Dakota Beacon

The pattern is always the same. First one, then another, then another Redpoll darts onto the feed bag. They fly toward the thistle bag hitting it feet first sticking to it like Velcro. Nice trick for a “thistle missile.”

The reality is, of priorities to meet a full range of threats, or we face total defeat at the high end of the spectrum on the one hand, or death by a thousand cuts through inappropriate organization, doctrine, and training at the lower end.counterinsurgency, irregular warfare, and terrorism are not going away. U.S. national security strategy must, therefore, indulge in a delicate balance.

The great mission of American conservatism — securing the conditions under which liberty flourishes — has always depended on the weaving together of imperfectly compatible principles and applying them to an evolving and elusive political landscape.

Most young athletes think that their time is better spent practicing their passing skills or their swing. There is, of course, nothing wrong with that, but it does make Tebow's conduct seem all the more remarkable. And it also seems to testify to the genuineness of his spiritual beliefs.

The reality is that we should want a do-nothing Congress.　 In fact, we should want a do-nothing president, do-nothing bureaucrats and hope that our military, police, firefighters and judges have to do little.　 And let's just think about where we'd be today if we actually had a do-nothing government for the last many years.　

What greater power can the state claim than the power to redefine human life itself -- to withdraw protection from an entire category of human beings? And what greater power could the Federal Government usurp than the power of the individual states to protect
innocent life from violent death?

Don’t say it.

Don’t write it.

Don’t use it – except to damn it.

If we want economic freedom to live, “capitalism” must die.

The newly rich, or as the French say, “nouveau riche,” have a lot to learn about living with wealth. A related term, “noblesse oblige” (literally “nobility obligates”), implies an honorable or benevolent behavior considered to be the responsibility of persons of high rank or birth -- or new found wealth. Noblesse oblige implies that privilege must be balanced with duty toward those less fortunate. That is a lesson not easily learned.

The issue of discretionary tax exemptions is one of the biggest single drivers of bloated property tax bills.  Around the state of North Dakota, millions of dollars worth of property are regularly taken off the tax rolls under the guise of "economic development" for often times up to five-years. 

We have heard all the candidates talk about how "government should not be picking winners and losers" when it comes to the policies that President Obama promotes with regard to companies like Solyndra. 

As groups like the North Dakota Policy Council have accurately pointed out, the state of North Dakota has long embraced the principles of "Obamanomics" under the guise of "economic development."

The Best of Times - the Worst of Times . . ., The tribes have an ambivalent message, a letter of tribute to Jim Kleinsasser. Does the end justifies the means?, Something for everybody! , Chris Magnus was police chief, real giants on the ND prairie, Mike Jacobs has a new job, ND’s largest CPA firm, Eide Bailly of Fargo, pro and cons of oil development, Is there a connection between oil and guns?, oldest fantasy football league winner

Public Economic Development entities use property tax forgiveness/abatement to attract business and industry. This is because eliminating property taxes results directly in economic growth.

This November’s election might boil down to a fundamental debate between the merits of markets vs. central planning and wealth redistribution; that is where the rhetoric is headed.z

Even while we watch it atrophy as it attempts to be more Democrat than Republican, while it contorts itself to be a “big tent” that embraces The Republican Party, like the nation it hopes to represent, is in big trouble these days.  It is in an identity crisis of its own and of its own making everyone and every position, its own core is disintegrating.  It seems to have lost its soul.

Every professional athlete, even a rookie just called up from the minors to make his major league debut, is a precious human being. None of these athletes should have to go through life brain-damaged because the leagues are unwilling to police headshots

Once upon a time, conservatives stood for limited government, the rollback of the welfare state, strict construction of the Constitution, and traditional morality. Today they merely want their own people to run big government.

Keep in mind that the Measure 2 opponents are not concerned about well-being of the citizens. Their first concern is keeping a steady stream of revenue coming into the coffers, even if it drives homeowners out of their homes, even if it discourages business, even if it makes serfs out of all of us. They want the status quo, which is to put the homeowner at the mercy of the state

Imaginary thinking, on the other hand, creates a believable story by arranging the data to arrive at a predicted ending or conclusion, which exists, at first, only in the imaginer’s mind, which he is attempting, with all his glowing rhetoric, serious gravitas, and acting and plotting skills, to get the reader or listener to accept as truth.

My grandfather served in three wars, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. Well, he was in the Korean War but he worked for the railroad which was building tracks for the South Koreans. Apparently, on June 24th of 1950, my Grandpa Madsen was out pheasant hunting. He and his friends got lost and drove across the 39th parallel and were captured by the North Koreans. They were held for......

A real factor which, for better or worse, must always enter into party endorsements, is that amorphous quality,  “electability”.  Until now the question has been: "Is Paul Sorum 'electable'"?  Now the pertinent question, in view of the refusal of Mr. Dalrymple, together with his ham-handed revelation, is: 'How 'electable' will Jack Dalrymple be?' 

Underlying problems will challenge state leaders in 2012, it is possible to tame the boom, “More of everything”, traffic fatalities, Man camps are in her gunsights, People aren’t very godly or friendly here anyway, Kelley failed to to learn the lyrics to “Fight on Sioux”, American Crystal’s union employee lockout, Where is the easiest state to find Norwegians?, One more Kleinsasser item, ND is doing well economically, DAKTOIDS

My own military background tells me that this administration is toying with national security for short term political gain. That compounds the danger to America from the world in which we live.

All North Dakotans can be proud of our work ethic. But “courage” will be required of our elected officials to make us proud of THEM! Conversion of North Dakota’s public employee retirement systems from “Defined Benefit” to “Defined Contribution” is essential in the next legislative session… unless elected officials are already planning to use the “Legacy Fund” to bail out public unions instead of providing an oil & gas revenue replacement fund for future generations of taxpayers to draw from! Taxpayers must not allow North Dakota politicians to be influenced by public employee unions to the extent that fund managers have no recourse but to ruin our state’s economy like our federal government and California have ruined theirs.

After the recent barrage, Paul's enemies can be sure of two things: there will be a third-party bid and it will help Obama get reelected. While others have been blithely firing away at the "the company Paul keeps," the far brainier Krauthammer has tried to limit the damage. Krauthammer has recognized that Paul is a force to be reckoned with and a focal point for those on the right who feel alienated from the GOP and its approach to international relations. 

Serving the function of a propitiatory sacrifice, Christ is the centerpiece of God's salvation plan for mankind. That – to answer my reader's question – is the meaning of his life, death and resurrection. He rose from the dead and through his resurrection we, too, are raised to new life.

The fact is that the immigration debate is nothing less than a discussion about what kind of civilization we’re going to be.  For the people make the culture – not the other way around – and the culture makes the government

Christmas and New Years brings the best of times -- and the worst of times. Family and friends gather for fun and to socialize -- and drink. People visit and exchange gifts -- and drink. Folks ring out the old year and ring in the new -- and drink. Throughout mankind’s history, consuming adult beverages became integral to celebrations. Some drinkers fare poorly. Come New Years Day more than a few people stare through bleary eyes at the carnage they created while others pick their way through the wreckage of screwed up lives. Gilt-driven New Years resolutions might go something like this. Reminder to self: Go easy on the booze in 2012.