From Forgetting Sarah Marshall:

(my favorite line: Someone should do something.....which cracks me up!)

........if this CO2 thing is so horrendously bad, why are the liberals and the Democrat party not getting the government to build HUGE carbon suckers to pull all this carbon out of the air?  We all know why.......it is NOT about "climate change"..........

Sick~o. I will rejoin the climate change argument next week (maybe this weekend). I am going to San Diego, meet up with friends with whom known forever, and we're going to the MNF game. (my company has club season tix).

So don't expect too much out of me until Wednesday.  

Even if man made global climate change *sigh* (how stupid does that sound) is real. There is nothing we can do now to stop it. The only thing we can do is reduce emissions that will hang around in the air long after that put there. Nothing we can do will stop the "change". The only you could do now is mitigate the effects through sea walls and moving populations away from soon to be blah hahaha, (sorry can't say this with a straight face) inundated shorelines.

I froze my ass off last winter and I will freeze my ass of this winter.

According to Algore, the winters are supposed to be getting warmer, not cooler. This winter should be warmer than last winter, last winter should have been warmer than the prior winter and so on. We should be talking about what a mild winter we had last year and how we hope this winter is too.

If you wamers were right, then I should not have froze my ass off last winter, and I should not have to worry about freezing my ass off this winter.

Is that blunt enough?

I wouldnt mind my tax money being used to insure children, I think its awesome. I rather see that happen then them waste a bunch of money updating a prison to make it more comfortable for criminals.

I am worried about ND accepting any stimulus money, people are not understanding that will add to the deficit and it will have to be repaid. After we stimulate the economy they will stimulate our wages and we will be back to square 1.

Lets also not forget that not all states have have open container laws either, and that DUI arrests are by per capita. Something gets lost in the numbers when you have a state with 33.5 million people verus a state with only .6 million people. One thing is there is more active focus on DUI's in the rural areas because there are fewer other crimes to focus on.

Back to topic tho, this is truely shocking. Yet again just a few people are talking about the fact so few have actually read the bill but the congress and Obama are gung ho on passing it.  Maybe a majority of people don't care what happens in Washington anymore.  In which case we deserve the punishment we will get for being ingnorant.

I highly doubt North Dakota has the most Alcoholics especially when a lot of cities have at least double the amount of citizens. If you want to go by per capita, let me remind we are the most corrupt state in the union. So that Christian Theocracy would have it's work cut out for them.

Well atleast they trimmed the bill by 100 million. That said the sheer lack of knowledge or ignorance about what is in the bill/what it is aiming to accomplish is scary. Yet all the democrats are only too ready to vote for it. Frankly if the Republicans weren't playing the political game they would be voting yes to it too. All these guys look at Hoover as being a do nothing and that caused the depression. However that isn't the case, Hoover spent a lot of money trying to free up the credit market. On top of that a lot of people look at FDR as the savior. Infact when I was in school they ranted and raved about him. In reality FDR prolonged the "Great" Depression. In fact most of the rest of the world had exited the depression with in 18 months. So what we are learning now is that we are all might as well lube up our butt holes really good. Cause we are going to get shafted for the next 4 to 8 years and possibly more. Thanks to an ineptitudes on both voters and government.

There is an answer to this and that is called the free market. Any stimulus we do should only be infastructure and energy while buying up bad loans. That way the government can make money when those with the good paying jobs start buying houses.

F & B,  I agree with you completely, but I'm afraid that this is a losing battle.  In this state we have created a strange dichotomy.  We're mostly all very financially conservative when it comes to our own money and our state's money.  We demand that it is spent wisely and we detest over spending.

But our politicians have created a system in which farmers are unable to make a living without their federal subsidies, disaster payments, government funded crop insurance programs, etc.  And Dorgan, Conrad, and Pomeroy are constantly reminding folks that without them, their crops will wither away, their families will starve, and there will be no more government checks in the mailbox.   

The same goes for state infrastructure.  We have our airbases that bring in hundreds of millions of dollars to the state.  They use fear mongering tactics to convince us that we'll lose our bases if we don't reelect them.  Or that we'll lose our highway and road funding.

As long as our citizens keep falling prey to the fear tactics, we'll continue to be willing dupes of the Pelosi/Reid/Obama  big government socialists.

The only way to turn this around is to find a way to convince our citizens that we can survive without these guys in power.

People choose to drink too much, to blame anyone for that besides the drinker is plain silly... No one makes them drink..

They need to get real jobs and add to society, not subtract.

Not a "true red state", that would be communism.  A theocracy maybe.  Where the religious right would rule with an iron hand.    Yep, that's what we need here in North Dakota.

A Christian Theocracy.  Think that would solve the alcohoism problem out here?  North Dakota is the #1 state for alcoholism.

Global Poverty Act of 2007 (H.R.1302, S.2433) That is a horrible bill and should be vetoed. Where do they come up with this crap?

Pomeroy voted for this bill. It was passed by UNANIMOUS voice vote.

http://www.results.org/website/article.asp?id=2897

 Thanks Uncle Earl for voting to give away  over $800 BILLION TWICE!!! That is over 1 TRILLION dollars

That is dead on.  Pomeroy is really out of touch.  I feel sorry for our state.  Duane Sand is a breath of fresh air in this state.  A veteran who served proudly, a man who grew up on a farm and knows the value of hard work, and a straight shooter.  Pomeroy went to school, worked as an attorney for four years, and straight to the gravy train in the government. 

Duane Sand is North Dakota and I am proud to vote for him.

Rick,

I respect your viewpoint on a lot of things, I honestly do, but on this I need us to unite.  It's your choice.  I would even make a deal with you and vote for Mathern if I thought I could convince you to vote for Sand. 

Pomeroy's dealings effect us all.  The pork, the deals, and the corruption.  Real corruption.  If Sand gets in and does it, then let's team up and  go after him.  But on this, I'm not playing, Pomeroy is corrupt.  It gets us all in North Dakota.

I'll debate and have fun on all the issues, but on this one I care about us all.  Vote Obama if you want, bad mouth Bush, go for it.  I don't care on that.  But on Pomeroy and Sand, one is a liar and a corrupt power mad man and one isn't.  I don't want to see you, me, or this state screwed.

I swear, you have my word, I won't vote for Hoeven, Kalk or anyone else if you will go Sand.  I feel that strong about it.

Pomeroy has been sitting on the mountain of money for to long.  He's getting dizzy up there. 

I read where 401k's are 20% down right now.  Congress and Earl Pomeroy come through again.  It seriously makes me sick when I think of my father two years from retirement and how he's taking body blows.  All the while Earl profits because we bail out his doners.  Sickening!

I'm not white hot or anything, I'm digusted.  I don't hate Earl, I just think he's done a terrible job.  His laziness and greed are out of control. 

Yeah, this guy has to go.

Duane Sand 2008'.   Let's vote North Dakota on this one and not party.  We can fight the other stuff all day long and I'm sure I will, but on this, a vote for Earl Pomeroy is a vote for San Francisco and a vote for Duane Sand is a vote for North Dakota.

WOW!! You actually get a response from Pomeroy? It has been my experience that he can not even get one of his underlings to send me a form letter. I have written to him many times and I am always respectful, yet he does not feel the need to write me back most of the time. I would say once out of every 10 letters I send I get a reply. When I write to thank him for supporting an issue or compliment him I get a reply right away. Funny how that works.

I will hold my nose and vote for Mr Sand on election day!

I have no fight with Mr. Dorgan. I'm out to see justice done in North Dakota. Mr. Dorgan always writes back to me when I have a question.  The typical Pomeroy response goes as follows:

1.  Repeat your own question back to you .

2.  Give history of issue (exactly what you already know)

3.  Give example of vote he once took.

4.  Bash Bush

5.  Promises to take it under consideration.

This is for something like asking if the Grand Forks base will stay open.  Earl Pomeroy abused his position.  I have no issue with Mr. Dorgan and don't think its fair to lump him in with Pomeroy.

