George also mentioned that you should check out SteveHickeyforStateHouse.com

You too can make up your own fake endorsements right here at Free Handwriting Font Demos.  They have the handwriting fonts of Lincoln, Jefferson and Adams.  I will mention how I did resist the temptation to include a little phrase referencing how George recognizes the hand of Providence in my campaign : )

Can you tell I needed a diversion this afternoon?  Now, back to work.

Madville Times was the first today to publicly announce Steve "Sibby" Sibson is running for Senate in District 20 (though I knew about it a few weeks ago as Steve told me himself). I wish him the best! He is raising the right questions and giving the right answers especially on issues relating to education.

And, what's up with all these South Dakota bloggers running for office this election cycle? There's me. There's my antithesis. And now there is Sibby. Who am I missing? Blogs have become a pretty good place to find articulate and passionate people who are informed and up to speed on the issues.

Sibby, Ellis and I were once referred to as the three horsemen of the blogcopalyse. It wasn't meant to be flattering. However, just imagine if the three horsemen were sent to Pierre, or some of the others. It's only a matter of time before Pat jumps back in and Cory jumps in and Ehrisman too. I heard Ehrisman say once he thinks he can never run because of what he's got out there on his blog. I disagree. If Al Franken can win, Scott Ehrisman can. I disagree with Scott on all the social issues but I would vote for him if he ran for city council in Kermit's stead.

People wondered if I'd scrub my blog of things I've said (or pull down the hundreds of podcasts of my messages) when I jumped into the race… nope. I stand by what I write/say even though I'm aware it wouldn't be hard to find a quote that could easily be used against me - and, you wouldn't even have to take it out of context! What's interesting to me is that most politicians ARE blogging right now, through Facebook. Sarah Palin has this mastered - she entirely bypasses the media and connects with millions of people directly. (Updated: Ha! Just today George W. Bush joined the conversation on Facebook… "though I'm out of politics, I'm not out of policy.")

I see it's not just South Dakota where the Dems are having trouble fielding good candidates. Ha! Time for Cory to step up.

Last summer I came home from Europe with a book on the role of churches and writers in bringing down the Berlin Wall. It's called Voices in Times of Change: The Role of Writers, Opposition Movements and Churches in the Transformation of East Germany. I believe bloggers today are these "writers" who are now doing what traditional journalists used to do before they died becoming pawns of the Obama regime. And, it's perhaps only a matter of time before Obama takes these internet freedoms away so he can fully control the message.

In my Memorial Day post I quoted a Sarah Palin tweet where she commented how VETERANS, not reporters, give freedom of the press. My beloved liberal, on-Oprah-famous, uber-prolific author and former NYC editor cousin now living in Milwaukee chimed in as a member of the ASJA about the importance and value of the fourth estate in preserving freedom. I do concede Nancy, those who wield the pen do possess the power for social and cultural change.

Go Sibby Go!

Scott Ehrisman over at South DaCola noticed a priceless goof in this morning's online Argus poll.  Look close.

The funny part is that Herseth-Sandlin really is two people -one here in SD, and one right there in DC. In any case, I think we should all refer to her now as Mrs. Sandlin – the Princess Stephanie days are over.

Go vote for Noem at the Argus poll, they've since fixed the error.  In November we'll have to fix the real problem of a having representative who is one person in an election year and Pelosi's lap dog the rest of the time.

Great night for the SD GOP! Really, what a smorgasbord of good candidates.

Daugaard more than did it. Good luck to Heidepriem in stopping that train. And like I said here yesterday, win or lose, Munsterman still gets the prize.

The Kristi Noem victory was a bit personal for me, considering. I am thrilled to see her win and dropped by the victory party tonight to personally say so. Mrs. Sandlin was surely hoping for another outcome in that race. 

I celebrate with Manny Steele and Hal Wick in their District 12 House victory over NARAL's Casey Murschel. Also, I take delight in Elizabeth Kraus' 74-26 victory in the District 33 Senate race.

