The convention countdown is on! Hi Friends, I’m Scott Hennen, Chairman of the Common Sense Club with a commentary about joining the process as an insurance policy: never, ever again will we be in this position be a Republican and or a Democrat. You should not like the position that we find ourselves in today, and the convention process in North Dakota is your insurance policy that it will never happen again. That, in today’s Common Sense Commentary when we return.

So here’s the deal: March 19, 20 and 21, Grand Forks Republicans gather for the convention. The following Friday, Saturday and Sunday the Democrats meet in Fargo for their convention. You go to my website, SCOTTHENNEN.COM , and you’ll see something called the 2010 Delegate Headquarters (little green bar, press on it). Find out what district you live in, find out who your chairperson is, and become and attend either party’s convention.

If you’re a Republican, some big choices are before you, including who ultimately will become the US House candidate. It’s important that you—the citizens of this great state—ultimately decide who this is based on how they answer your questions. This is a chance for the people to interview the potential candidates that are ultimately going to go to work for us.

It is our insurance policy that we will never be in a place like this ever again where we find ourselves so poorly represented. And Democrats—if I were you I’d get involved in the process as well. You are about to lose 2 of 3 congressional seats. The peril is on the dashboard and it is blinking right now for the Democrats.

Get involved to help shape and reform your party. It’s needed the grass roots uprising is the only thing that will save this country. Ladies and Gentleman, and right now North Dakota is playing a huge role in that. These conventions are an important step. It is not enough to stay on the sidelines and complain. Get Involved in the Process! Scotthennen.com with all the details to do just that. It’s democracy at work and I love it. That’s my opinion, what’s yours? Write to me online anytime at scotthennen.com and thanks for listening to today’s Common Sense Commentary.

The ballots are closed, the votes are tallied, and the results are in for the 2^nd annual Common Sense Club North Dakotan of the Year competition. Time to unveil the winner. Hi friends, I’m Scott Hennen, Chairman of the Common Sense Club sounding off. In a minute well tell you who it is, in today’s Common Sense Commentary!

Before we announce your top choice for the North Dakotan of the Year competition, let’s review the candidates:

1) Doug Burgum

A finalist from last year, the impression Doug Burgum has made to the economy of North Dakota is profound. In fact, Fargo would literally not look the same if he hadn’t decided to join Great Plains Software back in 1983. Yet in spite of his meteoric achievements, this North Dakota Roughrider recipient has taken on a new challenge with his latest company, the Kilbourne Group, in a visionary campaign to revitalize Downtown Fargo.

2) Harold Hamm

Harold Hamm’s immense investment in North Dakota resources and work force epitomize our pioneer spirit. As the first entrepreneur to realize the potential of horizontal drilling, Hamm blazed the trail for oil production in the Bakken Formation, making him a perfect ambassador for an industry that continues to contribute mightily to North Dakota’s financial future.

3) North Dakota National Guard

These heroic volunteers had the highest per capita mobilization rate during a time of war, and when at home, served countless communities in every corner of the state, most visibly in 2009 as flood-fighters.

4) Ross Uekert

The man who talked the talk …then walked the walk. Fed up with the corruption in Washington, this 54-year old army vet decided to embark a nearly 1,700 mile trek to D.C. to demonstrate his opposition to big government. No one better represents the historic tea party movement.

5) Drew Wrigley

What was Drew’s secret for success during his tenure as US Attorney? An “outstanding staff, an aggressive enforcement approach, and strong working relationships between federal, state, and local law enforcement.” In characteristic fashion, Drew has asked his supporters to vote for the Guard instead of him.

Turns out that was a selfless but unnecessary gesture, as the North Dakota National Guard has won this competition hands down by over a thousand votes. So congratulations ND National Guard! You are the 2009 Common Sense Club North Dakotan(s) of the Year!

MY OPINION, WHAT’S YOURS? WRITE TO ME AT BOX 23, MEDORA, NORTH DAKOTA 58645 OR SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS ONLINE AT SCOTTHENNEN.COM, AND THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Sufferin’ sunspots! Did anyone read Al Gore’s op-ed in the New York Times last week? It’s a 1,900 word tirade about three times the length of a normal op-ed. Lord knows he’s had time to work on it, for as coincidence would have it, the former Vice President has been in hibernation the last few weeks just as the nation was being pummeled with record snowfall. But now that most of the storms have passed, the Goreacle has returned…with more dire warnings about the impending catastrophe. Hi friends, I’m Scott Hennen, Chairman of the Common Sense Club sounding off. In a minute, A Prize for Lies: Al Gore is at it again, in today’s Common Sense Commentary!

