Sen. Bob Bennett (R, Utah) ousted by his own party today.

[Rolo Tomassi]

A sign of things to come perhaps. Bennett is a douchebag who's been in office about 250 years. He said in an interview yesterday that he doesn't consider himself to be a career politician.

By BROCK VERGAKIS, Associated Press Writer
Brock Vergakis, Associated Press Writer – 4 mins ago

SALT LAKE CITY – Republican Sen. Bob Bennett was thrown out of office Saturday by delegates at the Utah GOP convention in what represents a stunning defeat for a once-popular three-term incumbent who fell victim to a growing conservative movement nationwide.

Bennett's failure to make it into Utah's GOP primary — let alone win his party's nomination — makes him the first congressional incumbent to be ousted this year and demonstrates the difficult challenges candidates are facing from the right in 2010.

"The political atmosphere obviously has been toxic and it's very clear that some of the votes that I have cast have added to the toxic environment," an emotional Bennett told reporters, choking back tears.

"Looking back on them, with one or two very minor exceptions, I wouldn't have cast any of them any differently even if I had known at the time they were going to cost me my career."

Bennett survived a first round of voting Saturday among roughly 3,500 delegates but was a distant third in the second round. He garnered just under 27 percent of the vote. Businessman Tim Bridgewater had 37 percent and attorney Mike Lee got 35 percent.

"Don't take a chance on a newcomer," Bennett had pleaded in his brief speech to the delegates before the second round of voting began. "There's too much at stake."

Bennett's endorsements by the National Rifle Association and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney did little to stave off anger toward the Washington establishment from delegates.

"The bailout bothers me. That in and of itself is unforgivable in my opinion," said delegate Scott White, a 58-year-old general contractor from Taylorsville.

Bennett, 76, initially faced seven Republican opponents who said he wasn't conservative enough for ultraconservative Utah.

Bennett has been under fire for the past year for voting for a Wall Street bailout, co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill mandating health insurance coverage and for aggressively pursuing earmarks for his state.

Lee and Bridgewater pledged to be more fiscally conservative than Bennett, who was targeted for defeat by the Washington-based anti-tax group Club for Growth.

If neither Lee or Bridgewater gets 60 percent of delegate votes in a third round Saturday, they will face off in a June 22 primary.

Following Bennett's defeat, Lee was endorsed in a video by S.C. Sen. Jim Demint.

[mobyditch]

He's going to launch a write-in campaign.

[jabberja]

Rolo, I know that you think that this is a good thing. However, this type of thing is the reason why Democrats might be okay in November.

[jabberja]

[QUOTE=Rolo Tomassi;995618]A sign of things to come perhaps. Bennett is a douchebag who's been in office about 250 years. He said in an interview yesterday that he doesn't consider himself to be a career politician.

[QUOTE]

By the way, in office for 250 years? He's the junior senator out of Utah serving since 1993. Hatch is the senior senator serving since 1977.

[Slyhawk]

Rolo, I know that you think that this is a good thing. However, this type of thing is the reason why Democrats might be okay in November.

No, Bennett is one example of why Republicans lost the majority in '06. The seat will still be Republican come January.

[jabberja]

Rolo, I know that you think that this is a good thing. However, this type of thing is the reason why Democrats might be okay in November.

No, Bennett is one example of why Republicans lost the majority in '06. The seat will still be Republican come January.

It's Utah. Of course it'll be a Republican seat. However, the lack of a "big tent" among Republicans could be a problem nationwide.

[Mr. Hawk]

Rolo, I know that you think that this is a good thing. However, this type of thing is the reason why Democrats might be okay in November.

No, Bennett is one example of why Republicans lost the majority in '06. The seat will still be Republican come January.

It's Utah. Of course it'll be a Republican seat. However, the lack of a "big tent" among Republicans could be a problem nationwide.An argument which always fascinates me. First, people (including mainly democrats) complain when Republicans get into office and "don't act like Republicans," then, when Republicans want to make sure that they get Republicans in there, the same people complain that it's not a big enough "tent".

[jabberja]

No, Bennett is one example of why Republicans lost the majority in '06. The seat will still be Republican come January.

It's Utah. Of course it'll be a Republican seat. However, the lack of a "big tent" among Republicans could be a problem nationwide.An argument which always fascinates me. First, people (including mainly democrats) complain when Republicans get into office and "don't act like Republicans," then, when Republicans want to make sure that they get Republicans in there, the same people complain that it's not a big enough "tent".

You sound like you're of the "small tent" persuasion.

[Mr. Hawk]

No, I sound like I'm of the "I can identify Democrat duplicity" persuasion.

[Aloha Mr. Hand]

By BROCK VERGAKIS, Associated Press Writer
Brock Vergakis, Associated Press Writer – 4 mins ago

SALT LAKE CITY – Republican Sen. Bob Bennett was thrown out of office Saturday by delegates at the Utah GOP convention in what represents a stunning defeat for a once-popular three-term incumbent who fell victim to a growing conservative movement nationwide.

