I guess if you want to take that as an endorsement for Loetscher, so be it.

Even with all the missteps by the Loetscher campaign over the past couple of weeks (which has more to do with HOW she responded, NOT what she was responding to) I just can’t bring myself to vote for Paul.

I have heard many voters tell me they are so disgusted with both campaigns they are not voting for either.

I try to remind them of my Banana VS. Raisin argument, you have to pick one.

Let’s face it, there really isn’t many differences between Jo and Paul in their professional lives. Both young business professionals that have been very successful. Neither has elected government experience, but both have been involved with boards and legislation and both have worked on political campaigns with their agencies.

So what separates Jo and Paul?

Some of those things are obvious. While Paul has been a little wishy-washy about diversity, Jo has made it a part of her campaign platform. And while Jo has been beat up a little about not having a 100-day strategy or plans for a transition team, unlike Paul, Jo understands that this is all new to her, and those plans have to be made carefully. I also think Jo understands the separation of power between the council and mayor.

Jo has made many missteps along the way, but she has never lost my trust and she has always continued to show a genuine passion for people.

Jo has also not lined her campaign chest with the business elite in Sioux Falls (or their toddler children) who will be the first to be asking for corporate welfare if a TenHaken administration rolls in.

Besides the fact that Paul has been involved with some pretty shady political hackery in his past, thinks it is OK to troll your employees on Facebook and tends to take an authoritarian approach to government the thing that has bothered me the most about Paul is that he has never really has had a consistent platform from day one. Jolene has never waivered from her platform.

Like I said, the inexperience of both of them is worrisome, but you gotta pick one. I pick the Banana.

38 Thoughts on “Vote for anybody but TenHaken

  1. Mike H. on May 1, 2018 at 10:01 am said:

    Jo Jo Burdin says she embraces diversity because that’s the number one step in the liberal playbook. Make them think you like them and make them rely on you so they will vote for you.

    She won’t even use her ‘real’ name for the election. Has to use her name that people will recognize her….yeah, you remember last Tuesday when she gushed for her almost entire minute about coming back to KELO TV which brought her to Sioux Falls….they also shipped her out to Rapid City too, so will she run for Mayor out there if she loses tonight?

    The best position for her in city government is dog catcher, then she can examine the feces and call it “bio-engineering”.

  2. D@ily Spin on May 1, 2018 at 10:08 am said:

    I favor and voted for Jolene for different reasons. It’s time for a female mayor who didn’t use criminal behavior to get ahead in business. She’s not party oriented. Most important, she can network with women on the council to overcome good old boys chauvinism. TenHacks is practically another Huether. He’ll be in the pocket of 2 billionaires.

  3. I don’t value your position on this as you’ve clearly been willing to ignore the flaws of Ms Loetscher while berating Mr TenHaken for similar flaws.

    I proudly voted for Paul TenHaken and will be voting for him again in 4 years for his re-election.

  4. l3wis on May 1, 2018 at 10:28 am said:

    In politics, especially local races, all I do is ‘follow the money’. I could care less if Paul is hacking anybody, if he goes to church or that he likes to take (a lot) of selfies. Comparing his contributor list to Jolene’s is all I need to know about who he will beholden to. And it’s NOT you and me.

  5. Hey Im glad you made this post. I was on the fence about the mayoral election, in no small part because neither side talks about anything other than “crime, business, and the bright and shiny future”, but I can always count on your opinion to be the most flimsy libby backwash there can possibly be.
    Go Paul I guess. woooo.

  6. l3wis on May 1, 2018 at 10:30 am said:

    Here’s a great article about how TenHaken won people over;

    https://www.rawstory.com/2018/04/heres-trump-won-mindless-loyalty-millions-americans/

  7. Jo Mama on May 1, 2018 at 10:39 am said:

    Scott let’s be real here. You are endorsing her because of the prescious 5 minutes of ego massage you get every week at public input. You fear PT will change public input while JL will let you and the rest of your crew spout your nonsense. Better be careful what you wish for. If she does win and you criticize her during one of your grandstands she’s gonna become a professional victim and accuse you of bullying and perhaps misogyny faster than Sierra can bring up pimps and prostitutes in one of her diatribes. Actually I hope she does win because that would be amazing to watch. Let’s Go Jo!

  8. Warren Phear on May 1, 2018 at 10:40 am said:

    Not to worry l3wis. Soon, all of the apostle Paul’s disciples will be back to bible study.

