Hometown Heroes

Golf today is the connection between my Fort Worth hometown pride and my adopted home of almost 40 years, South Dakota.

Argus Leader sportswriter, Mick Garry pens a very nice feature story in the Sunday Leader about hometown Girl made good, LPGA star and Sioux Falls native Kris Tschetter. The story ran in conjunction of Tschetter being inducted into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame.

Fort Worth and Sioux Falls have much in common. Both are Cowtowns, have a meandering river thru town, and have abundant beautiful parks. Garry although only describing Tschetter, catches the character traits the citizens of Fort Worth and Sioux Falls most have in common: “hard work, resiliency, friendliness.”

Kris Tschetter is a (TCU) Horned Frog. She attended Texas Christian University to play golf. She later went on to her distinguished LPGA career. For a time she too was a resident of Fort Worth. While in college she established a relationship with golfing great and legend Ben Hogan. 

She wrote a wonderful book about her relationship with as she refers to him “Mr. Hogan.” Tschetter’s book, “Mr. Hogan, The Man I Knew” is worth the read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. So much in fact after reading today’s Argus may give it a second read.

My brush with fame – I too spent time with Hogan, only was far too young to appreciate his greatness or even his close proximity. Clearly because of golf, Mr. Hogan related to Miss Tschetter. Not so much with a five year old. In 1949 Hogan was the victim of a horrific automobile accident with a Greyhound Bus. He double fractured his pelvis and broke his collarbone. For a time it was doubted that he would walk much less play golf again. In 1950 he won the U S Open.

In 1950 I was diagnosed with paralytic polio, fortunately a mild case. The U S Open winner and I shared an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Louis Levy, of the Fort Worth Bone and Joint clinic. On several occasion throughout those years “Mr. Hogan” and I took physical therapy at the same time at the clinic. Though too young to appreciate it, the golfing legend was in the next cow tank over, getting a warm whirlpool before being stretched out and put through our rehab by the therapist.

Endbar – Hogan who lived in Dublin, Texas until age 9 when he moved to Fort Worth. Local trivia says Hogan was the second most famous person from Dublin; the first being Dr. Pepper, that was invented and first bottled in Dublin. 

People Who Live in Glass Houses

There are strong contrasts between Republicans and Democrats. Republicans believe in more self-reliance, Democrats in more government reliance. Under Democrat leadership budget deficits and the National Debt are exploding. Democrats want more spending and more taxes, the GOP wants spending reform. Obama care is imploding and as full enactment comes to fruition, Citizens are taking notice that the Affordable Health Care is actually the Un Affordable Health Care Act.

Yet, we hear GOP activists’ rants about Nepotism and Lobbying, i.e. Johnson, Inc. and Herseth Sandlin is a lobbyist. Is this the best the GOP can do? Whine and Complain?

Members of both parties lobby. Tom Daschle, John Thune, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and even today it’s reported the new SD Secretary of Agriculture, former Division Director at SD Ag and former Executive Director of the Republican Party recently was a lobbyist. The pols if they think it is wrong should be critical of all participants regardless of Party.

I previously posted on lobbying and its being part of the process.

Nepotism – This election cycle Republicans are piling on the Dems for family ties to Public Office. Often mentioned possible candidates are Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Brendan Johnson who both have political pedigrees.

If you wanted to charge Nepotism the howls should have been made about the U S Attorney’s (Brendan Johnson) appointed position chosen by his Dad and nominated by the President and approved by Dad’s Senate colleagues. Stephanie too has had the family charge made at her before.

In 2002 when I held the keys to the party office and then Stephanie Herseth was a first time candidate we avoided any charge about father  Lars or former Governor Ralph Herseth.

In 1986 we had the mother of all sons of the fathers races for the Governor’s election. Two sons of former Governor’s faced off against each other, George Mickelson and Lars Herseth. This fact was often talked and written about but you didn’t hear us in the peanut gallery talking about – either political party.

Added to the cast today is Mickelson III, State Representative Mark Mickelson. It is buzzed Mark may seek higher office in the future. Should that come to pass, would today’s screechers be as outraged if it were a Republican?

