SD governor cracks door for ethically compromised Thune

Gov. Dennis Daugaard has signed a measure to change the state's so-called "Daschle law" that bars a presidential candidate from seeking another office on the same South Dakota ballot. The original Republican-backed measure in 2002 faced criticism from Democrats for targeting then-U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, who was considered a possible 2004 Democratic presidential candidate. Democrats had fought against the change this session, but Senate Democrats largely ended up supporting it to put an end to political games around the plan. [Associated Press]

US Senator John Thune (R-SD) has been considered by some to be a viable vice-president pick yet others scratch their heads at that notion.

You used to see it a lot, before Rapid City native Dan Nelson and his once-thriving network of automobile businesses faltered under an array of alleged misdeeds and eventually a string of criminal charges. Ultimately, Nelson and a business partner ended up in prison on charges conspiring to lie on financial records. It was a big story, with tentacles that reached out in all directions. One of them touched Sen. John Thune, a Nelson friend who happened to sit, during the senator's time between the U.S. House and Senate, on a bank board where Nelson did lots of business. [Kevin Woster]

Besides, not just any job pays $33,000 a day.

"Do I plan on running for President?" Thune said, according to South Dakota's KELO-TV. "I don't. I enjoy the job I have. And being the President is a very, very hard job." "Do I like my job? I do," Thune said. "You know, I'm going to tell you guys something about it. Any job you have, there are going to be good parts about it and bad parts about it. My job's like any other job."

As for Thune signing a letter undermining America's foreign policy?

$20 bucks says South Dakota voters won't be seeing John Thune's name in two places on any ballot any time soon.

Informative visit to #GITMO today with @SenJoniErnst @SenatorLankford @SenThomTillis and @SenatorRounds pic.twitter.com/uUU9tSf1ii
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) March 13, 2015