This next one we can file in the Look-What-Happens-When-Good-People-Sit-Idly-By category::::  Crass immature antics Angie Buhl is now State Senator because… a whopping total of 369 out of 11,328 registered voters in her district voted for her every-abortion-is-good ideology. Too bad the GOP didn't field a candidate there in District 15.

Win or lose tomorrow, I think Scott Munsterman gets the prize for going to the people of this state to listen and then share new ideas. Way back last summer I was saying;

…Munsterman stands a head taller than any other gubernatorial candidate in terms of having spent the last two years writing and articulating a clear and coherent, Conservative strategy and vision for our state's future….

Some forecast a Daugaard walkaway tomorrow - 50%+. Myself, I think Munsterman is the one to watch tomorrow. Joel Rosenthal over at South Dakota Straight Talk has highlighted noteworthy Primary Ads to date in these campaigns but he left off the most noteworthy of all, and it's the only thing that always works…. personally meeting the people— that prize goes to Munsterman.

Munsterman has visited 170+ South Dakota cities, putting on 70,000+ miles, holding multiple telephone Q & A townhalls with over 10,000 participants per call. Any day of the week, that beats liquidating an asset to blast out a bowling commerical. And all that will pay off tomorrow as planting those seeds, I still believe, bears good fruit– aka votes.

I forecast a Daugaard and Munsterman runoff and I agree with a Dakota War College commenter who says "Knudson will be working for Sanford full-time within the year." (To which I'd add… devoting his remaining years to paving a legal runway for those who want to land big profits experimenting on human embryos.) If anyone is listening I'll put forth a suggestion for more noble post-primary path… maybe Mr. Fix It can go to work figuring out a way to wean South Dakota off it's video lottery addiction. I do know he and I share that lofty ambition in common.

In my mind it's pretty much a given that, post-primary, Knudson will make haste to back Democrat Scott Heidepriem. They are ideological clones. At a gubernatorial forum here at Westward Ho a few weeks ago the candidates were asked if they would support whoever wins the Republican primary. Only Knudson notably said NO by quipping… "Yes I will back the winner of the primary who will be me, he he."

The numbers I'll be watching are the Knudson vote count vs. the Howie vote count. It will be telling to see who is stronger in this state, the Tea Party social and fiscal conservative constituency or the RINO's in our midst. I suspect Howie does better, at least that is what I want to believe… that Knudson's ilk are a minority in our party.

Over at KELO, Cory Heidelberger gives his analysis of status of the US House primary- I even get a vague and imprecise reference as the "declared fundagelical candidate" whom Kristi Noem drove out of the race. Cory still sees Chris Nelson way out front. No way. My prediction in that race tomorrow is Noem 39%, Nelson 37% and Curd 24%. Two more months and Noem would be in the mid-40's. She is the underdog because she came in late after she saw the same things I was seeing.

Anyone else notice that Casey Murschel (running against Hal Wick and Manny Steele in the District 12 primary), in saying she "works for a non-profit," is conveniently forgetting to make known to voters that she is the President of NARAL South Dakota (National Abortion Rights Action League)? I've been shouting that little detail from the rooftops including in all three of our services yesterday as we have quite a few who reside in District 12. Those who have no regard for the most helpless and vulnerable in our state are disqualified to lead us.

We are praying fervently that God would have mercy on us in relation to the BP oil spill in the Gulf; specifically that he'd release wisdom to plug the leak and creative technologies to clean it up, and that he'd expose what he needs to expose right now in our hearts and especially in our corporate and national leaders. 

Here in South Dakota, we are far removed from the horror of this, at least for now.  However, my friends in Louisiana are dialed in on this and ask for our prayers. I thought these maps were helpful to put it in perspective. The first is a map of the exact size and location of the spill right now in the Gulf.

This second is a map of what that size and shape of a spill would look like over the terrain we call home.  Basically it would stretch from Chamberlain to the Twin Cities, from Sioux City to Watertown, or if turned upside down it would cover all of East River South Dakota.

"We, the people of Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty…" remains the preamble to our state constitution. The state motto, adopted during the 1885 constitutional convention here in Sioux Falls is "Under God the People Rule." Someone at the convention put forth an amendment to drop the "under God" part but the shorter and secular "The People Rule" version failed 10-73. The full motto passed with only one Nay vote.

