E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Colin E. Braley / AP
Senator Orrin Hatch, along with his wife Elaine, thanks his supporters after his primary win Tuesday night.
Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch accomplished Tuesday night what few other veteran Republican senators have done in recent years, managing to fend off a primary challenge from his right.
The Associated Press declared Hatch the projected winner of the Utah Republican Senate nomination, emerging victorious in the first primary the veteran senator had faced since first being elected in 1976.
Conservatives had targeted Hatch for defeat this cycle, throwing their support behind state Sen. Dan Liljenquist, who hoped the Tea Party wave that has caused heartburn for establishment Republicans would carry him to victory versus Hatch.
Beating Hatch would have marked a significant changing of the guard in Utah, one of the most deeply Republican states, where the GOP primary serves often as the de-facto general elections. Conservatives managed to deny longtime Utah Sen. Robert Bennett (R) renomination during the 2010 elections. Mike Lee rallied conservative activists to deny Bennett the GOP nod, and was subsequently elected to the Senate that fall.
Hatch had seemed to have learned the lessons of that campaign, working assiduously to secure his conservative flank and building a warchest to beat back a Tea Party challenge.
He tacked to the right in tone and on certain key votes, locking up endorsements from talk radio favorites and even former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who’s more often than not endorsed challengers to established Republican lawmakers than the incumbents themselves.
Hatch's re-election strategy offered a roadmap for entrenched Republicans looking to fend off a conservative challenge. The Utah senator's approach broke, for example, from that of Sen. Richard Lugar's. The Indiana senator had largely been defiant of Tea Party forces, and lost a primary to State Treasurer Richard Mourdock earlier this year. Both Hatch and Lugar took office in 1977.
The early and aggressive effort by Hatch included an attempt to scare off would-be challengers before they even entered the race. The senator was particularly public in taking on two-term Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who had been viewed as a potentially formidable challenger but ultimately declined to run for Senate.
A major trump card for Hatch, though, came in the form of Mitt Romney. Perhaps no endorsement for Hatch was more important than Romney’s, who is held in high esteem in Utah due to his own Mormon faith, as well as the work Romney had done in 2002 to turn around the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. Romney appeared with Hatch in Utah earlier this month to underscore his support for the longtime senator.
Leave a Comment:
Both he and his wife look like they have both feet in the grave already. Look! If you really want change this November, vote out all the incumbents and send a very clear message that we want change in Washington. Keep voting these blood suckling a**holes out until they start doing and living like the rest of us. Social Security is a contract with the government that we have paid for not an entitlement. Entitlement is the golden retirement and health care plans these bozos have been getting. Don’t care if they are dems, or pubs, polka dot, or green flesh…Vote these bums out this November. Keep voting them out until they start living like the rest of us, not the “Entitled.”
I want a health care plan these congressmen have. I want a good health care plan. They don't get it because they have the best policy in the world. Take away their health care - and you will see change. Try living like a poor person and you might understand.
FACE IT- the tea party fought romney in every single primary, and attacked the mormon religion itself, therefore no tea party canidate will ever do well in utah ever again, the boistorous arrogant violent tea party thugs are out wearing them welcom e in many states, like the once powerful klan of the early 1900's who's hate ended up killing there popularity, the same is now happening to the tea party, and yes I make a very good comparison of the two, both are very similar in many ways
For not being a troll as you profess,that was awfull trollish of you.Ultra liberal as well.Or do you prefer "progressive"?How about leftist?Socialist perhaps?Any of those will do in my opinion.
He should have disappeared along with the dinosaurs years ago. . .
Hatch, Tea Bagger, same difference from a Liberals point of view.
I am an independent and I do think that the two party system has boded well for the country, as a whole , for many years. However, with the polarization present today , and, with this bizarre concept that you go to Washington to represent the people, and , will only vote for your preconceived notions prior to taking office ( or better yet, make a pledge to obtain funding for your election that you will not waver from certain issues) is the ultimate oxymoron in the political process. Compromise it the art of the deal and the only way to get things done, for the good of the country. It is clear that the statemate in Washington will continue, if the far right and far left are relucant to come to the middle. The sad thing is, that will all the millions , perhaps a billion dollars that will be spent on the Presidential election, it will not be the those firmly intrenched in their ideology that will effect who will be President this year. Thanks tea partiers and others for giving we the independent who think , read and analysis , that power. Let me know how that works for your wishes.
PS. If the moderates in the Republican party continue to placate the extremists, they are planting their own seeds of destruction. Four years of a lack luster, rudderless leader like Rommey will ensure a democratic White House or shock Independent White House , for years after.
The Theocratic State of Utah nominated and will elect an old, white, rich, Mormon? Shocker. Next thing you know, they'll be voting for Romney.