“We can’t wish away climate change”: that’s the title to Al Gore’s op-ed piece published last Sunday, where the climate crusader finally broke his silence amidst scandal and inconvenient bitter temperatures that thoroughly discredit the cause he’s profited so much from. But in case you were concerned that Al Gore has succumbed to reality and has finally decided to give up, let not your heart be troubled. Listen to this first sentence from his piece:

“It would be an enormous relief if the recent attacks on the science of global warming actually indicated that we do not face an unimaginable calamity requiring large-scale, preventive measures to protect human civilization as we know it.”

Can you believe that? You’d be hard-pressed to find more melodrama in a high-schooler’s diary! But in all seriousness, there is no greater threat to ND’s prosperity than this type of thinking. The sanctimony and self-importance in which these people spew their nonsense requires personal investments in flawed science and blind faith. They will never admit they’re wrong—they’ll just disappear for a while when their cause is being undermined.

When it comes to North Dakota, they’d love nothing more than to shut down our coal, oil and gas industries, crippling our economy and bringing our state’s leading unemployment figures in-line with the rest of the country. The global-warming-turned-“climate change”-movement has suffered some serious drawbacks with the scandals and the cold weather, but they will come back in force. There’s momentum that lies in this distortion, so take it seriously and stay vigilant!

MY OPINION, WHAT’S YOURS? WRITE TO ME AT BOX 23, MEDORA, NORTH DAKOTA 58645 OR SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS ONLINE AT SCOTTHENNEN.COM, AND THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Former Governor, Ag Secretary, and self-appointed “Office Boy” of the Common Sense Club Ed Schafer has been under fire lately, with a new attack ad put out by ND Democrats and their trial lawyer leadership. They claim Ed has mischaracterized the delegation’s role in funding “abortion on demand” when they voted for the Senate version of the healthcare bill…are they right? Hi friends, I’m Scott Hennen, Chairman of the Common Sense Club sounding off. In a minute, we set the record straight, in today’s Common Sense Commentary!
LISTEN
“Former governor Ed Schafer is running a sleazy, dishonest and shameful attack ad, claiming that our congressional delegation voted to fund for abortion on demand. That’s false and he knows it…and Shafer is not being honest with you.”

That dramatic monologue comes to you courtesy of the North Dakota Democratic NPL Party, who’re apparently so desperate to maintain their congressional power that they’re now running personal attack ads against private citizens (watch out…you could be next). They say Ed is lying to you about the delegation’s role in funding abortions. And to support their claim, they…well they tell you Ed knows he’s lying, so I guess we’ll just have to take the scary narrator’s word for it. Here are the facts Ed was referring to: When it comes to the rights of the unborn, the Senate bill that passed before Christmas was atrocious. No pro-life advocates supported it; in fact, concerned Women for America—the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization—called it a “monstrosity.” Nonetheless, both of our senators voted for it. Now, $11 billion will be doled out for “community health centers” in the new and improved version of Obama care. Where is most of that money going to? The community health center known as “Planned Parenthood”…the nations #1 abortion provider!

I’ll give our Senators the benefit of the doubt. Even though it’s a fact that they’ve voted to fund abortion on demand by supporting Obamacare in the past, if they do not make the same mistake again and refuse to vote for the new Senate reform bill, I will personally correct Ed Schafer. But if they do support it—and common sense says they will—than there’s only one side that’s being “sleazy” and “dishonest”… and it isn’t the one Ed Schafer is on. The ad is filled with more lies about Ed, but we’ll save those for another day.

THAT’S MY OPINION, WHAT’S YOURS? WRITE TO ME AT BOX 23, MEDORA, NORTH DAKOTA 58645 OR SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS ONLINE AT SCOTTHENNEN.COM, AND THANKS FOR LISTENING!

