“Mirror, mirror on the wall, whose the biggest crony of them all?”
I’m still wondering when South Dakotans are going to wake up and realize that if you keep electing Republicants to Pierre, you will continue to get more of the same results. Cronyism, nepotism, low wages, limited worker rights, unfair taxes, etc, etc. As Jack Billion said in our last podcast (paraphrasing) “We gotta compete with Mississippi for last place.” While there should be outrage over Doogard’s latest hiring, right out of the Marion Rounds playbook, I wonder how many people will care or even notice. And that’s what Republicants depend on, “Nothing to see here, move along.”
Daugaard’s son, Chris, landed a job with the PUC as an initiative and utility analyst at a starting salary of $55,000.
What a Kwinky-Dink? Huh?
“if you keep electing Republicants to Pierre, you will continue to get more of the same results. Cronyism, nepotism, low wages, limited worker rights, unfair taxes”
What is Tim Johnsons son doing right now? You know… the 34 year old US Atty for SD? Hm, Daddy did a lot of dribbling on that one. How about Linda Daschle? Former adminstrator of the FAA and one of the most powerful lobbyists for the airline industry (who have bled the taxpayer dry in the last 15 years). Look up Schering-Plough and read about all of the money she was able to secure for her hubby’s influence. Hell, even your beloved Stephanie was deep into the corrupt ways of Washington polictics with corrupt hubby Max…
The Sunlight Foundation, Public Citizen and other watchdog groups are highly critical of Herseth Sandlin and other Members whose relatives work Congressional corridors. While a conclusive list is unavailable, lobbying records show that Reps. Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio), John Mica (R-Fla.) and Blunt also have family members who are registered under the rules of both chambers.
“I would call it sleazy,†Public Citizen lobbyist Craig Holman said.
When you take a whole quote from Roll Call you should site the source .
No one mentions what Thune’s wife does for Sanford. But then the discussion here is what the newly elected governor is doing, not the other names that you mentioned. We are discussing Doogard’s appointments and one could ask why bother to have an election when a guy is elected and then bags the job for a political plum job offered by the new gov. Not to mention he hired his son and son in law and his wife was his campaign treasurer. None of which passes the smell test.
I will defend Johnson’s appointment. It’s not like Brendan just graduated from law school and became a US Atty the next day, Brendan paid his dues. Marion and Dennis seem to think that state government is a family business.
Buzz, what do lobbyists have to do with anything? It isn’t as if we elected someone who in turn hired their spouse… and because we have a freedom of speech in our Constitution, you can’t prevent someone from lobbying Congress whether they are married to a member of Congress of not.
It might be in bad taste, but those who are influenced by the spouses of Congresspeople are probably more to blame. Then again I’m not going to even bother to comment on your accusations of people being corrupt since you don’t support them with anything substantive.
You might have had a point about Tim Johnson’s son although Tim didn’t hire him, so that sort of goes out the window too. In fact I believe Tim recused himself from the process – and although I’m sure the family name didn’t hurt him, it is obvious he has been working his way through the system following in his father’s footsteps… it isn’t like he was just handed a public sector job with no experience.
The comment about Tim “dribbling” is just in bad taste though. Why are the conservatives always so quick to make a comment about the man’s physical impairment? Stay classy.
cuz they got nothin else on Tim.
Although I’m troubled by some of these cozy relationships, the examples given in earlier posts are much different than this growing trend of our Governors giving state jobs to family members. If it was a Democrat in office (like that would ever happen), Knobe and Belfrage would devote every single show to condemn these actions.
It’s all just a part of creating jobs right here at home to keep our young people from having to leave the state. Everyone knows that. Well done, Governor.
Buzz,
Excellent implementation of the favored strategy of successful prestidigitartors. “Hey! Look! Over THERE!” (not at me – not at MY dirty hands).