As much as I'm not a fan of the new Teapublicans, Hatch is just as bad. He's corrupt, using direct financial ties to lobbyists to enrich himself and his family. He was a sponsor of the horrid DSHEA. He has shown no qualms at all in swinging to appeal to the rightwing extremists threatening to take his job away. Like the rest of his party, he has completely flip-flopped on issues like healthcare and economic stimulus. Not that Utah would have replaced him with anyone better, but they probably couldn't have found anyone much worse either.
And in your eyes I am sure Harry Ried is middle of the road.
Even though Hatch is indeed a dinosaur whose only purpose in life is to enjoy the fruits of his government job while insisting that government should be smaller, it was perverse justice to note that the Tea Party which is comprised mainly of bigots, idiots, clowns and buffoons has lost its ability to unseat even dinosaurs. Good riddance to the Tea Party.
A sad result for those American citizens who want to re-take Washington from the carpetbaggers entrenched therein. Without completely cleaning house, there can be no meaningful change, that is, deficit reduction, increasing the value of the dollar, improving the living standard of all Americans, job creation, economic stability, and a thousand other bad case scenarios needing repair that big government has wrought. Fed.gov is not a solution: it is the primary problem in the destruction of the US and devolution of the American way of life.
The incumbents, like Hatch, are cheerfully spending your progeny's future while lining their pockets. Public service should not be a route to riches and power; that is what "character" begets. Yet, no one returns from D.C. with less... Do the math. There is little if any service or representation of citizens going on there. It is a mob free-for-all.
There is no significant political difference between socialist republicans and communist democrats. Their mouths have more sides than a decagon. Running candidates from either major party for public office is a choice between two devout evils. That choice is no reasonable choice at all. Your neighbor could/would run the government better. Elect her/him.
How can anyone support either major party without lying awake worrying about the impending end they are bringing? Both parties are about themselves and their cronies--screw the rest of the public. How much more overt could they act?
If you live in Utah, shame on you. (Don't assume I live elsewhere.)
a toast to you sen. hatch. even though i'm a democrat i know you are a man that is still willing to compromise with the other side to get something done that benefits the american people.
I think; all the Senator has done is show that he is willing to SAY whatever is necessary, change his convictions as necessary, to get elected.
Senator Hatch was an early supporter of the Dream Act. As soon as the winds blew the other way, he placed himself on the 'correct' side of the issue and opposed the Dream Act quite vocally.
He is not the decent, fair politician you speak of.
He is only a weather vane, just like the Mittster.
Clinton and the entire dem party has givin us the "poll" driven, stick your finger in the political wind type of government, and all the others have followed suit.I am not excusing them,just pointing out the facts as I see them. P.S. With the health care law being the exception.They all knew the majority of the public did not want it and passed it anyway.Also brought to you by the dem party.
"With the health care law being the exception."
Do you mean the Massachusetts Health Care Initiative, passed by the firmly principled Mitt Romney?
Or do you mean the Federal Health Care Act, modeled after the Massachusetts Health Care Initiative, vehemently opposed by the firmly principled Mitt Romney?
Romneys plan was passed in a liberal state with a liberal congress and liberal constituents I'll bet. Obama wanted to,and did, push a plan nationaly which is unconstitutional Tommy.
Quite frankly if the Tea Party demonstrated they are going to cut the throat of the rich as well as everyone else maybe I and other would give it some consideration .
Instead it is an extremist organization within Republican party who has agenda such as destroying unions . As to spending on war they have no agenda of cutting the military . Just so long as the Public pays for the lack of responsibitiy of government they are as happy as a pig in S__— . This is the party of pain and punishment of the victims they choose . Sounds like Hitler Nazi party. It is .
As to the Mormon Romney . He has divorse himself from his religion first in making decisions . As I know nothing about the Mormons we the people will have to learn his faith to find out if he is acting in his faith instead of the peoples interest . This is really something the Am people don't want to do .
Quite frankly if the Tea Party demonstrated they are going to cut the throat of the rich as well as everyone else maybe I and other would give it some consideration .
Instead it is an extremist organization within Republican party who has agenda such as destroying unions . As to spending on war they have no agenda of cutting the military . Just so long as the Public pays for the lack of responsibitiy of government they are as happy as a pig in S__— . This is the party of pain and punishment of the victims they choose . Sounds like Hitler Nazi party. It is .
As to the Mormon Romney . He has divorse himself from his religion first in making decisions . As I know nothing about the Mormons we the people will have to learn his faith to find out if he is acting in his faith instead of the peoples interest . This is really something the Am people don't want to do .
Unions destroyed themselves by pricing themselves out of the markets and driving up costs to EVERYBODY.
Personally, I don't give a rats behind who gets elected to what...None of them are going to do anything significant to help America or it's citizens. People that were once required to run a government "by the People, for the People", are now just greedy pawns in a worldwide chess game. A very expensive game at that. And "We the People", are the losers. OH! And don't forget the part about "One Nation Under God" I think that is gone too...
