I’ve always had a thing for the Peace Garden State, choosing to drive across its vast plains when I returned to Los Angeles from my brother’s wedding in Cincinnati in 2004. (It was not a direct route.) So, I’ve followed their politics a bit more closely than most. Although North Dakota voted only once for a Democrat on the presidential level (in the 1964 Johnson landslide) since 1936, it hasn’t sent a Republican to Washington since voters elected then-Congressman Mark Andrews to the Senate in 1980.
Byron Dorgan, the state’s then-Tax Commissioner was elected to replace him in the House. Now, Dorgan is calling it quits.
By all accounts, the junior Senator from North Dakota is a nice guy. I met him once and found him to be a most pleasant fellow. He crafted an image of moderation on the Great Plains, while voting in near lockstep with his party when in the nation’s capital.
Until yesterday, he had given every indication of running for a fourth term in the Senate.* Polls showed him trouncing perennial Republican candidate Duane Sand, yet losing handily to incumbent Governor John Hoeven. But, despite much pressure from Republicans, Hoeven had (heretofore) not offered any indication of his plans for the fall.
Given the collegiality of politics in North Dakota, my sense is that Hoeven called his state’s Senator to alert him of his intention to contest his seat. It would be the gentlemanly thing to do, particularly given Dorgan’s service to the state and decency toward its residents (including Hoeven). Realizing that he couldn’t win against the popular Republican Governor in a Republican state, Dorgan chose to bow out rather than wage a campaign he was sure to lose.
An indication that there’s substance to my notion: “North Dakota GOP Chairman Gary Emineth told POLITICO that he believes Hoeven is likely to run now.” And Emineth is more likely to be “in the know,” closer to Hoeven than pundits and bloggers who have been speculating in recent months about the Governor’s intentions.
This pickup shouldn’t cost the GOP much effort or money. Expect Hoeven to set up a committee, raising money in the spring, doing his job and not campaigning until the fall.
*
Indeed, according to Politico:
Democrats were all but blindsided by Dorgan’s decision to retire rather than seek a fourth term in a seat that only he might have been able to hold. Neither the Senate majority leader nor the White House even had a statement prepared.
But the recent spate of Democrats giving up will not keep ObamaGreidPelosiCare from passing. Why aren’t the Republicans shutting down the Senate with quorum calls and long bill readings? Why should the Tea Party movement support a Republican Party that has rolled over to Big Government for 10 years now and continues to do so? What is the positive reason why the American people should vote GOP?
I’m not sure she’ll do it, but this would be an ideal senate seat for Sarah Palin. North Dakota is her demographic. This would give her a chance to build a political resume.
“What is the positive reason why the American people should vote GOP?”
Great question ILC. There is no positive reason at all.
Republicans are going to run this year on the theory that being incompetent obstructionists is a qualification for being given the responsibility of power.
Why aren’t the Republicans shutting down the Senate with quorum calls and long bill readings?
That is exactly what will happen, which is why Tano’s liar Barack Obama and the rest of the lying Obama Party are openly admitting they lied to the American people when they promised “open negotiations”. Furthermore, they openly contradict Tano’s lies and Barack Obama’s lies by deliberately excluding Republicans from these closed-door backroom deals that they are making.
The funny part is that Republicans don’t have to do much more than be honest with the American people. The Obama Party has established that it tells lies, that it is hopelessly corrupt, that it bribes individual legislators to get its way, and that it has no intention of governing in any fashion other than by unconstitutional fiat.
Idunno Tano, there’s no Markey Global Warming cap-and-trade energy bill, and a bunch of legislative projects are stalled because the monstrously obese Obama Health Care bill that was supposed to be done before spring ended is only now somewhere close to finally passing – it sounds like the Republicans are quite being competent at being obstructionists.
And since when was being incompetent a hindrance for getting elected. The Nancy Pelosi led Democrats won in 2006, and we’ve had thirty years worth of idiots on both sides of the isles being elected to prove that wrong.
Republicans are going to run this year on the theory that being incompetent obstructionists is a qualification for being given the responsibility of power.
This is, of course, coming from the pathetic Obama Party and its talking points repeaters, who insist that “stimulus” money sent to nonexistent Congressional districts and zip codes to create nonexistent jobs is somehow the height of intelligence.