  9. Davis on May 1, 2018 at 10:49 am said:

    They are both strong candidates and both have their flaws. However I’m saddened by the trolling tactics of so many TenHaken supporters here, on social media, and elsewhere.

    Why is there such an immaturity associated with some supporters? Just look above and you have one common troll commenter who always points out Jolene’s last name but seems to ignore Paul changed the spelling of his name on campaign materials even though it isn’t his legal name. Who cares? Why be so petty?

    Then you have someone who claims they will be voting for Paul’s re-election in four years without even considering his performance if he wins. This is just blind loyalty and something which has been increasingly common in the Republican Party lately. It’s moronic and immature.

    Then you have another commenter who insults the blogger and uses that as his excuse to support Paul? I’d say if your opinion is that weak you should do some research or just abstain from voting because basing a vote upon an unrelated person’s opinion is just weak mindedness.

    I believe Paul will win by at least 10% and I think he will do a fine job (even though I believe this is merely a stepping stone as he seeks higher office). However I must say I’m very disappointed with the childish behavior of many of his supporters. I’m not holding that against Paul, but it is an interesting insight as to how some people feel the need to tear others down in order to make themselves feel superior.

    Trump’s America I guess.

  10. L3wis, I contributed to Paul. When do I get my kick back?

  11. "I am not a Crook" on May 1, 2018 at 11:02 am said:

    Choices:

    Nixon Hacken guy with a shady political past that will continue bought and paid for Cronyism that has long been rampant in the state except our largest city will become Sanford Falls gravitating towards the worst of Colorado Springs.

    Jolene Loetscher will break the state’s largest city from the terrible legacy of the prior administration, open government, inclusive, unite and position it for growth while being frugal and paying down the city’s debt.

  12. I left my ballot blank.

  13. l3wis on May 1, 2018 at 11:14 am said:

    Jo Mama, public input changes are up to the council, not the mayor, so it doesn’t matter who is in that chair.

  14. l3wis on May 1, 2018 at 11:15 am said:

    I always get a chuckle out all these ‘fiscally conservatives’ who don’t blink an eye when the city gives out millions in corporate welfare but cry ‘Libby Backwash’ when we give a free bus ride to a brown kid.

  15. Warren Phear on May 1, 2018 at 12:01 pm said:

    If he wins, I will watch and listen as I always do with city matters. Same for Jolene. What troubles me the most is Pauls affiliation with his bible. He wants it on his desk. Fine. But no bible study after hours in a city owned building.

  16. I’m voting for the 6 year old that has $1000 to contribute to political campaigns.

    He’s the one with his $hit together.

  17. Jo Mama nailed it.

  18. At the KSFY debate PTH said he wanted more TIFs. At Democratic Forum he said he wasn’t initially going to make crime a central focus of his campaign. Then he missed the diversity forum but accepted an endorsement from the Family Heritage Alliance. The totality of all of this, with all partisan comments aside, is that PTH is actually concerned only for the business establishment in this town and his fundamentalist friends….. So vote Jo if you care about the citizens…. Else, vote for PTH if you are more concerned about the golfers than the circumstances surrounding the death of a construction worker….. It’s that simple….. Go Jo!!!

  19. Say, if Jo wins though, you don’t think that some of NixonHaken’s younger contributors will get mad and start holding their breath until they turn blue, have kicking tantrums while laying on the floor, or start crying, do you?…. I hope not…. So embarrassing…… (I tell you, those Millennials, especially the real young contributing ones under 10)…..

  20. LJL on May 1, 2018 at 1:07 pm said:

    So well said Davis but i’m not going to pinch my nose and vote for either. I’m tired of casting votes against the candidate I don’t like, because I”m still voting for a candidate I don’t like.

    He’s full of shit and she shovels it. I’m not buying either.

    I am sick of libbies using “brown kids” for political talking points. Scott, you have no business chastising others until we actually see you helping someone you use as ammo. You sir, haven’t done SHIT.

  21. l3wis on May 1, 2018 at 1:23 pm said:

    Oh, did I strike a nerve? Funny how I know nothing about you except your anonymous comments, yet you know so much about me. I don’t talk about what I do in my personal life much on this site, and I certainly don’t brag or boast about my charitable giving, because it is really none your business.