I believe there are exceptions to your rules. Obama being one. AS far as one nation under God, it should be gone, there is no God.
You would prefer "One nation under government" Jhon?Just asking.
Between the Tea Party and most all Republicans who will not compromise at all, will be the death of our country.
Vote them out in 2012 before our country is destroyed. At one time I had voted for some of the Republicans, but that was before they started siging pledges and catering to the tea party, They sure do worry about their jobs but care less about yours.
Republicans need to start working for the people again, all the people and not just the Tea Party and Grover Norquist signing pledges,
Republicans were voted in by the people to work for them and all they do is work for is the Tea Party and Grover Norquist. WE need to send the Republicans a message, vote them OUT in 2012 till they go back to working for ALL the people.
The Tea Party and Grover Norquist are the NEW communist party in America and they are sucking in most Republicans for the Fourth Reich, don’t think so then just listen to Republicans speak. They are not your father’s Republicans any more.
You hit the nail on the head. There are no Eisenhower's in the modern day republican party, only those John Birchers that helped to destroy the prosperity that we enjoyed in the 1950's. Reserving prosperity for only the already very rich will lead to a civil war and an uprising like you have never seen before in this country.
Mitt Romney's popular because of his faith. Yikes! Faith and politics don't mix. Faith based politicians lead, eventually, to theocratic oppression. You can see the beginnings of it with the GOP's insensitive rulings on women's healthcare issues, many based on personal theology.
Oh good, another old fart re-elected who should have been bounced 10 yrs ago.
Romney: 'If you elect me, I promise I will stop Health Care and bring on Wealth Care!'
great new campaign slogan for Romney---
Repeal and Replace: OmbamaHealthCare -> RomneyWealthCare
You and Tex got some new talking points It would seem, ehh Rhino.Which liberal propoganda outlet did you get WealthCare from.
Are you frickin serious Rapco? Romney is all about the wealthy, he is the wealthy -- WealthCare -- tax cuts for wealthy, no regulation for wealthy (Wall St.), off-shore tax shelters for the wealthy......
HealthCare.... let everyone fend for themselves; cannot afford it- Die Quickly!
So, Obama isn't wealthy? He has a net worth far greater than the other 99.5% Elections have become meaningless for the rest of us. Why vote?
US- Obama is certainly wealthy; however, his policies certainly are intended to benefit the non-wealthy over the wealthy. Isn't that why he is being called all those 'socialist' names? Unlike Romney whose policies, at least the ones he is willing to share with us, certainly benefit the wealthy over the non-wealthy.
@OH-rhino
Yes, absolutely...we get to choose the frying pan or the fire...Romney isnt the answer...and Obama refuses to see the question...
Both claim that they can fix it, when any more attempts to fix it is exactly why it is broken...
Mr.Phea-- I have to say at least Obama has laid out a plan that he truly believes will fix the economy (i.e. infrastructure bill) while Romney has outlined nothing more than the failed policies of the past (tax cuts/trickle down economics - this does not work) and will not disclose his other 'plans/policies'.
So in this case I prefer the pan.
You cannot fix / prevent a correction...we (America) have not made a profit since 1973...we are no longer a competitive nation...as a nation we are 16 trillion dollars in debt from politician after politician with a plan he truely belives will fix it...
Not sure what you are saying. When Cliinton left office and Bush II assumed the Presidency the was a budget surplus. At the time Bush II left office and Obama assumed the Presidency there was a HUGE deficit.
And a republican party making the laws that cut government spending.Clinton stripped the military and Clinton was riding the dot com bull market.And he raised taxes.That's how the budget was balanced rhino.
1973 was the last year that our nation earned more than we spent...imports over exports...we are losing 50 to 60 billion dollars per month...MONTH...that is money leaving the US economy...while we are shutting down government over a few billion per year
Make no mistakes...Both parties policies have contributed to this, along with each and every one of us
@Rapco -- and your point? or were you making mine?
@Mr.Phea.. Understand what you are saying now and I agree.
RL56- Please look at reality Illegals can not vote. Obama has deported more illegas in 3 years than Bush did in 8 Yhe GOP had complete controll of the three branches of government for 6 years and what did they do about immigration problems. NOTHING.Health care issues,NOTHING.If tax cuts are the answer to help the economy when have had the Bush tax cuts for 10 years, the result very little. Bush create a total of l% job growth in 8 years. Lower taxes ,no wage increases,cost of living rising does not lead to more spemding which creates jobs.The Health care bill is insurance through PRIVATE companies not the government. The bill should have been single pay ala Canada. 78% of the people like there system. Some of the 22% who said no just want some revisions made. The PM of Canada is a conservative and ran on continuing the plan and enhancing it.I do not care what party Hatch is both the GOP and DFL do not need theses old white people running the country and i am old and white.I wiil say Hatch is better than a tea party candiadte as these people would ruin everything. Again old white people against the government but still collecting SS and using Medicare just what the Tea Party wants to get rid of. Of course they do not have the intestinal fortitude to say that just use the term reforming.Romney can not say he creates jobs and i am not saying Bain just eliminates jobs all the facts and numbers are so complex in the Bain tax statements etc. one can not tell.Corporations ae making record profits and not hiring with the main excuse being the health bill,if it is struck down this week we then should see wihin a month or two much more hiring ala job creation. Anyone willing to bet on that?
