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Kent Conrad (D-ND)
First Read has confirmed with two different sources that North Dakota Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad won't seek re-election in 2012.
The news was first reported by the Washington Post.
Conrad, 62, was first elected in 1986. And he's currently serving in his fourth term.
He won his last contest for re-election in 2006 by a 69%-30% margin. But 2012 might have been more difficult for him, considering that it will be a presidential year and considering that Obama won just 45% in the state in '08.
*** UPDATE *** Here's Conrad's letter to his constituents:
Dear Friend:
After months of consideration, I have decided not to seek reelection in 2012. There are serious challenges facing our State and nation, like a $14 trillion debt and America's dependence on foreign oil. It is more important I spend my time and energy trying to solve these problems than to be distracted by a campaign for reelection
These next two years in office will be critical. My top priorities will be to:
o Get our country on a sound fiscal course;
o Reduce America's dependence on foreign energy;
o Craft a new Farm Bill;
o Advance permanent flood control for the Red River Valley and;
o Address the disaster in the Devils Lake Basin.
I deeply appreciate the extraordinary support I have received over the years from the people of North Dakota. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity you have given me. It has been an honor to serve as your United States Senator for the past 24 years. Working together, we've helped build a strong foundation for North Dakota's future.
I also want to thank my family, friends, and staff for years of support. I especially want to thank my wife Lucy and our family - our daughter Jessie, our son Ivan and his wife Kendra, and our grandson Carter - for their constant encouragement. I appreciate all the sacrifices they have made over the years.
I also want to thank two of my best friends, Senator Byron Dorgan and Congressman Earl Pomeroy. It was my good fortune to serve in Congress with Byron and Earl for 18 years. We worked hard to produce results for our state and our country. It is an experience I will never forget.
Although I will not seek reelection, the work is not done. I will continue to do my level best for both North Dakota and the nation over the final two years of my term.
Sincerely,
KENT CONRAD
United States Senate
Leave a Comment:
Tie Score!
First Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R) & now Kent Conrad (D)!
I've got a feeling they are the first of many who decide to retire from Congress in 2012!
Odds are they will both be Republican seats in 2012.
Off topic... but, it anyone else unable to post a reply under the First Thoughts thread?
Me, too, neither, Feisty. Sigh. I guess we're not in Kansas anymore. ;-)
Then I take comfort in knowing I'm in good company Anna Molly! ;o)
Speaking of Kansas... do you know what the going rate for a 'heart' is these days?
LoL You know you can't buy love, Feisty. At least not any kind that we might be interested in. But I think that Rush Limbaugh watched the whole movie and remembered only the part where the Wizard says hearts will never be practical, whereupon he promptly jettisoned his own.
No wonder he's so cold-blooded. Brains and nerve not so much, either. ;-)
Now that's a real change in rhetoric isn't it. Apparently only conservatives must tone it down, liberals are exempt. Nothing has changed, the name calling and character assassination continues.
put another Republican in office more Conservative than Hutchison. North Dakota will go the same way. Conrad is the first of several on the Dem side that are reading the writing on the wall.
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL "I've got a feeling they are the first of many who decide to retire from Congress in 2012!"
On that, we can agree. I suspect that a lot of Democratic Senators will "Retire to spend more time with their family" lol
In 2010, the Democratic Senators lost 7 (35%) of their 20 reelection seats to the Republicans (who lost none).
In 2012, the Democratic Senators have to defend 23 seats (vs only 11 for Republicans), and in 2014, Democratic Senators have to defend 17 Seats vs only 12 for the Republicans.
Since the Republicans only need to pick up 4 seats to take over the Senate, it doesn't look good for the Democrats - especially after what happened to Russ Feingold in Wisconsin.
After having complete control of everything, including a filibuster proof Senate, the liberals must be very discouraged at getting virtually none of their agenda accomplished over the last 2 years.
Tough too bads.
Add Joe Libermann. He isn't going to run either. I don't think it is a seat the Republican party will pick up but I think the Dem will be a moderate.
