"Sen. Bennett Ousted at Utah GOP Convention": CBS

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   fishskinfreak2008posted 13 years ago

   Web-site/URL: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/ … bsCarousel
   
   Along with CHARLIE CRIST bolting the GOP to become an independent, PERHAPS this is another opportunity for Democrats?

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      Sab Ohposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      The Crist comparison doesn't make sense

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      rhamsonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I hope the electorate finally gets the message that a vote for either a democratic or republican incumbent is a vote to keep the slime on the hill in power.
      
      Their "careers" are to promote themselves and their big money buddies.
      
      Hooray for Utah and may others take the lead.

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         Madame Xposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         
         
         It's starting . . .

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      tony0724posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Democrats don't have a chance this cycle

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   Ron Montgomeryposted 13 years ago

   It's scary when you realize that even this nutjob was not loony enough for the teamonkeys.
   
   Then again, it IS Utah.

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   Doug Hughesposted 13 years ago

   This is symptomatic of the regression of the GOP over the last few years. The GOP was 30% of registered voters only a few years ago - now it polls at 20%. I watched this and waited for the GOP to correct before I recoginzed it is their strategy to purge moderates from their ranks. The 'Big Tent' is turning into a telephone booth.
   
   I am no fan of Bennett. He had a ranking of 84 from the American Conservative Union and was endorsed by Gingrich, Romney and Rove. Bennett was MORE popular with voters than either of his GOP opponnents. You read that right - the candidate MOST popular with voters was rejected by convention delegates for being too liberal. And Bennett was endorsed by Carl Rove who stands further to the right than Ghengas Khan.
   
   As far as I can tell, the big problem for Bennett was that he's willing to talk to democrats without precondition. (That should be a joke, but it's becoming a reality in the Senate.)
   
   The departure of Bennett from the Senate should alarm any moderate, becuse it shows just how polarized the GOP has become. A conservative must now be a lay-down-on-the-tracks obstructionist to survive.
   
   There was a time when a 3rd party was unlikely. Independents are now the biggest 'party' without conventions 42% of registered voters. If we assume these folks are too conservative to be democrats, and too liberal to be accepted by the GOP, they could be a powerful political force in the middle. I wonder if the 'Attilla-the Hun' candidates offered by the teabagger/GOP party in this election will wake up an Independent party that will welcome conservative statesmen like Crist, McCain and Bennett? Then maybe some stuff in Washington could get done.

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      PrettyPantherposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I would welcome a party that offers a rational opposing viewpoint from members that don't demonize the opposition and are willing to work together to get something, anything, done.

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         Sab Ohposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         There will never be a viable third party

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            Doug Hughesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Independents are the largest political group of registered voters. I don't think it's wrong to suggest they are mostly moderate, having rejected the GOP and not willing to align with the democrats.  On what basis do you think they won't unite and put up moderate conservatives in rejection of the fascist alternatives of the teabagger/GOP?

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               Sab Ohposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               You can't frame a question based on silly insults and misrepresentations and expect to be taken seriously by anyone but fellow extremists.

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      foreignpressposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      This is more symptomatic of a supposed conservative who has gone overboard on liberal agendas. The illegal immigrant population has doubled, with Bennett instrumental in making Utah a sanctuary state.  Bennett also sided too strongly with liberal Democrats on too many issues -- including the bailout of irresponsible corporations. Bennett picked his side and lost. Republican, Democrat, or Tea Party mean nothing anymore. It's whether the politician embraces traditional values or an undefined futuristic utopia.

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   Ralph Deedsposted 13 years ago

   Bennett was a decent Republican senator. The Tea Party is destroying the Republican Party, and has the potential of destroying the country.

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      foreignpressposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      The Tea Party is shaking up the Republican Party -- not destroying it. That's why the TP has garnered serious support from conservative America and is feared by Democrats. Consider this a back to basics movement. We've lost sight of our core values in this country. And it's those values that propelled America to the greatest nation this world has ever seen -- and in a very short period of time. Obama promised change. This is change nobody expected but which is sorely needed.

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         Doug Hughesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         The GOP was 30% of registered voters just a few years ago. Now it's 20% of registered voters - the most rabid conservative wing of the GOP (now frequently under the TP banner) have driven out moderates. Those GOP incumbents who might seek compromise don't dare do anything constructive with democrats. The only way for a GOP candidate to get re-elected is with a 'lay-down-on-the-tracks" prevent-all-progress attitude.
         
