The Utah Senate race

[il Padrino Ute]

Utah needs Bennett for exactly as YOhio pointed out - to protect Utah jobs at Hill Field and the rocket program for NASA. As much as it sucks, seniority matters in politics more than competence or true representation.

That said, Bennett really only has himself to blame for the position he's in. He voted for the bailouts and was quoted as saying that nationalized health care isn't a step toward a single payer system. He also broke his promise that he would not be in DC for more than two terms - although it was that broken promise that put him into his seniority position.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Utah needs Bennett for exactly as YOhio pointed out - to protect Utah jobs at Hill Field and the rocket program for NASA. As much as it sucks, seniority matters in politics more than competence or true representation.

That said, Bennett really only has himself to blame for the position he's in. He voted for the bailouts and was quoted as saying that nationalized health care isn't a step toward a single payer system. He also broke his promise that he would not be in DC for more than two terms - although it was that broken promise that put him into his seniority position.

See the link I posted. If Utah used a typical primary system, Bennett would win in a landslide.

[il Padrino Ute]

See the link I posted. If Utah used a typical primary system, Bennett would win in a landslide.

Thanks for that link. Unless Utah decides to go to a typical primary system, voters need to get more involved in choosing their delegates to have their concerns voiced.

[Jarid in Cedar]

See the link I posted. If Utah used a typical primary system, Bennett would win in a landslide.

I think that too many in power view the caucus system as something that is far easier to manipulate to their advantage(simply by understanding it better than the average voter). Sadly, I doubt we will ever see the death of that system.

[byu71]

The more I listen to this discussion, the more I am persuaded I will vote for Bennett. Even though on principle I would like to throw the bums out, this is a bum that can be instrumental in helping me. Yea, as long as I get in on the "deal", I am OK.

I understand why others want to keep, Pelosi, Barney Frank, Charlie Wrangel, Waxman, Boxer, Tom Harken, Strom Thurmond, who is the ole far from West Vg?, and on and on and on.

[Jarid in Cedar]

The more I listen to this discussion, the more I am persuaded I will vote for Bennett. Even though on principle I would like to throw the bums out, this is a bum that can be instrumental in helping me. Yea, as long as I get in on the "deal", I am OK.

I understand why others want to keep, Pelosi, Barney Frank, Charlie Wrangel, Waxman, Boxer, Tom Harken, Strom Thurmond, who is the ole far from West Vg?, and on and on and on.

I don't think that the swell of support is for Bennett completely. The trouble I see is the radical wing of the Republican party flexing their muscle to push out a senator who has done a reasonable job in DC simply because he hasn't toed their idea of the party line. Add that to their support of a candidate who has nothing of note other than being related to his dad, and you see the manipulation of a poor system by those who do not reflect or represent the majority of the state party.

[byu71]

I don't think that the swell of support is for Bennett completely. The trouble I see is the radical wing of the Republican party flexing their muscle to push out a senator who has done a reasonable job in DC simply because he hasn't toed their idea of the party line. Add that to their support of a candidate who has nothing of note other than being related to his dad, and you see the manipulation of a poor system by those who do not reflect or represent the majority of the state party.

I guess I am in a very cynical mood these days. IN this state, you do have a point though. I would hate the "far right" to take over. I like things how they are. People to the left of me complaining there isn't enough freedom in Utah and the folks to the right of me relegated to hanging out in Utah and Davis Counties. Now that my kids are grown, I don't mind the cops profiling and harassing teenagers illegally.

[beefytee]

Can you have a write-in in the primary or are you stuck with the top 2?

[Jeff Lebowski]

The more I listen to this discussion, the more I am persuaded I will vote for Bennett. Even though on principle I would like to throw the bums out, this is a bum that can be instrumental in helping me. Yea, as long as I get in on the "deal", I am OK.

I understand why others want to keep, Pelosi, Barney Frank, Charlie Wrangel, Waxman, Boxer, Tom Harken, Strom Thurmond, who is the ole far from West Vg?, and on and on and on.

You won't get the chance.

[CardiacCoug]

Didn't I read that Bennett is as conservative (rating of 85/100 on some type of conservative scale) as Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are liberal?

Amazing that he will get pushed out in the primary for not being conservative enough. Is it too late for him to pull out and run as an independent like Lieberman and Crist?

[Jeff Lebowski]

I guess I am in a very cynical mood these days. IN this state, you do have a point though. I would hate the "far right" to take over. I like things how they are. People to the left of me complaining there isn't enough freedom in Utah and the folks to the right of me relegated to hanging out in Utah and Davis Counties. Now that my kids are grown, I don't mind the cops profiling and harassing teenagers illegally.

I hate to tell you, but that happened a looooong time ago, amigo.

[byu71]

I hate to tell you, but that happened a looooong time ago, amigo.

Then how does someone like Mike Leavitt or Jon Huntsman Jr. get elected. How do state representitives get elected who get DUI's and have hung out with nekked chicks in Jaccuzi's. There was also this guy from Cache County that was a pedophile. If the right wing is so powerful, how do all these folks get in.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Then how does someone like Mike Leavitt or Jon Huntsman Jr. get elected.

The governor's office has been the last bastion of moderate politics in the state government. Fortunately, the governor would occasionally veto nonsense produced by the legislature. Now that Herbert is in control, you can kiss that era goodbye (I hope I am wrong).

How do state representitives get elected who get DUI's and have hung out with nekked chicks in Jaccuzi's. There was also this guy from Cache County that was a pedophile. If the right wing is so powerful, how do all these folks get in.

That's funny.

[YOhio]

If Rep. Matheson gets taken to a primary then it's clear that both parties have officially gone insane.

[YOhio]

Good read from the Boston Herald.

What non-ideologues may see as cooperation, however, is viewed by true believers as weakness. Under the new order, a Good Conservative wouldn’t even cross the aisle to perform a Heimlich Maneuver.

The long-promised purge is on, in other words, and anyone fantasizing about bipartisanship can choke on that hope.