PBS NewsHour interviews outgoing Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD)

[alp227]

Run time: 08:06 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHHE2fqkWHM   Posted on YouTube: December 30, 2010 By YouTube Member: PBSNewsHour Views on YouTube: 26   Posted on DU: December 30, 2010 By DU Member: alp227 Views on DU: 779

 
This interview was on today's PBS NewsHour as the second in a series of three interviews by Judy Woodruff to House Democrats who lost to their Republican challengers. Excerpt (from the official transcript):

JUDY WOODRUFF: So, you were elected in 2004 with some fanfare. You were one of the youngest members of the House of Representatives, the first woman from South Dakota.

Six years later, what happened?

REP. STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN: I think that there was clearly a wave of discontent against Washington. It was taken out on the Democratic Party, being in control of both the White House and both chambers in the Congress.

I think that there was a lot of undisclosed money that came into South Dakota, driving a message to paint me as a Washington partisan, which I don't believe that I am, but it was a message that resonated, after pounding it away for a number of weeks.

BAM! Hit the nail early in the interview. You know, those ads by all those 527s and Chamber of Commerce and other orgs like that.

Also, Herseth Sandlin called for more bipartisanship next Congress and criticized the way House Democrats passed the stimulus:

JUDY WOODRUFF: What is it that voters were looking for that you couldn't deliver, I mean, and is it realistic?

REP. STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN: I sure tried to help deliver compromise, consensus, bipartisanship.

But the tone of the Congress got off to a very bad start, with the economic stimulus package being passed in the House only with Democratic votes, only a couple of Republican senators supporting it.

And then I'm afraid that there were some decisions about moving the legislative agenda, that, in retrospect, we should have been focused on the economy first and foremost.

JUDY WOODRUFF: You have not always voted in lockstep with your party.

REP. STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN: I voted against the climate-change legislation. Not that I don't believe we should move to a clean-energy economy, and it can be good for South Dakota's economy to do so, but it was started out as a very partisan bill in the committee.

JUDY WOODRUFF: So, given that, given what independent voters are saying, advice for your fellow Democrats as you walk away from this Congress and as they confront the challenges for the next several years?

REP. STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN: Sure. If the Republican majority in the House over-reads its mandate, the same way many more liberal members of the Democratic Caucus over-read our mandate after the 2008 election, take advantage. Take advantage, the same way the Republicans took advantage of the other side, the Democratic side, my party, over-reading the mandate in 2008.

[RandomThoughts]

1. If you want to know how it really works. (in my view of coarse)

The world is ran by people of faith, good faith and bad faith, since all faith is justified.


That is what Rove figured out, he knew of the supernatural, so got the churches to use their faith to help him, even if it was against what they might believe. That is why he used the abortion and gay issue.

To get people of faith to work for his goals.


That is why reason and heart have to be with faith.


Also the rewards require heart and reason also, since the reason faith without charity is nothing, is when you do learn at the end, the good feelings you had while in faith, but not for best ideas, will not feel as good, or be remembered.

So if you work with bad faith, you will have far less, as some think of it, stored in heaven, then if you have the memories of tough struggles for better ideas that continue to shower love on you after you learn more.

[midnight]

3. I think you might be on to something... He targeted Wisconsin

a few years ago... This year we lost Sen. Feingold, the Governor's seat, Congressman Kagan.... Lot's of Chamber money poured in....

[RandomThoughts]

4. When I am saying people of faith.

I am not talking about the old boys club, but the billions of average everyday people they get to think those people should have some power or control.

Its a deep topic, been thinking about it awhile, I know some other shows have had that same concept, Doctor who last of the Masters had that topic in it.

Also why representations and meanings of images could play into some of that, and why some say it is all about perception. However there are errors in that doctrine, since some people have more sway on that topic then others. That is the doctrine of umbrella, where a person gets people under them to work for them, and they offer some level of reward to them. Then there is the ori concept, that says the power of anyone comes from the perception people have of them.

Many concepts on that, most seem to lead to concepts of deception or secrecy, so have not figured all that out yet.


Really deep topic, haven't figured it all out, nor claim to, but I think that is what Machiavellian is all about, using people of faith against the teachings of a faith by methods of deception.



In movie Return of the Jedi, the most 'forced' usage and explaining scene is from this quote.

Luke: "your overconfidence is your weakness"

The Emperor snaps back and breaks his stride with a forceful comment. Note the snap in it, it deflects Luke's comment.

Emperor: "Your faith in your friends is yours"

To understand that, the emperor slips and explains the concept of supporting people not concepts, and the pit falls of Machivelians. Note the blow back, where that counter comment shows information. For those that say it is just a movie, thats a longer story.

It becomes more friends all helping each other when you think of the ideal not a person. Then you realize in many cases someone you support has the same ideals you have, and you are actually supporting the same things. It also solves the problems of PR between someones actions and your support. The faith is in that concept outside of any comparison between two people, an external concept that fits an ideal you believe in supported by many people, and part of the concept, with reason also, of why idols worship is bad also.

[DarthDem]

2. She Just Doesn't Get It

Extraordinarily well-spoken and charismatic, but just doesn't grasp basic political reality. Try running as a real Democrat next time, Steph. And nice rationale for voting against the climate change bill. How the hell was it partisan? She doesn't explain.

[Toucano]

6. +1 n/t

[burning rain]

5. That Blue Dog won't be missed.

.