Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Hoeven says it's time to get serious

Hoeven says it's time to get serious

Nov 15, 2008 - 04:06:07 CST

After a devastating Election Day for the GOP on the national front, 16 of the nation's soon-to-be 21 Republican governors gathered in Miami this week, including Gov. John Hoeven, for a little soul-searching.

The GOP's prognosis didn't seem bright, according to some state executives at the Republican Governor Association convention.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who was on Sen. John McCain's short list for running mate picks, put it this way: "We're going to need more than just a political combover," he said, according to the Associated Press.

But Hoeven offered a brighter analysis of his party's future in a Thursday phone interview, saying the GOP needs to take a "serious approach" to addressing state and national problems before the 2010 election.

"I think you always have to look at your communication and your outreach and being inclusive," Hoeven said. "I think it always begins with good solutions, good ideas and the challenges that we face."

The governors convention began with a nationally televised press conference, featuring none other than Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. About a dozen of her Republican colleagues gathered on stage with her, including Hoeven, but never got a chance to speak.

GOP pollster Frank Luntz, also at the conference in Miami, had this to say, according to the AP: "The governors might be OK, but the party is in deep trouble," he said of Republicans. "The next leadership is not going to happen in Washington. It's going to happen in the states."

Mark Jendrysik, a University of North Dakota political scientist, said the internal back- biting going on in the GOP is common after any major loss in an election.

It happened to the Republicans in 1974 after President Nixon resigned following the Watergate scandal. It happened again to the Democrats in 1994 when the Republicans swept them out of congressional majority.

Both parties eventually found their ways back to the seats of power.

"I think what the Republicans are going to do is find new people," Jendrysik said, adding the governors' convention in Miami is an audition for potential national candidates in 2012. "There's going to be a healthy soul-searching."

Democrats strategizing

North Dakota Democrats at their Thursday caucus meeting also were wondering why they couldn't muster a majority in the state Senate and more gains in the House in last week's election, especially in a year when the GOP brand took a national beating.

"I think we also need to start taking credit for policies that we have helped pass," said Rep. Lois Delmore, D-Grand Forks. "Republicans don't pass every bill that they take credit for without Democratic support."

Sand somewhere sandy

Republican Duane Sand called from somewhere "warm" on Thursday, a little more than a week after he lost his third bid for Congress to Democratic Rep. Earl Pomeroy.

"I'm on vacation trying to figure out what to do next," Sand said.

North Dakota GOP Chairman Gary Emineth said that Sand is likely to stay involved in politics.

"Duane made clear, win or lose, that he wants to stay involved in party politics," Emineth said.

Palin in N.D.?

Emineth said the North Dakota GOP is actively trying to get Palin to visit North Dakota in February.

"I think (Republican presidential ticket) kind of owes us since they didn't make it out here for the presidential campaign," he said.

(Reach reporter Brian Duggan at 223-8482 or brian.duggan@bismarcktribune.com.)

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Comments

Geoff wrote on Nov 21, 2008 9:19 AM:

" I agree with Amuck3. Where was Gov Hoeven quoted as saying "it's time to get serious"? Brian Duggan (or whoever writes your headlines), you need to explain this, please? An overwhelming majority of North Dakotans believe that the governor has been serious for the last eight years and will continue to be.

Folks on the far left, as well as the far right continue to complain about the election. Come on, I have accepted that Sen Obama will be our next president and Commander in Chief. You need to do the same with the Governor of ND. "

wrote on Nov 20, 2008 12:26 PM:

" Jeff....what does signs in Florida have to do with Gov. Hoeven?

Maybe they are just leaving them there for the next election!! "

harpua wrote on Nov 20, 2008 11:03 AM:

" So are the Republicans still pulling for Palin in 2012? "

Amuck3 wrote on Nov 20, 2008 8:27 AM:

" Hmmm, I can't seem to find in the story where he's quoted as saying "it's time to get serious" like the headline says. Am I just needing my third cup of coffee or is it there? If someone could point it out for me, I'd appreciate it. "

Bladerunner wrote on Nov 19, 2008 6:48 PM:

" You just can't run away from the fact he recieved almost 3/4 of the votes for Governor. "

dave wrote on Nov 19, 2008 1:52 PM:

" Mathern tried to buy the election by promising to spend the entire surplus three different ways. "

GT wrote on Nov 19, 2008 8:37 AM:

" Why complain! You whiners are probally the ones that voted for Hoeven. Not Me! I can't take another 4 years of Hoven's "empty promises" He bought the election! "

Third Term wrote on Nov 19, 2008 7:22 AM:

" Mr Hoven is starting his third term . . . One would think he should have been serious after 8 years in office. Kind of late to start now. "

Economic Conservative wrote on Nov 18, 2008 5:55 AM:

" Yep, it's time to get serious Hoeven. Todays paper is looking like what is becoming a typical day in ND: Sex offender sentenced, more layoffs, job fair numbers down but public assistance applications are rolling in at record numbers, new jail opens. I can't wait to see how you handle this new and improved ND although your have yet to address any of these issues.We owe all this to you, right Governor? "

Just have to say wrote on Nov 17, 2008 7:10 PM:

" Hoeven are you going to take credit too for North Dakota being in the lead for overseas sales of equipment that has caused Bobcat to do layoffs? There goes more of those high paying jobs you created right? "

jeff wrote on Nov 17, 2008 1:15 PM:

" I toured flordia last week and it seem that John mccain & sarah palin forgot topick-up there campaign sign. ITS A mess left behind . we have pictures. "

MamaMia wrote on Nov 17, 2008 11:21 AM:

" Roger L: You say the permanent oil trust fund initiative passed? I thought it failed. Clue me in if I'm wrong. Thanks. "

Aaron wrote on Nov 17, 2008 11:09 AM:

" Hoeven doesn't have a chance in national politics because he is from ND. If NDers had a serious chance in the national scene Kent Conrad should have been seriously considered for the Democratic VP position for the past several elections. Also, it is nothing but myth that this is a center-right country. Many, many polls support this. A mojority of Americans are pro-choice, anti-death penalty, pro-environment, anti-Iraq war, and favor policies that aid the middle class. "

Law wrote on Nov 17, 2008 9:41 AM:

" Center Right, But Earl is far left so your argument doesn't hold water. The only reason Sand can't garner more than 40% of the vote is the welfare mentality of the people of ND. Me, Me, Me, what have you done for me, is all the people of ND care about. When the incumbent can spend millions of dollars to get reelected and brag about all the pork spent here the lemmings will keep voting them in. Sand was the only repub running on conservative philosophy. In ND our republicans are more like moderate Democrats and our democrats are further left.
Remember Hoeven couldn't decide to run as a Repub or a Dem when he first started his political career. "

Just Amazing wrote on Nov 17, 2008 8:30 AM:

" After eight years in office Hoeven now says it is time to get serious, so what has he been doing for the last eight years? Well we know he is the governor looking for the photo ops first, business second. "

Economic Conservative wrote on Nov 17, 2008 7:59 AM:

" You are so off base Center Right. Hoeven will never have a chance on the National Political scene because of his welfare politics. I had to laugh when his name was breifly mentioned as VP candidate with McCain. While Hoven's appeal to the Fundamentalist Conservatives is good, his spend, spend, spend policies were too far off the republican main stream. Yeah, I know the pretend republican Party in ND loves him, but ND has known nothing but welfare since it's admission to Statehood. Social, corporate and farm welfare are a way of life but for true republicans Hoeven's policies flirt with socialism. Although I do beleive he wouldn't have embarassed the GOP as badly as Palin did. However,Hoeven will never be more than a public servant for a state that can't even muster up enough people to fill the low paying jobs that Hoeven proudly proclaims he created. "

Center Right wrote on Nov 16, 2008 1:57 PM:

" Hoeven deserved more national attention at the Republican Governor's meeting in Florida, as he received a 50% margin (74-24%), the best in the nation of the Rep. Govs. Republicans will win when they offer ideas and solutions, not just attacks on Dems. That is Hoeven. He has been a superb center-right Governor. We are a center-right country and Sand is a right winger who lost big for the 3rd time. He has no chance in politics because he cannot rally more than 40% of the voters after repeated exposure. He has zero appeal to independentws and moderates, and should stay somewhere pounding sand. "

Economic Conservative wrote on Nov 16, 2008 1:07 PM:

" Wow, you have my utmost respect and my sympathies for being a loyal Republican. I was once a loyalist also, until I relocated to ND. This past election is the first time in my life that I couldn't bring myself to vote Republican across the board. I couldn't find one candidate from ND, other than Duane Sand, that has any clue what Republican philosophies are or how to stop the corruption of the North Dakota political system. "

Centerist wrote on Nov 16, 2008 10:41 AM:

" Have you right wing Republicans not learned anything from the recent political debacle? We the people want someone in the center or near the center not off in the Never-Never-Land of the far right. Governor Hoeven understands that. It appears the Obama political leader-ship is going to be centrist and you need to work with us centrist Republicans, to the best of your abilities, to get our nation back on track. Whats this about bringing Palin to North Dakota? She is not our great hope; she cost our man the election because of her inexperience and inability to form a proper sentence and when he picked her, he demonstrated a serious lack of judgment. The North Dakota GOP needs to come to its senses and look at the realities of today and grow up, Palin is not Tinkerbell with a magic wand; let her wander back into the obscurity of Never-Never-Land. "

WOW wrote on Nov 15, 2008 10:51 PM:

" Economic conservative, I hate to admit it, but you're right on the button. I am a loyal Republican, however, Hoeven is/was the worse thing for ND. Job creation claims sting each time it's mentioned. Heck, I could've created those type of jobs. It would be nice for him to accept responsiblity for his failures. The funny part is our willingness to travel to different job fairs across the country.......... "

Economic Conservative wrote on Nov 15, 2008 7:21 PM:

" RodgerL you live in a fantasy world. Job creation??? if you call minimum wage jobs that tax the roles of public assistance a positive thing, then you are absolutley correct. I am curious, why aren't you subtracting the 3000 layoffs announced in the last month from this figure? I also wonder why our photo op governor has remained silent on this issue! His six pillar plan is nothing but corporate welfare for business that is funded from where???? OUR TAX DOLLARS!!! and don't get me started on the so-called property tax relief. Try using some of that tax surplus for infastructure for rural ND. MY property taxes are tripling if my local government doesn't find some infascture money in the next 4 months, so spare me the Hoeven rethoric. While I am distressed by the downturn in the economy, I am going to enjoy watching Hoeven and all his disciples wallow in the financial turmoil that is quickly hitting ND. I just hope Hoeven and the rest of the Democrats playing Republican dressup at the state capitol have enough foresight to hang on to that surplus as we are going to really need it in the next 3 years. "

RogerL wrote on Nov 15, 2008 12:12 PM:

" Economic Conservative- you truly are clueless. As governor, Hoeven sought a 50% reduction in state income taxes, he refunded $150 million in property taxes last year, he's helped create 30,000 new jobs, he helped create the permament oil trust fund that passed in ND this month. and funded education at the same time. His 'six pillars' agenda has helped create dozens of new businesses in the state with Case-IH and Microsoft expanding their plants in ND; his pro ethanol policy is responsible for 4 new refineries in this state. He is the real choice for leadership and DEMS have failed miserably in ND because of their whiny atitude and tax the rich agenda being out of touch in ND "

AZreader wrote on Nov 15, 2008 8:54 AM:

" The Insurance giant AIG was just crucified by the media for holding a training session in a Phoenix resort because they are one of the benefactors of the big government bailout. I wonder if these governors used their own funds to attend this meeting, or if it was another trip at the expense of the taxpayers? I'll bet the governors didn't hold their meeting at a Super 8 in Florida. Wouldn't it be nice if these governors would have to dig into their own pockets to pay for a nice little trip to Florida in the winter instead of you and me having to pay for it? "

Ecoonomic Conservative wrote on Nov 15, 2008 7:47 AM:

" One of the problems with te NAtional GOP is politicians like Hoeven, who have absolutely no understanding of what true Republican philosophies are. Spend spend spend and endless welfare are not principals of the GOP. Neither is catering to the Religious Right anymore. I am curious why our Gopvernor een wasted his time at a GOP Convention given all the Democratic and socialist policies he embraces. Looking to platforms such as Hoeven's or Palin's is akin to looking at Chavez and Peron governments and learning nothing from history. "

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