By the way, Tano, you and your Obama Party and your Barack Obama child have already beclowned yourself by claiming that those congressional districts and zip codes exist, and that anyone else who thinks otherwise is a racist. You simply continue down your delusional pathway, oblivious to how much people are laughing at you.
By the way, what are your plans for next year, when the Republican majority in Congress starts auditing “government contractors” like yourself who billed the government for hours you spent online propagandaizing for your Barack Obama on these websites? Do you think your Barack Obama’s black skin is going to insulate him from laws that make it a Federal crime? How many of you and your Barack Obama’s acolytes are willing to go to jail to protect your Messiah?
Well, Tano, if you’re right, then the GOP is just learning from the Democrats. That incompetent obstructionist strategy worked for them in ’06 and ’08.
And please, if you’re here to engage us as you so self-righteously claim, address the actual points I made in your comments instead of just offering mean-spirited broadsides against the GOP.
Yea this hurts the Democrats, it would be hard to spin it any other way. They needed popular Red State Senators to stay in during 10′ to insulate their losses and spend money on other races. 2010 will shape up to be an interesting election, I don’t think it will be as important as 94 or 06, but it will be interesting.
The less that passes in Washington the better for the business climate. Let the GOP obstruct as much as possible! Mixed control of congress and the White House is really good for Main St.
What? Did the filibuster rule go back to two-thirds? I missed that. I thought the democrats had fired up the steam roller. Dern! Those Republicans have been napping again.
Oh, wait! Maybe I don’t know what an “obstructionist” is. Is that someone who doesn’t go along with being the butt of abusive power?
Where can I get a copy of The Tano Guide to Creative Convoluted Syntax ?
On second blush, why would anyone bother to refer to an incompetent “obstructionist” ? Isn’t an “incompetent obstructionist” like some sort of talking points liberal who sets off his panties-bomb when he meant to blow his nose? (No double entendre meant in confusing the nose with male reproductive plumbing.) (I am not sophisticated enough to know the possible meanings one could attach to blow.) (However, when one blows his panties up when he means to blow his nose does lead one to wonder what universal truth a liberal like Tano can draw from this metaphor.)
I usually agree with you guys, but Tano does have a point. Thoughout this ObamaCare hoo-haa, there has been much more fearmongering from the right rather than that AND new ideas on expanding healthcare. And nothing much about job growth
I cannot get insurance because of a pre-existing condition. And there are millions like me who work but can’t get decent care because we either have high blood pressure or level 1 (diet care – not insulin dependent) diabetes or even a one-time diagnosis of depression. The dems program may be expensive and more like Canada’s but what do the Reps offer?
If the Reps do come back into power to balance out the Dems, good. But if they don’t offer job expansion and health care help, it will be Obama’s time in the sun again
@Rachel:
I’m sure that others can detail the GOP healthcare trial balloons better than I. But, as someone in similar straights as you, I opted for an Health Savings Account and a catastrophic insurance plan – an option that was one unambiguous triumph of the Bush administration.
Needless to say both Dem House and Senate versions slash the program despite over 80% customer approval ratings.
We have the facts on our side on this issue and the support of the populous. Let’s hope some 2010 gains can turn the tide.
Best wishes,
-MFS
The dems program may be expensive and more like Canada’s but what do the Reps offer?
Glad you asked, Rachel.
Simply put, the Republican plan is focused on increasing consumer choice and competition by eliminating barriers to selling insurance across state lines and reducing expenses by sharply curtailing lawsuit abuse. It also reforms and updates high-risk pools to increase accessibility.
#13: Right, NDT. Republican proposals focus reform measures on precisely the cost-drivers that have made health insurance unaffordable to some: restrictions on competition and lawsuit abuse. If the liberals were really interested in reducing costs and making healthcare more affordable, their bills would have STARTED by addressing these issues. But since Obamacare is really about increasing government control over every aspect of our lives, these areas have been left untouched.
Rachel,
With no idea of your community, I am flying blind here, but ……. have you approached a group practice with your medical needs to see if they will take you on as a patient?
I am on a hospital board and we have lots of practices associated with us who manage the care and costs of their patients who have insurance problems. Furthermore, we are often able to find underwriters who will help fill the insurance needs.
Just a thought.