In his new book, Prairie Republic: The Political Culture of Dakota Territory 1879-1889 (University of Oklahoma Press, 2010), historian Jon Lauck set out to take a fresh look at the history of Dakota Territory stating he was motivated to make a new contribution to the study of Dakota history by the fact that the most notable previous attempt of the 1950's, Lamar's Dakota Territory, reflects "the currents of that age." He notes how, to date, historiography has taken a "critical eye" revealing "a darker side" of the development of the American West. Lauck's research uncovered the good forces at work.  Letting the evidence speak, and not projecting today's unbelief back on our founding era, Lauck concludes;

During the boom, the Dakota settlers laid the foundation of social and political life in the territory… Their republican habits and institutions were bolstered by an archipelago of Christian churches on the Dakota prairie that deepened community ties, inculcated social virtue, and generally promoted social order.  When Dakotans crafted a constitution, that most American of political rituals, they did so by relying on republican ideology and a Christian heritage, both of which taught them to abhor the corruption of the territorial system, celebrate self-government, and prize private virtue. The constitution Dakotans crafted and the social order they created rested on the twin pillars of American republicanism and the Christian tradition. (Prairie Republic, pgs 168-169)

Perusing the historical sources, Lauck organized the book around what he found… "specifically, I was struck by the republican ardor of Dakota settlers in both language and action and by the prevalence of Christianity in their lives." My review here of Prairie Republic admittedly emphasizes the latter of this two-pronged focus of his book. As Lauck notes, other historians have noted the "citizens of Dakota are a God fearing people." One of our former governors spoke to the State Historical Society noting what "would have been obvious decades earlier" how the "settlers of Dakota were a religious people." Even simply looking at a state map is enough to make this point, there were reasons these settlers named their towns Epiphany, Faith, Eden, Mission and Sinai.  In a chapter entitled God's Country, Lauck writes how these 1880's settlers seriously considered naming their state "God's Country."

Though sharing common conclusions, Prairie Republic is not tainted in any way by today's religious right. However, it does break far away from the secular-revisionists who produce popular works today such as- "Our Godless Constitution." Prairie Republic is notably different in that it has footnotes - eighty pages of footnotes. Our Godless Constitution has no footnotes and yet students today are force-fed it on our university campuses and told our framers desired and produced an utterly secular state.  Lauck, though not motivated to write to bolster anything Christian, merely presents historical fact… "civic republicanism and Christianity were the dominant forces at work during South Dakota's formative decade."

During a decade marked by a stunning 750% population explosion, where the territory grew by one thousand people a day, Lauck details how one thousand Dakota churches contributed greatly to political stability by, among other things, reinforcing "the key ingredients of republicanism."  Also, "by promoting civilization in the form of schooling and manners, 'churches labored persistently on the side of the angels of cultural light.'"  Lauck notes that the spires of the churches were the first indication of a town. Things that are first indicate priority.

Things that are first are also foundational. Lauck quoted one founding era Dakota clergyman who described his labors as laying "the mortar for the foundations for future generations." "Christian ministers," Lauck notes "promoted a stable social and moral structure in a foreign and forbidding land."  Ministers fostered a stable social order by participating in the political process and discourse. As was typical of these formative gatherings, Episcopal minister Melanchton Hoyt opened the 1883 constitutional convention with a time of prayer asking God to bless the delegates so that "they may glorify Thy holy name and perpetuate the best interests of the citizens of this territory."

After the 1885 delegates unanimously adopted our state constitution, Rev. Joseph Ward of the "influential Congregational Church" in Yankton, stood in the doorway with the large roll manuscript of the Constitution in his hands and entered to a "prolonged applause." They weren't applauding him, but him carrying the document is evidence that ministers were front and center in the midst of the proceedings. Sioux Falls politician Richard Pettigrew lamented the power of the churches and their leaders as they restrained greedy alliances and interests.  Rev. Ward was one of the leading opponents of the territorial system frequently arguing the merits of our historic freedoms and representative commonwealth.