Earl Pomeroy is playing the little game where he was caught with his hand in the cookie jar and now its everyone else's fault.  Sorry Earl.  You took money from AIG, invested in AIG, and bailed them out.  Us taxpayers get to pay for you to keep your tidy little investment.

People, lets keep fighting over Obama/McCain and Hoeven/Mathern, but on this one, lets be united.  Justice needs to be served.  Earl Pomeroy must go.

I'm begging everyone to join with me the others with like minds on this site and put aside the partisan stuff for one vote.  Let's vote Duane Sand as our next Congressman.  I want some honesty in Congress.

I forgot to mention something to VIcky-

alfonso rodriguez jr. was let out prison and civil commitment by pawlenty in MN, what is pawlenty's party affiliation?

huh, fossil, vicky, blmcar, snooze, and all repubs/conservatives/evangelists,etc

you are right in picking on conrad and earl, fire away.

check your facts on Dorgan though. 

In 1999 during a republican controlled congress, on the senate floor Byron Dorgan warned that a lack of regulation will lead to more funny money and more unethical business practices, eventually resulting in a collapse and the need for a taxpayer bailout.  Dorgan must have had a glass ball that the repubs can't get their hands on, or maybe it was that he was just right on this and all all other idiotic policies during these last two administrations.  Dorgan is a valuable representative to all of North Dakota, red or blue.

I have read some things that Earl and Conrad have said, including today's Fargo Forum.  They think they are doing the right thing with this meltdown.  I think that they should do what their constituents asked.  Period.

People need to remember that Dorgan voted against this, because he doesn't trust Bush, Paulson, or Bernake.  Byron Dorgan once again is on the side of ND, as he is all the time.  It is ridiculous to bunch Dorgan in with anyone else in politics because there is no one in his league.  Dorgan listens to his voters, fights the good fights for ND, and isn't afraid to stand up to something popular when he knows its wrong.  Whether its this bailout, the dereg of wall street, commodity speculation, Halliburton ripping off the US taxpayer, or fighting Mexican trucking Byron Dorgan fights for everyday americans on both sides of the aisle.  If you buy anything from any store, apply for a loan, or have a credit card Byron Dorgan works for you, which is more than we can say for about 90% of politicians at local, state, or federal levels of this country.

Roon,  good post.    Rush Limbaugh is far more than just an entertainer.     It has been varified that he is  98% CORRECT AND TRUTHFUL with his news reporting.... 

I don't think   NBC, ABC MSNBC OR CBS can quote those numbers.

I am appalled that some voters can take their dislike for Bush's spending and translate it into a vote for Obama. Amazing.

McCain is not Bush. Not even close. He is the one hope this country has right now. He has the right ideas to take us to higher ground, at exactly the right time.

Obama? Be careful what you vote for. You might not like what you get.

Peter Gilcrest,  HEAD DA, charlotte,  nc....

Let a  criminal out of jail 30 times, for burglery,  assault, robbery,  molesting....    well today the creep grabbed a 12 yr old at the school bus stop... dragged her into woods, raped her... thank god she is alive.....

Peter Gilcrest,  DEMOCRAT......................................................

Jack A.

If we have enough voters like you out there it's going to be a McCain/Palin/Sand night.  Don't believe those polls.  Dakotapolitics polls are about as unscientific at it gets and I have a feeling once America finds out just how big of a marxist and taxer Obama is, Big Mac will be rolling. 

I think once North Dakota digests this financial situation and see's what kind of person we have in Congress and how much he has profited from Fannie/Freddie/Insurance companies/Home makers, etc, Duane Sand is going to roll.

Great post. 

TK - to reference you as a "liberal" is "name-calling"?  Don't be so thin skinned........and as far as name -calling, go through all the topics in the talk forum, and you will find out who the real name callers are (one hint - they're not conservatives).

Take a peek at this on the root causes of the financial scandal the Rupublicans helped bail the Democrat party out of.......and the whole bailout WILL get blamed on Republicans.

http://www.youtube.com:80/TheMouthPeace

.....and I will not be part of your solution to get Neo-bama elected.  There, that is the extent of MY name calling.....politicians, not other posters.

I'm not sure about how much he had when he started, but I know that he is loaded now.  I also know that stocks continue to plummet due to the greed on Wall Street and in Congress.  Earl is the only incumbent we have up for election this year and I want him out.  I looked at that opensecrets.org and it is fishy.  Why would a homemaker give him a check for 2000 one time and another one gave him a grand?  I don't like that insurance companies and all of these  out of state places give him so much money.  It kind of makes sense now why he votes so opposite of what is best for North Dakota.

Anyway, I'm rambling.  I'm voting for Duane Sand.

Ha ha, not bad.  Maybe you and I should get together and start our own Hannity and Colmes. 

I don't think Earl is evil at all.  He gets away with a lot and the media protects him.  I wrote the Herald five times and asked them to investigate Earl's contributions and they won't write back.  I wrote the Forum and got a "we'll look at it."  So it's up to people like us to tell the public what's going on or whoever reads this.  Just like it's up to you to do the same.  Earl evil?  No way.  Did he take advantage of his position, you bet.

Duane will tell the truth, but he needs some interest from the Herald and Forum to do so.  Honestly, I promise you that if you meet the guy you will see he's different.  He tells it like it is and if you don't like it, then cool, you have a debate. 

If any Republican gets in office and pulls the junk Earl pulls then I promise you that I will be front and center and probably with you and the rest of the guys by my side calling them out too.  I want what is best for North Dakota.  Earl had his chance.  when I go to church and work and people are saying that this economy has them nervous and that some of them have took a hit (myself included) in the 401K I get hot.  I would get hot if I found out the biggest tree hugger in the world was screwed by these prima donna's.  We gave Earl a chance and he blew it.  Let's give someone new a chance. 

Again, you're cool to debate with and I respect you.  I think on this we're closer than we are apart.  Guys like all of us who have passion on here will weed out these corrupt people no matter what party they're in.

I'm urging people, give Duane a chance.   I'm praying for all of us during this tough time.

Jack A

You neo cons have actually become bigger crybabies than your tree hugging super liberal counterparts.

I am not attacking Duane Sand's character here, I am questioning his credentials and ability to do the job. You make it sound like I am saying that he has a timeshare with Hugo Chavez or hangs out with drug dealers or something.  As I have stated before I don't like his campaign, he should hire people like Mr. Richards on here to work for him because the people he has are terrible.  I have however lost a lot of respect for Pomeroy with this bailout, and I did look at some of the things that Mr. Richards and others have posted on here and I don't like a lot of what I see.  I am really not sure that Earl needs to go back now, but I am not sure that we have a choice between good candidates or if we are taking the lesser of two evils.  Less attack ads on the Pomeroy and more ads on what he will do differently to help get this whole country back on the right track, that is what he needs to do if he wants to win.  I read his editorial in the paper today, not bad.  Maybe his campaign strategy is to sit back and let Earl self destruct.

I cannot believe how defensive republicans get when someone questions their candidate.  Jack A you are a part of the problem not the solution, as soon as something you don't like is asked instead of answering as others have done here you choose to resort to whining and name calling.  I am not a leftist.  I am young, educated, have young children, I am anti abortion except in certain cirmcumstances, I am pro-gun just don't like the NRA, I go to church, and I am tired of being fleeced by the people who are supposed to be representing us.  If Sand and Palin don't want to be questioned don't run for public office, it is our job as voters to question the hell out of these people because we obviously have not done that enough.

