that attention won’t help the party build any credibility.
Abernathey said something last night about talking about actual problems instead of “this dream world” that other candidates want to have. But if anyone is talking “dream world,” it’s Abernathey with the logo he promises for the back of his campaign shirt:
Oh well. Constitution Party, can you do any better?
Jimmy Buffett has a song that describes Abernathey and his Libertarian supporters which goes something like this:
“Fruitcakes in the kitchen
Fruitcakes on the street
Struttin’ naked through the cross walk
In the middle of the week
Half baked cookies in the oven
Half baked people on the bus
There’s a little bit of fruitcake left in everyone of us”
Some have more fruitcake in them than others.
Novotny did not present himself well at DFP. He, like others who shall remain unnamed (Jason, OS) has shown a serious lack of community spirit and downright contempt for Cory while taking advantage of the opportunities to blow smoke Cory graciously supplies to all who seek knowledge of South Dakota politics and wingnut chicanery.
Unfortunately, Mike, while Abernathey spoke last night with more energy, his campaign has no more community spirit than Novotny’s. He appears to be a self-absorbed angry dad who has translated his anger at not being able to win a court case to a general assault on government with his mind-numbing and useless conspiracy theories.
Cory asks:
I’m optimistic. Time will tell. Either way, thanks for making us DFP-link famous. :-)