And Obama just lets illegals walk right back across the border as well northernlights,another example of wasted tax money sending them back over and again. Or just another 'make work" government project.Something the dems just love.And you can expect corporations to start hiring when Obama is out of office.
Rapco, your post is a pathetic and empty attempt to gain face after making such a fool or yourself before. Please give us statistics that show that returning illegal aliens to Mexico (according to the law) has ever made a difference. LOL You sound like one of those Arizona Nazis who want to shoot a 20 year old because he walks across 100 miles of desert that you would not have the courage to set foot in to make a living for his family.
Are you a war hero? Sorry, that was a low blow, we already know the answer to that....LOL
I admire people like Hatch and Romney,
who recognize that it's far more important to win,
than to stick to your beliefs and convictions.
I mean, as long as you get a good price for your soul, it's ok to sell it...as long as you can hide your portrait in the attic.
Yes, nothing like an Evolving Campaigner is there.
The liberal word from dems that is always used is "compromise". A word used by dems but rarely put to practice by liberals.Give a liberal an inch and they want a mile,or its no deal on anything put forth by conservatives.Thats how the entitlement ideology has prospered over time.And now that bill has come due for all that social spending, that dems just cant seem to cut back on. Anybody that disagree with Obama and his ilk, I will support.
Again Rapco; are you frickin' serious? You better lay off the kool-aid.
"And now that bill has come due for all that social spending"
Alan, all of that "social spending" was present during the Clinton years, when pretty much everyone agrees the country was quite prosperous, middle class and wealthy alike, and we had a huge surplus.
So what changed? Two enormous tax cuts (whoops. there goes the surplus) and two enormous wars, both put on the credit card...at what point did the "entitlement ideology" become responsible for those?
I know the truth is foreign to your ears rhino, but the "kool-aid" drinking IS and always will be, reserved for the loony lefty crowd, and you, I believe.
Rapco- you wouldn't know the truth if hit you squarely between the eyes; you certainly wouldn't let it enter your ears.
The truth is liberals want to give goodies to others, exteacted by people who are successful. And by handing out more freebies, they gain more constituents that expect the freebies, from those that are more successful. Thats the Obama liberal/socialist/marxist plan. Untill you run out of the successful "rich" that is. Mull that over for awhile rhino.
Don't have to 'mull' that BS over. Just wondering if you could provide some specific examples of your assertions?
Utah is just about the most bizarre states in the union. The competition for who is farther to the right!
Dont leave out Kalifornia as the most bizarre loony liberal leftist state.
Funny..... the "Bibble belt" its now proudly holding the political pants of a cult follower (Romney) who by faith believes more in Joseph Smith and "The Pearl of Great Price" founded upon the "Plural Marriage" doctrine, than they believe in Jesus and Christianism!!
Wait until that powerful multi-billionare cult takes over!! Legitimized by real power, the Mormons are going to run the Jesus people and tea baggers alike, out of the game, and Mormons will finally get their creed into state policy! Ironic and funny as hell jejejejeje
This cozy arragement speaks volumes to the intelligence of tea baggers.
Hey rhino! Here's a good example of kool-aid drinking loony left liberals we were discussing. Of course you know that already being in the PC crowd yourself.I am sure you agree Manuel's wonderful prediction of the nation, should Romney be elected.
@Rapco- hard to believe but I agree with you on this one.... I would agree there are both left and right wing kool-aid drinkers; I never reserved that statement for the right....
@Rapco- you are just scared! I bet you are gonna have nightmares about it tonight! lol
Romney and the Mormons rounding up the tea party morons! jejejeje
Well the teabaggers lost that one!
How do you get any more conservative than Hatch? The Republican Party really has been taken over by the ones in the tin foil hats sitting in the loony bin. Do we really want this fringe group of right-wingers dictating how we should live our lives. I think not.
Sorry, Hatch is really a Democrat "light".
The best post yet Taxpayer!! Couldnt agree more.
I am NOT suprised,....Orrin is a very honest man,....however, some of his idealology leans toward money.
Have to agree with Gerard1234. Well said Gerard.
So basically, he re branded himself to get it....he lied and the sheep bought it again.
Just another lifer in congress. a millionaire out of touch and thinks that DC is his rightful place....the elitest ruling class