I looked at opensecrets.org and I have to say that Earl Pomeroy is a CHHHHHAAAAAMMMMPPPPPP!!!!  "Homemakers" from other states really do give him big contributions and insurance companies do as well.  Oh man, where is the Grand Forks Herald or the Fargo Forum on this?  Why is there no investigation into this?  The guy really did take money from Fannie Mae. 

CORRUPT!  Pomeroy should be ashamed to show his face in North Dakota.  As a vet, I totally don't trust the guy, but as a regular citizen and after reading opensecrets.org I really don't respect the guy either.

No one is taking "potshots" Earl, it's the facts. 

Come on, be honest here, the guy is as crooked as they come.  He took money from Fannie and Freddie.  That alone should make everyone who cares about our economy stop in their tracks.  He took money and profitied and then we, the tax payer, get to bail it out.  Do you think that is fair?

Look at opensecrets.org  Earl takes individual donations from "homemakers" in Massach.  How many housewifes do you know who cut a 2 grand check to a politician in a state like North Dakota? 

Pomeroy has a consistent anti drilling policy.  Consistent!  Earl Pomeroy is a tried and true Nancy Pelosi liberal.  Everyone says Earl brings home the pork?  1.  How does that benefit you?  How many times have you gone to the store and bought corn for a dime?  Do you know who pays for that pork?  You do and so do I.  Earl?  He profits. 

Duane Sand has the character, intelligence, and know how to go to Washington and be the biggest breath of fresh air to hit that place in years.  In a perfect world, Earl would be being investigated right now.  Earl Pomeroy betrayed this state and everyone one of us who thought he was above it.  I used to think he was.  Now I think he's no better than his friend Nancy Pelosi.  Go away Earl.

I'm voting for Duane Sand and encouraging my friends and familty to do the same.  I want honesty in Washington and quite frankly, I want lower taxes and cheaper gas.  Go Sand!

TK may say he is "independent", but look at the jest of all his postings, it couldn't be further from the truth......

D.Sand not qualified, give me a break, he's just as qualified as anyone running for any public office.  This is just the same type of character assasination being used on Palin by the leftist-liberals......

You guys are talking about two different kinds of drilling in different parts of the world, we all are intelligent enough to know from an environmental standpoint you can get away with murder over there. You have to get or build a rig, float it to location, set it, drill to see if you actually hit oil, then you have to get it to shore.  Sounds like a weekend project huh?  You are hearing what you want to hear, not the truth.  And to be clear I am talking about getting oil to the pump, not just market effects which I think is what some of you are talking about.  Difference- real oil supply=stable markets.  It just drives me nuts that NOAA says we might have a cat 3 hurricane in the gulf in the next decade then oil goes up 15 dollars a barrel in 15 minutes because a possible hurricane in the gulf is such an unexpected phenemonon

My whole point on this oil is simple, drill here in ND and Montana.  Less offshore drilling, and less middle east so my kids don't up going over there.  I have no problem with national defense or the military, but we better never have another war just to make millionaires billionaires.  That is what Earl supported.  Either way I think many in Washington just signed their own political death warrants today- I hope.

Take your potshots at Earl and Conrad all you want, but there is not one suit and tie in DC who has his ducks in a row better than Byron Dorgan.  He predicted this mess in 1999, he predicted the energy mess years before it happened, he has long fought against shipping jobs overseas- even going as far as to throw other democrats under the bus in his own book (true maverick), and most importantly he is a bonafide consumer advocate.  He is without a doubt the best leader in the country at time when leaders are at a minimum.

I respect all your opinions on Sand, he justs needs to do more talking on his own to show frustrated middle of the roaders like me more of what he is about.  I think we are all ready for a change and I can't figure out what he's doing differently.  One month to go and a lot can change I guess.

Rick:

Your facts are wrong. I found quite a few votes where Pomeroy voted against drilling. Here are a couple.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/transcripts/rollcall_energy080201.htm

http://www.jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/042005/D89JHAMO0.shtml

http://www.progressivepunch.org/category.jsp?chamber=House&issue=T2&year=2003&num=130

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2003/roll130.xml

Pomeroy did vote against drilling ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/transcripts/rollcall_energy080201.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/august01/2001-08-01-oil-rollcall3.htm

After Pearl Harbor this country mobilized and built the greatest fighting force the world had ever seen.  When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait we moved so much tonnage and manpower to the Gulf that the world shook.  We put a man on the moon in a timeframe that most thought was impossible.  The list goes on and on.  I'm not trying to insult you with a history lesson or anything like that.  I'm telling you that we can start pumping oil lighting fast if the green light is given. 

If we sit on our hands and keep saying "ten years" all the time, we'll get nowhere.  Lift the red tape and regulations and start bringing it up.  Continue our wind expansion, clean coal, solar, and start nuclear construction.  We're America, not Micronesia.  Earl Pomeroy and Nancy Pelosi vote the way they do to win the favor of their far left donors.  Reserach where he gets money from and you'll see a lot of it from San Francisco, Boston, and New York.  Now why would little ol' Earl Pomeroy from North Dakota take money from those places? 

If you were a Republican and were dissapointed, I feel your pain.  There have been some that have betrayed me as well.  It hurts.  But don't take it out on Duane Sand.  I've met the man and he is a decent guy.  If you have the chance and get to meet him I am positive you will say the same thing.  He is passionate about the issues and he cares so badly about this state.  If he gets in there and acts like Earl, then time for another change, but I honestly think he's the right man for the job. 

Earl Pomeroy betrayed this state by taking money and voting against clean coal and oil.  He took that money from Fannie and Freddie while our bank accounts  suffered.  It's time for a change.  It's time for Earl Pomeroy to go.

Vote for Duane Sand this year and clean up the corruption in North Dakota.

Whether Earl Pomeroy took 10 grand or 1 dollar, he still profited while innocent people suffered.  Did Republicans?  Sure, I can admit that.  However, we have no Republican Congressmen up for vote this time.  Pomeroy took money and others profited.

Ten years for oil?  If that was the case and it's not (try 1-2 years and I ask oilmen all the time), then what are we going to say in ten years?  The same thing.  Give me a break.  Oil, nuclear power, solar, bio, wind, and clean coal can pull us out of this abyss.  Pomeroy is rich and drives around with his gas paid by his perks.  I don't hold that against him necessarily, he is an elected official, but when he votes against the things that can create jobs and have a trickle down effect across the whole state then I have a problem.  San Francisco has a great public transist situation, but we are not San Francisco.  He follows Pelosi on this issue and it's distressing.

Abortion is what it is.  You support it or you don't.  Pomeroy has voted pro life 16% of the time.  I can only conclude he doesn't have much of a problem with it.

Faulty intelligence?  Saddam used chemical weapons on his own people.  America shipped out tons of yellow cake from Iraq.  He told people he had WMD's.  Earl voted the war and that's fine, but he has become a Pelosi/Obama flip flopping machine.  Trust me, my friends in the Guard were disgusted when he was there greating them and acting like he had their back the whole time.  A leader in war makes adjustments sure, but he wanted to cut and run.  It's called surrender. 

Why rip on Duane Sand?  He's been a principled leader.  He actually served in this war.  He didn't read about it or call the CaC a name during a time of war.  Duane Sand has been there and he's led men.  To take a cheap shot that he isn't a leader is pathetic.  He's a straight talker who has been on the front lines in the tax fight and in the energy fight.  There is no double talk with Duane.  Has Earl ever held a job outside government?  Oh that's right, he was an attorney for four years building up his insurance connections.

Pomeroy takes 70% of his money from lobbyists.  Do you know his top donors are health insurance companies?  Think about that when you're paying high health insurance. 

