Should Hoeven Run Against Dorgan In The Coming Election?

Proof • June 29, 2009

Should Governor John Hoeven run against Senator Byron Dorgan?(online surveys)

North Dakota Governor John Hoeven has announced that he’ll be announcing whether or not he’ll be running against incumbent Senator Byron Dorgan this coming election. This prompted Scott Hennen to ask the obvious question on his show this morning: Should Hoeven run?
Hennen is fully in Hoeven’s camp, congratulating the governor for having done a good job. I disagree. Strenuously.
I really don’t think Hoeven has done all that great of a job. I think he’s spent hundreds of millions of our taxpayer dollars on government-managed “economic development” schemes which have had questionable results, at best. In so far as the state has flourished under Hoeven, it’s had more to do with the lucky circumstance of an energy boom that just happened to take place during his term at the state’s rudder. Hoeven has also been an opponent to tax relief in the state of North Dakota, even while the state was running huge budget surpluses, thus allowing the legislature to increase state spending by huge amounts. Something that has, in turn, left the state in a perilous position going forward.
We have expanded state spending so far based on the massive tax revenue increases driven by the state’s thriving energy sector that if tax revenues fall – like they have in the rest of the nation where the recession has hit – we’re going to be in serious trouble. We had better hope oil prices stay high. If they don’t, Hoeven (with some help with some not-so-conservative Republicans in the state legislature) has left us in a bad position.
Hoeven hasn’t led North Dakota to prosperity. North Dakota has prospered despite Hoeven. And, when it comes to fiscal issues (which are the most important issues to my mind) I really don’t see all that much separation between Hoeven and Dorgan.
I, frankly, wish Hoeven hadn’t been nominated to run for a third term last election. I’ll even go so far as to say that I hope Dorgan beats Hoeven. I’ve got no love for Byron Dorgan, but better to have a liberal Democrat in office that we can oppose than a liberal Republican in office for the next couple of decades that other Republicans have to pretend to like.

Tags: Domestic Issues, North Dakota News, Politics

http://Array jimmypop

THIS IS WHAT WE CONS SHOULD WANT!!!! That way when Hovey lose by 5% and we can put a conservative in as governor.

CHEAR HOVEY ON TO LOSE!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOT! get the liberals out of office locally, then move nationally!

if he actually hopes to win Hovey needs to go against earl, but tools like him think that would be a step down.
ec99

Time for a reality check. Dorgan and Conrad are the ND equivalent of the old southern Democrat senators: Russell Long, Strom Thurmond, etc. They will be in the Senate until they retire at 90 or die. They will be there after we are all dead and gone.
george

There are a LOT of issues that Dork would vote for the Hoeven would not and vice versa.

He’s a social conservative, and so for the few of us on this site who put social issues before the almighty dollar issues, it’s worth getting Dork out and Hoeven in.
patriot

I heard the NRSC in DC was “looking” for someone to run against Dorgan, so assumed Hoeven was not running.

On having a liberal Republican or a liberal Dem like Dorgan in office, I would still err on preferring the (R) candidate and get Dorgan out of there once and for all.

We have a dearth of candidates in ND, which is too bad, but we need someone good (I’m hoping Wrigley) to run against Conrad in ’14, so getting Hoeven now against Dorgan would help us move incrementally to getting all 3 of those guys out of there.
http://www.moszer.net/ Moszer

In a choice between Dorgan and Hoeven, I’ll choose Hoeven any day.

Now in a choice between Schafer and Hoeven, well Hoeven looses every time.
http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/ goon

I don’t think Hoven can beat senator comb over. In fact I don’t see Dorgan leaving the senate until he retires. I just think he is so entrenched in his position.
patriot

I think the concern with the liberal way Hoeven has governed ND, particularly fiscally could be curtailed somewhat with the input/influence of some good fiscal conservatives -Thune, DeMint, others – in the Senate.

As Governor he has no “equal” power guiding him toward a conservative vote. In the Senate, he’d be surrounded by them (yea okay, I said that last part with my fingers crossed and a prayer).
http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/ goon

I really don’t see that replacing the liberal Dorgan with the liberal Hoeven would really change things for North Dakotans all that much.

Which is why I think Hoeven would ultimately lose such a match up.

I see what you’re saying but is there anyone ini North Dakota we could run against any of the three amigos and beat them? I know Rick Clayburg was close against in the year he ran.
jimmypop

I think Hoeven pales by comparison with Dorknob.

Hoeven: “I squandered a billion dollars.”

Dorknob: “I squandered Trillions.”

How can a Republican compete with a record like that?

now put it into context with gdp of each area…

anyway, hovey needs to go. i say we cheer him on to resign and lose to dorgan. its really a no lose. either hov is gone or dor is gone! we get rid of a liberal both ways! WOOOOOOOT!!!!
imagine

I was “polled” by the Hoeven camp (or at least by a polling company obviously hired by the right). It was a very fair poll. Covered all the questions regarding a Hoeven run.

I think he could beat Earl but has little to no chance against Dorgan or Conrad. It would be a huge mistake for ND.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

Hoevens going to have to act fast before the goodwill he bought with our money turns to disgust when the states out of money because of him.
http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/ goon

It’s like we are voting for Chlamydia and Syphilis, both are painful and not the best option but some will accept it over some other incurable and more serious disease. I dun no.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

I think Hoeven pales by comparison with Dorknob.

Hoeven: “I squandered a billion dollars.”

Dorknob: “I squandered Trillions.”

