Free Republic

I just saw Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) on FOX News discussing the Obamacare bill. He is a terrific voice. He's RIGHT on the issues. Looks great on TV. In other words would make a great GOP candidate in 2012. A winning conservative voice who sells our issues beautifully.

Some days the Republican Party seems to be going crazy. Its public image is often shaped by people who appear to have gone into government because they saw it as a steppingstone to talk radio. But deep in the bowels of the G.O.P., there are serious people having quiet conversations. The people holding these conversations created and admired Bob McDonnell’s perfectly executed Virginia gubernatorial campaign. And now as they look to the future of their party, and who might lead it in 2012, the name John Thune keeps popping up. As you may or may not know, Thune is the...

Chief Oliver Red Cloud, Lakota, issued a statement to President Obama requesting a meeting more than two weeks ago and is yet to receive a response. Chief Red Cloud, 90, told Obama the Black Hills are not — and have never been — for sale September 13, 2009The Honorable Barack H. ObamaPresident of the United States of AmericaThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington, DC 20500Dear Mr. President:I am the Itancan (chief) of the Oglala Lakota Band of the Great Sioux Nation and Chairman of the Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council, the traditional governing body of the eight bands of...

Sen. Thune highlighted the difficulty the Democrats may have in convincing enough of their own members to vote for a huge, expensive new entitlement on top of tax increases and Medicare cuts. He laid out how he thought the Dems would try to push it through the Senate. 1. First, they will merge the Finance and HELP Committee bills and include a clear public option. They will then try to get the bill through in regular order, meaning with a normal cloture vote requiring 60 votes. This is obviously subject to a filibuster by the Republicans if they can peel...

The Talk Shows Sunday, October 18th, 2009 Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows: FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Sens. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., Arlen Specter, D-Pa., and John Thune, R-S.D.; Terry McAuliffe, former Democratic National Committee chairman.MEET THE PRESS (NBC): White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett; Sens. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.; California first lady Maria Shriver; John Podesta, head of the Center for American Progress.FACE THE NATION (CBS): White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel; Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and John Cornyn, R-Texas.THIS WEEK (ABC): David Axelrod, White House senior adviser.STATE OF THE UNION...

The Republican who ousted the Democratic leader of the Senate in 2004 says Harry Reid finds himself in a similar predicament of representing a conservative-leaning state but leading a liberal party. Sen. John Thune made Senate history when he unseated Sen. Tom Daschle by exploiting the gap between Mr. Daschle’s interests in Washington and those of his home state of South Dakota. That’s exactly where Mr. Reid, the Senate majority leader, is now, he said. “In the case of Senator Daschle, he was leading a left-of-center caucus and representing a right-of-center state - it was very difficult to reconcile those...

Some Republican lawmakers moved swiftly Monday to try and block FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski's proposal that the FCC adopt new network neutrality rules. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.) Monday introduced an amendment to an appropriations bill that would prohibit the FCC from spending any funds "to develop and implement new regulatory mandates." The bill was co-sponsored by Senators John Ensign (R-Nev.), Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), David Vitter (R-La.), Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and John Thune (R-S.D.). “I am deeply concerned by the direction the FCC appears to be heading,” said Hutchison in a statement. “Even during a severe downturn, America has experienced...

WASHINGTON — On the surface, it looks like it's been a bad month for gun-rights groups. First, the Senate narrowly defeated an attempt to allow Americans with concealed-weapons permits to carry their firearms across state lines. Then Second Amendment advocacy organizations pressed senators to oppose Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, only to see more than a dozen gun-rights backers support President Barack Obama's choice. Despite the setbacks, however, there's little gloom among gun-rights advocates. And the reason is simple: These tough battles are helping them separate politicians who are merely strong supporters of gun rights and those who are 100...

Washington, DC - -(AmmoLand.com)- The United States Senate recently voted on an amendment that would have allowed Right-to-Carry permit holders to carry in all other states that also grant carry permits. The amendment, sponsored by Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and David Vitter (R-La.), won a significant majority of votes, 58 to 39, but failed to reach the 60 votes needed to avoid a Senate filibuster. Anti-gun senators have long argued that the majority of Americans do not support firearm freedoms. They made this erroneous claim once again during the debate on the Thune/Vitter amendment. Now, a new poll has proven...

It was the dueling talking points this weekend. The president took advantage of an excellent second quarter Gross Domestic Product report to tout his economic strategy. The GDP numbers came in at -1% growth for the months of May through June. That was better than the 1.5% contraction that was the consensus. The first quarter's numbers were also revised to show a contraction of 6.4% which was a half percent higher than the previous survey.