Anyone reading this can check these facts at sites like opensecrets.org  I have not lied about one of them.  Is Earl a nice guy?  I guess so, I've heard he is.  That's all fine and good, but he is like a lot of nice guys who go to DC.  He became a part of the disease.  He took money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  Check the facts.  The guy is a part of the corruption and greed.

Duane Sand is a fresh voice and real leader.  Vote for him and weed out the corruption.

He only took ten grand?  So if I go to Wal Mart and steal a CD will the they let me off because I stold it out of the bargain bin instead of the new release section?  He took the money.  1 dollar or 1 million.  He took the money while America suffered.

I actually use to vote for republicans almost every time, but at the local, state, and federal level they have let us all down several times.

Fannie and Freddie- take a look at who donates to republican candidates and it is no better than fannie and freddie, how much did they give him, a whole ten grand?  By the way who did the Sec of Treasury used to work for anyway?  This is the kettle calling the pot black.

Iraq war- our own intelligence flipped flopped on the war, I have a hard time figuring out who to believe on this issue, I just hope its not all for nothing, and our troops come home as winners, soon.

Abortion- I'll leave that alone, I don't like to get into the whole religion thing people just get too hot.  Do you think that a woman who has been raped has no right to choose?

Energy- Real energy relief is not in drilling, I have talked to several roughnecks and other oil workers, it will be at least 10 years before we see any help at the pump is what they are telling me.  I'll trust a roughneck over any politician anyday.  I hope any legislator is against drilling offshore and for drilling in ND, can you tell me when the last time a hurricane hit Ray, ND.

Guns- I used to be in the NRA, they lost me with the cop killer bullets, no one needs cop killer bullets.  I have several guns including handguns, I don't feel threatened by Obama or any other democrats about guns.  I believe Earl supports logical gun laws, not Kennedy or Feinstein laws which have been proven not to work in Canada and Australia. the last thing we need is people running around with cop killers in an AK 47 or a Tec 9.

Earl was a leader on the farm bill, Earl has called out Bush on a number of occassions, Earl even voted yes on the last house bill for the bailout because he believed it was best for ND, agree or disagree at least he is putting his reasons and plans out there for his constituents to hear, I still hear nothing from Sand, Mr. Richards makes points, in fact more than Sand has made for himself. 

Why not vote for an independent? I thought about it but I think we need to vote for who is best for us in ND.  People can whine about earmarks and pork all they want, but it is the only way a state like ours (the best state in the union) can survive.  Thats where Earl is way ahead of Sand, Sand can't even run a campaign that makes any sense, how is he going get it done for ND in Washington.

You asked, there it is.

Well it's clear that Mr. Independent isn't really an Independent.  He's going to vote for Earl.  The same Earl Pomeroy who did the following:

1.  Took money from Fannie and Freddie.  100% fact.  opensecrets.org

2.  Voted against real relief in the energy world six times.

3.  Opposed right to life.  A big one for me.

4.  Terrible grades from the NRA and allied with anti 2nd Amendment people like Pelosi and Obama.

5.  Received 70% of his money from out of state lobbyists and health insurance companies.  When he complains about high costs, why doesn't he give that health insurance money back?

6.  Flip flopped on the war. 

Duane has the experience to be a great Congressman.  He is a Commander in the Navy and actually leads people.  He has been a champion of those of us who are tired of being butchered by the tax man and the anti gas Congress led by Pelosi and Pomeroy. 

Let's make a change.  Earl is another sit on his hands corrupt politician.  Bottom line, no matter what party you are, you can't deny he took money from Fannie and Freddie.  I'm saddened by it. 

Duane Sand has the character and experience to lead North Dakota forward.

Duane Sand is nowhere near qualified to be in the congress.  I am not happy with our congress, like most people, but that doesn't mean that we should vote a clown into the house. 

If this is the best candidate that the ND republicans can put forward, they are in a lot of trouble.  The best that he can do is "I'm Duane Sand and I'm for lower gas prices" who isn't in favor of lower gas prices.  This is just another typical republican campaign of telling you who to be afraid of and who is to blame, and nothing along the lines of a plan, change, or even an idea.  What is Sand going to do if elected, where does he stand, is he going to vote against alternative energy like McCain, vote against ND like most republicans. 

This is one independent voting for Pomeroy.

I think he's the case of a really nice guy just being in Washington far to long.  This is a good state with good people and healthy debate is what makes a great.  However, taking the money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the media not hammering these guys, and the increased push to blindly follow Pelosi and Frank worries me. 

I want character representing this state.  I want fresh ideas.  I honestly think Duane Sand is that man. 

As a veteran, it means a lot to me that he has served in the war.  It means a lot to me that he's a straight shooter and that he isn't this over the top partisan hack.  Earl used to be more down the middle, now he is firmly entrenched with the far left and Mrs. Pelosi.  Everytime I put 35-50 dollars in my gas tank and I think about how North Dakota is sitting on a huge oil vein, it makes me cringe.  Earl is rich and out of touch, he doesn't get it.  We need Duane Sand.

I am a saved person and your insults can't change that.  Six times, you check it out.  Don't take my word for it.  Six times he voted against energy for this state.  People in this state are paying high gas prices while EZ Earl lives off the tax payer in Washington. 

Oh and Earl voted for the war before he started flip flopping.  So don't go there.  I'm a vet and I thank Earl for his support back then, but he bailed on us.  That I have a problem with.

Look, do your research.  Everything I wrote is true.  Plus bottom line, he only voted pro life 16%of the time.  For any pro-lifer out there, that can't be overlooked. 

Duane is a good and decent man.  Give him a chance.

1. Another lie by sand, pomeroy never voted against drilling in ND. Shame on you so called religous person. LIER!

2, Just great, sand supported Bushies illegal war, which has killed real military men. Good going sand!

You can blame all the speculators that you want,  It is Nancy Pelosi that will not allow us an up or down vote!   you are saying 70% of the american people do not know what they are talking about....we want to drill, and drill now..

You have to know the facts about those lands that you talked about,   lots will not give you oil... its a tricky business.....

OR SHOULD WE JUST WAIT FOR TIMES LIKE THIS, WHERE RUSSIAN INVADES GEORGIA, AND BP SHUTS DOWN  DRILLINGS IN GEORGIA...  WE ARE TOO DEPENDENT ON FOREIGN OIL.

Plus,  yes, if the congress  lifts the ban on drilling..IT WILL HAVE AN IMMEDIATE EFFECT, AND YOU KNOW IT...

shoppe

Its not drilling.  Its not about drilling.  Drilling is not going to change the current situation.  There are acres of land approved for drilling, we aren't drilling there. 

You want to lower gas prices, use your brain and forget the drilling in Alaska or the gulf and think about two things:

1)  Stop speculation by the oil companies and the guru's of Wall Street

2) BUILD refineries.

Drilling...takes time people.  I applaud the Democrats for realizing that and wanting to get at the heart of the problem.  It is so frustrating listening to ignorance and political propaganda.  Drilling in the Gulf...OH ITS GOING TO SAVE US...says McCain (although, he even said no to this years ago) but we all jump to our political nest when this garbage starts and pick sides.

Interesting that a conservative spouting off about economics 101 would dismiss very quickly the demand side of the equation. Typical. 

Instead you see the threat of increased supply that won't happen for years (2? 4? 8?10?) as a cause for speculation.... rather than these same speculators thinking that the incredibly high gas prices may have deterred usage. [And yes....I do understand the concept of elasticity]. 

Aug. 7 (Bloomberg) - - Crude oil futures traded near $119 a barrel in New York after falling yesterday as U.S. supplies unexpectedly gained amid slowing demand, and the dollar climbed, reducing the appeal of commodities as an inflation hedge.

Did you really think there was a chance oil consumption was up in the last few months? Really?