We live in a day where the pulpit and politics are forced apart which is quite a departure from what Lauck documents in Prairie Republic. Ministers in our founding era prided themselves that church members were being elected to public office as they had, in effect, discipled the men who were discipling Dakota Territory down a path that leads to healthy societies. Lauck doesn't use the word disciple but he does describe the competing forces vying to ensure the people follow a certain path.  People are always surprised when I mention how 27 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were ordained or had seminary degrees. Here in Dakota Territory, Lauck notes one of the first two U.S. Senators chosen from our new state was Rev. James Kyle, a Congregational minister who pastored churches in Ipswich and later Aberdeen.

These founding Dakota ministers were not crusaders working to establish some theocracy, they were "cultural leaders" and "often the most educated person in a settlement and a revered source of moral authority… he and the immigrant church tended to awaken and foster the nationality and consciousness of the immigrant settlers."  They were strategic in that they set contentious issues like prohibition and women's suffrage on the back burner until the foundations of a stable constitution were in place.

Contrary to notions that this Wild West was an unruly free for all, Lauck documents how churches and ministers in our state's founding era provided public order by promoting a virtuous citizenry, self-rule and republican ideals. Lauck warns that the "erosion of long-standing communities, including those centered in South Dakota church basements, threaten America's long-term democratic prospects."  Prairie Republic is a timely book as it underscores the forces that ensure stability and serve as a strong defense - deep community ties, a virtuous citizenry, civic virtue, self-government and republican ideals.

In my earlier post on this book I mentioned that I bought fifteen copies as soon as it came out to give as gifts to those who helped me launch my short-lived congressional run. I've been encouraging others running for office this year in South Dakota to not only get a copy for themselves but to get copies for those who are helping them.

Lauck's book will certainly be a standard on our state's founding era for some years to come and it will surely inspire others to fill in the other gaps yet untouched by those writing our histories.  Lauck ends Prairie Republic offering suggestions for others for future research; Catholics, the saloon element and the seasonal farm workers. Prairie Republic notes the intensity of the Protestant/Catholic divide during the founding era but leaves room for someone else to unpack the dynamics of merging the variety of other immigrants and people's here in one place. 

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 Jon Lauck is a historian and attorney and Senior Advisor to US Senator John Thune (R, SD).  His previous books are Daschle vs. Thune: Anatomy of a High-Plains Senate Race and American Agriculture and the Problem of Monopoly.  (Lauck is pictured on the right, I'm on the left). 

We have started a Facebook page for Prairie Republic and also invite you to a book signing with Jon this Saturday at Barnes and Noble here in Sioux Falls at 1 P.M..

Today we honor the men and women, past and present, who have paid a high price to serve our country and ensure our freedoms. I've told a number of moms and dads over the years as they send their sons and daughters off to war that it is a God-like thing to do to send a beloved son in harm's way to secure freedom for others.

Today I honor my father, Robert E. Hickey. The pic below is of him in Vietnam in 1966. The red dirt and topography lead me to think this is taken near Plieku where I know he spent a lot of time. He came home and was my hero - my mom made me a uniform out of his fatigues.

The war really messed my father up for the rest of his life - a decade ago a doc at the VA hospital here in Sioux Falls recommended my mom and I read a book called Vietnam Wives to help us understand his PTSD. The book precisely describes what it was like to grow up in our home after the war. Besides fighting his internal battles, my dad spent the rest of his life fighting our government and one of the things that motivates me to run for office is to make sure the men and women who serve don't have to keep fighting for benefits when they get home. In 1999, I went to Vietnam and tried to get my father to go with me - others told me he should go as it would be healing for him.  He said he never wanted to go back there (that's the edited PG version of what he basically said).

