First witness, a Howard Dean Iowa worker and attorney. Has been in SD only 48 hours. Testified to note-taking and faces being made; nothing said to voters--no one disenfranchised. Break before next witness.
Dasshole's comments on judge---made to trial lawyers convention: "First, I got my start in politics thanks to lawyers... rather, one lawyer in particular. In 1978, I won my first election to the House by 14 votes. Don’t laugh, in South Dakota, that’s 60 percent of the vote. Apparently undaunted by that landslide of support, my opponent sued to contest the election. I was fortunate to be represented by a great lawyer and a dear friend, Larry Piersol. It took one year and 21 days, but here I am 25 years later."
Dasshole calls no more witnesses. Rests. Thune asks for dismissal---denied. Now Thune presents his defense.
Longtime friend Larry Piersol (PEER-sol) says people here feel that Tom Daschle is one of them.
Boyhood friend: Another friend from (Tom) Brokaw's youth credits him with giving his life direction. In 1969, Lawrence Piersol - then a South Dakota attorney - was having dinner with the Brokaws in Los Angeles. ''He asked me: 'What are you going to do for the state?' " Piersol recalled. The attorney ended up running for the Legislature and becoming a Democratic leader in the early '70s.
''He's a really good friend,'' said Piersol, now a U.S. District judge in Sioux Falls. ''If the chips were down, he's the kind of guy you would want to be in the foxhole with. He passes that test.''