- - - 

Dropping down to your answer to my oligarchical assertion.  As it turns out, it was a bunch of conservatives who taught me that concept. Signalling is not a radical idea.....its taught in every business school in the country.... (not exactly bastions of American liberalism).  It happens all of the time from colas, to newspapers, to airlines, etc.  Its what Marx didn't see when he saw capitalism "as it own contradiction." Monopoly is avoided, but profits are consistent which makes everyone happy.

There is a failure of "the invisible hand" once companies stop competing.  We don't get 'the best product at the best price" once this happens. My point was not so much to explain potential problems with oil.....it was meant to explain why we might not be seeing, for instance, more focus with regards to alernative energies - much of which is owned by the oil companies who are:

1. Working their butts off trying to improve the technology to get it to market quickly.

2. Working their butts off trying to improve the technology so they can pull it out when forced to.

3. Sitting on patents and paying lip service ("Do people care?....people do") to the alta energy crowd.  

- - -

Your second answer, however, is the intriging one to me.....and the only one I'm interested in discussing. Unfortunately. I don't have the time right now.

There isn't an argument waiting for you. I will preview it what I am interested in:

What if the Peak Oil people are correct? And 2020 output is similar to 1996 production (even with ANWR and Off-Shore) ? But global demand is higher.

What then?

OK, I'll try to respond to each question;

Q.  Is the price drop a result of the threat of opening new areas to drill or a result of decreased consumption?

A.  Since there are no posted statistics that clearly indicate that there has been a drop in consumption, (in fact, I found one statistic that speculated that gasoline consumption had increased in the past 60 days), the logical assumption is that the expectation of increased product caused the speculators to pull back a little. 

Economics 101 teaches that if there is an increased supply, or a promise of an increased supply of a commodity, the price of that commodity will drop in the absence of an increase in demand for that commodity. 

Q.  Why do I believe that the days of petroleum based products are numbered?

A.  Oil is a finite resource.  At some point, we will run out.  Some argue that we have already seen the peak in production.  I'm not convinced of that, but nevertheless oil's days are numbered because it is becoming increasingly more costly to produce. 

The typical Bakken well in North Dakota costs roughly $7 million to drill and bring to production.  True, technology will continue to advance, but I believe that eventually we will see a tipping point where it will be cheaper to use an alternative fuel source than it is to drill, produce, and refine oil.

Q.  Capitalism vs. Oligarchy? 

A.  We keep hearing these stories about the huge oil companies like Exxon Mobil and BP and the monopoly they hold.  But the fact of the matter is that the vast majority of the oil produced comes from small corporations all competing against one another for the prime drilling sites, the prime services, and the prime refinery prices.  Here in North Dakota, there are dozens of small corporations started by local enterpreneurs who saw a profit to be taken if they invest their money smartly and run a tight business.  The notion of a monopoly run by the Exxon and BP giants is a fallacy being propagated by the liberals and their lapdog media flunkies.

I hope this answers your questions, but if not, I am happy to keep providing lessons to all of you brainwashed victims of liberal propaganda. 

Lastly. What goes wrong when democratic capitalism (many competitors in an industry) turns into oligarchical capitalism (a few competitors) .

What are the implications for the market?

There was a movie that came out called A Beautiful Mind a few years ago. What was the significance of the Nash Equilibrium and Game Theory to the business world? As you may or may not remember, he won the Nobel Prize for Economics even though he was a mathematician.

What does "win-win" mean amongst "competitors" in 2008 capitalism?

I don't know if you are old enough to remember the coke/pepsi wars in which they had the "Pepsi Challenge."  Pepsi killed Coke in blind taste tests and ran this add stressing it.  It was hugely successful.

And then Pepsi pulled it. Why?

See..... now here is an intersting statement:

Nobody can deny that the days of petroleum based energy are numbered. 

I think Blmccar would disagree with you since he believes in abiotic oil creation.

My question to you is why would you think petroleum's days are numbered? What assumptions are you making? 

just the President's threat of opening the coastal regions caused a $25 drop in the price of oil. 

Are you sure there weren't more tangible reasons why the price dropped? Say..... due to people cutting back on oil consumption due to various economic reasons, the supply increased and sent the price down.

Or was it all the president's rhetoric that did it?

Detractors say that drilling will not show any benefits for at least 10 years.  That's a flat out lie

Then the administration lies....they are the ones that put out that information.

When I say drill now, I mean starting immediately.  Open up the coastal bans off California and Florida.  Allow drilling in ANWR, open the front range of the Rockies for exploration of the shale oil deposits. 

Detractors say that drilling will not show any benefits for at least 10 years.  That's a flat out lie, just the President's threat of opening the coastal regions caused a $25 drop in the price of oil.  That is what I call  IMMEDIATE RELIEF.  

Long term means exactly what it sounds like.  It means as long as it takes for PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND ENTERPRENEURS DRIVEN BY MARKET FORCES  to invest in alternative technologies and make them economically viable.  Nobody can deny that the days of petroleum based energy are numbered.  Good old capitalism and market economics will drive the development of alternative energy sources.   

In the meantime, we need to drill on our own land, reduce our dependency on foreign oil, (which by the way is mostly supplied by Canada, not the Middle Eastern producing nations). 

And finally, our Congressional delegation, Larry Dorgan, Moe Conrad & Curly Pomeroy need to stop nursing on Nancy Peolsi's teet and stand up for North Dakotans by voting for domestic drilling wherever there are suspected oil deposits.  North Dakota is the nation's sixth largest oil producing state.  A vote against drilling is a vote against their own constituency. 

By the way, if you have not contacted our corrupt girly men in congress yet, shoot them an e-mail. If you have not done this in 24 hours, it is time to do it again.....

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

The corrupt Dorkan and Comrade anways vote 'no' on drilling and are damn proud of it. Below is one such example.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,50649,00.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/transcripts/senaterollcall_041802.htm

OK:

"drill now" means to drill now, today,  August, 2008.... sign papers to stop the ban TODAY..... DRILL NOW.. :)

"short term"  Now... Drill now... and start weening ourselves off GENTLY... just like a nursing mom... GENTLY... HEE HEE

"long term"   As long as it takes,  DRILL NOW... TODAY... AUGUST 2008...:)

P.S.   I think Hillary is still in the race, don't you ?    wonder how she feels about drilling.....

Every Republican I have heard says that we need to drill now for the short term effect.  This will allow us over the long term to develop and refine alternative sources of energy.

Please amplify what you mean by this.

• Where do you intend to "drill now"?


• What do you mean by "short term effect?"


• What does "the long term" mean to you? Approximately?

Every Republican I have heard says that we need to drill now for the short term effect.  This will allow us over the long term to develop and refine alternative sources of energy.

Wind power is still in need of further development, and cannot be fully developed until a much, much larger distribution infrastructure is in place.  Right now, just the energy created at our coal fired plants is difficult to export because of limited distributuion systems. 

Ethanol/Bio fuels are still in need of further development.  It takes 300 million gallons of water to produce 100 million gallons of ethanol.  To make sure we don't create a water shortage problem, we have to allow time to further refine the process of producing ethanol.  Perhaps another 20 years may be necessary. 

Of course we have huge coal reserves, but coal is a heavy producer of carbon emissions and more work is needed to refine the process of carbon sequestration.  Even though great strides have been taken, much more work needs to be done.  Years worth of work.

The bottom line is that Republicans understand the fact that we need a viable, proven short term alternative combined with long term investments to produce alternative fuels.  Republicans also understand that market forces and private industry are the best drivers of innovation, NOT MORE GOVERNMENT.  So they do not believe that levying more taxes and creating subsidies will lead to desirable results.

