The New Spin On Hoeven’s Indecisiveness: It’s Thune-Like!

Proof • November 3, 2009

Today on AM1100 my good friend Scott Hennen played audio of a number of North Dakota political leaders saying that Governor John Hoeven has plenty of time yet to announce a run against Senator Byron Dorgan. The new spin among these Republicans seems to be that Hoeven is playing a delay game not unlike what challenger John Thune did to then-Democrat Senate Leader Tom Daschle.
The problem? Dorgan is no Tom Daschle. And John Hoeven is no Thune.
Thune, in moving from the House to the Senate, was making good on a promise he made on term limits. Thune was also running against Daschle who had become quite shrill during his time as the leader of Senate Democrats. Dorgan, on the other hand, has no such target on his back. And Hoeven, though still enjoying big approval numbers and coming of an unprecedented election to a third term in office, has presided over big spending increases over the last few legislative sessions and even opposed tax cuts on the last ballot. In the view of a lot of conservatives in the state, he’s overstayed his welcome.
But even setting aside ideological objections to a run from Hoeven, tactically his delays make no sense. Dorgan is an entrenched incumbent with a war chest full of political money that’s getting bigger by the day. The only way to unseat Dorgan is to challenge him. And the time to challenge him, with no small number of hot political topics to hit him on from health care nationally to the National Heritage Area controversy locally, is right now.
Yet the indecisive John Hoeven continues to sit on the fence.
The latest political rumors I’m hearing in Republican circles is that Hoeven would rather run against Conrad because, with the Countrywide scandal, he views Conrad as being weaker. Further, there’s some unsubstantiated rumors allegedly sourced to Hoeven’s political staff which has it that the recordings of Conrad negotiating his VIP loans with Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo (the ones thought to be destroyed) do actually exist.
But even if those rumors are true, and if Hoeven is going to run against Conrad rather than Dorgan, he should do us all a favor and announce his intentions with this race now so that the campaign can begin either with Hoeven or with another candidate from the state.

Tags: Asshats, Domestic Issues, Politics

http://Array sayanything-5633

The Conrad strategy just doesn’t make sense. It’s almost as if the Governor is underestimating himself.

Dorgan is going to be the toughest of the three to defeat. Everyone knows it. The Governor has a far greater chance of beating Dorgan than any other candidate that the Republicans could nominate.

The Governor needs to run against Dorgan. The party needs to find a different candidate to run against Conrad…Kevin Cramer are you listening?

Then finally, the party can nominate anyone to run against Pomeroy. He’s going to be the easiest of the three to knock off his perch.

But I am quickly losing my patience with Hoeven. He needs to get in the race now or to bow out now. Time is wasting and the money keeps pouring into Dorgan’s war chest.
lock’m'up

If he can’t do what’s best for conservatives, he should be voted out of whatever office he runs for. Down with Hoeven!
jimmypop

hoveys loyalty is to himself and nobody else. he was a democrat then repub for a reason…..

hint; it wasnt because he woke up one day and knew liberalism was wrong.
ec99

I think it’s too bad that Hoeven has an enormous sense of entitlement, that the nomination belongs to him, and no one else should even think of running. This is quite frankly egocentric crap, whether someone else has a chance against Dorgan or not. Too bad Hoeven is surrounded by sychophants, a real advisor would work to deflate his incredible hubris.
billy

Thune lost to Tim Johnson in the 2002 Senate race (by 524 votes) before beating Daschle in 2004.

So if the Thune comparison holds, Hoeven has to run now, lose to Dorgan, and then run again in 2012 against Conrad.

This is the “throw the bums” out year, one of the few times I’d see incumbent members of Congress as vulnerable.
lock’m'up

Hoeven can beat any of the lib-treo. Go Hoeven!
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

Hoeven is the fourth stooge.
Dan

Rob you have your facts wrong about Thune…..he was not running on a term limits promise, he ran against Senator Johnson and lost and was not in an elected office when he ran against Daschle
ec99

It would be nice in the ND GOP leadership foud itself a pair of cojones and gave Hoeven an ultimatum, instead of wimping out and allowing him to drag this thing out so long. His loyalty should be to the party and beating Dorgan, not playing the coy Southern Belle who wants to be continually courted, pleaded with, and begged for a decision. Tell him: “A decision by Nov 15th, or the party is looking elsewhere.
ec99

“They already tried a nudge asking for a decision by labor day and Hoeven blew them off.”

Yeah. It’s at that point the gutless GOP should have said “Thanks, but no thanks.” Stay as governor.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

Hoeven’s too selfish. I don’t think he’s going to run (and get a black eye by losing to another liberal).

What he’s doing is holding back any Republican challenger.
sayanything-7134

Come on Rob.. I heard you take Pomeroy to task. You are articulate, well read, have principles, and aren’t afraid to tangle. Hennen and his con buddies will fund you. Go for it. By the way not sarcasm.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

Thune lost to Tim Johnson in the 2002 Senate race (by 524 votes) before beating Daschle in 2004.

So if the Thune comparison holds, Hoeven has to run now, lose to Dorgan, and then run again in 2012 against Conrad.

Good point.

Prevailing opinion is that Hoeven would rather just run against Conrad in 2012.

But he’ll probably hold us all over a barrel then too.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

They already tried a nudge asking for a decision by labor day and Hoeven blew them off.
sayanything-101

Hoeven is being a drama queen, which he is.
sayanything-8436

Dan is correct. Thune was working in the private sector for the DM&E railroad when he ran against Daschle.

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The New Spin On Hoeven’s Indecisiveness: It’s Thune-Like!

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