Thinking about talking and thinking back to the highly contested Big 3 races in 1986 (Mickelson – Herseth, Abdnor – Daschle, Bell – Johnson). I found myself in one of Tim Johnson’s radio ads.

Relative to the Dale Bell – Tim Johnson US House race; In June polling showed Bell led Johnson by more points than Johnson had, something like 60% Bell, 25% Johnson, 15% Undecided. Then Bell went in to campaign meltdown. By mid October Bell was losing and fighting for his political life. Bell in desperation played the Lawyer card and attacked Johnson for being a lawyer.

Well… the press called and asked if I agreed with our candidate, Bell? As our candidate for Governor was a Lawyer, I responded with something like what I am saying about the lobbying and nepotism charges today.

I said: (paraphrased) Issues and differences are important, not occupations and then the sound bite – “In America even a peanut farmer or movie actor can be President.”

Then a Johnson’s radio ad, said to the effect when speaking to many of Bell’s accusations – “even the Republican Chairman boxed his ears.”

Fellow Republicans it is a long way until November 2014 but it is not too early to get on message. 

Chutzpah

The College of Cardinals prayed at the Vatican yesterday seeking Devine guidance in the prelude to their meeting starting today to elect the new Pope. It is somewhat ironic their checking in with a higher power coincided with one of the most unusual political quotes uttered yesterday perhaps one of the most unusual I have ever heard.


The Argus Leader reported this morning, that at the announcement yesterday of Wal-Mart Stores increasing their presence in Sioux Falls, Mayor Mike Huether said,

“I was committed to seeing what I could do. Thank goodness I was elected Mayor." (emphasis added)

I have been active in politics at the local, state, and national levels for 36 years, interested in politics and reading about politics for now about 50 years and do not recall any politician talking about himself in such a way.

The Mayor likes to talk about himself. In a KELO television interview shortly after he took office, His Honor said, “I only wish that there were two Mike Huether’s instead of one, because there is so much I want to accomplish."

An often told anecdote is that only Thomas Jefferson referred to himself in the third person. While Mayor Huether did not refer in the third person, but a pol talking about them self is unusual and thanking goodness…well very unusual.

Consider the reaction had President Kennedy said at the successful conclusion of the Cuban Missile Crisis (where the American Forces blockaded Russian missiles from Cuba, risking War) “thank goodness I was elected President.”

Sometimes I agree with Mike Huether, sometimes I disagree, and I have worked with him on Library issues. He is a man of energy and he is possessed but I suggest he modulate his self assuredness.

Endbar – I like Wal-Mart. They are efficient, provide a service at generally low prices, and are a large employer in the communities they serve.

However to a politician Wal-Mart can be Kryptonite. Wal-Mart is controversial and has opponents as well as supporters. For example, the brouhaha when they wanted to locate at 69th and Cliff?

Politically speaking it will be interesting to watch Mayor Huether whom it is rumored might seek Federal office or run for Governor cozying up to Wal-Mart; using City Hall for the Press Conference and committing the City to work with Wal-Mart in assisting with the red tape in completing their new stores. My point here is – a potential candidate usually does not ally himself with controversy. The World’s largest retailer has important electoral constituencies as opponents including labor unions and small retailers among others.

The Texan Who Conquered Russia

Van Cliburn, a Long Tall Texan, left us this week.

I was full of Texas pride as I reflected and read about Fort Worth's most famous citizen since Ben Hogan.

Foreign Policy is occasionally affected thru cultural exchanges. Oftentimes it is felt that understanding another nation’s culture helps to improve relations. Senator George McGovern sent the South Dakota State Basketball team to Cuba, President Nixon sent the U S Ping Pong champions to Red China, and Dennis Rodman was in North Korea basketballing with Baby Kim this week.

Sidebar - Speaking of This Week, Rodman was on the Sunday ABC news show with George Stephanopoulos (whom I respect). George asked a few probing if not tough questions to which Dennis made a fool of himself. It must have been a slow news week to give Dennis 8 minutes. I suppose Bob Woodward and Sequestration weren’t worthy of more time. And of course elevating experts like Rodman.  Rodman and Kim are a joke. Is Dennis Rodman the image of America we want to project?

Van Cliburn in contrast was a Cold Warrior that won the Russian people’s affection thru his talent and warm-hearted spirit. Time Magazine called Cliburn the Texan who conquered Russia.