Now, what have the Democrats offered?  Well Barack told us that we can eliminate the oil crisis by checking the air in our tires and tuning up our cars.  (Never mind the fact that most cars today are controlled by complex electronic systems and rarely need a "tuneup").  Nancy Pelosi has told us that she wants ALL oil and coal based fuels to be history.   She has also said that she does not believe in nuclear power. 

What does that leave?  Bio fuels.  But the biofuels industry has issues.  Like I mentioned, there is the water issue.  Will we create massive water shortages by massively expanding the ethanol industry?  There is also the matter of funding.  To expand the biofuels industry at the pace she would like, will require billions of dollars.  More than private investors can ever provide, so that means higher taxes and bigger government. 

The bottom line is that they offer no short term alternatives.  Only higher taxes, more government, more mandates to force us to drive less, drive smaller vehicles, mandate higher fuel economy ratings on cars, (thereby increasing the cost of vehicles to prohibitive levels), pay more for food because of increased demand for fuel production, and the list goes on and on. 

All while they drive around Washington in their chauffeur driven limos and jet back to their home states in fuel guzzling private jets, and live in their ocean front vacation homes paid for by our tax dollars.    This is the party of the people?   Give me a break.

This from the news today on kxnet about gas prices:   "But Senator Byron Dorgan says this is still too high and he blames speculators."

Does anyone out there despise this lying dog as much as I do?  Here's a leftist liberal that the people of ND keep electing, that blocks any new drilling of oil, choking down the supply, and because of the short supply, speculators are bidding up the price.  IT IS DORGAN THAT IS CAUSING THE HIGH PRICES.  Now that people are cutting back on travel, and there is a threat that offshore drilling will be opened, these same "Big Speculators" are driving the price of oil down.  C'mon, Dorgan, get on board with the people of ND and get ALL drilling opened up!!!  But like usual, it's easier for a liberal to pass the blame to others.  Own up, Dorgan!!!!

Well I didn't like it when McCain backslid......and I don't like this either.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/01/obama-shifts-on-oil-drilling/

This from the Minot paper letter to editor from Dorgan July 30: 

 "I do support additional drilling for oil and natural gas. I also support aggressive conservation measures, substantial new efficiency standards, and especially a major national push for renewable energy including wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and more. I am pushing aggressively for action on all of these fronts."

Dorgan's a flippin' liar....he has NO intention of expanding drilling.  He'll just stick by the old liberal mantra of "the oil companies have millions and millions of acres under lease on federal lands".  That is where he wants them to drill, regardless if there is no oil or very little.  Has he introduced ANY legislation that would help us with these high prices, something like opening drilling in ANWR or off the coasts?     I don't think so, he is more indebted to the environmental facists than to those who put him in office.

He IS not lying when he wants a "major national push", which is a massive wealth distribution which we all will pay for.  We have had a massive "push" in the increase in ethanol production, which we all pay for in grants and credits, and also in higher food prices.  But has it brought down the price of gas in the years since it went into production?  I think you all can figure that one out........

Seriously.  You cannot after a year of discussions start invoking your concern for the poor. And how government should start to drill oil to give the "low-income" persons a break.

Argue it (oil drillling) on its own merits, Shoppe.....don't cheat.

Shoppe. It isn't just unsightly oil rigs....its the tankers that come with it. Its the potential oil spills that may happen. We just had an oil spill in the SF bay from a cargo shop hitting the bridge. We also just had a 5.4 earthquake in SoCal. And in my first year in SF a 7.1 quake.

Californians don't want off-shore drilling off of California's coast.

Don't paint me as an elitist Shoppe. Your trying to cheat again. Are you going to paint another human interest story for me.....the one where the executives of the corporate farms that gobbled up all of the smaller farmers are having trouble buying another copy of Madden '08.....or Guitar Hero?

I have already listed all those other things ww, I am for them.  but we differ in that I also want DRILLING.  

yes,  even 3.50 is high to conservatives,  to liberals it is not high enough... fact...

yes,  it is an emergency for some poor to low income folks... Oh I forgot,  republicans want  the poor to eat dog food...I should watch my compassion I guess... :)

Not all oil wells will be seen from the beaches that we all love... I am fine with that..   Some people  (ted kennedy) do not like the looks of the wind mills either, but I like them, I think they are kewl...

Have we harmed ALASKA  at all since we build our first pipe line?     facts only please... let me know...

AGAIN, I AM STILL MULLING AROUND THE IDEA OF STATES RIGHTS... DON'T SAY I SAID YES ON IT ALREADY,  I SAID "MAYBE"....

Shoppe. There is no emergency.....we had a spike in gas prices....which will fall back under $4.00 (already has in many places not named California).  Let us say the $3.50 is the new average, that would be a 4% rise per year since 1976 when gas was $1.  And though that inflation number is greater than recent historical average, it isn't an outrageous inflation figure.

If back in 1976, you asked an economist what the price of gas would be in 2008, he would have given you a number not unlike what we currently have. And considering the extra demand that has been placed on the supply of oil from China and India, this is no surprise.

So my alarm with you is that you are willing to forego your beliefs and start torturing people.....oh wait wrong argument......forego your beliefs in state's rights and demand that California expose what it is famous for......beaches and coastline (which attract tourism, housing and business dollars)......so that we can save 25 cents per gallon in 22 years.

There are a myriad of ways in which we can move. Not just oil; not just wind; not just solar; not just water; not just nuclear; not just ethenol; not just clean coal......We have devoted a lot of energy to the first thing on this list......I would like to see the others get a bit more focus.

And WW, I will give you credit for half a good point.. :)

Ok, to you and I who have plenty of money, the cost of energy (gas, home heating oil)  is not an emmergency..... To many, it is already an emmergency!   How are they expected to keep their family warm?   How are small trucking firms expected to stay in business?  Are we too continue to EXPEND MORE ENERGY  MAKING CORN INTO ENERGY !  

so, yes,WW to most of us ( or at least you and I ) , it is not an emmergency.....But we need to start drilling now.

I bet you this..If we just LIFT THE CONGRESSIONAL BAN ON DRILLING,the other countries will take notice that we are SERIOUS.... and it will definitely help if we start drilling.

WW... you know I am also for other types of energy (except burning food)... wind, solar,  coal,  nuclear, water......  I just don't like when you all on this post make it seem I only want to drill.... DRILLING IS A BIG PART, but of course not the only part.

I  know this is long, but it needs said...

We are being put in a noose by the ENVIRONMENTALIST WACKOS...... HANG UM HIGH...

You bring up a couple of points.

The energy crunch is of concern. And we, as a nation, should act proactively with regards to energy. We should address our problem on numerous fronts.....maybe even including additional oil drilling.

However, paying more money at the gas station does not qualify as an emergency...

10 billion gallons of oil off-shore.....that is the estimate. Available in ....... ............................................... 2030. (Dept of Energy)

Projected savings per gallon: 25 cents (Severin Borenstein - some energy professor).  So, lets see. 22 yrs from now, what will the price of oil be?

Let us assume a CPI of 2.5% and $4.00 per gallon (2008) That makes gas about $6.88. So it would make gas $6.63

Wow!!! It looks like to me that we would still have an emergency on our hands! What will we do then?

WW,  lets talk.   I said "maybe".   Since yesterday when we first talked about it, I have not read anymore, so I still am in the dark as to which I would prefer.

Just seems to me our country will be in DEEP TROUBLE,  DEEP TROUBLE if we do not do something quickly.   Almost an emergency situation WW.   and in an emergency situation I believe the president has the right to "convince" all states to do something.    What if only half the states decide to do something....  then the other half of our "57" states will expect to get our energy.... What if each state GETS TO KEEP AND USE WHAT IT PRODUCES, whether wind, water, coal, drilling, solar......  that would convince each state to get working on this EMERGENCY SITUATION.

