Orrin Hatch is a narcissist.

[SoonerCoug]

Orrin Hatch's "talk" at Ted Kennedy's memorial service was an embarrassment. The whole thing was Mormon this and Mormon that, and Ted Kennedy spoke to Mormon missionaries in Boston, and "I wrote a song and Ted's wife loved it." Blah blah blah. The only good part was when Orrin called BYU the Harvard of Utah, which is accurate.

[Colly Wolly]

I remember watching a video on my mission focusing on the Church's humanitarian/disaster relief efforts. Ted Kennedy was interviewed and had some very positive things to say about the Church.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Of course he is. Always has been.

[TripletDaddy]

That sounds kind of entertaining. Is there a video of it somewhere?

I remember sitting in my living room on 9/11. Everyone had been sent home in our office and so I came home to watch as much coverage as possible.

One of the national news outlets was interviewing Orrin Hatch and he claimed that he knew that this was going to happen all along. He also said that 9/11 could have been avoided if people had listened to him.

He seems like a good guy but he has never struck me as the greatest speaker. He also crashed and burned recently in the BCS hearing. Not good.

[Shaka]

Orrin Hatch's "talk" at Ted Kennedy's memorial service was an embarrassment. The whole thing was Mormon this and Mormon that, and Ted Kennedy spoke to Mormon missionaries in Boston, and "I wrote a song and Ted's wife loved it." Blah blah blah. The only good part was when Orrin called BYU the Harvard of Utah, which is accurate.

Newsflash.....

Most politicians are narcissistic. They don't always start out that way but most of them get there reasonably fast.

[TripletDaddy]

Newsflash.....

Most politicians are narcissistic. They don't always start out that way but most of them get there reasonably fast.

Shaka, has this really been your experience?

I may still be laboring under a cloud of delusion. Putting aside differences and personal shortcomings, I like to think that most of our politicians are doing things that they really think are the right thing for the country. I would say that about George W Bush as much as Bill Clinton.

I suppose it is more probable that they are power-hungry egotists, though, and are more interested in strengthening their own station or walking the party line than doing what they think is best.

bummer.

[SoonerCoug]

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[TripletDaddy]

Orrin opens up his speech with a major dis on BYU. My blood is boiling!!!!

The second clip does seem a tad bit Mo-centric, but I thought he was actually pretty funny. His Saturday Night Live joke @4:00 was fantastic, made even better by two things: one, his willingness to laugh heartily at his own jokes, and two, John McCain's furious look at about 4:40 in the clip. That was some good stuff right there.

Teddy Kennedy is feeling no pain.

[CJF]

After watching those three videos I have to disagree with you. I thought that was a well prepared and well delivered speech. It appeared to be well received also.

[CJF]

Orrin opens up his speech with a major dis on BYU. My blood is boiling!!!!

The second clip does seem a tad bit Mo-centric, but I thought he was actually pretty funny. His Saturday Night Live joke @4:00 was fantastic, made even better by two things: one, his willingness to laugh heartily at his own jokes, and two, John McCain's furious look at about 4:40 in the clip. That was some good stuff right there.

Teddy Kennedy is feeling no pain.

The McCain look was awesome. Glad C-Span caught that. Made me laugh.

[Shaka]

DDD, this was meant as a response to your question. I've been writing the reply and watching The Practice reruns so there have been other replies.

Yes.

Orrin is a good guy however he is a bit of a narcissist. However I think using the term as a pejorative to describe him on the whole presents a completely innacurate picture. Orrin has helped a lot of people in ways that never get any mention in the press.

I remember helping silk screen t-shirts and lawn signs for Orrin's first campaign in my grandparents front yard. I was six years old. At varying times in the following years I've been able to get an interesting view of the political process. I've met a bunch of politicians and interesting celebrity figures. One of the most cherished memories of my life was sitting on a love seat for two hours with Mohammed Ali in a suite at the Little America and watching the '88 election returns. It was the second time I met him the first being at my grandparents home when he was campaigning for Orrin.

I'm the first to admit that viewing the political process from a different angle has left me a bit jaded towards the process and its participants. The result of this view is that I think that anyone who gets elected to a national political position is forced to swim in shark infested waters. The only way to survive in those waters is to become one of the sharks. Sure some become nurse sharks and others great whites depending on how they let themselves become affected by the process.

Politicians surrounded by Yes Men and lobbyists who constantly blow sunshine up their behinds. Fighting your enemies occurs on a regular basis whether those enemies are fellow sharks or a particularly crazy special interest group. You also have to spend a great deal of time lauding your own achievements and views in order to get reelected. In this environment it's no wonder that politicians develop outsized egos and become more conceited.

There are of course exceptions. In Utah I've been very impressed with Matheson and Carroon. (Kind of funny they are both Democrats errr sort of Democrats anyway). These two just seem to be men of the people. I'm sure public office has affected them to some degree but they seem to keep things in check. Becker is a nice fellow as well and approachable in ways that Rocky never was.

[SoonerCoug]

Matheson doesn't sing the hymns when he attends conference. I thought some of you might want to know. (I sat next to him once.) I was also introduced to Orrin, and he shook my hand without making eye contact. It was weird.

[Shaka]

Matheson doesn't sing the hymns when he attends conference. I thought some of you might want to know. (I sat next to him once.) I was also introduced to Orrin, and he shook my hand without making eye contact. It was weird.

You would hate me. I rarely sing the hymns in sacrament let alone conference.

[Shaka]

Orrin Hatch's "talk" at Ted Kennedy's memorial service was an embarrassment. The whole thing was Mormon this and Mormon that, and Ted Kennedy spoke to Mormon missionaries in Boston, and "I wrote a song and Ted's wife loved it." Blah blah blah. The only good part was when Orrin called BYU the Harvard of Utah, which is accurate.

Like CJF I just watched the speech for the first time on the links provided. I have to be honest, I didn't see a thing wrong with it.

[CardiacCoug]

Matheson doesn't sing the hymns when he attends conference.

I'm wondering if this is a Utah thing.

I've been noticing several religious, active, intelligent LDS people who just sit there and stare during the hymns, not even opening the hymn book or anything. Maybe it's just me, but I don't seem to recall noticing this very often in the other places I have lived.