How can a Republican compete with a record like that?
RJ Richards

Rob,

Your last paragraph is actually what is on my heart. I would like to see Ed Schafer. I just don’t trust Hoeven.
imagine

The “change” would be in seniority. Being a small state we are ‘empowered’ (for lack of a better word) by how long our people are in the club…. Putting Hoeven in just doesn’t make sense and I think citizens know that.

If he could beat EP, does it make sense to give up a Gov position for the House?

In many ways a ND “liberal” is more conservative than a CA conservative
george

I disagree. Hoeven would vote for pro-life judges.
tom

Schafer against Dorgan, Kramer against Pomeroy, in two years Kramer could run for Conrads spot
JuneBug

Hennen is an idiot
http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/ goon

One of the team ND has to go. Earl is the one that would be easiest to pick off.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

Well Hoeven would be slightly better than Dorknob.
http://northerngleaner.blogspot.com/ Gene

Please Rob, Do NOT let Hoeven or any politico speak at the Rally. This is about the people. Besides I’m bringing my pitchfork.
Conservative

Rob, We have to tackle this incrementally. Show me a true conservative North Dakota candidate who has the popularity to defeat Dorgan and I’ll vote for him. But odds are that other than Ed Shaffer, you’re not going to find one. So in my opinion, Governor Hoeven is an integral part of the plan. First, we replace Dorgan with the Governor. Then we convince Ed to run against Pomeroy, and then we a candidate to run against Conrad.

I hve a couple of guys who I’d like to see run against Conrad. The first guy is Kevin Cramer, the second guy is Bob Harms. I like both of them and I think that both have done a pretty good job of demonstrating that they are truly conservative. Bob especially.

So, while I agree with some of your concerns that the Gov is not as conservative as we would like, he is the best we have at the moment with the political chops to beat Dorgan.
ec99

The Republican Party shoots itself in the foot, chronically putting up sacrifical lambs against the Holy Trinity. The one chance they had, they blew. They had an incumbent senator who was obviously dying, and whom did they nominate? Earl Strinden. The most strident and unlikeable guy in the state.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

Just added a poll to the post if people want to vote.
EchoofHeemstra

Hoeven against Dorgan
Schafer against Earl
Cory Fong against Conrad in ’12

and btw, Hoeven is a large improvement from Dorgan on “even” social issues: He opposes abortion with the only exceptions being rape, incest, and to save the life of the mother, is opposed to both gay marriage and civil unions, supports the death penalty, is against embryonic stem cell research but supports umbilical cord and adult stem cells, and the list goes on.

calling Hoeven a “RINO” is ridiculously exaggerated. In regards to his state spending: We HAD the money to spend, the resources were there. I highly doubt Hoeven would have spent the same amount if we had a large defecit. You don’t have to save every last penny. He’s a common-sense centrist when it comes to energy issues and education issues. To top it off, he’s got a strong faith in God and is a staunch supporter of veterans. I interned in Gov. Hoeven’s office for a day in May, and even in that one day I could sense the respect and admiration his staff have for him….he’s just a great guy. He’s got morals, you wouldn’t see Senator Hoeven getting involved with Jack Abramoff (Dorgan) or taking special favors from Countrywide (Conrad), or basic any of the flip-floping, mudslinging-calling Pres. Bush a “clown”- (Earl). Hoeven may disagree with the President on, say, the “cap-and trade” bill, but you’d never see him stoop to that kind of child namecalling, that’s just not the kind of guy he is.

Senators Hoeven and Fong and Congressman Schafer, ND dream team for Washington!
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

THIS IS WHAT WE CONS SHOULD WANT!!!! That way when Hovey lose by 5% and we can put a conservative in as governor.

Now that’s change I can believe in.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

So, while I agree with some of your concerns that the Gov is not as conservative as we would like, he is the best we have at the moment with the political chops to beat Dorgan.

Sure, I get that argument. My problem is that I think it’s sort of short-sighted. Yeah, we get rid of Dorgan, but then we get stuck with a RINO in office that the party establishment has to pretend to like even as he pulls Specteresque nonsense.

Hoeven is no leader, and he’s no conservative, and I’d rather put up with Dorgan until we have a good candidate to run. Not just one who might win.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

In a choice between Dorgan and Hoeven, I’ll choose Hoeven any day.

I understand the “lesser of two evils” argument, but remember: If Hoeven were to win that office Republicans would have to pretend he’s actually conservative for the next couple of decades.

That sort of nonsense is what led to the GOP’s demise in the first place.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

I think he could beat Earl but has little to no chance against Dorgan or Conrad. It would be a huge mistake for ND.

I really don’t see that replacing the liberal Dorgan with the liberal Hoeven would really change things for North Dakotans all that much.

Which is why I think Hoeven would ultimately lose such a match up.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

I disagree. Hoeven would vote for pro-life judges.

That’s important, but such a small portion of the a Senator’s overall duties as to be not that important. Even more so when you consider that anyone else the GOP is likely to run would vote the same way as Hoeven.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

Schafer isn’t running as he’s said repeatedly. I don’t know anything about Fong’s intent.

As for Hoeven, spending money just because the government has it is a recipe for run-away government growth. Our state is prosperous right now thanks to coal and oil, not any political policy, and that prosperity should have translated into tax relief.

Instead we got a 60% increase in spending over the last two legislative sessions. Which was neither necessary or responsible.

Hoevem had better hope we don’t see a decline in tax revenues.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

He’s a social conservative, and so for the few of us on this site who put social issues before the almighty dollar issues, it’s worth getting Dork out and Hoeven in.

Fiscal issues are social issues, really.

But if you think Hoeven would be some sort of a vast improvement over Dorgan on even social issues, you’re kidding yourself.

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