Daschle celebrates 25 years of public service

Aberdeen News ^ | 12/4/03 | BERNARD McGHEE

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., is celebrating 25 years representing South Dakota in Washington.

Meanwhile, Republicans have begun attacking the Senate Democratic leader, accusing him of not having enough clout to get things done for South Dakota.

Daschle was first elected to the U.S. House in 1978 and served there until 1986, when he was elected to the Senate.

Roger Andal was a district manager for Daschle when he was elected the House. Andal said he is not surprised by Daschle's rise through the political ranks, becoming one of the most powerful Democrats in the nation. Daschle was always able to bring people together and willing to work with anyone, even when they had different views, he said.

"Tom just seems to smile, set aside differences, sit down and listen to people and accepts them for what they are," Andal said.

Randy Frederick, chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party, congratulated Daschle on his 25-year milestone. But Frederick said Daschle has not done enough for South Dakota during his time in Washington.

Frederick said he was especially disappointed by the recent failure of the energy bill, which would have included legislation to increase the use of ethanol.

Daschle, along with Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., supported the bill but many other Democrats opposed it. Congress abandoned it last month after falling two Senate votes short of sending the bill to President Bush.

"He promised he could deliver for South Dakota and he did not," Frederick said. "His clout could not even deliver one third of the Democratic caucus in the U.S. Senate for a bill that is so crucial to his home state."

Andal said it is unfair to criticize Daschle for not getting enough done when Republicans still control the House, the Senate and the White House.

"People can only do as much as the numbers they have," Andal said.

The 25-year celebration is part of Daschle's re-election campaign and includes fund-raising events around South Dakota. He was in Aberdeen on Wednesday. Another event is scheduled for Thursday evening in Sioux Falls and a third is scheduled on Dec. 16 in Rapid City.

[NMR Guy]

I'm deeply saddened.

[admiralsn]

25 years is a good run. Time to hang it up Tommy- whether you want to or not!

[BlueNgold]

OK, isn't that enough time in grade to retire? Someone get his lame butt a gold watch and send him back to SD ... ohh that's right, he'll probably never go back to SD, more likely find a nice house in Alexandria near the Gore Exile Estate.

[Servant of the 9]

Maybe the nice ceremony will take the sting out of losing his seat next November.

Or of his wife getting indicted in the Boeing/Airforce/tanker rental investigation.

So9

[mewzilla]

25 years on the public dole is more like it.

[EggsAckley]

Tom: Time to get a REAL job.

[snopercod]

Service? Oh, I get it. Service like a stud does to a mare.

[big_Rob]

Thought I felt quite depressed today. Now I know why.

[RightWingMama]

Andal said it is unfair to criticize Daschle for not getting enough done when Republicans still control the House, the Senate and the White House.

Poor baby.

[Lee Heggy]

"Andal said he is not surprised by Daschle's rise through the political ranks"

Neither am I. We all know it floats.

[anonymous_user]

South Dakota celebrates 25 years of curved seed caps from farmers sticking their heads in mailboxes looking for government checks.

Thanks, Tom, and the rest of the country for your support.

[dts32041]

Hey I 20 years of public service (retire Military) and I never became a millionaire.

Time to put the slave master in jail.

[onedoug]

Was he always a Communist?

[thiscouldbemoreconfusing]

Hey, can you do a daschle hog feeding at the swine feed bin, better known down here as the slop pit

[JebRudy2008]

Lets have 25 more years!

We need less Democrats, but the ones we do keep should be like Daschle. Ineffective, out of touch, bootlickers with Republican envy. Perfect opposition.

[Brilliant]

It's time Daschle got a gold watch for his "service".

[OrioleFan]

25 years of public service? Now that's a stretch...

[river rat]

"Was he always a Communist?"

I don't know....
But - he was ALWAYS a public tit sucking punk - who was a cowardly, back stabbing, lying piece of shit punk...trying to make up for his lack of size or "gravitas" by running his mouth excessively.

It's really too bad that dueling was outlawed..
Dueling was the ONLY thing that prevented assholes like Dasshole from being himself....

Semper Fi

[hattend]

Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., is celebrating 25 years representing South Dakota in Washington.

Hopefully his last year.