Bennett's failure to make it into Utah's GOP primary — let alone win his party's nomination — makes him the first congressional incumbent to be ousted this year and demonstrates the difficult challenges candidates are facing from the right in 2010.

"The political atmosphere obviously has been toxic and it's very clear that some of the votes that I have cast have added to the toxic environment," an emotional Bennett told reporters, choking back tears.

"Looking back on them, with one or two very minor exceptions, I wouldn't have cast any of them any differently even if I had known at the time they were going to cost me my career."

Bennett survived a first round of voting Saturday among roughly 3,500 delegates but was a distant third in the second round. He garnered just under 27 percent of the vote. Businessman Tim Bridgewater had 37 percent and attorney Mike Lee got 35 percent.

"Don't take a chance on a newcomer," Bennett had pleaded in his brief speech to the delegates before the second round of voting began. "There's too much at stake."

Bennett's endorsements by the National Rifle Association and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney did little to stave off anger toward the Washington establishment from delegates.

"The bailout bothers me. That in and of itself is unforgivable in my opinion," said delegate Scott White, a 58-year-old general contractor from Taylorsville.

Bennett, 76, initially faced seven Republican opponents who said he wasn't conservative enough for ultraconservative Utah.

Bennett has been under fire for the past year for voting for a Wall Street bailout, co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill mandating health insurance coverage and for aggressively pursuing earmarks for his state.

Lee and Bridgewater pledged to be more fiscally conservative than Bennett, who was targeted for defeat by the Washington-based anti-tax group Club for Growth.

If neither Lee or Bridgewater gets 60 percent of delegate votes in a third round Saturday, they will face off in a June 22 primary.

Following Bennett's defeat, Lee was endorsed in a video by S.C. Sen. Jim Demint.

With all due respect to the junior Senator from Utah; he can sit and spin. If anything, our country needs more newcomers, not fewer, and the argument that "there's too much at stake" could have been uttered by any incumbent at any point in the past 221 years.

The guys and girls who have the most to lose, like favorable seating in the Senate Dining Room or skybox tickets to the Redskins, will always claim that he/she is too indispensible to be voted out. Enjoy the private sector.

[Mr. Hawk]

That is well said. I'm fascinated by the mindset that says that the same people who repeatedly fuck everything up (congress) are the only ones out of 300 million people who can do the job.

[Aloha Mr. Hand]

Term limits, yo.

[jabberja]

Term limits, yo.

I agree. Wasn't Newt going to get that done for us? It'd be nice if Iowa could rid itself of Grassley and Harkin. It's not going to happen through democratic means, unfortunately.

[Mr. Hawk]

Term limits, yo.

I agree. Wasn't Newt going to get that done for us?
I was brought to the floor for a vote, fulfilling the promise of The Contract. Nearly all Republicans voted for it; nearly all Democrats voted against it. Thus, again, highlighting my point from above about Democrats complaining that Republicans don't do what they say they're going to do, and then when Republicans do, they fight them every step of the way.

[JohnGault]

Rolo, I know that you think that this is a good thing. However, this type of thing is the reason why Democrats might be okay in November.

No, Bennett is one example of why Republicans lost the majority in '06. The seat will still be Republican come January.

It's Utah. Of course it'll be a Republican seat. However, the lack of a "big tent" among Republicans could be a problem nationwide.


Didn't Lord Obama just ask Women, young people , blacks & hipanics to get out & vote? If it is such a big tent why didn't he ask producers or white people to get out & vote.The big tent crap is a joke.

[mobyditch]

Term limits, yo.

I agree. Wasn't Newt going to get that done for us?
I was brought to the floor for a vote, fulfilling the promise of The Contract. Nearly all Republicans voted for it; nearly all Democrats voted against it. Thus, again, highlighting my point from above about Democrats complaining that Republicans don't do what they say they're going to do, and then when Republicans do, they fight them every step of the way.

And after being in office for a couple of terms, republicans forgot about their beloved contract and stayed in office as long as they could. Proving you cannot trust republicans with term limits. And its funny how we only hear about term limits afters republicans take a ass kicking in the elections.. :rollfloor:

[douglasbader]

No, Bennett is one example of why Republicans lost the majority in '06. The seat will still be Republican come January.

It's Utah. Of course it'll be a Republican seat. However, the lack of a "big tent" among Republicans could be a problem nationwide.


Didn't Lord Obama just ask Women, young people , blacks & hipanics to get out & vote? If it is such a big tent why didn't he ask producers or white people to get out & vote.The big tent crap is a joke.

This post speaks volumes of the problems the right wing is having.

[mobyditch]

It's Utah. Of course it'll be a Republican seat. However, the lack of a "big tent" among Republicans could be a problem nationwide.


