Thune not running to fill Janklow's House seat

http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/7505544.htm ^ | Tue, Dec. 16, 2003 | Carson Walker, AP

[anonymous_user]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Republican John Thune will not be a candidate for the U.S. House seat left open by Rep. Bill Janklow, a spokesman said Tuesday.

However, Thune will wait until after the first of the year to decide whether to challenge Democratic Sen. Tom Daschle, political aide Ryan Nelson said.

Thune outlined his plan in a letter to Randy Frederick, the chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party.

Frederick praised Thune for allowing other candidates to step forward and run.

"We are elated with John's quick, decisive actions, his not leaving the party in the lurch. He's helping us out by making his wishes known so quickly and it helps with the candidates also. His decisive actions are benefiting the state," Frederick said.

"It appears he is not letting Washington, D.C., dictate to him what's best for South Dakota."

Dan Pfeiffer, Daschle's press secretary, said Daschle has prepared for the 2004 election more intensely than other campaigns.

"He has put together the best funded, best organized campaign that he has ever had and is prepared for any opponent that may come," said Pfeiffer.

Thune had said he would decide whether to run for the Senate around the end of the year. After Janklow's announced resignation, he said he would let the party know whether he intended to run for his old job again. Thune served three terms in Congress and lost to incumbent Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson last year by 524 votes.

[spokeshave]

Dow Up

[Amish]

Down with the weasel!

Thune for Senate!

[Huck]

How did Daschle vote?

As any good commie would be expected to vote. But a) he isn't going to be running in a GOP primary and b) we don't expect more out of communists. I guess South Dakota is in as bad a shape as New York state or Massachusetts. A liberal who pees on the constitution but is a Republican is the best you can do. I guess it helps the big picture, practically speaking. It's just hard to believe South Dakota is so stinking liberal.

[Heatseeker]

Bad news - Stephanie Herseth is now the prohibitive favorite and the House races are more crucial, IMO, since we are sure to make Senate gains in the south.

Worse, Herseth is a far-left liberal.

[Huck]

Don't you crave some satisfaction for that CFR vote? If I met Thune, I would probably curse in his face. And then on election day, I'd be stuck voting for the SOB. Then I'd write him a letter to remind him what a horse's ass he is.

[Pubbie]

Breaux, Graham, Edwards, Hollings, and Miller are out - Thune is (Probably) in, Jack Ryan is running in Illinois, Russ Darrow running against Feingold, Nethercutt is running against Usama Bin Murray, AND Ex Gov David Beasley is likely to run for Hollings' seat in SC - it's starting to look good!!!

[ImpBill]

Not the best of news. I am a South Dakotan and I don't think John can beat Daschle. I don't have a clue who the GOP might get to run for the seat vacated by Bill Janklow, but I doubt he/she will be able to beat Herseth at this juncture. So I am thinking, most unfortunately, we will have all 3 seats taken by Democrats. Time to move elsewhere.

[mwl1]

Win or lose, RATS may go broke in SD just saving Daschle, thus bankrupting their efforts everywhere else... plus Daschle is gonna face an avalance of negative coattails with Bush on the ballot at the top of the ticket.

Ironic that Daschle saved Tim Johnson by conniving voters in SD that they'd get to retain the majority leader as their senior senator, and now they are stuck with a permanent minority leader.

Just a pity that Daschle will have out-smarted himself and sealed his political death warrant.

A terrible pity. I may stay up crying about this tonight.

[Pubbie]

Aww your breaking my heart - Bwahahaha!!!

[mwl1]

Here is what I see: we pick up NC, SC, and GA; and either FL or LA (good shot at both); and one of NV, CA or WA on the west coast; and one of SD, AR, and WI. We lose Illinois. Net = +5 minimum, could easily go higher if Dean is at the top of the ticket and economy continues to strengthen.

Bottom line is the RATS will be under assault from coast to coast and they simply do not have the resources, as the minority, to defend this many liberal incumbents and open seats.

I'd gladly settle for a Senate that is 56-43-1 or 57-42-1 or 58-41-1... will transform the federal judiciary in the 2nd Bush term.

[zbigreddogz]

I suggest you look at a little thing called 'reality.' I know you 'pure' people who always help elect Dems don't like to do this, but it's really helpful if you want to actually have this country go in the right direction.

Reality check #1: NOBODY in SD has a PRAYER of beating Dashle, with the exception of Thune.

Reality check #2: Dashle, whom you defacto support, is wrong on just about EVERYTHING.

Reality check #3: Thune is right on 80-90% of the issues.

Reality check #4: We need 60 Senators with an R next to their name. Period. Win every election, sort out the bodies later.

blah blah blah blah.

I could go on and on. You can keep selling the country out to the left if you want, you have the freedom, at least right now, to do that. I wouldn't count on it if Dashle ever gets enough power.

[zbigreddogz]

Your so right. I never thought of that. If Tim Johnson would have lost, Dashle would be safe.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

[BillF]

Thune voted for Campaign Finance Reform. He can go to hell.

"If someone agrees with you 80 percent of the time, they're your friend, not your enemy." - Ronald Reagan

I share your dislike of CFR, but Daschle is likely to be worse than Thune, even on that issue, as the statists prepare to expand and extend it.

[Huck]

I guess I just didn't realize what a pathetic liberal cesspool South Dakota is that they can't find a single conservative candidate to face off against Daschle.

[Huck]

We need 60 Senators with an R next to their name. Baloney.

[MainFrame65]

First, 56 or more R's would cut the heart out of the RINO group - Snowe, Collins, and Chaffee - which has been reliably voting with the D's whenever they can influence legislation by doing so. The new bargaining position would be that they would pay a price for failing to play in their own yard whenever a critical vote comes up - including clotures.

Second, the present D/R equal funding and representation on all the committees would disappear. And I think that rules might be adjusted to match the new reality.

All in all, a very good thing - and the more, the better.

[Pubbie]

ACU Ratings for Representative Thune:
Year 2002 88
Year 2001 80
Lifetime 84

ACU Ratings for Senator Daschle:
Year 2002 22
Year 2001 8
Lifetime 14

[anonymous_user]

Tom Daschle won his first election by 139 votes, and Democrat Tim Johnson was reelected by 524 votes in 2002. Hardly indicative of a "liberal cesspool."

Plus, the people of New York state elected Hillary Clinton. Are you saying there was no one of those millions of people were more qualified than that Arkansas carpetbagger, or are all New York state residents "pathetic" too?

In South Dakota, we're drawing on a field of maybe 350,000 Republicans tops, and like I said earlier, there aren't many unknown with $6 million in the bank ready to go head-to-head with the Daschle Machine. If they're out there, I've yet to hear of them.

[WOSG]

Sure, but I want him to go and replace Daschle in the Senate *first*.

[Huck]

You both raise relevant points. Let's just say it's very frustrating that there is no way to give payback to those who voted for CFR and leave it at that. Thanks.