Bismarck, North Dakota News

" As I said earlier, on another article about Sen. Conrad's very questionable ethics, his very questionable judgement, and being given a special "friends" interest rate, from a company that he will be voting on how much taxpayer money will be used for a "bailout," that all it would do is enhance his credentials within the Democrat party. A story in yesterday's news reported that Sen. Obama has asked Sen. Chris Dodd's (also given a "special rate" on HIS loan), because Dodd is being considered as a potential running mate. How's that for a little "Change You Can Believe In?" There can be little doubt that Sen. Conrad or Rep. William Jefferson are being considered for Secretary of Treasury. "

" What a great arguement for term limits. There is no doubt he started the job with the right intentions but like all polticians he has strayed. The power and prestige of the office have changed him. He needs to be reminded that this is on loan from us and it can be taken away. I am so sick of career politicians. "

" To Patriot: Please don't assume you know what I like. My political views have nothing to do with what is and isn't posted. "

" Dear Online Editor: It is still censhorship when you put up obstacles to posting comments you don't like. The press release for Dorgan's $8M earmark to Killdeer Mfg is right here - http://dorgan.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=280681 - shame on you. The AP Story about his $500k earmark to the REC is below, again, why would an electric cooperative study expansion of petroleum refining capacity?! To learn the contributions the owners of Killdeer Mfg have given to Dorgan go to Opensecrets.org, they have given him ~$5,000 for his campaigns, the REC has given him $16,000, again from the same source.
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7/8/2008 Associated Press
Sen. Byron Dorgan, says a new appropriations bil will include $500,000 to study the costs of increasing petroleum refining capacity in North Dakota.

Dorgan, who chairs the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, says he is responsible for writing the appropriations bill for energy and water-related federal projects.

He says in a statement that the new bill will include money for the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives to coordinate a study of incentives to increase North Dakota`s refining capacity.

Dorgan says the continuing investment by Tesoro Corp., in its Mandan refinery is good news, but he says more is needed to ensure that North Dakota is not at risk of a fuel supply shortage. "

" To Patriot: I have no problem with the additional information you are providing, but you must provide some attribution for it. "

" to Megan~ really??? where are your facts to prove this theory???? I lived in those states and NO ONE was getting paid to move to ND "

" What North Dakotans don't understand a lot of the time is that the U.S. government actually pays people to live here. We get more money back from the federal gov't than we pay to it in taxes. DC and CA get the least. It's places like those that basically pay people to live here. Kent, Byron, and Earl are instrumental in getting a lot of that money from the federal gov't to support us, especially our farmers and ranchers, here in ND. "

" do not speak for me~ he is a cheat and has done NOTHING for me~ and he is hardly honest "

" You people need to get a life - farmers and ranchers best friend - guess again. The only time he and the rest of our "wonderful" representatives in DC even act a bit conservative is when they get into ND. They put on an act. When they are out of state, they are some of the most liberal people I've ever seen. I'm embarrassed to have these 3 be representative of such a great state. When are the people of ND going to wake up and actually vote for someone that has their best interest in mind. None of them, including Conrad do. WAKE UP NORTH DAKOTA!! "

" Kent,

I voted for you. But no more. This is just too unseemly. And you know that you, of all people, should have known better. Unfortunately...you most likely did know. And your coverup and excuses are even more unseemly.

It is time to retire from the Senate. You have done well for us, but you have been there a long time, perhaps too long. Your longevity is starting to show. "

" Sean: Because Deb said so...

WMD in Iraq: Did you forget about all the convoys heading to Syria prior to the 'Shock and Awe'? They will show up again. "

" Great letter Sean - can't agree with you more. "

" Has anybody heard anything from Conrad about his mortgage deal recently? Maybe the Tribune could reach out to Conrad for a comment on all the people wanting him to resign? "

" Schneider: District 35 Democratic Chairperson, so now Conrad has his fellow Democrat Party hacks out there trying to defend him. No wonder you think its a distraction, it might cause your party to get "booted" out of North Dakota politics. "

" dante, no thanks, I'll keep my day job..... "

" he lied~he got caught~ he is a politican~ not to be trusted~ so please spare me the rhetoric about how great he is~ how much has he done that we do not know about?? "

" Ironic, you are absolutely right!

And to Steve C, This is NOT about WMD it is aboutt he ablility of Conrad to pull the wool over the eyes of all of the Democrats! "Look the other way! Don't look at me, I didn't do anything wrong! It was not MY fault I got caught! I didn't know he was giving me a sweetheart deal, even if Angelo said he did, he is lying....." LOL.... ROFL!
Follow the money, follow the bail-outs! "

" IRONIC- if i should ever become a dictator, will you be my minister of propaganda? "

" Steve C....April 17, 1987...http://mondediplo.com/1998/03/04iraqkn....Halabja, 60,000 people, 5,000 dead.... Steve C. the weapons were in Hussiens possesion and were used, Where they went, who knows that can be anyones guess, probably Syria, maybe remote Saudi Arabia. The fact is he had the weapons and he used them. And had the ability to use them again, perhaps in a terrorist fashion against Israel.... count your blessings that they never found their way to the US, or any friendly US allies in a terrorist attack. Now S.A. prove to me that Hussien didn't have access to nerve gas and if he did he would never have used it...(after I have provided information he did.) the ball is in your court...bucko.... "

" DENIAL IS NOT A RIVER IN EGYPT, SEAN! "

" This is not, repeat, not about the loan as the issue. This is about a flock of Senators and Representatives who did business with Countrywide and other Loan companies at advantageous terms--they may not have asked for the favors, but they got favors and they knew it. In the past few months the Congress (Sen's and Rep's) designed "rescue" legislation for said loan companies--the very same they have done business with at friendly terms. Were there leanings and bias to help their pals as they designed the bailout? That dear readers is the question. How would it be proven? All of the congresspersons tell us after the fact that they "had no idea or clue" that the loan companies gave them special consideration. That is how "special interests" that Conrad rails against get to be special! He did his part. Now we must do ours--pay for the massive bailout. Thanks Kent Conrad--enjoy your beach house in Delaware. "

" He didn't get any special deals on his mortgages? Come on. Beam me up, Scotty. "

" Conrad in my opinion is a liar (i.e. 1986 pledge not to run for office), and unethical (ie. chaning stories on how the contact w/ Mozilo was made). "

" Who actually wrote this letter? It sounds like a political campaign commercial. Now about all we need added is a picture of Conrad back here in North Dakota and wearing a blue denim farmer shirt and this would be complete.

Maybe a picture of him at his Delaware million dollar beach home would be more accurate though, and reflect where he really likes to spend his time off. "

" For not privatizing social security, boy that takes guts. Sucking up to farmers and ranchers by bailing them out continually, boy that takes guts in North Dakota. When he didn't vote to go to war in Iraq he voted against a bill the majorty of senators were for not just against the president. If Kent is such a great savior why doesn't he run for president? "

" to ironic: When you speak of these weapons of mass destruction that Hussein had and used, are these the same ones that mr. bush based his war on? Can you tell me when these weapons were found? Try again. "

" When Conrad didn't suport the war effort in Iraq.. he was morally supporting a despot, a self absorbed dictator who was murdering his own citizens, that used chemical weapons against his own people, (BTW.. nerve gas is a weapon of mass destruction..Hussien had it and used it)...OK? Talking to the CEO of Countrywide about a loan from the company was a kin to putting himself in the pocket of a loan shark...the favor would be recalled in the form of favorable legislation somewhere down the road... in this case a housing bailout...funded by the US taxpayer to the tune of $300 Billion... So I disagree that Conrad is a man of honor. "