During the Second Gulf War I was offered a five digit sign-on bonus as our military was desperate for chaplains. I thought long and hard about it but decided I was needed more at home. When my kids were older I figured it was a better time and so a few years before I turned 40 I tried to enlist in the Reserves but I didn't pass the physical because I take a little thyroid pill every day. In 2002, I went the police chaplaincy route instead and still serve in that capacity here in Sioux Falls. Though I'm very conscious of the fact that it doesn't compare to the sacrifice of our Vets, for years I've committed myself to fighting the ideologies that war against American freedoms here at home. I plan to continue vigilance in that struggle. It's the least any of us can do.

Also today we honor my wife's uncle - Emmanuel Lundquist.  He landed on Normandy a few days after D-Day and died a month later in a hedge row in France.

We found these old pics in a scrapbook this morning which capture the days right before he left for the war. Note the blue star in the window and the poem his mother clipped out of the newspaper and pasted in the album - read the poem if you want to know the war mom's sentiment behind the blue star in the window.  The blue star in the window was changed to a gold star if the soldier died.

Also note the cross flag in the pics below- the chaplain had just held a Sunday service in the field. Emmanuel had a deep Christian faith. He is the one sitting front and center with his hands clasped. Roland Lundquist, pictured below, and Delbert (not pictured) were Emmanuel's cousins who served in Europe at the same time. When Delbert heard Emmanuel was killed he said he'd make sure some German paid dearly for what they did to Emmanuel.  The little guy standing in the picture (bottom right) was Kristen's father. The picture was taken at her grandpa's farm near Clifton, Kansas.

This recent Tweet from SarahPalinUSA says it well… "VETERANS, not reporters, give freedom of the press. VETS, not politicians, give freedom to vote. VETS, not campus radicals, give freedom to assemble."

This week I've been in DC at some meetings. It has been great to be with patriot pastors and my Family Research Council and Alliance Defense Fund friends. My daughter is with me also and just for fun we spent a whole day at Mt. Vernon with our Bound4Life/JHOP (Justice House of Prayer) friends.

Would you be shocked to hear me report that neither Sen. Tim Johnson, nor Rep. Herseth-Sandlin came out of hiding to keep their appointments with myself and a few other SD pastors? Me niether. No sweat off my back, I'm not able to meet with everyone either, but it is truly a bummer for a few other South Dakota church leaders who came 1500 miles thinking they'd be all ears. Same story in each office… "something came up" and so they each sent a staffer instead. I've only met with Sandlin once personally in the last five appointments I've had here in her DC office. Each time something comes up and she's so sorry.  I am appreciative of the grace and patience of her guy Josh Albert. Each time I come I get a new update on Josh and his growing family. I like him and I feel a bit sorry for him that she makes him do her dirty work… the dirty work that is of meeting with the people back home who are very dissatified with her job performance.

Funny story— when I entered the Sandlin's office, Josh had to move boxes out of the way and pull a couple chairs over. Pointing to all the boxes I asked Josh… "Is Stephanie packing already?"  He didn't think that was funny. I did. He explained that they are in moving mode because they had to get new furnature to comply with new disability regulations.

In any case, Josh took detailed notes and promised to make sure Mrs. Sandlin gets briefed on the concerns voiced in our meeting. Despite the fact that fourteen studies show repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell will negatively effect our military, and despite the fact that the Joint Chiefs aren't for it, I was told Mrs. Sandlin will vote to repeal it - and she did last night. I said I understood to do otherwise would make her already alienated base go bananas.  Better for her to please them right now because she will be needing them come November.

The Johnson staffer reports the Senator is driving himself to work again and getting around the office with only a cane. That's great news. Regarding ENDA, Johnson's gal says we can relax as it will not likely get any floor time prior to the election and that it's something the new Congress will have to sort out.  I found myself not believing that at all. The Obama strategy is to hit the gas pedal as he knows he only has a short window of time to transform America. 

Senator Thune, the busiest of the three, somehow made time for a visit.  And, you can decide if he's just being a good sport in this pic or if thinks Congress needs a Hickey.

Here I am with Dr. Alveda King, the niece of Martin Luther King Jr.  There is no one stronger out there speaking against black genocide via abortion.  Her uncle had a dream and she is still fighting for that dream against people who still believe some are more human than others.