Alan Gura [Partner, Gura & Possessky, PLLC]: "Gun rights opponents at last have cause to rejoice. Only 58 members of a lop-sided Democratic-controlled Senate approved of a provision mandating that states give full faith and credit to each other's gun-carry permits. The laws of forty-eight states, at least in theory, allow their peaceable citizenry to carry guns in public for self-defense. Forty of these states either require no license to do so, or issue such licenses as a matter of routine upon meeting basic qualifications. Even in the small minority of hold-out states, gun carry licenses are often available...

States offer a hodgepodge of concealed-handgun rules that prevent citizens from protecting themselves when traveling from one state to another. Sen. John Thune, South Dakota Republican, introduced an amendment to the defense authorization bill that would have fixed this problem by granting reciprocity for gun permits across state lines. In a 58-39 vote on Wednesday, supporters fell two short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. This was a victory of fear over facts. Thirty-seven of the 39 no votes were cast by Democrats. The two Republicans who crossed party lines to vote nay were Sen. Richard G....

Libertarians decry defeat of concealed carry amendmentS. 845 would have protected constitutional rights WASHINGTON -- America’s third largest party Wednesday criticized senators voting against an amendment establishing concealed carry reciprocity between all states and reminded them voters have a record of holding gun rights opponents accountable on Election Day. “Libertarians are no-compromise defenders of your constitutionally-protected right to keep and bear arms,” said Donny Ferguson, Libertarian National Committee Communications Director. “I find it ironic that many of the senators who rightfully believe one state’s same-sex marriage licenses should be recognized in all states are now not willing to extend that...

Earlier this week, Senator John Thune offered a Concealed Carry Amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill. Today, the Senator issued the following statement after his bipartisan amendment allowing individuals to lawfully carry concealed firearms across state lines under the condition that the laws of the host state are obeyed was defeated by a vote of 58 to 39: "Today, overheated rhetoric and fearmongering overcame common sense. My amendment would allow responsible firearms owners to protect themselves while obeying the firearms laws of the states they visit. The individual right to self-defense should not end at the state line. Despite today's...

In a rare win for gun control advocates, the Senate on Wednesday rejected a measure allowing a person with a concealed weapon permit in one state to also hide his firearm when visiting another state. The vote was 58-39 in favor of the provision establishing concealed carry permit reciprocity in the 48 states that have concealed weapons laws. That fell two votes short of the 60 needed to approve the measure, offered as an amendment to a defense spending bill. Opponents prevailed in their argument that the measure violated states rights by forcing states with stringent requirements for permits to...

Final vote was 58 for and 39 against. Unanimous consent for the need of 60 votes meant the amendment for national reciprocity was withdrawn.

Today the so-called Thune amendment to require states to accept each other’s handgun carry permits failed 2 votes short of the Senate’s 60 vote cloture requirement. Senator Thune’s (R – South Dakota) bill was a great idea in intent, but the mechanics were unconstitutional. . . . Congressional members who are serious about encouraging inter-state gun carry permit recognition should do things the right way via the Congress' enumerated federal powers. First, Congress should knock off the "do as I say and not as I do" stuff and legalize all state gun carry permits in the District of Columbia, Puerto...

As expected, the Senate Republican leadership continues to line up against the Supreme Court nomination of Sonia Sotomayor, with Republican Policy Committee Chairman John Thune (S.D.) on Monday joining Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on the list of official “no” votes. Thune joins a growing list of Republicans who publicly oppose the nomination. But a number of GOP Senators have also announced their support — including Sens. Dick Lugar (Ind.), the longest-serving Senate Republican, Olympia Snowe (Maine) and Mel Martinez (Fla.). Sotomayor is expected to be easily confirmed by the full Senate following a vote in the Judiciary Committee next...

he VPC's latest attack on the fundamental right of self-defense comes in the form of a poorly concocted “study” claiming to illustrate the evils of concealed carry permits. I use the word “study” loosely in order to not offend the sensibilities of any true statistician who might be reading this article. Let's discuss the flaws one at a time.

On Wednesday, the Senate is expected to vote on the latest assault on public safety in the name of gun ownership. Introduced as an amendment to the military’s budget bill by Senator John Thune, a Republican of South Dakota, this radical measure would nullify the laws of almost every state, subjecting police officers to greater risk and increasing the potential for gun violence. Nearly all states issue licenses to carry concealed firearms, but the criteria for granting such permits vary widely, and it is now, sensibly, up to each state to decide whether to accept another state’s permits. At least...

