Posted on 11/06/2004 4:51:48 PM PST by Kurt Evans
Tuesday, the prized U.S. Senate seat wrested away from McGovern by Abdnor in 1980 and regained by Daschle in 1986 passed to Abdnors protégé, John Thune.
There is some irony in all of this. Abdnor, a common and salt-of-the-earth man who made up in honesty and principle what he lacked in oratory skills, defeated the states best known politician and its most famous native son. Now Daschle, minority leader of the Senate and the Democrats most powerful member of Congress, has been retired by Abdnors disciple, Thune.
If there is any poetic justice in this for Abdnor, hes not admitting it. Instead of acknowledging any special pleasure in Daschles defeat, Abdnor focused on Thunes quality as a candidate.
Hes going to make a great senator, Abdnor said. Hes got talents like Ive not seen in many guys. Hes smart, and a down to earth, common guy.
Some say losing touch with South Dakota caused McGoverns downfall in 1980. But that wasnt the case with Daschle, who visited the state often, and prided himself on visiting every county once a year. In fact, Daschles campaign used a quote attributed to Abdnor that said, Tom doesnt forget South Dakota.
Abdnor denies saying it.
It was not an accurate quote, Abdnor said. A woman (New York Times Magazine reporter Sheryl Gay Stolberg) calls up and wants to do an interview. She didnt use much of it. She said to me, When you ran against McGovern, part of your program was that McGovern had forgotten South Dakota. Is Daschle different? And I said, He comes home more often. The next election, Im going to tell people Im going to have a recorder on.
(Excerpt) Read more at mitchellrepublic.com ...
Thune is marvelous.
He's presidential timber after a little more seasoning.
Must of been something you did Daschle!
Indeed. The man is as sharp as a needle. I watched him in that last debate against Daschle. He stuck to message, he never stumbled, he was clear, articulate, confident, determined and was armed with facts the way an Apache helicopter carries Hellfire anti-tank missiles. Thune's going to go far, methinks, and I'd love to see him run for President at some point.
Lokks kinda like Steve McQueen.
Yep.
I watched both debates (assuming the MTP
match-up with Dashole can be called a debate
as it was billed)and both times, Thune trounced
Dashole with facts and charm.
He's worth watching, if only to be awed.
When I went back to school to finish my degree a few years ago (@ Penn State), I took a Poly Sci class as one of my electives.
We were all assigned a specific congress critter (and his/her district) to write a paper on and I wound up with Thune.
Needless to say the lib professor had to give me an A on the paper. I'll have to find it and maybe scan it and post it.
Ever since I researched and wrote that paper, I've always followed his career.
Take That! You Saddam-loving, Marxist-fulminating bastid!
Thune is easier on the eye and ear than dashole.
Dear onyx,
"Thune is marvelous.
"He's presidential timber after a little more seasoning."
Then after a term in the Senate, he must run for governor.
sitetest
They were able to maintain a certain life style with her, the bag lady, selling influence to major clients and him, delivering legislation or influence to those clients in return for big cash (or, in some cases, building materials). What now? It's all in their tax returns, their secret tax returns. Oh, sure Tommie the Commie still has some contacts he can sell but how long will that last?
The disgrace Dashole brought on SD will soon disapate and SD will enjoy some return of the national advertising it did to attract tourists, now that he's gone. But, how about Tommie?
Man oh man............in that picture he looks EXACTLY like my ex-husband.......shudder.
Send your paper to Thune and try to keep in touch with him. It would be a wonderful experience for him and you.
Vice President in 08 Maybe.
YES!
Find it and post it
and then send a copy to
Senator Thune!
I bet he'd love it.
As there is a curse on the Senators running for Presidency, he'll have to switch to being a governor after senatorial term(s).
He'll get lost in SD as governor.
He can break thru from the senate.
I think he's THAT GOOD.
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