 

Last week Cory at Madville ran a poll on his blog regarding politics in the pulpit. As noted by conservative Bob Ellis of Dakota Voice, the results were what one might expect.  As Bob quipped; "Yes, I am thoroughly impressed by the results of a liberal poll at a liberal blog."  Cory contends that his results are accurate: "Anyone who pays attention to the comment section can see I have a pretty interesting cross-section of readers, many of whom disagree passionately with me on important issues… I will maintain that this poll gives a fair picture..." My response was simply… "I wonder how that poll would turn out on my blog." To that Cory responded; "Steve! Run the poll! I'm curious, too! I'll link it!"

So I ran the poll over this past weekend. Here are my results and following analysis.

My first observation is the low participation - only sixty people took the poll. The last poll I ran had double that number. This could be attributed to at least three factors. 1) Infrequent blogging has produced decreased traffic. 2) My poll wasn't exactly impartial. I suspect the low participation was more the result of the former than the latter though I do agree my poll questions were loaded which perhaps kept some from voting. Several times Cory has noted that though I've made some convincing arguments for the constitutionality of pulpit freedom, it still just doesn't "feel" right to him. I'd think other liberals didn't have an option in the poll to check that matched their feelings. I will add that 3) the majority of conservative evangelicals right now would probably vote NO because they think the pastor should just "preach the gospel*****." There wasn't an option on the poll for those with this view.

So, I'd guess both liberals and conservatives took a pass on my poll because I didn't have a box to check that fit their reasoning.

Initially, what is obvious is that my results are the exact opposite of Cory's (Yes: 13%, 15 voters  No: 87%,103 voters)  and, yes, I'd think that is because liberals read his blog and conservatives read mine. I too have a good amount of liberal traffic and commenting on this blog but my suspicion is that it is far from fifty fifty. We each have a few from the other side of the aisle trolling our blogs.

My poll reveals what I suspected. There is a connection between church attendance and people's opinion on this issue. Liberals who champion the separation of church and state may not go to church but they want the government in there every Sunday. Conservatives are regular church goers and they want their pastor setting forth the Biblical position on issues and holding that standard up to those who seek to be leaders among us. They don't want the government helping the pastor write his sermon. So, in that regard I guess they do favor the separation of church and state ; - )

The Rapid City Journal has a follow up story today on this matter basically making the point that most pastors are not willing to do any endorsing here in the primary. As I noted in my earlier post, this is because at this point we don't have Scriptural justification to favor one candidate over the other. That all changes after the June primary. At that point, more pastors will be speaking out. And pastors are smart, most of us are able to make the case and never even mention a name.  However, I'd encourage them to name names and underscore how and why all this matters.

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*****The fallacy of this popular evangelical notion that "preaching the gospel" means saying/doing nothing political is something I've addressed several dozen times as I've toured the state meeting with groups of pastors over the years. Evangelicals have reduced the "gospel" to the message of forgiveness only, however this is changing rapidly (YWAM recently announced the gospel is bigger than individual conversion stating the mandate of the church is to make disciples of nations). The message of forgiveness is only the front door to this message of Good News. The "gospel of the kingdom" is ultimately about the Kingdom of God coming to earth - the Kingdom is God's rule and reign which began with Jesus' first coming, increases as leaven eventually permeates the entire loaf (all sectors of society) until he returns personally to bring justice, deal with evil once and for all, and all nations bow before his Lordship. Until that day we aren't pushing for theocracy, but obeying the Biblical mandate to influence the Republic in the ways of righteousness knowing that those who reject God are working feverishly to influence the Republic as well. God isn't mad at darkness, he's called us to be light on the path and that includes shining the light of God's Word on those who would aspire to be our leaders. If a leader says go this way and God's Word says don't, pastors have a mandate from God to not be silent. Being salt and light means holding the line against this advancement of evil in society until he returns. As one of my "mentors", the former pastor/theologican then turned politician (becoming the Prime Minister of the Netherlands) Abraham Kuyper once said, "In the total expanse of human life there is not a single square inch of which the Christ, who alone is sovereign, does not declare,'That is mine!'” So much for the separation of church and state.