Party lines give people perspective
Thursday night I moderated the debate between Jerad Higman and Ben Nesselhuf. I spent a good chunk of time developing the questions for the first half of the 90 minute debate. When contemplating what to ask, I made sure not to pose any questions that could be perceived as bias. All of the questions, which you can view at the The Volante website, were neutral. It was my intention not to give either candidate any unfair advantage.
Overall, I thought the debate was a hit. Good questions and good responses all around, but there was one exception. I understand that being bipartisan is important, and I don’t blame either candidate for agreeing on more than one topic; however, a certain question prompted, in my opinion, a less than impressive answer by Jerad Higman.
The question was about public smoking bans. I expected the incumbent democrat Ben Nesselhuf to tout the anti-smoking propaganda that Americans have heard since what seems forever, which he did. What I didn’t expect was republican Jerad Higman to concede to the liberal ideology, whether it’s correct or not, that business owners shouldn’t be able to decide what they can or cannot do in their own establishments. Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought conservatives protected the interests of business owners and personal freedoms, whether they want to bring their kids to Applebee’s or not.
LIVE BLOG: Nesselhuf, Higman debate at Freedom Forum
Ben Nesselhuf and Jared Higman, candidates for District 17 State Senate, debate at the Freedom Forum at the Al Neuharth Media Center. Follow the debate with our live blogger Patrick Morrison.
For live, streaming video of the debate, click here. Mac users will have to download Flip4Mac. Click here for a free download.
For a live blog with Assitant News Editor Patrick Morrison, click here.
Who knew plumbers were loaded?
The final debate last week between the two most famous people in America was a bit more interesting than the first two. Of course the post-debate buzz has been all about “Joe the plumber.” McCain alone mentioned the wealthy dude from Ohio over 20 times.
I agree with idea of allowing people to keep the money they work hard for; and the wealthy work just as hard as people in lower tax brackets. Despite my somewhat conservative viewpoint, I don’t understand why the majority of the debate was spent referencing a plumber in Ohio who makes $250,000 a year. Maybe I’m way off, but I didn’t know the average plumber made that kind of coin. I think I’m in the wrong business.
But seriously, my parents don’t make and have never made that much money in a fiscal year, but are well off by any reasonable standards. Anyone who makes as much as “Joe” does isn’t struggling. I feel McCain missed the mark by initiating “Joe’s” situation into the discussion to begin with. There is a time and a place for it, but not in October when you’re behind in the polls. McCain’s effort was wasted on the wrong audience.
Obama faltered in not calling his adversary on addressing the wrong constituents, but with a perceived sizable lead he was careful not to make any waves or doing anything to diminish it. Now that the debates are done and behind us, it’s in God’s hands, or the media’s.
Joel Dykstra Interview
Hello all-
This past Tuesday I sat down and had a chat with Joel Dykstra, the republican challenger to Tim Johnson’s senate seat. Mr. Dykstra and I discussed a wide range of issues, from abortion to gun control to education, just to list a few. The senate hopeful was kind enough to let The Volante video tape the interview, and I thank him for that.
Be sure to check out the interview back at the homepage. We have broken it down into three parts. Part one is up already, and the remaining two parts will go up tomorrow and Monday. You can look forward to my interview with Senator Tim Johnson in the next couple of weeks.
Politicians Play with Personal Freedom
This week in The Volante print edition, in order to give students a better understanding of the 2008 South Dakota ballot, I have laid out what the seven constitutional amendments and initiatives are and what they are about.
This task got me to thinking about what isn’t on the ballot. The two things that come to mind are the video lottery and smoking ban concerns. I feel it is unfortunate that these debated issues didn’t make the ballot. Citizen passed legislation, in my opinion, is preferred to politician passed legislation when it comes to issues concerning personal freedoms; and the mentioned issues being left off the ballot only invites the state legislature to do its own tampering with our freedom.
When it comes to video lottery, I can be somewhat at ease; being that every push for a ban has failed since the conception of video lottery in 1987. Not to mention the state makes bank off of video lottery taxes. You have to believe everyone at the capitol likes playing with that chunk of change.
The smoking ban issue, however, is in jeopardy of being resolved in Pierre and not by South Dakotans. One reason for the notion: Iowa and Minnesota have recently implemented smoking ban in bars and restaurants, which will most definitely put pressure on South Dakota legislators to do the same.
I am not saying whether or not smoking bans should be put in place in South Dakota; I am merely suggesting freedom issues are better off left up to the masses the freedoms pertain to. Let’s hope there are enough folks in Pierre that think like me, right?
Desperate For Depression
The second debate between Barack Obama and John McCain provided nothing new. This reporter is getting tired of chewing on the same rhetoric day after day and night after night. There are, of course, tidbits of sound bites that could be mentioned, however, none of which I find sufficient to elaborate on.
I am beginning to get frustrated with the whole thing obviously, and can’t wait for Nov 4. However, I did find one question to be thought provoking.
I will paraphrase here, but the question went something like this:
At no time since the Great Depression have Americans been asked to sacrifice outside of the military. What will you ask the American people to sacrifice in order to get the country back on track?
McCain proposed freezing spending, and Obama said the government is going to have to fix the problems. Neither really implied the American people would have to make sacrifices. My frustration peaked at this point. Before being a journalist, I am an American. I hold nationalism in very high regard. My love for America is the bedrock of my interest and passion for journalism.
