USD College Republicans
- All
- Climate Change/Global Warming
- Affirmative Action
- Freedom
- Medicare
- No Child Left Behind
- Economics
- Media
- Taxes
- Ridiculous!
- Trade
- Democrats
- Telecom
- The Courts
- Neo-conservatism
- Presidential Race 2008
- Libertarianism
- Earmarks
- Student Government Association
- Congress
- University of South Dakota
- State and Local Politics
- General
- Republicans
- Grassroots conservatism
- Iraq
- Education
- USD Political Science League
- Afghanistan
- SCHIP
- Subsidies
- Spending
- Health Care
- Social Security
- Africa
- Labor unions
- Political Philosophy
- Hyperion Oil Refinery at Elk Point
- Foreign Policy
- War on Terror
Republicans rally; Democrats leave after photo op
Tonight, 20 College Republicans rallied outside the Neuharth Building in support of Chris Lien for Congress. Of course, he's debating incumbent Democrat Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin.
I arrived at 7:00 PM and the Dems were in full force. State Senator Ben Nesselhuf was in attendance- not surprising, as he has no classes to take and no formal work to do. The Democrats were excited and chuckling at the fact that I was the only CR present. The joke was on them. I had told the CRs to arrive at 7:30.
So three Lien staffers and myself stood around the Democrats until Herseth arrived. They scurried up to the parking lot for a pat on the back and a photo op. Of course, as soon as the photo op concluded, they scattered.
Not the College Republicans! More and more CRs showed up and we eventually covered the area from the corner of Cherry and Dakota to the Dakota Street door of the Neuharth Building.
We will have video from the event as soon as it is available from the Lien campaign.
-Matt Hittle
Posted at 08:14PM Oct 21, 2008 by College Republicans in Congress | Comments[20]
I'm curious as to why you would stay for so long when the even isn't open to the public.
The Herseth people held an organized party where Dems can watch the debate together. This is less an indictment on the lack of enthusiasm of the Dems than it is on the lack of organization on the part of Chris Lien.
Posted by Xiao Xi on October 21, 2008 at 09:20 PM CDT #
We stayed outside to let the public know what was going on and to support Chris- the same thing the Democrats did for Herseth. However, we didn't leave after a photo op. Our support wasn't contingent on publicity for our organization.
How was it a lack of organization? We had 20 people out in support of Lien. That's comparable, if not equal to, the amount of people out in support of Herseth.
This particular attempt at knocking the CRs is pretty lame.
Posted by Matt Hittle on October 21, 2008 at 11:11 PM CDT #
Please, a proper campaign would have provided its supporters a way to actually watch the debate, and provided a place for organization of supporters. There was one for Herseth, did one similarly exist for Lien?
Posted by Xiao Xi on October 21, 2008 at 11:14 PM CDT #
I requested that the Lien campaign give me the responsibility for organizing the supporters. They had a debate to prepare for; organizing CRs is MY job, not theirs.
I chose not to hold a debate watching, as many of my members- including me- are in the middle of a busy midterm week. I simply decided that the public rally was more important than our private watching.
Your criticisms aren't based in fact. They're based in your opinion that a lack of a debate-watching party means that an entire organization isn't "proper." Puh-leeze. Totally bunk.
Posted by Matt Hittle on October 21, 2008 at 11:38 PM CDT #
Mr. Hittle
I find it inflamatory and in bad taste that you make a personal attack on Senator Ben Nesselhuf. I would ask that you retract your attack and apologize.
Taylor Wegner
Posted by Taylor Wegner on October 21, 2008 at 11:44 PM CDT #
Don't hold your breath.
You're damn right it's inflammatory. The truth often is.
Moreover, his employment (or lack thereof) isn't personal; it's pertinent to the race.
For your future reference, personal would be his love life, his family life, his social life, etc.
Posted by Matt Hittle on October 21, 2008 at 11:53 PM CDT #
Mr. Hittle
I'm sorry that you feel my use of the word personal is wrong. I would contend that this is a personal attack, not as baseless as your article in the Volante but baseless none the less.
