That’s how senate candidate Heidi Heitkamp took to the street to push the same duplicitous campaign strategy North Dakota Democrats have employed for decades: class envy, campy talk of a nebulous “North Dakota Way”, and saying one thing here while acting like good little leftist lap dogs back in Washington, DC.

I feel compelled to clarify that no, I’m not mocking Heidi’s looks. This is about attire. I think anyone pursuing a position of leadership should dress for public appearances like they’re applying for the job…every time.

For instance: despite their poor performance as representatives of North Dakota, you could count on Dorgan, Conrad, and Pomeroy to put on a nice flannel or farmer-ish shirt and a new set of jeans or khakis when they came back to North Dakota to act all “local.” Whichever handler allowed Heidi to go parade walkin’ with the Unabomber get-up, however, should be given a different assignment.

One other item in this photo speaks volumes about the Democrat candidate for senate: trying to distribute treats from an empty bucket. I can’t think of a better way to portray the bloated federal bureaucracy with Democrats in charge. Maybe there’s a float from China nearby waiting to loan her some candy to distribute to the hoi polloi in an effort to buy votes.

Point of order, though: I do appreciate all the salutations and greetings today, but rather than saying, “Happy 4th!” I would delight in hearing, “Happy Independence Day!” After all, that’s what today is about, regardless of where it happens to have landed on the calendar.

By the way, on this day which rings true the message of individual liberty in the heart of all red-blooded Americans, it caught my attention that people who are “fiercely nationalistic” or “reverent of individual liberty” are labeled as terrorists by a new study on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security (link opens as PDF in new window).

Well, USA and liberty, if lovin’ you is wrong…I don’t wanna be right. The report above tries to mask its claims against such people by qualifying them as accompanied by preparing to retaliate violently. That brings me back to one of Clint’s Rules of Reality (heretofore unpublished, lest be it labeled a “manifesto”:

This isn’t the first time people who oppose abortion, people who put stickers on the back of their trucks, people who attend Tea Party rallies (but not Occupy Wall Street), or people who support Ron Paul (among whom I am not one) have been branded as dangerous and possible terrorists…and it won’t be the last. I just wanted to inform you that if this day has brought to mind a swell of national pride and love of liberty, look out: you may have just become an enemy of the state…at least while Hope™ and Change™ are the bywords of the day.

Not only does this farcical law violate protections on free speech, but it also doesn’t apply equally to all – ie, people with stickers on their car or “permanent” signs. The fact that this law even addresses such exemptions indicates that someone in the legislature realizes how ridiculous, unenforceable, and downright unconstitutional it is.

Of course, it doesn’t apply to Democrats buying gas cards or big screen TVs for people or giving college students free rides and pizza, does it? Well, it looks like they eventually stopped the pizza thing when people found out what they were doing. I never heard of anyone actually being charged with a misdemeanor pursuant to Section 16 of the North Dakota State Century Code, however.

I took down my yard signs as we’re all warned to do, simply because I want to use the parts for a project I’m working on in the Garage Majal. Here in my “digital yard”, however, allow me to assert my political opinion as protected by the First Amendment:

Measure One: This is a clear YES. It says that as a politician I can’t arrange to have a government job created, then later on assume that job. I also can’t arrange to give a government job a disproportionate raise and then later assume that job. No-brainer.

Measure Two: This is ill conceived and a clear NO, even though I want property taxes abolished. If it had simply said, “North Dakota government entities may not derive income from the levying of a property tax.” and left it there, I’d be urging everyone to vote yes. In this case, however, the proposed measure does some very BAD things:
– It places spending decisions in the hands of one large, central government;
– It puts fiscal responsibility in the hands of a state legislature which hasn’t exhibited any such responsibility since the Schafer administration;
– It requires the legislature to make a “magic formula” which will somehow “properly fund” all North Dakota cities and towns, no matter how great or small, no matter how flooded or oil-rich;
– It will create a need for full-time legislators. Right now they serve part time and for little money. Imagine if it became a full-time job, doling out your money to whoever lobbied them the best? That’s how the United States Congress ran off the rails!
– Codifies itself into the Constitution, where it can not be modified without another Constitutional ballot measure. What to do in the mean time?

Again, if Measure 2 simply said “No more property taxes” and left it up to the legislature to react within its means, I’d be on board. As it stands, it pulls the rug out from under them while also handcuffing them at the same time. It’s a recipe for disaster.

Measure 3: Again, a clear YES. This measure simply restores protections for faith and religion which have gradually been eroded by the federal government. It has passed legal muster after examination by entities at Harvard, Stanford, Notre Dame, U Virginia, et al. It sets a legal standard by which people are protected from new laws which would, for instance, force photographers like me to photograph homosexual “weddings” against our convictions. No, it doesn’t mean I can beat my wife or marry a twelve year old. And remember, its financial support comes from close to a million dollars in blood money from the abortion factories at Planned Parenthood.

Measure 4: This one is convoluted, but vote NO to KEEP the UND Fighting Sioux Logo. The administration of UND and the State Board of Higher Education have been nothing but misleading in this regard, claiming that we wouldn’t be allowed into the NCAA Big Sky Conference when we’ve already been ratified members for over a year. They’re still claiming the sky will fall on UND athletics when they’ve been playing under sanctions already without ill effect. We need to stand-up for out of state liberal politically correct” types who think they know more about what’s offensive to Indians than the actual Native American tribes themselves, which have never been allowed to meet with them!

There we go. Since I’m not a Democrat, I’m now a dissident and a criminal. But wait, I did take down my yard signs as ordered! If you feel so moved, please click on the Donate link to the right and chip in some bail money. After you do so, please go to the nearest poll – remember, the polling places have CHANGED for many of you, and you can find your new polling place here. Vote YES, NO, YES, NO, and sit back to watch the TV stations try to beat each other with the best election coverage. See you when I get out.

Minnesota Republican representative Matt Dean, however, thinks otherwise. According to this article, he had plenty to say about our state’s headquarters:

“Has anyone seen North Dakota’s Capitol? It’s like State Farm calling: ‘We want our building back.’ …It’s embarassing.”

Ahem. Not only is our capitol distinctive but it’s also quite reserved and pragmatic in its design. It’s no opulent palace or apotheosis of government overspending…and we like it fine. Besides, according to that Forum article, Minnesotans need to “repair [their capitol’s] crumbling outside walls, its outdated electrical system and interior that is falling apart” …it sounds like they are the ones who need to be embarrassed about their capitol!

Unlike Minnesota’s, our capitol building is in fine shape…with current electrical (and ample backup generation) as well as free wireless internet tip-to-toe and a cafeteria with an AWESOME taco bar on Wednesdays, it seems far more habitable than its neighbor to the east.

Perhaps if Minnesota wasn’t known for being the nation’s biggest welfare state – with nearly forty percent of its state budget going to entitlement programs in 2009, for example – and put more money into infrastructure than they do into printing entitlement checks, they could afford to keep their state capitol building from crumbling. Until then, go ahead and take your petty pot-shots…we can take it.

By the way, which do you think Minnesota tax-n-spend legislators (including “Republican” Matt Dean”) will accomplish first: repairs to their already neglected, dilapidated capitol building, or a brand new taxpayer-funded stadium for the lackluster Minnesota Vikings?