The Party of Know How vs. the Party of “No.”

By Charlie Barber
Staff Writer

“Probably not many more than one percent of a state or the nation actively engage in organized politics, the lifeblood of our democratic process…The one percent of the population actively engaged in organized politics has most of the fun…there’s nothing like being a candidate, or a member of the campaign team, or a precinct committee person to savor the joys and sorrows of the American political process.” - William L. Guy

“Breaking Up Is Hard to Do.” - Neil Sedaka

My fourth trip as a delegate [Dist. 34-Mandan] to the Democratic/NPL Convention was a poignant one. With the retirement of U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan, we said goodbye to “Team North Dakota” in its present incarnation, amidst media coronation of do-nothing Republican Governor John Hoeven, aspiring to be a do-nothing Senator.

I admire Tracy Potter, and welcome a campaigner who wears the NPL on his sleeve and in his heart, and who [like Senator Kent Conrad] proudly displays on his office wall a portrait of Lynn Frazier, the NPL’s first Governor [and later U.S. Senator].

But I disagree with Senate candidate Potter’s designation of Hoeven as a “good” Governor. Hoeven is not a right wing wacko like recent Governors in South Dakota and Missouri, but he has truly only been good for fat cats here. The poor are getting poorer, and the middle class are being driven down to join them, like victims of Republican policies in the rest of the country. Ask any former Bobcat employee, left high and dry to fight for limited, low paying service sector jobs with hapless, and now homeless, immigrants drawn here by mindless Republican boosterism over the oil and gas boom.

If not for efforts by Byron Dorgan, Kent Conrad and Earl Pomeroy to secure passage of President Obama’s Health Care Bill, things would be worse. This law means economic freedom, as well as medical security. Small business can protect employees without bankrupting themselves. As economic conditions improve under Obama, if someone wants to tell a Chamber of Commerce type to “take this job and shove it,” they can do so more easily. Economic blackmail masquerading as normalcy can change to one of economic opportunity and real free enterprise, always more fruitfully supported by Democratic administrations, despite Republican propaganda to the contrary.

Fargo City Commissioner Tim Mahoney’s presentation reminded me of Hoeven’s visceral cowardice during last year’s Red River rising, recommending evacuation shortly upon his arrival. I assume the only reason Hoeven showed up in the first place is that a staff member mistakenly told him it was a “ribbon cutting,” instead of a “river flooding.”

This gutless Governor also shrank from dealing with millions in bloated costs for State Prison construction or a sensible drug and DUI policy in the last ten years. In addition, he failed in Legislative sessions to fight for better highway construction on State Highway death traps on the Bakken. The list is long, if you look carefully.

While Hoeven was willing to let Fargo float down the river, Republican nominee for Congress, Rick Berg, has long been selling Fargo [and the whole State] down the river to big business. Republicans like Berg don’t really mind big government, actually, as long as it only helps the rich and the powerful, and not the people who really need it, the ones who will benefit from the Health Bill supported by Congressman Earl Pomeroy.

Earl can add enemies like Sarah Palin and tea baggers to a long list of friends around this State, which doesn’t go in much for nut jobs. I saw a couple of them speed their jeep toward a Civic Center rendezvous outside our Convention, their “Don’t Tread On Me” flag out the back like they’ve been watching too many reruns of “Rat Patrol.”

With Merle Boucher running for Ag Commissioner we have someone, like Roger Johnson, who actually cares about farm and ranching policy in North Dakota. The suits who surround the Republican appointee toe a corporate line and can’t tell their their axes from hoes in the ground. They shun confessions of middle management in Agri-Business that they can’t afford to drive farmers out of business the way they are doing, since none of those executives really know how to farm anymore.

Corey Mock is running for Secretary of State against incumbent Al “See No Evil” Jaeger, who, rather than acknowledge with pride last year that North Dakota led the nation in percentage of convictions for corruption, declared, “You gotta be kidding me. Boy, I’ve lived here all my life. I can’t think of anybody who’s been nailed for something.”

Gimme a break.

Republican PSC Chair Kevin Cramer never met a piece of lignite he didn’t like.

He talks as if he thinks it’s a Communist plot to use wind, thermal, biodiesel, nuclear, or even oil and gas energy alternatives. Brad Crabtree is an immense improvement since he is rational, as well as conversant with all forms of energy in our State…even coal.

Unlike Corey Fong, or [State Treasurer] Kelly Schmidt for that matter, Cynthia Kaldor will not need on-the-job training for her job as Tax Commissioner. As her financial expertise becomes apparent as superior to that of the incumbent towards November she may find herself the target of similar deceitful TV ads that Fong hurled against his better qualified opponent, Brent Edison, four years ago.

As for Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, he is a formidable candidate because he is actually competent. He is not a coward like John Hoeven, a know nothing like Al Jaeger, or a vapid ideologue like Kevin Cramer.

Sincerity is another matter. Families of those who have lost loved ones to drunk drivers, to irrational drug imprisonment policies, or the politics of bill collecting for child support regardless of parental merit, might wish that Wayne Stenehjem were as vigorous in support of rigorous and rational policies in the Attorney General’s office in odd numbered years, as in even numbered ones.

If North Dakota elects candidates of the Republican Party of “No” this year, it won’t be because folks think Republicans can do a better job than the Know How candidates of the Democratic/NPL. It will mean they are still in denial about the disaster Republican politicians and policies have been for this state and the rest of the nation.

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