Or, don't liberals believe we have an emergency situation..

Shoppe. I'm just trying to figure out why you went Big Government on this issue?  Florida (under Jeb Bush) and California both said "No" to off-shore drilling.

Why would you consider that this issue rises to a level that compromises your core beliefs of state's rights.

Ww, I was honest enough to say I don't know for sure, but that MAYBE I think we should be mandated to just drill.... I could be wrong, I will find out today from some smart posters...:)  its not odd...I am just brainstorming..

YES, ANDREW, DEMS ANSWER IS HUGE TAXATION... thats not an answer.

Guys, ranch,  The republicans that I know are not all saying ONLY to drill.  But many are saying not to BURN FOOD.. which is a really good answer since so many dems are VERY CONCERNED about poverty (aren't they? )

Morning all.   I usually don't like states forced to do anything, but if everystate says "not in my back yard!"  what kind of sense will that make in the long run?

...from ranchgirl:  "Why don't the whining Republicans get off the oil pot and start to promote other forms of energy? ".........the democrat's form of "promoting" these other forms of energy is MASSIVE taxation of us and the "bad"corporations that pruduce carbon, (which we againg pay in higher prices) and then GIVE this money to the "good" alternative energy companies.  I'm all for alternative energy "promotion" without us and the government throwing money at them.  Let them stand on their own.

Shoppe. It will be interesting if any other republicans will weigh in on the states rights side of the coastal oil drilling issue.

Interesting response you gave. Puzzling.

thanks ww, thats all I wanted, an honest assessment.    

I love states rights, but I  almost wouldn't mind a national law to force all states to cooperate... I know, that doesn't sound like me, but it should be even all around the board maybe. 

Well.....I don't have all of the fact either...perhaps someone else can provide this.

But I think Senator McCain is for letting the coastal states determine if they want drilling done. Which means that Florida and California may vote not to drill anyway.

Ww,  you know I won't lie to you.  The truth is I don't know all the in's and out's of the two different ideas, so until I do, I will only say I want drilling done, and I want it done now.

If you can give me all aspects of the two different ideas, it may help me choose.. :)  thanks  wuwei619...

I only want the honest differences...not liberal or conservative,  just facts..

Yes, Joe, never fear I HAVE THE MONEY.   I chose not to buy an suv at the moment.   My  10 yr old conversion dodge van is just fine for my needs right now.

Prices are not fixed yet, joe, don't get excited.

73% OF AMERICANS WANT DRILLING~~~PELOSI SAID SHE WOULD BLOCK ALL DRILLING (ON CNN NEWS)..

Our only option is to contact all the dems and pelosi  TELL THEM WE WANT TO DRILL...   Maybe that will convince the dems to at least let PELOSI know that she is wrong.

IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS, THEN THE PRICE OF GAS AND OUR NOT BEING ABLE TO DRILL IN OUR YOUR HANDS , AND YOUR FAVORITE DEMOCRATS...

My President has said Drill....    Your democrats have said, no, lets pay high prices..... 

nor white,  so it must be an arab name....

And don't forget that Barack sends a tingle up CHRIS MATTHEWS LEG.

.......on the same theme, how can anyone, especially blacks, vote for the "fake" black candidate.  Obama is majority white, and then Arab ancestry, with a very small African ancestry.  I love how the liberal mass media LOVE to refer to him as black.  WHY is the media not refering to him as Arab?  I think we know why, blacks would not vote for him in the numbers they will now, and others the same if they knew he was Arab.  The name Barak Hussein Obama doesn't come across as black.........

proves nothing sheila.

We have to know who of colour ran, who got elected, what their platform was.. all that.

You don't think I AM STUPID ENOUGH to just vote for colour not matter what their platform or policy is ,  do you?

I also consider of color being  hispanic , black, or half and half, or other nationalities...... that has to be added into the equasion.

Moon,   fact... believe it or not.

IF  88% OF WHITE PEOPLE ONLY VOTED WHITE ... we could be called racist.   Believe me, I have voted for many blacks that I personally know, conservative of course in our local elections.........

IF 88%-90% OF BLACKS VOTE BLACK...  we should call it racist...

face the facts moon.......veryfair and extremelybalanced is correct.

the numbers show that sheila, but if anyone would ask you if california were lib  or conservative.... you can count on it, they would say the "left" coast..........    how conservative are the republicans that were elected, not counting my beloved ronald reagan of course....

maybe someone can truly answer it for me.....

and please, don't call arnold a republican conservative... please...

Peepers,  thanks for telling me.    I didn't know republicans ONLY wanted to drill in alaska or off  shore... zowey...  I thought we just wanted to drill anywhere and everywhere... :)

CALIFORNIA IS A DEMOCRAT STATE.... ALWAYS....  even the "republicans" that sometimes get elected, like ARNOLD , are really  liberal republicans... True   RONALD REAGAN WAS DIFFERENT.

Why didn't Obama go see the wounded soldier?

and yes,   if  88-90% of whites VOTED WHITE ONLY,  I WOULD THINK THEY WERE RACIST, but fandb is right, we think for ourselves.... yes, i have voted for black people in my local elections, many times.

Why do all you republicans want to drill offshore and in Alaska?  You've been drinking the Kool-aid way to long!

Yah, lets drill in the 2 toughest spots to get oil and leave that easy stuff in the central USA that nobodys drilling for.  Who needs that stuff?  We need to drill in places that will cost us WAY more money to drill.  We need those oil companys to build offshore drilling platforms for hundreds of millions of dollars which also takes 10 years to build to get more oil now!  Oh wait, by the time all them oil platforms are built and moved into the "correct position" and start drilling it should take hmmm, 15 to 20 years to get some oil...

In 15-20 years there will be another flavor of the month and Oil will just be an after thought, AGAIN!

I find it real funny that you people don't pick up on the fact that ALL the people who want to drill in Alaska and Offshore are republicans who happen to be in the oil sector.  Talk about job security AFTER you get thrown out on your butts for being bad politicans.  I wonder how much Bush will be worth after he leaves office.

All you republicans are cut from the same cloth.

I didn't say anything of the sort. It will definitely go for Obama. But the state isn't as uniform as you might think.....all of the liberals are concentrated in one area....the rest of the state is red. ....Thats all.

Just a comment on CA.  Northern California, around the coast and up northward to Eureka is liberal. Los Angeles (the city) votes democrat. Everywhere else it is not. The republican stronghold is in Orange County. 

The state is pretty diverse when it comes to topography. The rural areas are forested (Northern CA).....they tend to vote Republican. The middle of the state is farmland, they vote republican. Southern California is mostly republican.

Here is how the state voted in 2004:

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/CA/P/00/

The state voted for a republican from 1952 - 1988 (except 1964) to be president.

My opinion and I cannot imagine what good anyone sees in this guy, You know about Reverand Wright. You know about raising taxes. You know about his decision to visit Germans but not the troops who have been injured in the war. You know about his corrupt business dealiings. You know how he feels about America. You know how he feels about illegal immigration. You know that is aligned with some of the most Anti-American people in the country. You know that he has accused FOX News of racism. You know that  he will not admit the United States soldiers valiantly fought that Iraq war and the surge has worked. I am  troubled by anyone who would vote for a man who wants to take down the greatest country in the world. Someday when you grow up and look back on this election and you see what Barack was truly trying to pull-off, you will be glad that he lost the Election of 2008.

"If you have no self worth, if you are uneducated, if you are any color but white, and even some of them,"

Makes me sick to my stomach someone would actually write that outloud. She must be a real peach to live with.