Since he's not much of a Dem, IMHO, this is a good thing, even if ND goes into the R column,
This is the issues with my fellow Dems. They have this all or nothing approach. If you don’t toe the party line they want you gone. Whatever happened to the big tent party that I loved?
News flash folks, there are economic conservatives/social liberal Democrats out here, from where I sit we are the majority of the party. As you continue to drag the party into the far left you will end up losing us to the Independent leans republican camp. Is that really what you want? The democrats were successful as the moderate party. We will fail as a liberal party.
Yep, but here is the problem for North Dakota, famous for "get the Federal Government off our backs" rhetoric. Cass County is a dish. There is lots of snow. In the spring, the snow melts, and what happens? The water runs into the dish, the dish can't hold it and you get what? Massive flooding. Now, the amount of snow in the area today would make you sit up and say "howdy"as would the current temp of -14. North Dakota is trying to get a flood diversion through, and it has now lost the 3 best friends it has with regard to ushering that through, Conrad, Dorgan and Pomeroy. What they have left is Republicans, you know, the "get the Federal Government off our back" types. Question: Will the Republicans push to getting the diversion done, or will they expect the fine folks in North Dakota to fund that themselves? Any guesses?
"Question: Will the Republicans push to getting the diversion done, or will they expect the fine folks in North Dakota to fund that themselves? Any guesses?"
A better question: Will either political party really do anything about this? Republicans had control and did nothing, Democrats had control and did nothing. What this teaches us is that some issues will not be addressed by either party. In those instances the States will have to act on their own.
I respectfully disagree: the evidence is that Dorgan, Pomeroy and Conrad HAVE been pushing the issue. The question is who should fund it, if North Dakota has put Republicans in office to get that deficit under control, should the diversion be funded in state? Seems as though they have voted "aye" on that. Further; have they also, by this vote, said that they want farm subsidies to end?
Look for either Christie ODonnell, Sharon Angle or Joe Miller to establish residency in ND....
just like Hillary did in NY? She set a fine example.
I know about zero about ND but hope that even they would not vote for ODonnell, Angle or Miller except as folly. Made me chuckle....
At least Hillary won in New York.
Don't forget Alan Keyes in Illinois in 2004.
Yeah, Eric, and now the state is bankrupt!
b dune
Look for either Christie ODonnell, Sharon Angle or Joe Miller to establish residency in ND....
Christie ODonnell needs to first concentrate how she won't be going to the slammer.
Feisty...I agree...I think we'll see quite a few retirements this year and next. The two retirements so far would seem to benefit the GOP as both states are much more red than blue. Although, as always, candidate choice matters (as we saw in Delaware and Nevada).
If the right stops trying to 'mainstream crazy' like they did with the candidates you mentioned in 2010 - they might have a decent chance!
Sorry about your Ravens loss! ;o)
Frank,
Very good statement about not voting for a party, but voting for the best person, the one that will work for our states and our national government, with the best interest of both at stake.
Some of his comments are noteworthy also.
It is more and more critical for all voters (irregardless of party affiliation or ideology) to join the Popular Amendment movement to help pass the two proposed constitutional amendments: election/campaign finance reform and term limits. Go to www.faircampaignreform.us to get involved.
We have term limits. They're called elections.
Elections mean little regarding term limits when the voters keep re-electing the very people they spend the rest of the two years or four years or six years (depending on the office) complaining about their being back in office. The amendment would limit all federal office holders to no more than two terms in any one office and a total of six terms in all three federal positions. It puts the same limits on Congress as Congress put on the presidency after FDR.
how can you have a sound fiscal course and new farm bill with more farm subsidies?
Notice he did NOT say what that new farm bill would be.
about time.
Curious as to his priority order. State first THEN country. Bet there's lots of earmarks coming to ND from this one in his next 2 years.
Kent Conrad has done more in his service for our country than all of you neg-posters put together in a lifetime.
Thank you Kent for all that you have done.
Subjective. That depends entirely upon how you personally quantify 'service to the country.'
Safe to say any American's definition of service to country--whether or not you are a D American.
Many in North Dakota are smiling today!