Reciprocity » Proposal would require them to honor any state's license. A U.S. senator is pushing for a law that would let concealed-weapons-permit holders carry their guns in nearly every state, but gun-control advocates are blasting the idea. One Utah supporter likes the idea, but concedes it is likely doomed. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., is proposing an amendment to a major defense bill that would require any state that issues concealed-weapons permits to honor those from any other state. Currently, 48 states permit concealed weapons; Wisconsin and Illinois are the only two that do not. Thirty-three states recognize Utah's concealed-weapons...

According to a release from Senator John Thune (R-SD), he is joining Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) in calling for an investigation concerning the report casting doubt about anthropogenic global warming that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) buried before the cap and trade global warming tax vote last week. On the eve of the HR 2454 “American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009” vote last Friday it came to light that the EPA had in its possession a report which pointed to natural causes for planetary warming, but it refused to make that report public. What’s more, several emails regarding...

The government has taken unprecedented actions over the past 15 months to stabilize the economy, including taking direct ownership stakes in private companies.  This creates a dangerous conflict of interest between the federal government and the private sector.  The government shouldn’t be an owner of companies it regulates in the private marketplace. Ends government ownership of private companies by: Preventing the U.S. Treasury from purchasing additional ownership stakes in private companies in any form, including preferred stock, common stock or warrants.Requiring the U.S. Treasury to sell any ownership stake of private entities by July 1, 2010.Requiring the Secretary of the...

Senate Republicans on Thursday unanimously tapped John Thune and Lisa Murkowski for new leadership positions in the wake of John Ensign's resignation due to a sex scandal. Thune (S.D.) was tapped as GOP Policy Chairman, the position that Ensign held until his admission last week of an affair with a female staffer. Murkowski (Alaska) was tapped to replace Thune as Senate Republican Conference vice chairman. Thune, who defeated former Democratic Leader Tom Daschle in 2004, is considered a rising star among Senate Republicans. Murkowski — daughter of former Sen. and Gov. Frank Murkowski — has fended off rumors of a...

Government programs don't believe in heaven, but many seem to have eternal life. That federal initiatives grow old but never die is particularly significant today. Fueled by ideology and equipped with a large majority in Congress, President Barack Obama and his allies on Capitol Hill are injecting steroids into Washington's normal propensity to expand. But is there an exit strategy for the new largesse? The deck is normally stacked against government shrinking itself. Washington rarely takes steps to limit its own power. Ensuring that outmoded or ineffective programs don't live in perpetuity is a daunting task. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.,...

We're hearing that South Dakota Sen. John Thune has locked up support to replace Sen. John Ensign as chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. The opening came when Ensign admitted to an affair with an ex-aide and could clear the way for Thune, talked about last year as a vice presidential nominee, to run against President Obama in 2012. Tall, somewhat quiet, and Western handsome, Thune is already considered a dragon-slayer, having taken out former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle in 2004 and beating back a base closing in his state during the Bush administration. Should he nail the...

Now I can safely cheer up. Senator John Thune (R-SD) has introduced a bill he calls the "Government Ownership Exit Plan Act of 2009." At the site he has established to promote public support for the bill, he explains its purpose. "The government has taken unprecedented actions over the past 15 months to stabilize the economy, including taking direct ownership stakes in private companies. This creates a dangerous conflict of interest between the federal government and the private sector. The government shouldn't be an owner of companies it regulates in the private marketplace." The bill aims to prevent further government...

Last fall's economic downturn and liquidity crisis were very serious. However, in the course of responding to them, the government abandoned its initial plan of action to purchase toxic assets and instead took to buying ownership stakes in a large number of private companies. An attempt to respond to an emergency quickly changed into something unanticipated by most Americans and most members of Congress. When the dust settled, the federal government had become a major investor in more than 500 private American businesses. I share the concerns of those who are alarmed at the federal government's increasing role in our...

...Thune was not alone in voting "no." A Democrat — *gasp* — and fellow South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson — also voted "no," probably for the same reason Thune voted "no" which was because it was going to kill 3,000-5,000 jobs in their state, which is simple math.

Thune Introduces Amendment to Protect Deduction for Charitable Giving Thune's Effort to Increase Charitable Giving Draws Praise from Charities, Nonprofits April 1st, 2009 - - Washington, D.C. - Senator John Thune has introduced an amendment to the Democrat budget that would fully preserve the federal income tax deduction for charitable giving. President Obama's budget framework proposes reducing the deduction, which would result in less charitable giving nationwide. "Private charities provide essential services to the most vulnerable people in society, especially when times are tough," said Thune. "Congress and the White House should continue to use the tax code to...

