Professor of political science Dr. Jon Schaff, one of the anchors of conservative thought at the surely intellectually diverse Northern State University, said on public radio this noon that Governor Kristi Noem’s climbing disapproval rating may have come from her “uneven” performance during her first Session in the big Second Floor chair.
In contrast, Governing‘s somewhat more remote Louis Jacobson puts Noem in the “thriving” class of rookie governors:
Noem, who underperformed other South Dakota Republicans in winning the governorship, has since impressed observers with her communications skills.
Noem strongly opposed legislative efforts to legalize industrial hemp, ultimately using her veto pen to block a measure. But she’s been in tune with the GOP-controlled legislature in trying to head off protests by Native Americans and environmentalists over pipeline construction. Noem signed legislation to allow the state to sue over “riot-boosting,” or encouragement of protests that turn violent. Opponents sued, however, and the law is now headed to court [Louis Jacobson, “6 Months In, Most Rookie Governors Are Thriving,” Governing, 2019.07.23].
If Noem had impressive communication skills, she wouldn’t need her bloated communications staff to churn out statements for her. As for her actual achievements, Jacobson only points to her unique and still inexplicable resistance to a measure supported by most legislators, her farm constituency, and most states around us, and to an ill-advised bit of corporate fascism that faces a court challenge that she’s having a hard time winning.
Let’s compare Noem’s “thriving” with what other governors have done to get good marks from Jacobson:
- Jacobson praises the “energetic” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for a bipartisan budget deal (yes, in Minnesota, the governor has to deal with both parties to get things done) and “fixing long-running technical problems with the state auto licensing system….”
- Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker also gets praise for bipartisan deal-making, in this case to fully fund a new K-12 budget formula and investing more in pre-K, higher ed, and public safety. Jacboson also touts Pritzker’s tax increases to fund improvements in transportation and public facilities. Pritzker also signed a $15 minimum wage, protection for abortion rights, more regulation of gun shops, and pot legalization while negotiating a long-in-coming deal with the public employee labor union.
- Colorado Governor Jared Polis gets top marks for funding full-day kindergarten, passing gun control, passing oil and gas reforms, and reducing health care costs.
- California Governor Gavin Newsom makes the “thriving” list for expanding pre-school, repealing diaper and tampon taxes, funding water quality, and extending health care “to unauthorized immigrants through age 25.”
Agree or disagree with each policy, those records of achievement make Kristi Noem look like she’s standing still.
Dr. Schaff’s characterization of Noem’s start as uneven is much more accurate than a Beltway assertion that Noem is “thriving.” Her banner civics education project failed completely. She’s stepped on her own marketing angle as “sportsman in chief” by pretending she can boost pheasant habitat by paying kids $10 for every tail they can whack off a skunk or raccoon, a plan widely criticized by actual sportsmen and wildlife scientists. Her administration is dogged by signs of nepotism and suppression of free speech. Noem isn’t “thriving”; she’s just hanging on, much like Jason Ravnsborg, by the skin of her invincibly white Republican teeth.
“Thriving?!?” Getting by, fits better. What has NoMore accomplished that’s going to make a positive difference in SD? Has she improved education, farming, industry, health care, environment, tourism, etc.
She did one legally questionable thing for an out of state pipeline company. And ………?
From the Wrong Side of History file: Cory mentioned, “Noem strongly opposed legislative efforts to legalize industrial hemp.” I noticed in my weekly grocery flier that Kroger (2800 stores in 35 states) now has a CBD department in my local market. Tomorrow’s my bi-monthly trip to the store and I’m going to check out what’s for sale and at how much. Newspaper ads show that real pot is now so cheap they can barely give it away. There are strains of MMJ with lots of CBD in them so Kroger’s meds must be cheap or they won’t sell. IMHO (Remember Governor: The world’s largest CBD factory is under construction here in the square state. They’ll need product, if your old man can figure out a way to make money off it.)
Porter, (eyes only- top secret)….. https://thinkprogress.org/exclusive-steve-bannon-geofencing-data-collection-catholic-church-4aaeacd5c182/
mfi … I know, right? That’s why Priests started getting condom ads on their phones. lol I just got a movie from Korean Netflix called “The Great Hack”, starring none other than Steve Bannon. It’s about the Cambridge Analytica scandal. It’s next on my list, after I finish “I Am Mother”.
Thx for the 411.
What governors can do is dependent on what party is in the Legislature. If you’ve got a bunch of Republican hooligans in control of the legislative body, forget about doing anything worthwhile.
Wisconsin Governor Evers is surviving, according to the article by Jacobson. Well, yeah, we all survived the 8 years the Republican misrule under Scott Walker, and Evers has to deal with the idiot gerrymandered Republican majority in the Legislature. Thanks to the Republicans, rural schools are going under, the roads are like the moon, rural hospitals are closing and there are more beaches closed every summer due to pollution.
And then there are chest pounding, delusional, Trump acolytes like Tim Goodwin that supported Jackely for Governor until Marty went down in flames so now he’s figured out that Noem is the bubble gum stuck under Trumps high chair in the Oval Office so he and a bunch of other cloistered partisan bigots grope in hopes of catching and hanging on to Noems apron strings. The collective republicanism in this state hasn’t accomplished one meaningful thing nor have they solved a problem We spend money on what republicans want versus what the state actually needs and then blame democrats, libertarians and others when their brilliance doesn’t work out. Noem chairs a mutual admiration society of ineptitude.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind-in-the-machine/201812/complete-psychological-analysis-trumps-support
Thanks for the linked article JW – it is very informative and well worth study! I wonder if many Trump supporters might see characteristics that they share if they took the time to read and carefully consider this analysis.
Agreed, BCB. Thanks, JW. I copied and pasted that link into a reference file. Lot’s of understanding there. Confronting Trumpilstiltskins is usually a waste of time but there’s lots of ammo there for a discussion with them.
Me 3! Excellent link JW, thorough and informative. I think I’ll be able to find uses for it. Gracias.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/south-dakota-will-require-in-god-we-trust-signs-in-all-public-schools/
This can’t be legal or constitutional.
Kristyland is open and all the rides
are running.