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Now its West River's turn to get a little love from the Clinton campaign:
UPDATE 1:23 Here is the final info:
NEW DETAILS: President Bill Clinton To Campaign in South Dakota TOMORROW, Saturday, MAY 10
The Clinton Campaign today announced President Bill Clinton will visit Rapid City, South Dakota to campaign for Hillary TOMORROW, Saturday, May 10.
All events are free and open to the public. No tickets required. Those wishing to attend are encouraged to RSVP at www.HillaryClinton.com/SD or by calling 605-334-3378.
Saturday, May 10
Rapid City, SD
3:30 p.m. MDT
President Bill Clinton Attends a "Solutions for America" Event
Stevens High School
Carold Heier Gymnasium
1200 44th Street
Rapid City, SD
OPEN PRESS
Pre-set: 1:00 p.m. MDT
Sweep: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. MDT
Final Access: 3:00 p.m. MDT
Press Entrance: Same as public entrance to the gym on west side.
Throw: 50 feet
Cable Run: 500 feet
Sat. Truck Parking: West side of gym; park on gym circle.
Notes: Power, light, and mult provided.
2. John Thune: The phrase "central casting" can easily be applied to the senator from South Dakota. Thune is handsome, articulate and comes across as a moderate despite his very clear conservative voting record. Thune is also a hero in conservative circles thanks to his defeat of then Sen. Tom Daschle (S.D.) in 2004. The one knock on Thune is that he hails from a state that is already well in hand for Republicans. But, a look at recent veep picks (John Edwards, Dick Cheney, Joe Lieberman) shows that the traditional "geographic" consideration may be fading in importance when it comes to picking a number two.
Interesting analysis, here are a few comments by readers on Chris Cillizza's ranking of Thune:
Thune is too far right. Adds nothing to the ticket. The only way we can win is to keep the ticket center right.
and
John Thune is a pit-bull, a ready attack dog, and capable of balancing the ticket, both geographically, and ideologically. He did such a job on Daschle that I don't think the man has yet recovered. He would make it to the short list.
What do you think? Will John McCain pick John Thune as his running mate or not?
That's why today, I am pleased to announce that our campaign is launching our new website. The new site provides visitors the information and tools to help us win this November. Take a moment and visit the new site at:
At TimJohnson.com, you'll find the latest campaign news, information about issues important to South Dakota and the country, and ways to share your views and get involved.
We're depending on people like you, who care about the future of our country, to be part of our grassroots team so that we can win next November. Campaigns are a team effort - we will need people to knock on doors, make phone calls, and chip in a few dollars when we need to hit the airwaves. From now until Election Day, I hope that you will visit my website regularly and use it as your one-stop-shop for getting involved and making a difference.
I also hope you'll take a moment and invite your friends and family to sign up and join our campaign as well. Just forward this message to 5 of your friends right now. Invite them to visit the new TimJohnson.com.
I am running for the Senate again because I am determined to make life better for the people who need it the most. Whether it is making health care more affordable or helping our returning veterans get an education, my priority is to fight for people who work hard and deserve the opportunity to follow their dreams and succeed.
We can't take anything for granted in this election. Our new website is going to help us spread our message across South Dakota. I need your help to make it happen. So please take a moment and visit the new TimJohnson.com today! Then forward this email to everyone you know.
Johnson Fights to Improve Housing Conditions for Armed Forces Questions Army, Air Force officials on progress, including South Dakotan
Washington, DC- Continuing to fight for our nation's soldiers, U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) questioned members of the Army and Air Force about the conditions at barracks across the country during a Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee hearing today. As Chairman of the subcommittee, Johnson has been successful in securing crucial funding to improve these conditions as part of the emergency supplemental bill that will be considered in the Senate.
"Conditions like those at Fort Bragg are unacceptable and simply egregious. As the father of a solider, I was disgusted to see the living environment our soldiers are being forced to endure as they serve our nation so valiantly," Johnson said. "I was pleased to hear that the Army and Air Force are taking these developments seriously, and I will continue to work to be sure they have the funding they need to improve the situation at these barracks."