The war of words continued yesterday in the battle of the budget on Capitol Hill. Sending a very interesting message to their Democrat counterparts in the House, the Senate yesterday voted to pass -- by a whopping 89-8 margin -- an amendment by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) that would prohibit the collection of funds from any future cap and trade proposal if that proposal would increase electricity rates and gasoline prices for American households and businesses. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2007 released the results of their study of a proposal similar to President Obama's cap and trade framework....

ICYMI --- The Senate just killed a THUNE Ammendment which would have replaced the ENTIRE ammount the so called stimulus with a CHECK to every taxpayer.. this would have given about 5,000 bucks to every single taxpayer, and about 10,000 bucks to every couple filing jointly. 61 idiots voted to kill it... if you think this would have been a better stimulous that the pork that is currently being debated than i suggest you call your senator if they are one of the 61

John Thune introduced an amendment to scrap the entire stimulus, and replace it with an across the board middle class tax rebate. Ask the average American family—would you prefer Congress spend tens of millions on STD prevention and fish pathways—or sent you a check for $10,286? Thune Introduces Middle Class Tax Relief Amendment to the Stimulus Bill Middle Class Couples Would Receive up to $10,286 WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John Thune today introduced an across-the-board middle class tax rebate amendment (S. AMDT #538) to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Senator Thune’s amendment would strike the entire $936...

Sen. Thune (SD - R) introduced an amendment (S. AMDT #238) to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Amendment in Senate) [H.R.1.AS] that would prohibit using money authorized from that Act to be used on any new federal government programs created as a result of the stimulus bill. It was voted on today. Defeat: 35-62-2. Yeas were all pubs. Nays all dems, plus, of course, Sanders. Lieberman is a bit of a disappointment. But the list of pubs voting Nay are worth noting - no surprises, mind you, but this is the list to mark for defeat as...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former presidential rival John McCain expressed disappointment on Friday that President Barack Obama has not negotiated with Republicans over a huge economic stimulus plan and said he is working on an alternative package. Speaking to Reuters, Arizona Sen. McCain said the alternative plan would include what he described as "more effective tax cuts, such as a payroll tax cut" and spending on projects aimed at immediately creating jobs. "A group of us Republican senators are working on coming up with an alternative package that I would hope would have some elements to it that Americans would support,"...

It’s not just the bipartisan mingling that makes Obama’s cocktail party at the White House tonight a departure from the Bush era. It’s the cocktails. After sunset. During the week. The event is another sign that the Obamas will have a more youthful, energetic approach to life in the White House than Washington has seen over the past eight years – one where the president hosts roughly two dozen Republicans and Democrats for drinks and economic stimulus chit-chat. Obama’s gathering at the Executive Mansion sounds like a throwback to the days of Lyndon Johnson or conjures up images of Ronald...

Senator John Thune will present Alvina Pettigrew, a veteran of the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) organization during World War II, with an oil painted portrait of her by artist Cynthia Berry, of Great Falls, Virginia. A digital version of the portrait decorates a historic emergency call box in Washington, DC. During the war, Pettigrew served in secrecy at the Naval Communications Annex, deciphering Nazi naval commands. The callbox painting is near the site of the historic Communications Annex, and it serves as a memorial to the work of Pettigrew and other women who labored in secret to...

Chris Cillizza at the Washington Post gives us his list. As an inside-baseball junkie, I like these things, but right out of the box he loses his credibility and proves he's just another MSM reporter. Who are the faces that will emerge to rebuild the Republican party following its decimation at the ballot box in 2006 and 2008? . . . The most notable omission is that of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. While we expect the former vice presidential nominee will be on this Line in the coming months, she doesn't make it this time around because it is not...

Leftists really do have anger management issues. Captain Ed earlier showcased Al Franken's f-bombs, and tonight KSTP-TV displayed St. Paul Council-thing Dave Thune's expletives to a fellow St. Paul citizen in a response e-mail: St. Paul businessman, Mike Costello said he got upset last week when he saw City Councilman David Thune protesting at the Republican National Convention. "I sent him an email saying how disgusted I was and that I thought he was a disgrace to the city and I asked him for his resignation. I said you should resign," said Costello. Thune responded with an email that said...

Other senators touted the plan's affordability to U.S. taxpayers and its efforts to provide energy in environmentally friendly ways. The plan is estimated to cost $85 billion, but would be offset with "loophole closers and other revenues," including money from the new leases and from closing a oil industry manufacturing tax credit. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., said the oil drilling portion of the plan would open up areas of the eastern Gulf of Mexico as well as areas off the eastern United States. He said the plan calls for a 50-mile buffer zone. Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia...

