South Dakotans have rejected politicians who rose to power. Can Sen. John Thune avoid that fate?

We want our elected officials to be successful, powerful and influential.

But not TOO successful, powerful and influential. We rejected Sen. Tom Daschle when he rose to a Senate leadership position. Daschle served as both minority and majority leader before he was voted out of office in 2004.

We rejected Sen. George McGovern as he was slated to chair the Senate Agriculture Committee. After three terms, McGovern was swept from office in 1980.

Sen. John Thune has taken on a thankless and nearly impossible task in his fourth term since unseating Daschle.

Yes, he asked for it. It’s a high honor to be majority leader. It will no doubt be worse than trying to juggle a dozen or so razor-sharp machetes.

I don’t envy him. Most of his time, energy, and emotions will be devoted to keeping the Senate functioning. And the incoming president will definitely add to his stress.

His constituents will not get his full attention. That’s a reality. I’m hoping he remembers his opening speech about his roots and those who molded him in his youth:

“The South Dakota values I learned growing up helped shape my political philosophy: my belief that government should be limited, and that it is best when it’s closest to the people — and that if a matter can be handled at the state or local level, it should be,” he said.

“That the legacy of the past is something to be cherished and preserved — while leaving room for change and adaptation when needed,” Thune said. “That freedom is a sacred gift, and one that must be defended — and that with freedom comes responsibility.”

Rick Knobe is a former mayor of Sioux Falls and a longtime radio talk show host who is now retired but remains active and involved in his community and state as an independent political observer and commentator. His columns appear regularly on The South Dakota Standard.

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