However, I am having trouble finding information about this group anywhere, but it is a helpful reminder that there is an excellent web page that anyone can use to quickly find their polling place and their ballot. Might be nice to bring a web enabled phone or wifi-enabled laptop with you when you go out registering voters, with a web page linked here to check people's status.
For Immediate Release:
May 7, 2008
Contact Chris Nelson, 773-3537, for further information.
Secretary of State Chris Nelson is warning South Dakotans that a Boston, Massachusetts, organization called the "Voter Participation Project" is sending mailings into South Dakota telling our citizens that under "state law" they need to re-register to vote. The mailing lists the Secretary of State's address, adding the appearance of credibility.
I attended the first organization meeting for the Hillary for President campaign in West River today at the Rapid City Public Library. The meeting had a great turnout of about 25 people. Also attending were three candidates for the State Legislature, Theresa Spry (Senate 35), Dennis Finch (Senate 33), Fred Mcpherson (House 29). Malcom Chapman from the Rapid City Council (Ward 5) was there, along with Judy Olson Duhamel, former chairwoman for the South Dakota Democratic Party. The meeting was part informational and part brainstorming session. There are a lot of events coming up and as I get them I will pass them on.
A couple of quotes from those attending:
Judy Olson Duhamel- "I don't just support Hillary because she is a woman. I support her because I am a woman."
Pat Meier-"I have the deep hope that the country has progressed enough to elect a woman president"
Malcom Chapman- "I think if you stack up, from the experience stand point, the policy standpoint, I think its clear Hillary is the best candidate"
There will be a office Grand Opening in Rapid City on Saturday May, 7 2008 at 12:00. The address for the new office is 2020 Jackson Blvd, Suite 5.
Some more pictures after the fold.
Johnson Announces Military Construction/VA Funding in Supplemental
Washington, DC-U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), Chairman of the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs (VA) Appropriations Subcommittee, announced the following funding levels in the Military Construction/VA section of the emergency supplemental bill being marked up in the Senate Appropriations Committee tomorrow.
"As the father of a soldier, I was disgusted to see the conditions our soldiers were forced to live in when returning home, particularly at Fort Bragg. Our men and women in uniform deserve better, and when we see a need, whether it is in housing, trauma centers or educational assistance for our servicemembers, we should not turn our back on them. I'm glad this bill addresses these needs," Johnson said.
Veterans really do have no better ally in Congress that Senator Johnson. He works harder than almost everyone in Congress to make sure our Veterans and Soldiers have everything they need.
Washington, DC-U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) today opposed calls to partially or completely waive the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) in a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Stephen Johnson. Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) joined Johnson and several other Senators in support of the RFS stating that ethanol is not the cause of escalating food prices. Johnson and his colleagues collectively urged the EPA to stick to the 2007 Energy Bill's RFS requirements.
"Food is getting more expensive, but ethanol is not the cause," Johnson said. "The RFS is the right policy for the country, and I will continue to support this strong long term measure because it will reduce dependence on foreign sources of energy. We have embraced misguided energy policies for too many years; I will not let the landmark RFS fade away at the whim of a bureaucrat who does not understand how it benefits our nation."
Joseph Glauber, Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, recently testified before Congress that rising prices for corn and soybeans have had little effect on the high prices for wheat, rice and other food commodities. He indicated that many factors have a greater role than biofuels, including worldwide economic growth, global weather problems affecting wheat production, rising marketing costs, and the weak U.S. dollar.
I agree with the Senator there are other issues in play for the rise in the cost of food. It is not solely the result of high corn prices. The main staple crops for most of the world are wheat and rice, not corn.
Corn is very important in the developed world, but not in the developing world.
Senator Tim Johnson says the nomination process should be allowed to play out through the June 3rd primaries in South Dakota and Montana, the last in the nation.
[...]
He also says he's sure that former Senator George McGovern's decision today to withdraw his endorsement of Hillary Clinton was painful.