There’s an alarming dichotomy forming in our country today, and it’s upsetting the economic relationships that have made America the world’s preeminent superpower since the conclusion of WWII. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the expansion of government and the contraction of the free market. Since 787 billion dollars in stimulus bonanza passed last February, the White House has been mischaracterizing growth in the economy; and now—to further compound their incompetence—they’re invited the most influential union leader to help restore vitality to the waning private sector. Hi friends, I’m Scott Hennen, Chairman of the Common Sense Club sounding off. In a minute, another Stern blunder: the White House seeks council from a ridiculous source. I’ll explain, in today’s Common Sense Commentary!

It’s a tried-and-true plot line Hollywood has employed over and over again: use a criminal to catch a criminal. You take a renegade gifted in orchestrating a particular crime, explore his psychology and use what you’ve learned to catch another other lawbreaker. Remember Hannibal? Well perhaps that’s what the Obama administration had in mind, when they appointed Union kingpin Andy Stern to a bipartisan commission designed to reign in federal spending; use a guy whose an expert in bureaucracy, unprofitability and ineffective management, and hope he’ll be able to weed it out of our national government. It works in the movies, right?

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work in reality, and if Conrad’s bipartisan deficit commission was portrayed in film it would most certainly be a comedy. This thing is a joke, and Stern’s appointment is yet another example in the long list of failures Conrad’s leadership has brought us. Consider this: Conrad’s work as Senate Budget Chairman started after the elections of 2006. It’s now 2010, and the Democrats have ever lever of political power in the government. So why would they need a “bipartisan commission” to limit federal spending? If that’s what they truly wanted, Republicans wouldn’t stand in their way. But of course that’s not what they want… and the appointment of a guy with Tom Stern’s credentials confirms that. The only purpose of this commission is to find a way to hike taxes and spend on their priorities under cover of a bipartisan consensus. You need an economic strategy Senator Conrad? Just say ”no” to spending. That’s the common sense solution here…no commission needed.

MY OPINION, WHAT’S YOURS? WRITE TO ME AT BOX 23, MEDORA, NORTH DAKOTA 58645 OR SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS ONLINE AT SCOTTHENNEN.COM, AND THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Safe to say, not all the political decisions being made in Washington are embraced here in the Common Sense Club (“Tell me something I don’t know, Scott”). As this administration (and their North Dakota allies in Congress) continue to display precious little regard for capitalism, the Constitution or even their very own campaign platitudes, at the end of the day elections have consequences and all we can do is point out their hypocrisy. But on the same token, we also need to congratulate them when they do make the right moves. Hi friends, I’m Scott Hennen, Chairman of the Common Sense Club sounding off. In a minute, giving credit where credit is due: a common sense salute to the nominee for North Dakota’s U.S. Marshall post. It’s coming up, in today’s Common Sense Commentary!

It’s the tale of two lawmen. One is a widely respected public servant, who’s devoted his life to law enforcement; the other has committed his career to serve the Democratic Party, after proving himself an effective trial lawyer. This first man is Paul Ward, and he’s the Obama Administration for U.S. Marshall from North Dakota. According to Senators Conrad, Dorgan and Rep Pomeroy, “[Ward] has a reputation as a dogged investigator, with a proven track record of working with law enforcement agencies on the local, state and federal levels.” Brace yourselves ladies and gentlemen: they’re actually right on this one. The second man, however, is Tim Purdon, their nominee for the al-important U.S. Attorney post. According to the delegation? “[Purdon] has a distinguished record and has proven his ability to enforce the law with conviction and courage.” Sounds about as qualified as a community organizer.

Look, our criticism of Purdon is not partisan. We raise legitimate concerns regarding a man who is grossly ill-equipped to serve in North Dakota’s top law position. How many U.S. attorneys coast their way to a federal court position? Is that the path he seeks? On a resume completely devoid of practical experience? And how can ND democrats get it right on the money with Paul Ward, but fail so epically in their choice to promote Purdon? Well, at least we know they’re capable of making the right decisions; it’s nice to be reminded of that once every few years. And welcome aboard Paul Ward. You’ve proven yourself an excellent law enforcer, and North Dakota is proud to have you represent us.

