Category: Law, Government, Politics

North Dakota’s Democrats will hold their state convention in Grand Forks later this week, and the highlight, if there’s to be one, will be choosing a candidate to run for North Dakota’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. So I’ve been thinking a bit about politics and conventions, especially past ones, similar to … Continue reading The Race for an Open Seat in Congress

Calm was the day in late July And bright was the sun across the sky But inside his chest the calm had broken Governor Sinner had started croakin’. I laughed the first time I read that, and I’m still laughing every time I think about it. It’s a poem written by a sixth grader from … Continue reading Memories of a Great Governor

North Dakota's district political conventions are about over, and state conventions are coming up, so I thought I might write a few political columns for the next few weeks. I've been hanging out around politics for a few years, and still have a pretty good memory (something my wife would dispute), and I still know … Continue reading Seems to Be a Lot of POS’s Around These Days

The mailman brought me a small package this week, book-sized, postmarked and with a return address from the town in which I grew up, Hettinger, North Dakota. Well, it was obviously a book, and I love it when people send me books, so I opened it immediately. It was indeed a book, a very special … Continue reading I Wish for a Friend

Forty-three North Dakotans have been honored with the rank of Colonel in the North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Riders since North Dakota began giving its highest award to its highest achievers in 1961. It’s time to make it forty-five. The award was created by former Governor William L. Guy as part of North Dakota’s commemoration … Continue reading Colonel Jocelyne & Colonel Monique

Word comes this week that the organizing committee for a group of North Dakotans who want to raise North Dakota’s Oil Extraction Tax back to the level it was at before the Legislature cut it in 2015 has decided to postpone its initiated measure campaign. Postpone, but not abandon. A wise choice, I’d say. Although … Continue reading Whither the Measure 6 Coalition?

Most of my Democratic friends have a hard time understanding why I like Kevin Cramer. I think it’s because they’ve never been a part of a brotherhood. Let me explain. I’m thinking about this today because of Gary Emineth’s announcement yesterday that Kevin Cramer would run for the U.S. Senate against Heidi Heitkamp. Thanks for … Continue reading Donald Trump, Harold Hamm and Kevin Cramer

This might be the shortest blog post I’ve ever written. Or will ever write. But it’s an important one, so if you are concerned about the possibility of an oil refinery being built next to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, as I am, please take just one minute to read it. I had a chance encounter … Continue reading A Short Message About Our National Park

I’m about to break two rules. Never argue with someone who buys ink by the barrel. Never get in a pissing match with a skunk. This one’s a two’fer, because it’s the skunk that buys ink by the barrel. The skunk is The Bismarck Tribune, which has just pulled off the slickest “Bait and Switch” … Continue reading Buying Newspapers From a Skunk

Note: I am reprinting (reposting?) below a story I first ran three years ago this week. It's about tomatoes. I was thinking about it because today I am preparing my basement "greenhouse" for Spring. I'm getting ready to plant peppers, which need to be started indoors really early, because they take a long time to … Continue reading Thoughts of Spring, Tomatoes and Peppers on a Cold Winter Day