  22. matt johnson on May 1, 2018 at 1:51 pm said:

    ok vsg – is Jo Letch’s going to go on tour with 800 reasons why she lost (mirroring Hillary) or will there be vagina marches on Phillips Avenue

  23. l3wis on May 1, 2018 at 2:06 pm said:

    If she does lose, hopefully she bows out gracefully. It would look much better for her if she plans to run for something else in the future. If it is within a 100 votes or less, I would ask for the absentees to accounted for before conceding. I would give that advice to all 4 of the candidates.

  24. LJL – Give Scott some credit. I don’t agree with him much politically, but he does a great job of covering local politics (better than anyone else, in my opinion).

  25. Jon on May 1, 2018 at 3:24 pm said:

    Paul will win for the same season Trump won. Different name, same results. Trump won because he wasn’t Hillary, Paul will win because his opponent is as likeable as Hillary.

  26. How do we end up with such candidates? I know nothing about this Paul Bentaken…. However, what I do know is, he has the instinct’s of a clam. No more, so called “business minded Mayor’s”
    Hasn’t anybody been paying attention? It’s a no-go-for-Jo as I drive over the Grand Canyon of pot holes all over town. I’m still paying for beach front property with out the water !@#$%^&*

  27. Matt, I can’t speak for the Jo camp, but Jackley was Comesque last week and his AG office is what Trump is trying to do to the US Justice Department, however…. If PTH wins by less than 57%, then he can thank Marty. If by more, then he can thank the Jo camp for its short comings and Marty too….

  28. Warren Phear on May 1, 2018 at 4:58 pm said:

    Jon. IF ten hauhen wins, it will be because toddlers can contribute $1,000 apiece, and, he promises bible study on citizen owned property. trumpkin won with the help of putin in swing states.

  29. scott on May 1, 2018 at 5:29 pm said:

    everyone must have missed the all minority commercial tenhacker aired this morning on kelo.

  30. Jon on May 1, 2018 at 5:30 pm said:

    Warren, I disagree. Jolene will lose because she’s highly unlikeable. Much like Hillary. Also, much like Hillary, she’s guilty of trying to claim credit for things she had no part of, or didn’t happen as she states. Hillary’s sniper fire is “Jolene’s Law”, she had almost nothing to do with that, but tries to take credit as often as she can. Biotech company? She sends dog crap to one. Hacking? Didn’t happen. Threatening voicemail? Sounded to everyone else like Paul hoping for a more civil race. I’m not a huge Ten Haken fan, and thought for quite some time that Jolene would win. She dug her own grave deeper daily.

  31. Oh, and if Paul is only going to win because of the donations of the toddlers, shouldn’t this be a race between Jim and Paul? After all, Jim outspent every one else by a country mile.

  32. l3wis on May 1, 2018 at 5:56 pm said:

    Jon, thank you. You point out the exact reason why TenHaken didn’t need to take the money from children, but did anyway. That’s called greed my friend.

  33. I agree, he absolutely should not have taken that money. Horrible decision. Not nearly as many poor decisions as Jolene though. See my post above.

  34. Warren Phear on May 1, 2018 at 6:48 pm said:

    Jolene is highly unlikeable

    She is admired and liked by many. She is highly unlikeable by the disciples apostle paul sent out from his “toolbox.”

  35. Fluff McFluffin on May 1, 2018 at 8:29 pm said:

    Let’s GOJO, so I can wash my hands of this. Paul got my vote. I am tired of Americans being victims. It is, in case you folks didn’t notice, the cornerstone of the Democratic faith. It is highly unappealing to hardworking Americans (more and more by the day) and is unequivocally un-American.

  36. Warren, I’m going to have to disagree with you again. She may be liked by some, but she’s disliked by many more. The election results show that, and will continue to show that as more results are in. This has nothing to do with Paul and his “toolbox”. We quit watching KELO because of her, and her trying to take credit for the law she dubbed “Jolene’s Law” was another nail in the coffin.

  37. Rachel on May 1, 2018 at 9:56 pm said:

    Theresa Stehly said “Sioux Falls” residents aren’t stupid, but I would beg to differ. Was Jolene perfect, was Zach perfect..no but they had integrity and treat everyone with kindness and respect. Both would have been open listeners to their constituents and having met both of them they are just decent people. I hope the the people of Sioux Falls question Paul and if needed challenge him.

  38. Rachel on May 2, 2018 at 9:49 pm said:

    When Paul tanks this city…can we have a conversation Jon?

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