MY OPINION, WHAT’S YOURS? WRITE TO ME AT BOX 23, MEDORA, NORTH DAKOTA 58645 OR SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS ONLINE AT SCOTTHENNEN.COM, AND THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Happy Monday Common Sense faithful! It may seem like an ordinary week, but yesterday actually marked the anniversary of a major event producing the right kind of change we so desperately need in Washington. I told you it was a movement—not a moment—and this week that movement is officially heading into its second year. Happy birthday to the Tea Party movement! The sleeping giant is awake and still going strong. And in lieu of its continued success, the Obama administration is growing more desperate to counteract our efforts. Hi friends, I’m Scott Hennen, Chairman of the Common Sense Club sounding off. In a minute, you gotta hear it to believe it: the Obama-nation creeping into talk radio. It’s coming up next, in today’s Common Sense Commentary!

As the old saying goes, “when you can’t beat ‘em, join em.” Precisely the consensus Obama and the Democratic National Committee arrived at earlier last week when they launched an “On the Air” instructional website page. Acknowledging that talk radio is a trusted source of news and opinion, the purpose of radio.barackobama.com is simple: get healthcare advocates on the air to push official healthcare talking points. Only then—while remaining “calm and firm” in the face of us nasty conservative talk show hosts challenging their views—can the mostly conservative listening audience become influenced to support the DNC and their progressively-unpopular cause.

To be honest, I didn’t think this was real. I knew democrats in North Dakota (which is the most desperate kind of democrat, by the way) were using radio ads to attack private citizens like Ed Schafer, but I never thought this would become part of a national campaign. But there it is: unabashed propaganda, completed in three easy steps. Step one: Call. There, they actually provide numbers for a litany of popular conservative shows. Step two: “Add your voice.” And if you were wondering what “your voice” was supposed to say, not to fear! Discussion points are provided. Finally, step three: Report. Provide the feedback you received and submit it to the DNC for official analysis. I’m not sure if it’s more pathetic or creepy, but one thing I can tell you is that it’s pretty clear which side the Astroturf is on.

MY OPINION, WHAT’S YOURS? WRITE TO ME AT BOX 23, MEDORA, NORTH DAKOTA 58645 OR SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS ONLINE AT SCOTTHENNEN.COM, AND THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Anyone happen to catch the theatrics on TV last night? No, not the Olympics….although the dramatic expectations are comparable to the athletic performances in Vancouver. But instead of competing for national pride and personal glory, these contenders competed for trillions of our taxpayer dollars contained in the resurrected healthcare bill, debated and broadcasted yesterday during Obama’s Healthcare summit dog and pony show. Hi friends, I’m Scott Hennen, Chairman of the Common Sense Club sounding off. In a minute, the highlight of that showdown. Coming up, in today’s Common Sense Commentary!

It was just like the Olympics. Except devoid of athletes, entertainment, and actual substance. Nonetheless, all the heavy-hitters in this profound political competition known as the healthcare debate were on-hand yesterday, to take part in a public relations pageant staged so that the President is able to claim bipartisan participation in the legislation-making process. But even in his new-found, deceitful spirit of inclusion, the President still refused to include even one Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or state Senate or House Speaker — despite the fact that he will force higher costs onto state governments if his health care takeover passes. But “Washington knows best,” and the debate slogged on, with the President, who pledged to listen to the opposition, speaking for 119 minutes - nine minutes more than the 110 minutes consumed by 17 Republicans. As the Times of London put it, Obama is “boring America into submission…” so I won’t follow suit. Instead here’s the top moment from yesterday, with last November’s gold and silver political rivals, John McCain and Barack Obama:

LISTEN
McCain: “Both of us during the campaign promised change in Washington. In fact, eight times you said that negotiations in healthcare reform would be conducted with CSPAN cameras. I’m glad more than a year later they’re here…Unfortunately this product was not produced in that fashion—“
Obama: “Let me just make this point, Jon—because we’re not campaigning anymore. The election is over.”
McCain: “I’m reminded of that everyday!”

There’s no doubt who wins this exchange. And overall—although I didn’t think it was necessary for the Republicans to partake in this whole charade—they competed pretty well. Anytime the President gets frustrated in the face of GOP opposition, you know they’re defending common sense.

