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BREAKING: Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) to announce retirement Tuesday, sources say
Washington Post ^ | Washington Post

Posted on 01/18/2011 6:55:14 AM PST by sunmars

North Dakota Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad plans to announce his retirement today, according to two informed Democratic sources, creating a potentially prime pickup opportunity for Republicans in a GOP-leaning state. Conrad, who currently chairs the Senate Budget Committee, has been in office since 1986 and risen to become one of the most influential -- and intellectual -- policy makers operating in the nation's capital. Conrad had been open about his ambivalence about running for another term and those doubts almost certainly increased following a 2010 election that decimated the Democratic party. Former Sen. Byron Dorgan retired in the face of a challenge from popular Governor-now-Senator John Hoeven while former Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D) was defeated by Rick Berg. Outside interest groups -- the conservative American Future Fund and liberal-aligned Commonsense Ten -- have already run ads in North Dakota, suggesting that the race would be a major priority for both national parties. And, Public Service Commissioner Brian Kalk (R) had already announced an exploratory committee to pursue a challenge to Conrad. The GOP field is likely to expand considerably in the wake of Conrad's retirement. Among Democrats, Pomeroy as well as former state Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp and her brother Joel Heitkamp are seen as possibilities. And, Democrats insist they will contest the seat with no Hoeven-like figure on the horizon for Republicans. Conrad is the first Democrat to decide not to seek reelection. Last week, Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) announced she would not run again. There are 23 Democrats and Democratic-aligned independents up for reelection in 2012 as compared to 10 Republicans.

(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: North Dakota
KEYWORDS: conrad; nd; senate; senate2012
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I say GOP pick up here, good riddance.
1 posted on 01/18/2011 6:55:16 AM PST by sunmars
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To: sunmars

ciao to another rat


2 posted on 01/18/2011 6:56:47 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck (I am in America but not of America (per bible: am in the world but not of it))
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To: sunmars
So what's North Dakota's law regarding a special election versus a Governor's selection to fill the term?
3 posted on 01/18/2011 6:57:50 AM PST by grobdriver (Proud Member, Party Of No! No Socialism - No Fascism - Nobama - No Way!)
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To: sunmars

Great news...rats jumping off the ship, gotta love that.

And it will be in a presidential election year in which ND will go solidly GOP.


4 posted on 01/18/2011 6:57:58 AM PST by mrs9x
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To: sunmars

Woohoo! My state does a 180 - two “D’s” as Senators retire and our “D” congressman gets beat by an “R” in the last election. Love it!


5 posted on 01/18/2011 6:58:41 AM PST by GOP_Party_Animal
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To: mrs9x

Obviuosly knew he was going to be out on his ear in 12.

Who is there to run in ND? My minds gone blank.


6 posted on 01/18/2011 6:59:33 AM PST by sunmars
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To: grobdriver
Oh, never mind.
He retires in 2012.

Hey! Why wait?

7 posted on 01/18/2011 7:00:45 AM PST by grobdriver (Proud Member, Party Of No! No Socialism - No Fascism - Nobama - No Way!)
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To: sunmars

haha the Dems want to run Earl Pomeroy in 12.


8 posted on 01/18/2011 7:01:47 AM PST by sunmars
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To: sunmars
I'm amused that the ComPost managed to slip the word 'intellectual' into the conversation without bothering to provide any background for why Sen. Conrad should be thought any more intelligent than the average bureaucrat and despite the fact that whether he's an intellectual has any bearing on the story. He's retiring because he sees a tough fight to keep the seat with poor odds and he knows his ticket is punched. So hasta la vista, America, been nice to rule ya and thanks for the fish.

For those who like the odd, I call this a 'fnord' which is what one calls a word you are supposed to absorb but never remember that you saw. The intent is subliminal, but with this article we see a stark example of how the ruling-class press does it (and no, it's not mine to begin with: I cribbed it from Robert Anton Wilson, who is no particular role-model, but did come up with a neat word for something that should really get more play than it does).

9 posted on 01/18/2011 7:01:51 AM PST by BelegStrongbow (St. Joseph, patron of fathers, pray for us!)
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To: sunmars

Conrad obviously think running with Obama on ticket in 12 severely kills him off. He’d be right.


10 posted on 01/18/2011 7:03:34 AM PST by sunmars
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To: sunmars

big deal...he was gone in 2012 anyway.


11 posted on 01/18/2011 7:05:40 AM PST by harpu ( "...it's better to be hated for who you are than loved for someone you're not!")
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To: sunmars

Okay, so his term was up in 2012 and he sees his career disapation light blinking in his left eye.

There are 23 Dem seats up next year and with his departure, in a Republican leaning state there us a good chance we can pick up “a give me” and we only need to focus on 22 races.

If we demand Conservative candidates we can pick up a good sized slew of brokers who actually represent our views.

This could be a good start.


12 posted on 01/18/2011 7:08:29 AM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously..... You won't live through it anyway.)
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To: harpu

That is when he is leaving, got to roll up a couple more years on that over paid retirement plan.


13 posted on 01/18/2011 7:09:59 AM PST by org.whodat
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To: sunmars

Good riddance to the lying, contemptuous, Country Wide Kent. Go Kalk!


14 posted on 01/18/2011 7:14:40 AM PST by Lion Den Dan
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To: sunmars

15 posted on 01/18/2011 7:16:46 AM PST by jimbo123
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To: sunmars
Conrad, who currently chairs the Senate Budget Committee, has been in office since 1986 and risen to become one of the most influential -- and intellectual -- policy makers operating in the nation's capital.
Apparently he has so high an intellect that he can't even submit a budget, much less balance one.
(we're to take away that balancing the budget is an impossible task since this brainiac can't figure out how to do it)

And don't forget those buzzwords. We now have "policy makers" in office, not statesmen or law makers.

(could this...ahem...reporter (spit) get his nose any further up Conrad's backside?)

16 posted on 01/18/2011 7:17:50 AM PST by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: Lion Den Dan

Some names already being mentioned as potential candidates include former Rep. Earl Pomeroy, radio show host Joel Heitkamp and former state Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp.


17 posted on 01/18/2011 7:25:20 AM PST by sunmars
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To: grobdriver

Is he retiring immediately?
Or at the end of his term??


18 posted on 01/18/2011 7:26:05 AM PST by ridesthemiles
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To: sunmars; GOP_Party_Animal

North Dakota has a new lieutenant governor, Drew Wrigley, who is young, accomplished, ambitious-—and ready to go.

He’s a North Dakota native who attended law school in D.C. I think-—Georgetown maybe? his wiki entry is deliberately vague about that stuff-—and has worked for federal prosecutors and federal judges I believe.

He was appointed LG after then-Governor John Hoeven (a rino) whipped the sitting Dem senator Byron Dorgan (an out-and-out commie) in the 2010 election. The sitting LG Jack Dalrymple (a good guy) moved into the governorship and Wrigley moved into Dalrymple’s old chair.

Wrigley would pound that musty old turd Pomeroy (an idiot who lost his congressional seat last fall) who may just be vain and foolish enough to run against him.


19 posted on 01/18/2011 7:26:11 AM PST by dblup
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To: ridesthemiles

When I re-read the article (after posting of course) I inferred that he’ll run out the clock.


20 posted on 01/18/2011 7:27:53 AM PST by grobdriver (Proud Member, Party Of No! No Socialism - No Fascism - Nobama - No Way!)
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