         And voters can't figure out the source of gridlock. And hubbers don't understand my disgust with teabaggers. Ralph is right - this movement has the potential to tear this country apart.

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            Sab Ohposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            ...more hysteria and silly name-calling...

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         Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         It's feared by Democrats AND many Republicans. Obama is doing his best to bring about change, but the Party of NO! is blocking his programs.

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   Pandoras Boxposted 13 years ago

   Doug why don't you write on politics? I think you'd be quite good at it.

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      Doug Hughesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I have written several political hubs. Not many want to read them. A few who have liked them aren't learning a lot that's new. Their minds were already open and I only added a bit of confirmation.
      
      So I do battle on the forums not to benefit those with closed minds, but to expose a moderate, uninformed voter what is happeining in the world.  A few will wonder out to my hubs, but a lot more will start to doubt the propaganda when they are exposed to facts.
      
      Such is my hope.

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         earnestshubposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I get a fair bit of my American news offshore so to speak, and having a keen interest in world politics.
         
         Generally what you say is what I hear from sources such as the ABC in Australia and BBC from Britain.
         The BBC reports are often followed by a dissection from several opposing views as you would know, and are quite informative on their own. Nothing works better than letting people have their say, to show who they are and let you decide. The BBC are very good at this as are a few others.
         
         I see a confirmation of truth and sanity in your posts.

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   lovemychrisposted 13 years ago

   If they'd turn off Fox and talk radio, they could come back to their senses.
   
   These mediums have warped thinking out of all proportion.

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   lovemychrisposted 13 years ago

   Of course they do!~ What's the alternative? Raving Lunatics! And more of the last Republican go-round: Years of businessdom and greed.POP...Profits Over People.
   
   You think the baggers are any different? What are they willing to give up for the good of the country? Nothing that affects them. That's for sure.

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   Ghost32posted 13 years ago

   LoveMyChris, the few Tea Party members I've met--which took place at the John McCain / Sarah Palin rally in Tucson on March 26--would appear to bely your conclusion.  Just one example: A couple around 60 years of age who live in Montana's highline country.  The husband had taken an unpaid leave of absence from his place of employment so he and his wife could be part of every Tea Party Express rally between February and the November elections.  They were being reimbursed by no one, obviously had enough in savings to dare commit so deeply, but were paying their own way 100%.
   
   I'd say that's giving up quite a lot in time, energy, and hard assets.

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      lovemychrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      That's not giving up for the good of the country...if they have enough money that they can take off of work, what is that doing for the country?
      
      What would prove to me, is if these seniors who have already exhausted their SS benefit input...4 years, would then stop taking SS checks.
      And if some wealthy seniors would stop taking the free medicare/medicaide.
      
      That would put their money where their mouth is.
      
      Biggest spending? Military and SS.....do they talk about that?
      Nooooo, they don't!
      It's poor people who are the problem.......always.

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   MikeNVposted 13 years ago

   Bennett was ousted because he didn't do what the people in the Republican party in Utah wanted him to do.  When you oppose the view of the people who elect you to represent them then you deserve to go.  Doesn't matter if you are Republican or Democrat.  It's about time that the people start getting rid of Politicians that get elected on promises then do what they want in spite of the people.

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      Doug Hughesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Bennett was ousted at the convention by the delegates, not in a primary election. According to one poll, Bennett was MORE popular than either of the candidates running against him - but the convention represented mostly teabaggers - not the GOP voters.
      
      This is true of the GOP at large - it represents the views of the extreme right - not mainstream conservatives who are finding themsleves without moderate options.

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         Sab Ohposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         " According to one poll, Bennett was MORE popular than either of the candidates running against him "
         
         Which poll? More popular among whom?
         
         And do you think you could manage to grow up enough to stop with the silly childish names? It's ridiculous.

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    lovemychrisposted 13 years ago

    It's not a silly name...it's the name they gave themselves.
    
    Too late to cry about it now.
    Their haha funny insult to dems backfired on them.
    
    They wanted to tea-bag liberals, by calling themselves the tea-baggers?
    Now they can live with the name.

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