Republican candidate for governor Kristi Noem plies some presti-mouth-itation this week, bragging up the two late-October TV debates in which the Snow Princess has deigned to appear to duckspeakingly distract us from the fact that she’s refused to face her Democratic challenger Billie Sutton and her Libertarian challenger Kurt Evans in at least eight other debates, including the education debate she skipped a couple weeks ago in Sioux Falls and the traditional staple debates at Dakotafest tomorrow in Mitchell and the State Fair in Huron weekend after next.
The gentle Libertarian campaign of Kurt Evans simply tweets Todd Epp’s report on Noem’s duck dash without comment.
Team Sutton, of course, has a field day with Noem’s duckery, saying she’s apparently ducking her work in Washington, too:
Sutton for South Dakota campaign manager Suzanne Jones Pranger said, “It’s really no surprise Congresswoman Noem isn’t willing to have open debates with Billie Sutton. She hasn’t shown up for her job in Congress, missing more votes this year than 93% of her colleagues in the US House. She hasn’t been showing up in South Dakota either, turning down approximately 87% of all general election public debate and forum invitations. With an attendance record like that, how can South Dakotans trust that she’ll show up for them in the State Capitol?” [Todd Epp, “Noem Says She’ll Attend Two Gubernatorial Debates, Sutton Accepts Ten,” KELO Radio, 2018.08.20]
Jones Pranger points to missed-vote counts compiled by GovTrack, which notes that over her entire career in Congress, Noem has missed 4.1% of roll call votes, well above the median miss rate of 2.4%. This year, through July, Noem has missed 21.9% of roll call votes, placing her, exactly as Jones Pranger said, in the top 7% of her colleagues in not doing her job.
Ducks votes, ducks debates, ducks opportunities to engage with the other side and inform the voters—that’s Kristi Noem. Quack quack.
For those of you who will be attending the State Fair, here is a fun activity for you. I have done this in the past when Noem refused to debate. Go into the Republican building and politely ask when the governor debate is. Tell them you are excited to see Noem out debate Sutton. Usually the volunteers are sweet older ladies who don’t know what is going on but naively assume there will be a debate. It is a lot of fun to watch them scurrying around trying to find someone who knows when the debate is. They all assume there is one, they just can’t figure out when. If you are at the fair more than one day, check in each day.
It’s disappointing that Noem won’t at the DakotaFest debate. This debate is probably the most popular and important SD debate places of all. It is absolutely part of SD tradition! Come on Kristi, put your big girl pants on and show up! Quit playing it safe, South Dakotans want to see a great debate! You owe it to them!
Typical politician.
Is she not that interested in SD or what ?
Caroline, bless you. Always be polite to old ladies (it’s mighty nice of them to volunteer for any cause), but make them work a little… and make them deal with the uncomfortable truth that they’re volunteering their precious remaining time for a fraidy-cat candidate who cares less about them than our candidate does.
I suspect in a debate that Sutton will pass thru noem faster than corn thru a Christmas goose.
Interesting situation for Mr. Evans as what we used to be able to distinguish party affiliation by an (R) in front of a GOP member, has now changed. As of today, it looks like it has changed to (I) for Indicted. One of NOem’s buddies in the House, Duncan Hunter has been indicted for embezzlement of some $250.000.00 and then he tried to toss his wife under the bus by saying it was all on her. Authorities indicted the both of them.
Paul Mannafort, guilty on 8 counts out of 18. Michael Cohen, the fake president’s lawyer and fixer, arrested and will plead guilty while implicating trump in this whole shebang.
Mr. Evans needs to make sure that the (I) stands for Independent and not the Indicted GOP as they are all guilty. Just a matter of time for their party affiliation to be changed to the (I) and then off to the hoosegow.
I would ask NOem about how good it felt to get this money:
“Republicans in Congress just voted to reverse a landmark FCC privacy rule that opens the door for ISPs to sell customer data. Lawmakers provided no credible reason for this being in the interest of Americans, except for vague platitudes about “consumer choice” and “free markets,” as if consumers at the mercy of their local internet monopoly are craving to have their web history quietly sold to marketers and any other third party willing to pay.”
https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/29/15100620/congress-fcc-isp-web-browsing-privacy-fire-sale
Thank NOem for the pop ups you get and were always wondering how those things keep showing up. Or how you now have a new best friend from Moscow.
Maybe she’ll spend her time posing with Tangerine Wankmaggot. He’s threatening to come “campaign” in SD you know. Start stockpiling your bleach, Raid, and other disinfectants right now so you’ll be ready for him. Eeuuwwwwww!!😣😝😝😝😝😝
CIB, I’m sure Sutton will dismantle Noem as surely as Herseth Sandlin crushed her with superior facts and intelligence at the 2010 State Fair debate. But that debate always reminds me that superior intellect and debate performance don’t guarantee the win with South Dakota voters. Sutton will also have to beat her with sincerity, give-a-damn, and, alas, image. Fortunately, he’s capable of winning on those fronts as well.
Debbo, I welcome the entrance of Donald Trump into South Dakota’s races. I would like to see him try to make his blowhardery play live in front of a South Dakota audience.
All the Complaining about Noem not bothering with a debate at Dakotafest (which was scheduled to include Terry LaFleur and Kurt Evans) seems to be coming from people who had no intention, ever, of taking a day off work ($80-$240 depending on wages) driving (100-600 miles round trip depending on location) to Mitchell, and paying $7 admission to sit in a hot tent listening to a debate.
The same people who considered attending to be a waste of their own time are screeching that Noem agreed with them.
How specious, Anne. 850,000 South Dakotans aren’t running for Governor and haven’t raised two million dollars to pay for their day off work, drive to Mitchell, and admission to Dakotafest. 850,000 South Dakotans don’t plan to drive to the State Fair or the KELO studios for the debates, either. But 850,000 South Dakotans would benefit from debates at all of those venues which would then be covered in detail by reporters and bloggers for the edification of all.
If I were running for Governor and Dakotafest invited me to come speak on their stage alongside my opponent, I’d clear my calendar and be there. My criticism of Noem’s debate doge is perfectly consistent with my political beliefs and willingness to work for the job I’m running for.
Think of it this way, Anne: a group of interested voters decided to hold a job interview. One of the people applying for the job said, “Sorry, coming to your interview would be a waste of my time.” Usually, a snooty applicant like that doesn’t get the job.
I read from this Dakotafest outfit that it was not a “debate.” Mr. H and I are your basic gravy sucking debators, but this was simply an opportunity to come and discuss things with a crowd. I believe Mr. Bjorkman confirmed that his appearance there was not a “debate.” Mr. Bjorkman is learned, indeed, and his definitions superseded those provided by the rest of us who are less learned than he.