Human existence and trade coupled at the dawn of man. Along with the birth of assets and monetary commodities came financial responsibility. Beings rationed their resources or died.
Recession, or even depression, will cure American apathy and reinstate a sense of nationalism. We are all in this together. The sooner we realize it, the sooner we can do something about the problems the baby boom generation left us to deal with.
Where do we begin?
It’s simple really. Read a newspaper, watch the news, chitchat with your neighbors, and above all else, don’t constantly think of yourself.
JFK said it best.
Higman V. Nesselhuf
The South Dakota District 17 senate race is an interesting one to say the least. The school year has been the fuel on the flames without a doubt. The first fall print of The Volante offered a spirited opinion column from USD College Republican President Matt Hittle about Democratic incumbent Ben Nesselhuf and, in Hittle’s opinion, his lack of productivity as a District 17 Senator during the past four years.
The USD College Democrats are hitting back with their own onslaught of writing letters to the editor of The Volante advocating their candidate. Hittle has reported Nesselhuf’s competition, Jerad Higman, has had campaign signs torn down throughout town. Who the culprit is cannot be speculated on by this journalist, but Hittle is not shy in insisting the vandals must be Nesselhuf supporters.
The campaign fireworks have already been bright this fall, but are about to get brighter. On Oct 23 at 7:00 pm in the Al Neuharth Media Center, The Volante will hold a debate between Republican Jerad Higman and Democratic incumbent Ben Nesselhuf. The debate will be lively, I guarantee you that.
The College Democrats, the College Republicans and the Political Science League will provide a pool of questions to me and The Volante’s editorial staff. We will then choose which questions we see relevant and fair. If you would like to offer a question or questions, feel free to send questions to me or an editor at The Volante. The last portion of the debate will be questions from the audience.
It is an honor to say that yours truly will be moderating the debate.
I hope to see many of you there.
Where’s the Beef???
The VP debate in St. Louis was fun to watch. A seasoned veteran of Washington up against an up and coming phenomenon from Alaska makes for good entertainment. From my perspective, I feel it’s safe to say neither side definitively won the debate, not unlike the presidential debate. They were very cordial with each other, as expected, and both commended each other at various times for various achievements or viewpoints.
Entertainment aside, the debates so far are lacking meat. I have yet to hear any substantive policy discussion from either side. Both sides talk about how they envision the future but fail to illustrate just how they plan on making their vision a reality.
Obama has proposed $800 billion in new programs if elected. He has not, to my knowledge, explained how he plans on paying for such programs during a time of economic struggle in America. McCain is just as guilty. He’s riding the age old conservative fall back of deregulation. The same deregulation that some say has gotten our economy in the mess it is in.
The campaign season is so long, and I feel as if I’ve been hearing the same rhetoric for 18 months now. I can only hope, for the sake of the democracy itself, that at least one of the next two debates digs into the real issues and the candidates give real answers.
Bailout, Bailout, Bailout
I can’t really blame anyone for being tired of hearing about the bailout situation, and whether the proposed legislation should or shouldn’t be passed. The crisis has consumed most media during the last two and a half weeks or so. I think, however, the media is justified in giving so much coverage to the situation at hand. Realistically, all taxpaying Americans should pay attention to what’s happening in Washington.
The proposed legislation is unprecedented. The fundamental dynamics of our so-called capitalistic economy are about to change before our very eyes. I don’t know what the solution is, but I do know many in Congress think they do.
The skeptic in me immediately wants to know who Congress is heeding advice from. It appears to me many are following instructions from the fed and Henry Paulson. Paulson and the fed got us into this mess to begin with, so why are legislators looking to them for solutions?
Congress will vote on revised legislation Wednesday after Monday’s bill tanked. The new bill has stipulations on healthcare as well. The legislation includes a “Mental Health Parity.” Apparently it would mandate insurance companies to offer coverage for mental illness in the same way they do physical illness.
No matter what the outcome, the effects of the crisis are going to become more immediate in many aspects of American life.
The Great Debaters
Friday night’s debate was a success no matter who you ask. Political pundits from both sides of the isle have been claiming victory for their candidate since it ended.
I feel I can say it was a hard fought debate by both. It seemed to be a back and forth slugfest. It was apparent that McCain had the upper hand on foreign policy. It’s no secret Obama doesn’t have the foreign policy experience his adversary has.
Obama fared better when discussing the economy which shouldn’t have been a surprise either. McCain himself admits he’s not an economic expert, and the economy isn’t his strong point.
Both candidates did a descent job at playing to their strengths.
I found it thought provoking when both men told stories of receiving bracelets from the mothers of fallen soldiers. McCain said the soldier’s mother told him to make sure his son didn’t die in vain by ensuring “victory” in Iraq. The viewpoint is understandable.
Obama responded with his own bracelet story. Obama said this particular mother asked him, “Can you please make sure another mother is not going through what I’m going through?” This, also, is an understandable position to have.
What I’m getting at is, on issues such as Iraq, neither candidate did anything to persuade anyone, as far as I could tell. They simply reiterated the partisan platform they’ve been standing on since the campaigning started, and reaffirmed already held viewpoints by the viewers and voters. So…, if there isn’t any ground gained on the issues during the debates, are they even debates?