It must have been, but George McGovern has always done what he thinks is right, even if it is not the easy path. Think about the courage McGovern demonstrated in World War II, including the B-24 mission where he safely guided his plane home from over Hitler's home town of Linz, Austria with 110 holes in it. Or, think about how George McGovern drove around South Dakota, building the party from scratch, writing down peoples' names and information on note cards (eventually, he had 42,000 of them!). Or, consider the great work George McGovern did to help people at home and around the world - in the "Food for Peace" program, in the U.S. Senate, as a presidential candidate, in his life generally.
Finally, consider the fact that the Clintons are old friends, having campaigned for George McGovern in 1972. Yes, this was not an easy decision to make. But since when has George McGovern ever taken the easy path in life?
Former Sen. George McGovern, an early supporter of Hillary Clinton, is urging her to drop out of the Democratic presidential race.
McGovern says he has decided to endorse Barack Obama.
After watching the returns from the North Carolina and Indiana primaries Tuesday night, McGovern says it's virtually impossible for Clinton to win the nomination.
McGovern says he is calling former President Clinton to tell him of the decision and adds that he remains close friends with the Clintons.
Update 10:16: The AP story is now on the Argus Leader website here
Record energy costs and rising food prices are taking a painful toll on consumers' pocketbooks. Fuel and food are basic necessities, and there is a limit to how much Americans can tighten up their family budgets. As Congress considers how to turn the U.S. economy around, some suggest the choice we must make is to surrender our commitment to renewable fuels such as ethanol. That would be a mistake, costing Americans dearly by squandering our long-term economic and national security, while doing little to affect the food supply or prices.
Those calling for biofuels to take a back seat in our energy plan have waged a relentless campaign of misinformation, blaming U.S. policies in support of ethanol and biodiesel for inflation in the grocery aisle. Frightening Americans by arguing that ethanol made from corn is somehow taking food from the world's hungry might be sensational, but it is not supported by the facts.
If there was any further doubt that John McCain is no longer -- if he ever was one -- a "moderate," check this out:
Highlighting an issue he plans to use aggressively in the general election campaign, Sen. John McCain on Tuesday decried "the common and systematic abuse of our federal courts by the people we entrust with judicial power" and pledged to nominate judges similar to the ones President Bush has placed on the bench.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee said that Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. "would serve as the model for my own nominees, if that responsibility falls to me"...
In short, if John McCain becomes president, you can expect a Supreme Court that moves quickly to a 6-3, 7-2, 8-1 "conservative" (e.g., Scalia, Thomas, Alito, Roberts, Kennedy, and whoever McCain appoints) majority. What does that mean for you? Well, if you care about any of the following, you should be very worried: reproductive rights, worker rights, separation of church and state, gay rights, voting rights, the environment, the power of the executive branch (including war powers), torture, warrantless wiretapping, corporate power, individual liberty, and much more.
In short, if you're anything but a hard-core "Christian right" conservative, you should look with dread on the prospect of a John McCain-appointed, 6-3 or 7-2 "conservative" Supreme Court. And remember, these guys are on for life and they're pretty young, so electing John McCain could mean that you're saddled with a far-right-wing Supreme Court for the rest of your own life. Not a pleasant prospect, unless perhaps your name is Pat Robertson.
In today's Washington Post, 
I attended the first organization meeting for the Hillary for President campaign in West River today at the Rapid City Public Library. The meeting had a great turnout of about 25 people. Also attending were three candidates for the State Legislature, Theresa Spry (Senate 35), Dennis Finch (Senate 33), Fred Mcpherson (House 29). Malcom Chapman from the Rapid City Council (Ward 5) was there, along with Judy Olson Duhamel, former chairwoman for the South Dakota Democratic Party. The meeting was part informational and part brainstorming session. There are a lot of events coming up and as I get them I will pass them on.
The 
MSNBC is reporting that Senator McGovern is urging Hillary to drop out .. no articles I can find to link to yet ... updates as we get them.
If there was any further doubt that John McCain is no longer -- if he ever was one -- a "moderate," check 