Wait a minute. Wait A Minute! WAIT A MINUTE! What the heck is going on here? The North Dakota Legislature raised your taxes, and everybody’s cheering! The cheerleaders? Republicans: Gov. Doug Burgum, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, Tax Commissioner Ryan Rauschenberger. Democrats: Senator Heidi Heitkamp, Tax Commissioner candidate Kylie Overson. The chant: “A victory for North … Continue reading Republicans Raising Taxes In North Dakota? Yep. They Did That. And The Democrats Cheered.

My day started out okay this morning. My pillbox told me it was Thursday—it’s always nice to know what day of the week it is right away in the morning.  I got my belt through most of the belt loops, and got my shoes on without untying them. The sun was shining through the kitchen … Continue reading “I So Declare It!”

Just 24 days ago, Will Gardner, the Republican Party’s nominee for North Dakota Secretary of State, announced he was dropping out of the race after news stories surfaced about him being arrested (and convicted) for peeking in windows at women’s dormitories at North Dakota State University. You might have been a bit hasty there, Will. … Continue reading Hold On A Minute There, Al, The Peeping Tom Just Got 54,000 Votes

(NOTE: I didn't think I would see Duane Sand's name on a ballot again (boy was I naive), but here he is, showing up on the District 47 Legislative Primary Election ballot next Tuesday, and duking it out with the Republican establishment which once embraced him and ran him for Congress a couple of times. … Continue reading My Last Story Ever About Duane Sand (I Hope) – Redux

D-Day. June 6, 1944. Seventy-four years ago today, my father-in-law, Garland Crook, got his feet wet—literally and figuratively--entering combat in World War II by going ashore on Normandy Beach. Today Jeff and I are going to try to keep him from getting his feet wet as we help him into the boat on the Missouri … Continue reading Fishing On D-Day With An American Hero

Over the years, I’ve been asked off and on if I’d ever consider running for public office. My response has always been the same: “You won’t see my name on a ballot until all my college roommates are dead.” Dead men tell no tales. A couple of my roommates are gone, but Ron and Jim … Continue reading I’m Not Sure Why, But I’m Sticking My Nose Into The Bismarck City Election. I Guess I Just Don’t Like The Name Bakken.

We’ve got a million acres of public land, most of it excellent wildlife habitat, in western North Dakota, owned and managed by the United States government, which means you and me. I know, you’ve read those words before in my writings. Sorry, but I’m going to keep talking about this UNTIL SOMEBODY LISTENS! There’s a … Continue reading Wayne Stenehjem: Public Lands Enemy #1

AND THE WINNER IS . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Rauschenberger! North Dakota’s election laws require all candidates for statewide and Legislative offices to file campaign finance disclosure statements three times a year—before the Primary Election, before the General Election, and at the end of the year. All contributions greater … Continue reading Who’s Got Money, Who Doesn’t? And Who Didn’t File A Report?

President Donald Trump’s propensity to just make stuff up and spit it out to the media, or via Twitter, is contagious. I’m afraid Al Jaeger has caught the bug. C’mon, Al, you’re better than this. Dang. Background: At the State Republican Convention a month or so ago, convention delegates, disregarding Secretary of State Al Jaeger’s … Continue reading Here I Come To Save The Day

Although Peeping Will Gardner has said he will “withdraw from the election of Secretary of State,” because it’s “the best decision for my family and me,” (you can read more about that in yesterday's post) the ballot for the June 12 Primary Election is already printed, and his name is on it. So on June … Continue reading Monday Morning Update On Will Gardner