Daschle v. Thune

News Shocker: Argus Endorses Daschle!

Just kidding, of course, we've known all along the Argus Leader would endorse Daschle. Here it is. On another note, Argus editor Randell Beck pokes fun at a state legislator for having the temerity to question whether Daschle's long-time friend and promoter Dave Kranz should be moderating the Sunday debate between Thune and Daschle. Naturally, Beck doesn't actually present and respond with arguments to any of the evidence (you know, like a major publication such as The New York Times or Roll Call noting Kranz's "hysterical bashing" of Republicans) indicating that Kranz might have a conflict. He makes the person raising questions out to be a nut. Par for the course for someone who simply makes up stuff to put on the Argus "blog" and compares bloggers to Hitler. Beck hasn't been fond of blogger criticism, which he sees as driven by a "violent" internet "cabal" of "yahoos" who lacked "guts" and hid "behind their computer screens" and wouldn't face him "man to man." After one such episode, Andrew Sullivan, the former editor of the New Republic, simply said: "An Editor Loses It." The editors of the Wall Street Journal also said the Argus is in the tank for Daschle. They're just nuts too, I'm sure. Anyway, it's all very predictable. You all knew this was coming.

One other note: when I went to the "Get-N-Go" near the Argus Leader tonight to get the paper to read the predictable the clerk said "just the liar tonight?" I wonder what a poll asking people if they thought the Argus was biased would show?

NJ

The big cover story in the current National Journal is about Daschle's re-election bid and is entitled "Fighting for His Life." Excerpt:

[T]he Thune campaign focuses on the failure to win passage of the energy bill. "Daschle wants it both ways: This is Mr. Clout; this is Mr. Powerful. If he was so full of clout and power, why doesn't he get this done?" Wadhams said. "Instead, he is crying 'victim.' ... He goes back and forth from Mr. Powerful to Mr. Victim so easily -- almost in the same sentence, when he talks."

Debate Review: Hiding from History

I hope you had a chance to watch the debate last night on public TV, which was another Thune victory. I liked Thune's line "campaigns are about differences and about records" and "not about what you say in an election year." Of course, Daschle's "record" is very confusing. One organizing principle, however, is that all the conservative posturing Daschle did during his last competitive race in 1986 is now contradicated by his pro-choice fundraisers for NARAL, his "F" ranking from the NRA, etc. Daschle also said during the debate at one point that Thune was "mischaracterizing my record." Daschle does nothing to explain what's wrong, but simply says "that's not true." Let's face it, Daschle doesn't want to talk about his past--he wants to "mischaracterize" his own record. Remember in 1986 when Daschle called abortion "murder" and a reporter asked him about it in light of his recent NARAL fundraisers? Daschle freaked out on the reporter. During the debate Daschle also tried to signal voters that he's with them by saying he was an "altar boy" and went to "Sacred Hearth School." Well, Daschle's Bishop has asked him to stop calling himself a Catholic and told parishioners they shouldn't vote for pro-choice pols. You might say these facts seriously complicate Daschle's hinting around about his altar boy days. The episode is representative. The whole campaign has been about Daschle trying to hide his record and, in addition, the failure of the press to scrutinize his record. There's another debate Sunday night. Speaking of trying to hide Daschle's record, it will be moderated by Daschle's pal from college. Let's try to predict the biggest softball question. Here's mine. Kranz: "Senator Daschle, how do you explain your awe-inspiring record of achievement for you state? It is it your intense work ethic, sheer brilliance, or both? Please take all the time you need to answer."

T minus 12

Only about 12 hours to go until the Argus Leader endorsement of Tom Daschle is available online. When they endorsed Democratic Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth in May '04 they made much of her "closeness to the coalition-building, aisle-crossing, more bipartisan and more conservative Blue Dog Democrats." They also said "Herseth, a Democrat, veers sharply from her party, particularly when it comes to the war in Iraq and renewal of the USA PATRIOT Act - she supports both. Herseth is best described as a Blue Dog Democrat, a bloc in Congress that is more conservative, particularly on economic issues, than the party leadership. These Democrats are more pragmatic than most of their peers and are more likely to cross the aisle in an effort to build bipartisan coalitions." So I wonder how they'll rationalize the Daschle endorsement given that he's the chief obstructionist in Washington, votes with John Kerry 95% of the time, is a self-described "liberal," has many positions counter to a majority of South Dakotans, has contradicted himself on major issues dozens of times, let the Democrats filibuster the ethanol bill which is so important to South Dakota, will be serving in a Washington that will have a Senate, House and Presidency most likely controlled by Republicans, and has an opponent who would arrive as a conquering hero in Washington and have instant power? Don't worry, they'll find a way. They didn't bury 66 negative stories about Daschle which ran in other major publications for nothing. You'll know in 12 hours.

Outsourcing and Residency

Quentin now has a new Daschle t-shirt which bashes outsourcing. The t-shirts are made in Ecuador and Mexico. Quentin has a lot more stuff, including thoughts on the residency issue:

On another interesting note how can Linda Daschle be registered in South Dakota? She has never lived in South Dakota a day in her life and she lists their D.C. home as her "principal place of residence."

Apparently, she outsourced her voter registration.

Letter to the Editor of the Day

From the Aberdeen American News:

Who is true pro-lifer?

To the editor - If Sen. Tom Daschle claims to be pro-life, (or does he?) then why doesn't he attend South Dakota Right to Life's annual convention? Could it be he does not wish to face people who know his dismal anti-life voting record?

This year's convention, with the theme, "Life - The First Right - Taking a Stand," was held right here in the senator's hometown, as it was in 1999. Daschle did not attend either event.

