Get the Ricochet app
Ricochet will work fine in a browser on your mobile devices, but for the best experience please download our app.
The centerpiece of this week's show is an in-depth interview John Hinderaker conducted this week with South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who has charted her own course in managing the COVID-19 pandemic in her state, refusing to shut down the state's economy, and getting out ahead of the virus with a common sense approach. Gov. Noem is getting high marks for her steady and independent leadership, gaining her a place on the "great mention" list of potential presidential candidates in the future. She says she has no such plans at the moment, but you never know!
Steve Hayward sets up the interview with some background conversation with John about the history and political changes in South Dakota and other plains states over the last few decades. In short, this is not George McGovern's upper midwest any more. And then Steve talks a bit with Kathryn Hinderaker (who is somehow related to John!) about her observations about the darkening campus scene, about which she has lots of experience as a recent graduate of St. Olaf College in Minnesota.
John Hinderaker
Steve Hayward
Discussion (7)
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
Oh, my goodness. Can we please make this woman President?
CHARTER MEMBER
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
I was very impressed by Noem in that interview.
But she's the flavor of the month. Republicans do this every election season. Some politician gets raised up as a superstar until 3-6 months later there are good reasons to dampen that enthusiasm.
Noem sounds like a very respectable governor. That doesn't mean she would be a good president. The offices involve different powers and policy decisions. We only know a fraction of her values and priorities.
Noem has earned our attention. We'll see what she says and does in the next few years.
CHARTER MEMBER
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
My campus experience was similar to that of Kathryn Hinderaker. In fact, I can't remember a single conservative at the nominally Catholic university joining me to openly rebut leftist teachings.
I once stood up in a gathering of 30+ people during an extracurricular campus meeting to argue that a Catholic university should allow debate of positions contrary to Catholic teaching but could not sponsor groups devoted to advocating "gay pride" or somesuch, and certainly not without also voicing the Catholic teaching. In short, a Catholic university should represent Catholic teachings. I was alone in that crowd. Not one person agreed.
By the way, the teacher leading this group gathered to promote gender ideology was the university's head of theology and feminist studies. I contacted the local bishop, who of course made no public objection to any such activities.
I was asked by a city newspaper to offer a statement regarding gay clubs at Catholic universities. As I recall, a single phrase in the paragraph I wrote was quoted. Not one person at the school voiced agreement, even privately.
My one fond memory of that episode was when a lesbian student accused me on the school's online forum of hatemongering and a mutual friend — a leftist — defended my character on the forum.
CHARTER MEMBER
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
Regarding nursing homes and such, it might be premature to think South Dakotas elders have generally escaped COVID-19. New York's actions in that regard seem to have been reckless. But in the long term COVID is like any flu and most people will be exposed regardless of precautions. A cure is unlikely to be produced in the next year.
Limiting exposure was (or should have been) always more about staggering hospitalizations than preventing them. It was never about ultimately preventing exposure. We might yet lose many elders in such responsible states.
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
Well said.
You're seeing five of seven comments. Sign in, or join for just $5 per month, to read them all and add your own.