Didn't Lord Obama just ask Women, young people , blacks & hipanics to get out & vote? If it is such a big tent why didn't he ask producers or white people to get out & vote.The big tent crap is a joke.

This post speaks volumes of the problems the right wing is having.


John Gault says..
http://www.bartcop.com/beware-commie-libs.jpg

[ISUFan98]

I agree. Wasn't Newt going to get that done for us?
I was brought to the floor for a vote, fulfilling the promise of The Contract. Nearly all Republicans voted for it; nearly all Democrats voted against it. Thus, again, highlighting my point from above about Democrats complaining that Republicans don't do what they say they're going to do, and then when Republicans do, they fight them every step of the way.

And after being in office for a couple of terms, republicans forgot about their beloved contract and stayed in office as long as they could. Proving you cannot trust republicans with term limits. And its funny how we only hear about term limits afters republicans take a ass kicking in the elections.. :rollfloor:

The Contract was one of the most successful legislative-led agendas in modern American history. Mind you, this wasn't directed by the President, but rather a disparate group of legislators, many of whom had just been elected. The idea that a single caucus could come together and create a concise, effective legislative agenda in the first 100 days of office, and pass all but one of 10 major initiatives (term limits) is remarkable.

Just the fact that Congress was able to pass legislation making them subject to the same laws they pass was a huge accomplishment in and of itself.

I will actually agree with you that some of them went back on their pledges to leave Congress after so many years, but that's more an indictment of Washington than it is the GOP.

It's also pretty damning evidence that term limits are sorely needed, and until we get them we can pretty much guarantee that our government will continue to grow out of control.

[Rolo Tomassi]

[QUOTE=Rolo Tomassi;995618]A sign of things to come perhaps. Bennett is a douchebag who's been in office about 250 years. He said in an interview yesterday that he doesn't consider himself to be a career politician.

[QUOTE]

By the way, in office for 250 years? He's the junior senator out of Utah serving since 1993. Hatch is the senior senator serving since 1977.

Bennett was going for his 24th year in office, so I'd say that is hyperbole-worthy, especially when he initially promised to serve only two terms.

And on another note, he denied two days ago that he is a "career politician," but I noticed in his concession speech yesterday that he tearfully lamented that his "career" had come to an end. LOL.

[JohnGault]

Didn't Lord Obama just ask Women, young people , blacks & hipanics to get out & vote? If it is such a big tent why didn't he ask producers or white people to get out & vote.The big tent crap is a joke.

This post speaks volumes of the problems the right wing is having.


John Gault says..
http://www.bartcop.com/beware-commie-libs.jpg

The left won't devour them. They will be satisfied with just turning them into slaves.

[JohnGault]

It's Utah. Of course it'll be a Republican seat. However, the lack of a "big tent" among Republicans could be a problem nationwide.


Didn't Lord Obama just ask Women, young people , blacks & hipanics to get out & vote? If it is such a big tent why didn't he ask producers or white people to get out & vote.The big tent crap is a joke.

This post speaks volumes of the problems the right wing is having.

Really.? We will see who has the problems in November.

[Slyhawk]

Rolo, I know that you think that this is a good thing. However, this type of thing is the reason why Democrats might be okay in November.

No, Bennett is one example of why Republicans lost the majority in '06. The seat will still be Republican come January.

It's Utah. Of course it'll be a Republican seat. However, the lack of a "big tent" among Republicans could be a problem nationwide.

Bob Bennett was booted because of his lack of fiscal responsibility. Opposition to such wasteful spending is a pretty big tent these days.

[ISUFan98]

No, Bennett is one example of why Republicans lost the majority in '06. The seat will still be Republican come January.

It's Utah. Of course it'll be a Republican seat. However, the lack of a "big tent" among Republicans could be a problem nationwide.

Bob Bennett was booted because of his lack of fiscal responsibility. Opposition to such wasteful spending is a pretty big tent these days.

Yeah, the current war being waged nationally within the GOP really isn't over social issues.

[Slyhawk]

It's Utah. Of course it'll be a Republican seat. However, the lack of a "big tent" among Republicans could be a problem nationwide.

Bob Bennett was booted because of his lack of fiscal responsibility. Opposition to such wasteful spending is a pretty big tent these days.

Yeah, the current war being waged nationally within the GOP really isn't over social issues.

This is correct, but many want to portray it otherwise.

[mobyditch]

No, Bennett is one example of why Republicans lost the majority in '06. The seat will still be Republican come January.

It's Utah. Of course it'll be a Republican seat. However, the lack of a "big tent" among Republicans could be a problem nationwide.

Bob Bennett was booted because of his lack of fiscal responsibility. Opposition to such wasteful spending is a pretty big tent these days.

In other words, he was doing exactly what every other member of the GOP has been doing for the past 30 years.