John Thune did attend the event, where it was noted he has a 100 percent pro-life voting record, compared to Daschle's 27 percent.

Who is the true pro-lifer?

Becky Randall

Debate-gate

Sibby has some of Argus editor Randell Beck's comments on sending Dave Kranz, long-time Daschle chum, to moderate the Daschle/Thune KELO-Land debate tomorrow night. Read the whole thing (and note the disclosure rule in the Argus ethics policy). SDP also notes what Democratic staffers for Senator Abourezk who were working under Daschle used to say about Kranz in internal office memos:

"Managing Editor is Dave Kranz, 30, formally of Austin Minn, and Watertown S.D. Went to SDSU (Mu U. with Tom D[aschle] and Tom Klinkel) Very much a strong Demo." - Excerpt from memo dated 10/15/1976, written by a staffer for a Democratic U.S. Senator from South Dakota.

Don't forget that Roll Call also noted the Argus Leader's "hysterical bashing" of Republicans under the guiding hand of editor Kranz. Based on my emails, including those from reporters 'familiar with the situation,' nobody thinks this is a good idea but Randell Beck.

Daschle Dissed Again

SDP notes that Daschle is being used against the Dem candidate for Senate in Louisiana on the gun issue. Remember, Daschle received an "F" from the NRA. Daschle has also been thrown under the bus by the Democratic Senate candidates in Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Georgia for being so liberal. That, ahem, sure seems like a news story that South Dakotans should hear.

Bombers

Note this from the Rapid City Journal about bombers:

In a Friday debate defined by disagreement, South Dakota's U.S. Senate candidates took opposite positions on whether any support for the nation's B-2 stealth bomber fleet undermines Ellsworth Air Force Base, home to about 26 of the nation's 60 in-service B-1B Lancer bombers.

"John voted for the B-2, which is in direct competition to the B-1. That was a real threat to the B-1," Democratic Sen. Tom Daschle said.

His Republican opponent, former Congressman John Thune, disagreed, saying the B-2 and the B-1 are not mutually exclusive.

"The B-1 and the B-2 are not competing platforms. They are complementary platforms," Thune said.

Loren Thompson, a defense analyst at the Lexington Institute think tank in Arlington, Va., supports Thune's explanation.

"I'm afraid Thune is right on that one," Thompson said. "The B-2 bomber and the B-1 bomber are both going to be critical to the United States' heavy bomber fleet for at least the next quarter century. They are mutually essential and mutually reinforcing. The Air Force has no plan to make a choice between the B-2 and the B-1."

Thompson said the two don't compete directly for finite dollars needed for upgrades because the U.S. Air Force needs both fleets and will keep both well-maintained.

The B-1 will be "the backbone of the heavy bomber fleet for the foreseeable future," Thompson said, citing the numbers of aircraft in the two fleets and the B-1's success in recent wars.

"There is no chance at all that the B-1 will cease being a key part of the U.S. bomber force," Thompson said.

Daschle's "Home"

“The Senate is my home.” — Tom Daschle, as quoted in the January 20, 2003 edition of Newsweek

SDP has lots of good posts about the Daschle residency blow-up, including the following, which notes that in a mere matter of hours his "residency" seems to change. One of the changes, I'm told, came right after the DC tax office received the FOIA request that was the subject of this morning's Talon News story. The Talon story also notes that the Daschle camp was formerly claiming that Linda Daschle had sought the exemption:

Talon News first raised questions about the credit in August 2003 following a search of property tax records. At the time, Tony Bullock, a spokesman for DC Mayor Anthony Williams told Talon News that the property qualified for the homestead exemption because the senator's wife, Linda Daschle, a powerful Washington lobbyist and a co-owner of the property, was a city resident and taxpayer. But a document recently obtained by Talon News tells a different story.

Responding to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from Talon News, the District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue provided a copy of the April 28, 2003 application for the tax break. The affidavit section of the application bears only the signature of "Thomas A. Daschle." Additionally, by checking a box marked "Yes," the senator agreed that he would be subject to DC income tax. Linda Daschle's signature does not appear on the document.

In signing the affidavit, Daschle declared under penalty of either a $1,000 fine or imprisonment of up to 180 days or both, that the property is eligible for the deductions. The qualification for the tax credit is specifically for a property to be an "owner-occupied principal place of residence."

Despite the documentary evidence showing that Tom Daschle sought the exemption, last year Daschle's campaign told Roll Call just the opposite:

Daschle campaign manager Steve Hildebrand echoed Bullock’s assertion. “Linda Daschle pays income taxes in Washington, D.C. That makes Linda Daschle eligible to receive this homestead tax on behalf of the Daschles,” explained Hildebrand, who noted that the Daschles also own a home in Aberdeen, S.D., and pay their property taxes every year.

Well, Linda didn't apply for the homestead exemption, Tom did. The other obvious point is that for Tom Daschle to qualify for the exemption, DC has to be his "principal" place of residence and he has to swear to it. But one can't be a legal resident of two places, which is why the DC Mayor's office said that 98% of politicians don't apply for the exemption because they don't want to lose their home-state residency. Roll Call:

“Ninety-eight percent of the time it would be impossible for [a Member of Congress] to qualify as a resident of their home state and also be a resident of the District of Columbia,” Bullock explained. “The other ones would only be entitled if their spouse were” employed and paying income taxes in D.C.

The latter comment about the spouse potentially qualifying doesn't apply because Linda Daschle didn't apply for the exemption, Tom did. By doing so, he swore to being a DC resident and to his new mansion being his "principal" place of residence which, as SDP has noted with help from the Congressional Research Service, costs him his home-state residency. All because they were trying to take advantage, as Daschle and Kerry would say, tax cuts for the rich.