The Senate State Affairs Committee decided against subpoenaing South Dakota’s “JAILer-in-Chief” and unanimously approved a resolution urging citizens to vote against the absurd initiated measure (PDF file). (Real Audio here.) Although no testimony was taken, the battle continued in the press and those backing South Dakota Judicial Accountability Initiative Law (J.A.I.L.) seem to be revealing their true selves.
JAILer-in-Chief Bill Stegmeier attacked the committee as “enemies of the people.” I guess if all else fails it doesn’t hurt to fall back on a good old Stalinist phrase. Echoing an earlier revolutionary tribunal approach to that phrase, Ron Branson, the California man who started the JAIL movement, told the Associated Press that “we are investigating these [legislators] right now.”
Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, as usual, called it as he saw it. Speaking of Branson, he said “It’s easy to be an authority if you’re not limited by reality.” Schoenbeck also said he’s been challenged to a debate by Branson. I want to reserve a ringside seat for that one right now.
By the way, PP at Dakota War College also has a nice update on JAIL.
To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason . . . is like administering medicine to the dead.
Thomas Paine, The Crisis
