The guy obviously has deep ND roots but the picture coulda been better without the addition of the cowboy hat while wearing a suit.

In my opinion Dalrymple is a shoe in. He has done a good job maintaining the state so far and has the credentials and experience. Unless something drastic changes i'll probably check his box on the ballot.

Dalrymple had best at least start recognizing that this oil boom has some issues and start looking for some solutions to them or he will be facing a strong challenge from anyone who plays to that audience.

I can think of a number of fairly conservative people who will vote for whoever starts addressing the ills of western ND.  And lets face it, while Gov Dalrymple is a very smart man, he is not very exciting in the personality department and that alone will cost him some votes.

In short, this may be a tighter gubernatorial race than many might think.

He always wears that hat,will get my vote!

The cowboy hat looks very appropriate for him, though I agree it wouldn't for any other candidate I've seen.
Taylor is a real comedian, and as a hobby he does rope tricks like mad, and puts on a very enjoyable show. If you are lucky enough to  see him don't miss it. A real standing ovation family  kind of show!  You will definitely LYAO and then some!  So though the cowboy hat would look absolutely phoney on most others, it really does look pretty natural on him!
I don't know if he'd make a good gov or not.    He is a very sucessful rancher up near Towner, and everyone in that area claims he's a good guy, a real down to earth  N Dakotan.  No idea on whether this translates to being a good gov or not.

Gov. D will likely win the race but there is one thing I don't like about his administration.  They are allowing the growth in the West of the oil development to go unchecked.  The state agency that has to deal with this and monitor the oil companies to make sure they follow the rules on spills and such is having trouble keeping up.  They need to slow it down so the infrastructure can catch up some.  It is just plain wrong that the people out there have to put up with that mess.  I would bet those oil companies would try to help more if the state got on them to help with it too if they want to keep increasing activity. 

I really hope you are not planning on voting for a guy just because he wears a cowboy hat. 

Allen Said:
Dalrymple had best at least start recognizing that this oil boom has some issues and start looking for some solutions to them or he will be facing a strong challenge from anyone who plays to that audience.

I can think of a number of fairly conservative people who will vote for whoever starts addressing the ills of western ND.  And lets face it, while Gov Dalrymple is a very smart man, he is not very exciting in the personality department and that alone will cost him some votes.

In short, this may be a tighter gubernatorial race than many might think.

There's the kicker.  My thought is there really is NO solution.  Only time.  I prefer the "slow" process because just tossing money at the problems is nothing but waste.  Seen plenty of that.

As time goes forward more constructive plans can be conceived and implementation there after.  Anyone who runs on "I'll fix the oil problems in my first year" is someone I will be very very leery toward.  Truth is, that is just political smoke.  Kinda like someone sitting in the White House right now. 

I knew nothing of Jack.  I figured we'd get some push over but truth is, he has pleased me with his demeanor, thought out responses, etc.  The oil issues out west are amazing feats to overcome.  In fact, I'd like one governor in any oil stricken state that was able to defeat all issues and make everything "rosy" in less than 8 years.  I don't think anyone can offer an answer to that.  It just takes time, time, time.  Then you tack on the fight of the Corp for water and the "scare" of fracturing how do you make long term investments and feel comfortable the bottom won't fall out?  Always told Joel Heitkamp, if he or his sister have the answers and it is so easy why don't they get their east-ender butts over here and put the money where their mouth is and build what they say is not happening now.  Yeah, we know why...

As of now, Jack is getting my vote and that comes from someone who was skeptical when Hoeven first left.  To me, Jack seems more conservative than Mr. Hoeven was but we don't have a lot of "proof" of that yet given Jack is just now in the spotlight and inks with the governor pen.

Should be an interesting race.

TC,

Slowing down would be nice but it is a race against time it seems.  Between leasing rights, competing with other companies, costs of the market, technology, EPA, other regulations, weather, etc they go when they can go.

I don't know if slowing it down can really be done.

Ryan Taylor is the kind of Democrat candidate that could pull a vote from a conservative like me.  He's a genuine guy, and a pretty middle of the road Democrat from what I've heard.  Will make for an interesting campaign with some good ideas from both sides hopefully!