I believe that Senator Nesselhuf works on the Herseth-Sandlin campaign, as well as many others. This is most likely the reason why he was there.
Since I have seen you working for the Higman campaign I must ask this question. Is this how Higman wants his campaign ran? A campaign filled with what I, I believe many, would called personal attacks has no place in South Dakota. Maybe they do in Iowa, but not here.
Posted by Taylor Wegner on October 21, 2008 at 11:59 PM CDT #
Matt,
Is it not you who said he was a consultant for the Herseth campaign in your column attacking him? Thus it would make perfect sense if his boss was in town to show up to a rally. So actually it was formal work and you seem like somebody who is bitter that more Dems showed up at the right time to greet their Congresswoman who is likely to have a landslide victory on election day. Besides, what state do you vote in anyway? Aren't you from Sioux City?
Posted by James Heaton on October 22, 2008 at 12:07 AM CDT #
Taylor-
1) This is not the place to discuss my Volante column. That is totally separate from my CR work. If you want to talk about that, take it up on the Volante blogs.
2) Nesselhuf "works"on the Herseth campaign has some kind of nebulous "consultant." But I wonder what the man does all day. He's not registered for classes this semester, I know that for sure.
3) I don't work for Higman. I work for the CRs. (And you mean "run" instead of "ran.")
Here's where you're wrong- you use a big qualifier: "what I would call personal attacks." What Taylor Wegner thinks is not necessarily gospel. Quite frankly, what you think doesn't really matter in this case. Simply, a politician's employment when not in session is not personal.
Posted by Matt Hittle on October 22, 2008 at 12:07 AM CDT #
James-
Nesselhuf is a "consultant," but has never really told us what that means. He could be stretching the truth, as he has done with his legislative "accomplishments." I wouldn't put it past him.
As for bitterness, I have none. We had just as many- if not more- CRs out at 7:30 as the Dems had at 7:00. But, since the Dems left after the photo op, they didn't catch it. Ask Ellyn Kennedy. She was there.
Finally, yes, I'm from Iowa. But does that matter? Absolutely not. You're simply attacking me for that because you can't raise any other pertinent points.
Posted by Matt Hittle on October 22, 2008 at 12:12 AM CDT #
Mr. Hittle
First-Iknow that you do not quite understand what Senator Nesselhuf does for the campaigns he works on but assuming that he does nothing is quite wrong.
Second-How do you know that Senator Nesselhuf is not registered for any classes this semester? Not that I am claiming he is, i am just wondering where you obtained your information.
Third-I stated that I believe because its exactly that, my belief and opinion, and I do not belive that my opinion is shared by everyone. Just most logical people.
Finally- I anything that you put into the main stream can and will be discussed on blogs because,
Quite frankly, what you think doesn't really matter in this case.
Taylor Wegner
Posted by Taylor Wegner on October 22, 2008 at 12:15 AM CDT #
Taylor-
1) I never said Nesselhuf did nothing for the campaign. I said that, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, he does nothing. "Consultant" is a very nonspecific term.
2) I called the registrar's office here at USD and asked. It's as simple as that. He's not registered for any classes this semester.
3) Really? Logical people think that questioning a candidate's employment is a "personal attack?" Then why do we regard it as so important when electing someone? Normally, we value candidates' experience at their job, whatever it may be. It is certainly discussed, and may even be brought up in debates. Employment is clearly not a personal issue.
4) Actually, what I care DOES matter in this case because I control this blog. I reserve the right to delete anything that crosses the arbitrary line that I set. This is not the place for discussion of my Volante pieces. Go to the Volante blogs for that.
Posted by Matt Hittle on October 22, 2008 at 12:19 AM CDT #
Mr. Hittle
You have reinforced my opinion. I will leave it at that.
Oh...and don't get to delete happy, people might start to think your something other than a libertarian.
