I got the text message tonight. Have not seen anything in the news though. Stay tuned, I will update tomorrow.

Who cares about Ben Franklin, he was a nobody

Good news from Pierre, again. I’m starting to like the 2o10 legislative session more and more everyday.

Maybe they shouldn’t have asked a lawyer that has had trouble in the past interpreting the 1st Amendment to write legislation for them . . . I’m just saying.

A House committee killed a bill that would have required those who operate Internet sites to keep records so they could identify people who anonymously contribute defamatory comments.

One of our greatest founding fathers, Franklin, often railed against England in anonymous letters to newspapers. Just imagine if Franklin feared anon dissent and did nothing? Where would our country be today. Do modern day lawmakers have any clue about history? Apparently not.

While I support this measure;

State Senator Frank Klocek says he’s not backing down in what he calls the Kolache war. The Scotland Democrat failed to convince a legislative committee to pass a bill that would designate the kolache as the state’s official pastry. Some committee members say the bagel or the cannoli are good candidates too. Klocek says he’ll try to get the kolache bill considered on the senate floor, even though it was defeated 4 to 2 in committee.

The German in me also loves Kuchen. I’m torn.

Back in 2001 Todd was willing to defend the Brookings Arts Council as a board member of the SD Arts Council. Joy Crane ultimately got Todd to resign on the board because of the extreme conflict of interest that would have existed defending the BAC against someone he is supposed to be representing, a member of the Arts Council, Crane herself. That, and his blatant disregard for the First Amendment. Joy won her battle, I guess the BAC got a little nervous when they started getting letters from anti-censorship lawyers in New York and the ACLU.

As we insisted in our letter to Ms. Knutzen (jointly signed by NCAC, David Green of the First Amendment Project and Jennifer Ring of the ACLU of the Dakotas), randomly applying the vague and subjective standard of appropriateness to work that clearly constitutes protected speech raises serious constitutional concerns. The viewpoint expressed in “Chastity Belt” might well be unpopular and potentially controversial for Brookings, SD. But it is precisely to protect speech that is controversial or even offensive that the First Amendment exists. And, as the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed: “If there is a bedrock principle of the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.” (Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397, 414, 1989)

Joseph made this comment at the end of this interview about the little-publicized humanitarian crisis in South Dakota following the worst winter weather in decades after the radio host, Tavis Smiley, says the US government has apologized for what they did to Native Americans, and that was Joseph’s response. I couldn’t agree more. It’s kinda like a burglar stealing your car and apologizing for stealing it, but still continues to drive it.

This is a great new South Dakota Blog, Reimagine Rural

I couldn’t agree more with Bill’s idea;

The plan is based on Montana’s approach, which has worked well. The majority leaders of both houses choose the first two members of the seven-member citizen commission. Then the minority leaders of both houses choose the next two members. These four commission members choose the final three, with each member coming from one of the seven designated regions of the state. The commission will create the districts, submit the plan to the Legislature for suggestions and then finalize the districts.

Oh, but Bill, that approach sound fair. How can the Republicants in our state continue their chokehold if they can’t hand pick these commission members? Than there are all the utopian results it would produce;

Now is the time for South Dakota to change its method of legislative redistricting. Redistricting plans should:

•  lessen the impact of incumbency on redistricting.

•  lessen the impact of partisanship on redistricting.

• create more districts that are competitive.

•  maximize intradistrict competitiveness to make it easier to recruit candidates willing to challenge incumbents. Competitiveness and better candidates will encourage voter participation and satisfaction. Voter satisfaction will foster better, more responsive government.

There is a reason why your bill continues to fail Bill, a SD Democrat proposed it.

I heard from a reliable source tonight that both Tom Bennett (director of the SD Symphony) and Gary Wood (CEO of the Pavilion) were actually fired by their boards for economic reasons. Leave it to the mostly Republican boards to fire their directors over a problem caused by their savior, GW Dush.

I’m wondering if anyone else can confirm those rumors? Mainly Tom and Gary. I will give you exclusive interviews on South DaCola. Don’t be shy, I only bite in my sleep.

I also got a chuckle tonight when I was telling someone else at a popular restaurant downtown that the Pavilion has never been profitable, considering they get a subsidy from the city each year, and some girl in another booth gave me a dirty look.

Mind your own f’ing business and stop listening to other people’s conversations.  The eye rolling and head shaking does not phase me, I actually think it was kind of cute.