Most are not. These are not radical people. They know a moderate when they see one.
He probably won't win in 2012. He is no fool.
Bad bob is sounding like our president. Why is the left filled with so much hatred and continue to strive for a divided union????
No, Bad Bob is sounding like an ignoramus.
I'm sorry to hear that Kent Conrad won't run for re-election but can understand why. He's been there for 24 years, a lot of campaigns and no doubt the constant grind of raising money, campaigning, holding meetings with North Dakotans becomes a tiring process. Good luck to him.
So you want to control the deficit--good goal--and you want to pass the farm bill, source of the biggest load of pork around. That's the essence of the problem. Everything is good for someone but a lot of things are good for the country as a whole. Farm bill is great for agribiz, good for some family farmers--and bad for the rest of us who have to pay for the wealthy fat cats.
He was first elected to the Senate in the 80's and promised to be a one termer if the deficit at that time wasn't brought under control. It wasn't and he did NOT seek reelection. However, when long time Senator Quentin Burdick passed away...he took his seat. He was a moderate democrat but many North Dakotan's are hoping somebody more fiscally responsible (or conservative) will take his place. Our country deserves better.
Our country deserves people who work this hard and don't simply follow the winds of political opinion. He, Dorgan and Pomeroy were decent hard-working men who fought very hard for their state. You'd be lucky to find good people to replace them--but it'll be many years now before N. Dakota regains any real power in Congress. You just don't understand what you've lost.
Don't accuse me of "not knowing". We do know that all we lost were three BIG time spenders who would bow down to Nancy and Harry at every turn. They forgot who they were supposed to represent. They saw the writing on the wall and ran with their tails between their legs.
Hello America, now if Fezzy bear might bud his nose in where it don't belong, such as our neighbors next door North Dakota Politics lets see, let simply add some responses NO YELLING INTENDED"""
Dear Friend: (NOW THAT SEEMS CIVIL ENOUGH)
After months of consideration, I have decided not to seek reelection in 2012. There are serious challenges facing our State and nation, like a $14 trillion debt (WHO IN THE HADES APPROVED THAT MUCH DEBT?) and America's dependence on foreign oil (WELL A LITTLE DRILLING IN NORTH DAKOTA COULDN'T HURT). It is more important I spend my time and energy trying to solve these problems than to be distracted by a campaign for reelection
These next two years in office will be critical. My top priorities will be to:
o Get our country on a sound fiscal course (NOW THAT SOUNDS RESONABLE, BUT PROBABLY 24 YEARS TOO LATE;
o Reduce America's dependence on foreign energy (WELL THE ONLY PERSON THAT CAN REALLY DO THAT IS ALBERT EINSTEIN AND HE'S DEAD;
o Craft a new Farm Bill (CRAFT A NEW FARM BILL? HUMM, REALLY NO COMMENT HERE EXCEPT TO SAY, EVERY NEW FARM BILL SIMPLY SENDS THE FARMERS THE REAL BILL IN THE MAIL THERE ARE NO FREE LUNCHES;
o Advance permanent flood control for the Red River Valley ( NOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE A NOTEWORTHY ENDEAVOR, WHAT DOES HE HAVE PLANNED? DAMMING UP THE RIVERS? JUST ASKING)and;
o Address the disaster in the Devils Lake Basin (WHERE IS THAT BY THE WAY?).
I deeply appreciate the extraordinary support I have received over the years from the people of North Dakota. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity you have given me. It has been an honor to serve as your United States Senator for the past 24 years (GEE NO PERSON AUGHT TO SERVE THAT LONG IN CONGRESS). Working together, we've helped build a strong foundation for North Dakota's future (WOULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN NICE IF HE HAD WORKED A LITTLE BIT FOR HIS FELLOW AMERICAN NEIGHBORS JUST TO THE SOUTH? CONSTITUENTS, AND EARMARKS THATS ALL THIS COUNTRY HAS COME TO) """"" SINCERELY fezzy bear
Another Democrat that can see the writing on the wall. More to follow.
Good Riddance...
Thank you Kent Conrad for a job well done!!