MY OPINION, WHAT’S YOURS? WRITE TO ME AT BOX 23, MEDORA, NORTH DAKOTA 58645 OR SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS ONLINE AT SCOTTHENNEN.COM, AND THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Thankfully, big government these days is mostly in Washington DC (it’s one of the reasons that the Obama Administration’s popularity is in free fall). Same with the Democratic leadership, who have been running the show since November of 2006 and is one of the prime reasons why the economy is in the tank today. Unfortunately, big government is here again, and it’s not limited to just D.C. It’s even come to Fargo’s largest city—City Hall of Fargo—and is running amuck with new sign ordinance proposals. Hello friends, I’m Scott Hennen, Chairman of the Common Sense Club sounding off. In a minute, big government comes to Fargo. We’ll explain in today’s Common Sense Commentary.

Alright, so I’m busy working for a living trying to make an honest living like the rest of you, and I haven’t really paid attention to the fact that for the last eight months a bunch of bureaucratic planners in the city of Fargo and a few elected folks (two to be exact and one appointed member of a planning commission) have been meeting every two weeks for the last eight months to plan new sign ordinances. Yes, because signs are such a big, big problem—specifically in the big city of Fargo. Yes, lot of problems, NOT!

In fact, I’m in search of actual complaints from real people who say, “Boy, I don’t like that sign” or “That sign is too big”. Tell me if I’m wrong by the way, I would be happy to hear from people who say “Gosh, there are just too many signs and they are too big”. It’s called commerce and free speech. So the last eight months, every two weeks a groups of folks getting together to say “How can we come up with new rules and regulations?” Meanwhile, they say “Signs really should be half the size they are now”. A lot of this is over some concerns of business districts that border residential districts. Well Fine! Fix That! But don’t throw out the baby with the bath water!

What we have happening in Fargo, ND, ladies and gentlemen—and far too many cities in America—is big government run amuck. It’s bureaucrats looking for something to do; they have a solution in search of a problem. Find me the complaint file, jammed with folks concerns about sign size and I’ll agree with ya.

MY OPINION, WHAT’S YOURS? WRITE TO ME AT BOX 23, MEDORA, NORTH DAKOTA 58645 OR SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS ONLINE AT SCOTTHENNEN.COM, AND THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Obama has already said he’d rather be a “really good” one term President than serve two as a “mediocre” one, and it looks like he’s going to get his wish. After completely dismissing lessons learned from the tea party movement and the ascendancy of Scott Brown, healthcare is on its way whether we like it or not. Remember this time last year? Hope and change? A new era of government? “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for” and so on? Let’s revisit those glory days, and see how they now apply to North Dakota politics. Hi friends, I’m Scott Hennen, Chairman of the Common Sense Club sounding off. In a minute, Judges, Presidents, and Party Men: the Obama/Purdon outrage, coming up, in today’s Common Sense Commentary!

I wonder if the Obama administration ever dolefully reminisces about this time last February, when the spirit of hope and change was still tingling through America’s legs. Back then, they didn’t have a record of partisanship, policy failure and unpopularity to defend… and they took every advantage of it incessantly by taking pot shots at Bush nonstop. For instance, in the speech entitled “Taking Our Government Back,” Obama criticized the Bush administration’s handling of federal prosecutors and promised “the days of firing eight qualified U.S. attorneys because of their politics (are) over.” Now, a new day has dawned: advancing U.S. attorneys solely of their political participation.

So let’s examine Tim Purdon’s participation in politics. He’s the former Democrat National Committeeman, he’s served as the treasurer for the Democrat Party, he’s a big-time fundraiser for a left-leaning political action committee, and a proud member of the national trial lawyers’ lobby, whose brand of law expertise you can usually find during late-night TV commercials. He’s clearly established a fine resume of advancing democrat causes and suing people; does this make him qualified to be our US Attorney?

In the dangerous times we live in, it’s difficult to believe North Dakotans are well served by this nomination. In all fairness, I realize this is one of the consequences elections have; to the victor go the spoils. But to denigrate the previous administration for “politicizing” the Justice department—then turn around and promote a democrat party shill to ND’s top law post— is completely unacceptable. As former special counsel to the Bush administration Bill Burck said, if Purdon were a Republican appointee, someone would be going to jail.

MY OPINION, WHAT’S YOURS? WRITE TO ME AT BOX 23, MEDORA, NORTH DAKOTA 58645 OR SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS ONLINE AT SCOTTHENNEN.COM, AND THANKS FOR LISTENING!