Opie

Tim Sandstrom Said:
TC,

Slowing down would be nice but it is a race against time it seems.  Between leasing rights, competing with other companies, costs of the market, technology, EPA, other regulations, weather, etc they go when they can go.

I don't know if slowing it down can really be done.

You're on the right track Tim.  My suggestion would be to put a limit on the number of permits issued in a given year.  Set that number at something like 1500 and you should still be able to see all those companies get their leases "held by production" before they expire.  As is, I listened to Lynn Helms talk a few days ago and was somewhat disappointed in that he was stating that with the current lag time in frac'ing wells, another 10 frac crews needed to be brought on board to keep up with the current well drilling and another 10 on top of that to help eliminate the backlog of wells needing fracture stimulation.  It would also extend the current economic activity by a few years unless someone invents a replacement for oil this decade.

Each well is the cause of 2,000 truckloads into and out of the well site in the first year, I assume this doesn't count light trucks for crew transportation.  So the problems out west are still on the grow, in looking at the Rocky Mountain Oil Journal this morning there are 188 rigs operating in the state, Helms envisioned we would be a little over 200 by next summer.

Allen Said:
.

Each well is the cause of 2,000 truckloads into and out of the well site in the first year, I assume this doesn't count light trucks for crew transportation.  So the problems out west are still on the grow, in looking at the Rocky Mountain Oil Journal this morning there are 188 rigs operating in the state, Helms envisioned we would be a little over 200 by next summer.

And about 50 Texicans each

Listened to him on the radio this AM out of GF station. Just my thoughts, but he is going to have to address some of the hard questions put to him in a much better fashion or he is dead in the water!

Your pat anwser to questions like fracking, the Pipeline and others has to be much better than they where. When asked about fracking he avoided the question, on the pipeline again he sounded more like an EPA advocate than an advocate of continued growth.

Then there is the issue of housing and his position sounds very much like Gov controlled rent.

Even those whom may want some slow down are going to think twice before putting someone like that in a position of power other than those who want these things now anyway.

Opie11 Said:
Ryan Taylor is the kind of Democrat candidate that could pull a vote from a conservative like me.  He's a genuine guy, and a pretty middle of the road Democrat from what I've heard.  Will make for an interesting campaign with some good ideas from both sides hopefully!

Opie

me too.  I know nothing about the guy but will certainly be listening.  The gov. is no shoe in. He hasn't answered the call on what's going on out west.  it's been nothing but lip service to this point.  If they're moving dirt on a four lane on 85 by election time that would help.  Along with numerous other issues actually being addressed and not just talked about.

I really hope you are not planning on voting for a guy just because he wears a cowboy hat.

 I agree, that would be completely ridiculous!

The man looks to have a pretty large head. He must be smart. He'll get my vote.

Never thought about voting for someone because they have a big head!  Will have to give that some thought.  Wait a minute - - - John Kerry - never mind.

BringingTheRain Said:

I really hope you are not planning on voting for a guy just because he wears a cowboy hat.

 I agree, that would be completely ridiculous!

The man looks to have a pretty large head. He must be smart. He'll get my vote.

So now we are going to vote for him because he has a large head, which makes him a smart guy.  Great logic

Kentucky Windage Said:

BringingTheRain Said:

I really hope you are not planning on voting for a guy just because he wears a cowboy hat.

 I agree, that would be completely ridiculous!

The man looks to have a pretty large head. He must be smart. He'll get my vote.

So now we are going to vote for him because he has a large head, which makes him a smart guy.  Great logic

A lot of people voted for a guy with big ears last Prs. election and look what happened!!

Couldnt find one with him wearing a cowboy hat>>>>

mauserG33-40 Said:

Kentucky Windage Said:

BringingTheRain Said:

I really hope you are not planning on voting for a guy just because he wears a cowboy hat.

 I agree, that would be completely ridiculous!

The man looks to have a pretty large head. He must be smart. He'll get my vote.

So now we are going to vote for him because he has a large head, which makes him a smart guy.  Great logic

A lot of people voted for a guy with big ears last Prs. election and look what happened!!

I know.......that's what worries me.  Nothing more dangerous than uninformed voters!