Watch the video below of Cliburn and Gorbachav at the Reagan White House to understand the depths of  Cliburn's talent musically and diplomatically.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Juk7DHbVDOM

Van Cliburn rest in peace.

End bar – Cliburn’s association with another Long Tall Texan. 

Manny Says

Effective politics is addition not division.

That is why I was surprised that Representative Manny Steele committed political Hara-kiri at the last Sioux Falls Chamber Leg Coffee.

For the wrap up each Legislator are given ninety seconds to say essentially anything they wanted to. Perhaps rebut something that was discussed, talk about legislation that was not covered, thank the hosts, tell people how to contact them, etc. 

Thus I was surprised that Rep. Steele used part of his time to bring up a bill (HB1065) concerning midwifery (that was obviously important to Manny) but that had been sent to Session Heaven on the 41^st Day – otherwise killed (vote 10 in favor of killing, 3 opposed.)

The bill had been killed but Manny wanted to talk about it anyway. He said,

“The powerful health organization in this state again squelched the liberties of the mothers to be and continued to take away their right to have their baby at home if they chose to.”

Manny just couldn’t help himself again. Ranting against “the powerful" health organization in this state? The bill failed, it’s over for this year. What is to be gained by venting?

Several things make this interesting to me. Manny is still limping from his humiliation over his attack on the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce concerning the format of the Legislative Coffees. Nobody wanted to standup and agree with him. The Minnehaha County party capitulated. It is a pretty familiar story so I don’t need to repeat it here. Additionally there was last year’s attack on Governor Daugaard over his primary endorsement that was not for Rep. Steele’s favored candidate. BTW Manny who signs the bills (and whose vote you need) when you do pass legislation that you sponsor?

What is particularly curious to me about striking out against the “powerful health organization” is that the Mother Ship is in Steele’s district. Furthermore by my horseback guess probably 500 to 1000 of the households in his District have someone working there. Bookie math would suggest if as commonly believed Sanford has 10,000 employees in Sioux Falls and there are eight leg districts in the Sioux Empire the number might be closer to 1000.

Most locals believe that the Health Care Industry has been transformational in Sioux Falls, providing good jobs and sustained economic activity. Why bad mouth them? Why Bad mouth the Chamber? Why Bad mouth the Governor?

Not everyone agrees on all the issues and when you don’t agree that’s ok but to achieve good government and results, win or lose you should do it with RESPECT.

While it doesn’t rise to the unsolicited rant, following are a couple of my faux pas over the years (hopefully I learned something.)

In about 1982 as County GOP Chairman in Charles Mix County (a historically Democrat county) in an attempt to build Republican enthusiasm, I held a public meeting in Platte to have a discussion sponsored by the County Republican Party about a proposal by Senator George Shannard of Mitchell for what was called the Gregory County Pumped Storage project.

Actually a clever idea, take electricity from the main stem dams during non peaking times and use it to pump water in to a reservoir above Lake Francis Case and then release the water back thru turbines to generate electricity during times of peak demand. If memory serves me the efficiencies were not that great and the State and or Federal expenditures were.

At the meeting I dutifully thanked the rather large attendance (perhaps 100 or so) for coming and introduced the office holders in attendance. When I completed the introductions, Representative Harold Sieh from Herrick in Gregory County rose and asked for recognition. Rep. Sieh at the time was Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. He politely but firmly instructed me that I had not introduced State Senator Doris Miner (a Democrat) who was worthy of recognition. The wise solon then reminded me that partisanship has its place but you never know when you might need a vote from the other party.

In another incident in 1988 as the State Republican office was gearing up for that year’s Legislative Elections, I held a Press Conference and with some rhetorical force made Senator Red Allen of Yankton, GOP Public Enemy #1. The next day I got a phone call and a scolding from my old boss Bill Janklow (who was out of office at the time) instructing me as to why it was counterproductive to tell the Red Head he was a target. Besides making him a victim and helping him win, when and if he won (he did), you might need to work with him and this was not smart politics.

I don’t know what Manny Steele’s issues are but he should get his vitriol under control. He is not being an effective Representative when he attacks those who don’t agree with his personal views.