You are so true.... Blmmcar,  yes, the liberals want us to be more communistic.... thus they are doing all the things that will bring our country to the level of 3rd world....

again,   California uses more energy than any other country besides america as a whole.....WHO MOSTLY LIVES IN CALIFORNIA?   WW, WHO MOSTLY LIVES AND RULES IN CALIFORNIA?     LIBERALS.....they want to talk about being green, but ITS ONLY FOR THE REST OF AMERICA, NOT FOR CALIFORNIA....   VERY SAD..

Joe, don't forget... I am an official registed democrat... so I may have an obama  bumper sticker.. :)

We need to drill , and drill now as one of our MANY SOURCES....  

so, is it true,   does "green" california use more energy than any country besides our own united states?    awesome.... truly a liberal mecca....  do as I say, not as I do mentality.

This is Senator Conrads story as he told it today

Conrad, the Budget Committee chairman, said it was Johnson who referred him to Mozilo in 2002 when the North Dakotan was seeking a loan to by a vacation home in Bethany Beach, Del. ``I called (Mozilo). I said, 'I'm buying this property. Would you be interested in the mortgage?', and he said, 'Yeah. Call these people and we'll take a look,' `` Conrad said. ``I deal with the heads of companies every day, and I didn't find it at all unusual. I did not think for one moment - and no one ever suggested to me - that I was getting preferential treatment,'' Conrad said.   Conrad obtained a $1.16 million loan from Countrywide in 2002 to buy his vacation home, then refinanced twice through the company. Portfolio reported that an internal e-mail from Mozilo instructed an employee to give Conrad a 1-percent discount off his interest rate on his 2004 refinance of $1.07 million, a savings of about $10,000 a year in interest payments. Conrad said the terms he received each time he did business with Countrywide were no better than market rates, particularly given that he had good credit and a spotless payment history. But he said his former loan officer has since acknowledged to Conrad that Countrywide dropped the rate a full percentage point. ``If they did me a favor, they did it without my knowledge and without my requesting it,'' Conrad said. ``It's an appearance issue, but in terms of substance, I have not done one single thing wrong here.'' Countrywide also made an exception in lending Conrad $96,000 in 2004 to buy an 8-unit apartment building from his brothers. The company had a policy of only providing loans for buildings of four units or fewer. ``They said they frequently made exceptions, especially for good customers, and I was a very good customer,'' Conrad said. An internal e-mail from Mozilo, however, said the exception was ``due to the fact that the borrower is a senator,'' according to the Portfolio report.  Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, says it is requesting an investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee into whether the favorable mortgages for Dodd and Conrad broke rules against senators receiving gifts worth more than $50, and whether other lawmakers benefited. ``It seems like there was a violation of the Senate gift rule,''  Ask yourself when was the last time you didn't have to fill out any forms or know what interestrate you were receiving when you took out a loan? You know you have excellant credit history and a spotless repayment history but do not know that you were getting preferential treatment or what rate you were paying? You are smart enough to head up a Senate committee but not knowledgable enough to know the terms of several loans, I wasn't born last night..

He is a Democrat so he can do no wrong. Heck a Democrat can take a bribe, stuff 90% of the cash in his freezer, get caught with the money and the entire transaction on tape and not lose his seat. The media will not even cover the story.

If this were a Republican or non-Democrat, look out. The media would be calling for his resignation along with the resignation of his party's leaders in the house and senate.

There are different standards for different parties, and none for the Democratic Party. It is the party of corruption, bribes, and special interests.

He also brings home the pork. That is all that matters to the voters. Morality and freedom are somewhere down the priority list after that.

Rider wrote "Conrad and Dorgan bring home the bacon (massive farm subsidies) and are Senators for life."

That's nothing I would brag about.  In other words they have created a generation of people who truly believe that we cannot survive without the handouts that come from Conrad and Dorgan. 

This is how they remain in power without ever coming up with any constructive ideas.  The Republicans should be up in arms and shouting to the rooftops that preferential treatment is unacceptable.  Of course they won't though because the Republican party is currently being led by a bunch of spineless wimps who are more interested in holding hands with the Dems. 

It is time for these losers, Conrad, Dorgan, and Pomeroy to go!!

He is a corrupt socialist that will vote for any bill to redistribute wealth that you put in front of him.

He has accepted what I would call 'bribes' or what most would call 'questionable campaign contributions'. In all fairness, he did return them or donated them to charity once the whistle blew.

He wrote bad checks in the Washington check scandal.

He helped kill a bill in the senate that would have allowed us to drill for our own oil. I always say "thank you Dorgan and Conrad" every time that I fill. 

He is opposed to giving our troops (who are in harm's way) the funding that they need to stay safe and win. He will not speak out against those who slander our troops, but he will speak out against those like Rush Limbaugh who defend them.

He endorsed the far left radical fascist B. Hussein Obama for President.

He supports the far left marxist fringe of the Socialist Democratic Party.

Any questions?

Talk about hypocrisy, this is from May, 2007, should we ask Senator Conrad to step down, as he suggested Gonzales do, send him an e-mail asking him to clarify... here is the story from your own Bismarck Tribune: North Dakota's two senators, Democrats Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan, say Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should step down. "A line has been crossed," Conrad said Monday. "He needs to go, and the sooner the better."
Two of their Democratic colleagues, Chuck Schumer of New York and Dianne Feinstein of California, have said they will seek a nonbinding Senate no-confidence vote, saying the Republican attorney general is too weakened to run the Justice Department. The department is embroiled in probes of the firings of eight federal prosecutors and allegations that it has become too politicized. "There is no question in my mind that he has conducted his office in a partisan way and that's very damaging to the administration of justice in this country," Conrad said. "That just can't be permitted."

Doesn't this puke make anyone as sick as he makes me?!!!!!  WHY do you people keep electing him?!!!!!  HE IS the reason we have high gas prices!!!!!  His resolution to high gas prices was to tax the oil companies!!!!!!  Do any of you have a clue that all he does is political posturing, along with all his Democrat environmental facist liberals?  He cowtows to these facists while he is going to do NOTHING to lower your gas bill. 

He's been in this cushy job way too long, boot the slug out!!!!!!  He's not for any one of you!!!!!!

Call him!!!!! 

Demand drilling WHEREVER we can!!!!!

Demand more coal plants!!!!!!

Demand more nuclear plants!!!!!!

Demand more refineries!!!!!

And demand a FASTTRACK to all of these!!!!!!!!!!

But you know what he will do.....he WILL support the Sierra club and all his environmental facist groups before a thought even pops into his mind about your suffering.  He's worthless..........

Rick, dear friend. This is the truth, believe it or not... I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIND THE SPELL CHECK FOR THESE POSTS.. :)

Its like this,  men don't ask directions,  women don't ask where the spell check is..  :(

LOL SG

They really should have spell check on here.

If I read as well as you spell, we are both in trouble !

VOUCHERS PLEASE...

SG yes you repubs are pigs

maybe 2 p's one time but not 2 m's, whats wrong can't read in NC.

Impeach Bush

Impeach Bush

Impeach Bush

Impeach Bush

Impeach Bush

Man that sounds sooooooo good.

You spelled impeach with 2 m's  Rick.... not enough public education in ND?

anyway,   Liberals do want to take the money from the big corps... we are headed downhill fast,  libs won't be happy till we are a third world country..

and no, Richard, we aren't pigs.

You spelled impeach with 2 m's  Rick.... not enough public education in ND?

anyway,   Liberals do want to take the money from the big corps... we are headed downhill fast,  libs won't be happy till we are a third world country..

and no, Richard, we aren't pigs.

Conservative, you repubpigs have a chance every election, but can't do it.

Impeach Bush

Impeach Bush

Impeach Bush

Impeach Bush

Impeach Bush

Impeach Bush

Impeach Bush

Imppeach Bush

Impeach Bush