Media does minor catching up on J.A.I.L.

Granted, I don’t read newspapers other than the local daily and generally don’t watch television news. I also realize the November election is months down the road so it is merely a blip on the news media’s radar. Still, the South Dakota media seem to have turned a blind eye when it comes to keeping the public informed on South Dakota’s Judicial Accountability Initiative Law (J.A.I.L.). Even the RCJ’s Mount Blogmore has been silent, despite its claim to be a political blog.

This morning, though, I saw that Dave Kranz decided to at least provide an update on events in J.A.I.L.land. While I’ve known and respected Dave for probably 30 years, his column reflects the apparent disinterest of the state media.

Dave reported that local J.A.I.L.er-in-chief Bill Stegmeier wrote the national J.A.I.L. organization and told them to go away. This turn of events was indicated here on March 16 and Stegmeier’s resignation from J.A.I.L. was reported by PP on March 22. Dave also reported that Stegmeier spoke last month at a conference that included some, shall we say, extremist views. But we learned that fact — and details — in PP’s March 22 post.

I find it most interesting that when the state’s largest daily actually mentions Stegmeier’s attendance at that event also happens to be the day Stegmeier takes down the extremist views on his personal blog, a few of which PP mentioned again today. That is the very function of the news media, something the press in this state has largely neglected to date in covering J.A.I.L.

But at least Stegmeier left a love note behind: “Hello South Dakota War College and Progressive on the Prairie!” Gee, at least he could have put up links.

Nancy Astor