geared more toward enhancing the power of the political/business elite

Exactly, John Hoeven doesn’t give a crap about you unless you work for the government.

I didn’t vote for Hoeven last fall. But I expect that if he runs I’d vote for him in 2010 against Dorknob.

That being said, I’d rather have a candidate that I could feel good about.

I am not sure that Hoven would be a gain for the GOP. There isn’t much difference in the two.

Yeah, this type of thing should raise our hopes up (even if we know we are just going to get let down by years of poor performance later). But it doesn’t. Who cares? It is like watching a Dorgan vs. Conrad primary for governor. Either way, it wouldn’t make a ton of difference who won.

I still have a feeling that Dorgan would beat the Moustache head to head. Dorgan has more money than Mathern and he is a ruthless campaigner.

Years ago my dad was set to run against Senator Milton Young from North Dakota in 1960. He died before he could do so. 50 years ago this summer.

His objection was that Milt Young was too liberal. And he stayed in office from 1945-1891. He became very powerful and was president Pro Tem of the Senate. That’s what happens when a liberal Republican gets into office. They never leave.

Who will run against a liberal Hoeven if he wins?

Harrumph

While I agree Hoeven is not a true conservative, we all better jump on the bandwagon and urge him to run. If he gets into the Senate race, I believe it will also bring forward some strong conservatives to challenge Pomeroy. Kevin Cramer, for example. If Hoeven keeps a strong lead, it could have coat-tails to elect a conservative House member too.

Think of the possibility: North Dakota, who hasn’t elected a Republican to a federal position in 29 years (Mark Andrews in 1980), electing TWO in the same year!

RJRS,

I agree that Dorgan would win in the end. Probably by a considerable amount. Far more money, far more favors to call in. Just the other day, there was a manufacturing plant that was going to close and layoff many of the small town’s workers. With amazing coincidence, the next week the company got a billion dollar federal contract and the plant stayed open (because Dorgan bribed… I mean, asked them to stay open).

Hoeven would have done the same thing – don’t get me wrong. But he can’t do the same thing, which is one of many reasons why he wouldn’t win.

This is no surprise to me. It is talk all over town here, whether you overhear a conversation of the people in front of you in line at Walmart, or the conversation of neighbors and co-workers, it is all the same thing…if Schaefer won’t run, they want Hoeven to run.

Do I think that Gov Hoeven is a conservative? No, of course not…would I rather see him as our senator vs Dorgan or Conrad? YES.

I happen to actually like him overall, so maybe I am biased

I just hate his policies.

Well, he did run the Bank of North Dakota, so I think it is pretty clear where he stands lol

Can we just get somebody who doesn’t have a Donald Trump hair cut? I am at the point where even that would be enough to make me happy if it means Dorgan is gone..lol

I think he has done positive things to diversify the economy, so I give him credit for that, but I don’t have the delusion that he would be a fiscal conservative, but I def think he would be a better choice than who is up there now.

…the political/business elite…

The political elite just reaches into your paycheck and takes your money; the business elite has to give you something you want in return for your money, and you can opt out.
Big difference.

TW: I agree that business can only be truly greedy when it gets preferential treatment from politicians. As you know, I’m against govt being involved in the private sector in any way.

We agree on that.

“according to a poll conducted for the National Republican Senatorial Committee”

I’d say this poll has as much legitimacy as the economist who maintains the Alerus has a huge economic impact on Grand Forks.

“Why even try! We’ll never win! Let’s just resign ourselves to a lifetime of liberal leaders because EC99 said so.”

Excellent observation! You have it exactly right! See what can be learned from history?

Dorgan has been in Congress for 29 years. He’s a skilled, left/populist demagogue. Even as a liberal Republican — which in this case probably means porkbarrelling — Hoeven would a million times better on policy.

Dorgan’s lifetime ACU rating is under 17 percent. Even a liberal Republican like Olympia Snowe is 48 percent.

http://www.acuratings.org/2008all.htm

Hoeven will also be a pro-life Senator, if that’s an issue.

Here’s the Washington Post blog item:

* Hoeven Crushes Dorgan in GOP Poll: North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven (R) led Sen. Byron Dorgan (D) 53 percent to 36 percent, according to a poll conducted for the National Republican Senatorial Committee and obtained by the Fix. Both Dorgan and Hoeven have extremely strong profiles in the eyes of the state’s voters. Hoeven had a stratospheric 86 percent favorable ratings while just five percent viewed him unfavorably; Dorgan had a 69/24 fav/unfav. Hoeven, who was overwhelmingly re-elected to a third term last November, has said he will make a decision on whether to challenge Dorgan by September. Earlier this week, Hoeven was asked about a Senate bid during an appearance on Bloomberg Radio and said only: “I haven’t made any decision in that regard.” Hoeven has been heavily recruited to run against Dorgan and Sen. Kent Conrad (D) in cycles past but has resisted. If he decides to run — and this poll is designed to sweeten that proposition — the North Dakota race would immediately become a toss up.

“Hoeven will also be a pro-life Senator, if that’s an issue.”

It isn’t. Like it or not, it was decided by Roe v. Wade.

“It would if they support pro-life judges on the Supreme court.”

How many precedents have been overruled by subsequent courts?

Sotormayor=Souter.

Next up to leave is Stevens or Ruth Buzzy Ginsburg.

At least Hoeven would be able to finish up the Republicanization of North Dakota’s politics and would serve as an impetus in getting rid of Conrad later. Imagine a solid Red North and South Dakota, and how that could work on Montana and in revamping Minnesota’s pathetic Republican contingent. These Dimocrat Senators are going to have to answer for their party’s policies and for the Graf Zeppelin that is also known as the Obama administration.
A RINO is better than the Bluest Blue Dog.

Did they ask any of the new voters ACORN signed up or maybe they couldn’t find any of them.

The Dallas Cowboys are all in pre-season training camp, Mickey and the gang are all safe at Disneyland, and the rest were most likely dead anyway.

Gene, While Milt Young may have been too liberal for your tastes, North Dakotans did not have to fear the threat to their liberties as we do with our current representation. If we have to support Hoeven to have any chance of protecting those liberties than we should. Too many people in the last election did not support McCain becuz he was too liberal now we have more liberalism in the White House than this country will be able to stand. I too would like a more conservative choice and will be active in the selection process to achieve that end, but if our candidate is not I will not take my ball and go home. There is too much at stake.

I’d say this poll has as much legitimacy as the economist who maintains the Alerus has a huge economic impact on Grand Forks.

Which is why I referred to the poll’s source in the post.

And please don’t mention Cramer, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

Yeah, we should all just sit in our basements and be grumpy about it. Why even try! We’ll never win! Let’s just resign ourselves to a lifetime of liberal leaders because EC99 said so.

I happen to actually like him overall, so maybe I am biased

I’ve always heard that Gov. Hoeven is a very nice man on a personal level. So in that respect, I like him too.

I just hate his policies. I think they’re predicated on economic illiteracy, and geared more toward enhancing the power of the political/business elite than maintaining individualism and equal opportunity.

That depends. My understanding is that campaigns have better polls than the ones the news media report on. That doesn’t mean the media will release the poll if they don’t like the message.

Almost always campaign polls are very accurate.