In the Senate, it nowadays apparently takes a self-appointed, biparitsan "gang" of senators to get past the partisan gridlock. For instance, there was the Gang of 14 group of senators who helped the Senate get beyond an impasse on judicial appointments a few years ago. Today, a new group of senators calling itself the Gang of Ten, announced that it had arrived at a compromise energy proposal meant to break the partisan logjam that exists on the issue. The group's members are: Sens. Kent Conrad (D-ND), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Mary Landrieu...

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., on Friday introduced a bill that would change language in the 2007 energy bill to allow wood waste from national forests to count toward the Renewable Fuels Standard in the energy bill. In a last-minute change, the final version of the energy bill enacted in December contained a definition of "renewable biomass" that excludes any material removed from national forests. The definition means cellulosic ethanol derived from wood chips and other wood waste from national forests does not count toward the renewable-fuels standard. The result is that fuel blenders and refiners have no incentive or requirement...

When I heard Sen. John Thune getting heckled Friday morning, it underscored a theme I've been thinking about more and more -- incivility in political discourse. The heckling also reminded me of a Swiftian "modest proposal" once offered in jest -- I hope and pray -- by novelist and buffalo rancher Dan O'Brien, a friend with whom I often share whacky ideas. But first, the Thune story.

From its birth, our nation has put a high value on independent thought and freedom of speech. Our Founding Fathers themselves saw their lot as conscientious insurrectionists seeking freedoms they believed were inalienable rights. They understood the importance of permitting freedom of conscience whether it be in the religious, political, or social sphere. Today we continue to fight to preserve these freedoms both here at home and in many dark corners around the world. Unfortunately, some in Washington DC are reviving an old idea that the government can, and should, regulate the reporting of news, information and ideas. If we...

For much of the past month, the Senate has been considering a comprehensive immigration reform bill. The debate has been a contentious one, and this week the Senate decided that it would not move ahead with the bill in its current form by a bipartisan vote of 46-53. I opposed the bill because it would have provided nearly immediate legal status to between 12 and 20 million illegal immigrants. I believe that, before we deal with those illegal immigrants already here, we must first secure the borders of our country to effectively cut off the flood of illegal immigrants. Otherwise,...

Arizona Sen. John McCain has introduced federal legislation to protect talk radio shows from the reinstatement of past rules that required dissenting voices be given equal time on their shows. McCain and fellow GOP Senators John Thune of South Dakota and Norm Coleman of Minnesota have put forward legislation preventing the reinstatement of the 'Fairness Doctrine'. The Fairness Doctrine was done away with in 1987 but previously required political radio shows to offer equal time to opposing viewpoints as part of their Federal Communications Commission licenses. A number of Democrats and liberal advocates want the Fairness Doctrine put back in...

It’s good to see the right kind of bill moving through Congress. U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) has introduced S. 388 – the equivalent of H.R. 226 – which is a national Right-To-Carry bill for reciprocity for state carry licensees for concealed weapons. In short, any person with a valid concealed carry permit issued by a state would be recognized to legally carry in any other state. The bill would require states to officially recognize each other’s carry permits just like nationwide recognition of your driver’s license. Imagine: carrying your concealed weapon wherever you travel. Because law enforcement derives its...

Washington, D.C. – – Frontiers of Freedom Institute today voiced opposition to approval by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) of a $2.3 billion bailout for the privately-held Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DM&E), orchestrated by DM&E lobbyist-turned-U.S. Senator John Thune. "The American taxpayer is being railroaded again,” said George Landrith, President of Frontiers of Freedom Institute. “This enormous government giveaway is a textbook example of a stealth pork project that drives up the federal deficit. Congress and the President should put a stop to it.” “The loan and the secret way it was engineered are outrageous. We don’t even know...

Sen. John Thune, who upset some Republicans last month when he suggested that GOP candidates distance themselves from President Bush on Iraq, has decided he won't seek the job of leading the Senate Republican campaign effort in 2008. Thune, who was considered a front-runner for the post, said the job would involve too much travel and time away from his family. Thune spokesman Kyle Downey said Monday that Thune would continue to raise money for GOP candidates on his own time. The freshman senator attracted attention in July when he advised candidates running this year to distinguish themselves from President...

Shortly after the news broke last week that Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) had told an audience he would advise Republican candidates to distance themselves from President Bush on the Iraq war, the aspiring freshman began working the Republican Conference to extinguish the flames...But almost as quickly as those news reports began spreading through the Conference, Thune started reaching out to his fellow Republican Senators to explain that his words had been mischaracterized...In an interview Friday, Thune said he feels it is important that his colleagues hear directly from him that the published reports were off base. Thune said he “was...