I've written a column for the first post-NDGOP/Scott Hennen-takeover issue of the Great Plains Examiner.  A few people have asked whether it's available online. It wasn't before now, but I've decided to post it here.  This is an un-edited version of what I submitted. 

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In 2013, North Dakota Democrats face three important hurdles:

“Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”  Lord Acton

“Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.” Thomas Jefferson

“Never argue with a man who buys ink by the barrel.”  Greener’s Law

In August of 2011, Lee Morris -- then the managing editor of the Valley City Times Record -- snuck a column into the paper in which he wrote about that newspaper’s out-of-state owners demands of the newspaper:  less journalism; “more coverage on events such as Chamber of Commerce luncheons and ribbon-cutting ceremonies.” Morris quickly resigned, avoiding getting fired.

In the November edition of the Bismarck Tribune’s monthly “Bakken Breakout” insert, publisher Brian Kroshus advocates for abandoning the Electoral College system and, instead, letting oil vote. Seriously.  (Google it.)

North Dakota’s elected Republican leaders have absolute power in state government. They own the Governor’s Office, super-majorities in the legislature, and four of five Supreme Court justices were appointed by Republican governors.

North Dakotans try to be informed. Many think it’s enough to read the local newspaper, and to watch the local news and some Fox News. We might listen to some talk radio. We think by doing so we are living up to Thomas Jefferson’s wish. We are not.

North Dakota’s progressives have left the “ink-by-the-barrel” business to Republicans. Our newspapers are all owned and operated by Republicans. The newspapers are so busy pandering to out-of-state businesses, they’ve forgotten the important role they used to serve by informing the citizens.

I was reluctant to write this column.  A controlling interest in the Examiner was recently purchased by a secretive investor group including the former chairman of state’s Republican Party. I’ve asked the paper’s founder who the investors are, and he won’t tell me. When I learned who some of them are, I predicted this paper would become just another right wing rag, and I am not backing off from that prediction. Upon making that prediction, I immediately heard from two of the Examiner’s principals that Republicans are afraid of, or don’t like, one of the investors -- the former chairman of the NDGOP -- possibly even more so than Democrats. Though an interesting talking point, it is not worth much. There’s a difference between being afraid of the far-right fringe, and being afraid of an objective, neutral news outlet. No doubt moderate Republicans fear the far-right fringe. That’s understandable. But that does not mean the Examiner will be neutral, objective, or even that it will be a worthwhile news source.

I was asked to write this column because I had made that prediction. The new owners wanted to put me in the untenable position of either writing for the paper, seemingly endorsing it, or declining to do so, thereby appearing to contribute to the problem I am criticizing.

In order to be a viable party going forward, it is not enough for Democrats to have policy or legislative vision.  We have had plenty of solid proposals in the past, many of which have been scrubbed of all Democratic fingerprints and enacted into law as Republican legislation. (See, for example, property tax relief.)  In order to get policy proposals adopted and recognized as their own in North Dakota, Democrats need to find a way to get objective news to the people. Until we do, our state’s newspapers and elected leaders will govern in a way that sends our money, resources and our educated young people out of state. You are advancing the problem by supporting the Examiner, and by subscribing or buying advertising in these pages.

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I've added the hyperlinks to the above.  They're obviously not in the paper edition.  

My column appears next to the column by ND GOP National Committeeman, Curly Haugland.  I like Curly.  We don't agree about much of anything politically, but he's an otherwise good guy.

My favorite (other) thing in this issue is that in the masthead on page 8, former Americans for Prosperity policy director Dustin Gawrylow is listed as "Assisant Publisher."  (See picture, above/right)  I'm not sure how to pronounce "assisant," but it seems like that's a position someone at the Examiner ought to have.

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