Posted by Taylor Wegner on October 22, 2008 at 12:45 AM CDT #
Taylor-
1) Your passive-aggressiveness is noted. More importantly, it doesn't matter what you think of me. I really couldn't care less. I care about doing the job I was elected to do- bring the Republican platform to campus, help Republican candidates, and recruit new CRs. Pleasing Taylor Wegner isn't on the list. Trust me, I won't lose any sleep.
2) Those people of whom you're speaking would be ignorant. Libertarians disagree with GOVERNMENT infringing on freedom of speech, not with PRIVATE citizens regulating speech on their private property.
This is a PRIVATE blog. Therefore, you have no inherent RIGHT to post on it. I do, as it is property of College Republicans, and I am president of College Republicans. Therefore, I can delete what I choose. Whining will change nothing.
Posted by Matt Hittle on October 22, 2008 at 01:00 AM CDT #
Matt, matt, matt.
Since you really seem to love numbers, and seeing how this is a private blog, I'll reply in kind
1) You should really stop using terms you don't understand. This is the second time you accused someone of being passive aggressive without actually understanding what that term means.
2) All I'm saying is that a proper, professional campaign would have offered its supporters the ability to view the debate - a luxury that the USD Dems took full advantage of. It's cool, and yes, even somewhat noble, that you're fighting so hard for a campaign that is a mere formality at this point, you really shouldn't criticize the USD Dems for taking advantage of a luxury that you apparently did not have.
It was cold, we had an opportunity to be somewhere else and actually participate, why criticize?
3) No one gets to make assumptions about the class-work and work-load of another. Not even a judgmental ideologue like yourself. (Yes, that was a personal attack. Yes, that was passive-aggressive.)
Posted by Xiao Xi on October 22, 2008 at 01:28 AM CDT #
Goodness, this 1000 character limit is annoying.
Matt, I had the decency to post your 1000+ character comments on our posts, do likewise.
I am, though, glad you've come to terms with the hammering the GOP will receive come 11/4.
Posted by Xiao Xi on October 22, 2008 at 01:31 AM CDT #
1) Perhaps he wasn't being passive-aggressive in the dictionary definition, but he was being ridiculous in the manner that can be found here: http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/
2) Your argument here is: If a campaign does not provide a place to watch a televised debate, it is neither proper nor professional. When I last checked, sofas and TVs weren't the criteria by which we measure a campaign.
I asked the campaign to let me schedule the events of the evening, as they had a debate to worry about. I conferred with several CRs and they told me that they wanted to watch the debate while studying, and some had sorority events they needed to attend after the rally.
3) Judgmental ideologue? That's the pot calling the kettle black.
4) Don't comment on my Volante writing here. Go to the Volante blogs if you want to do that.
Posted by Matt Hittle on October 22, 2008 at 08:25 AM CDT #
My argument is that the Herseth campaign provided the USD Dems with an opportunity that the College Republicans were not offered, are you saying that we were wrong to accept that opportunity?
Like I said, I think your and the dedication of the Lien volunteers is noble, but to accuse someone of "being there for the photo op" when they had alternative and far more luxurious ways of participation is quite inane.
And yes, I am also an ideologue who is quite judgemental, and if I ever accuse Jerad Higman of being a over-wrought middle manager, you're welcome to call me out on it. What I am saying is that you and I, being ideologues, have no right to criticize the work loads of others - especially since neither is privy to that type of information.
Posted by Xiao Xi on October 22, 2008 at 11:02 AM CDT #
Mr. Hittle
I'm sure a person such as yourself can see that since your volante article and your attack on Senator Nesselhuf run along the same lines, they should be debated within the same sphere.
Even a over compensating, power hungry person such as yourself can see the logic in my previous statement.
Posted by Taylor Wegner on October 24, 2008 at 04:36 AM CDT #
Taylor-
No.
Posted by Matt Hittle on October 24, 2008 at 10:50 AM CDT #