Bennett out; GOP delegates reject 18-year Senate veteran

[grantcart]

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune

Three-term Sen. Bob Bennett was driven from office Saturday by anti-incumbency rage and hostility toward Washington, becoming the first victim of the rising discontent.

Bennett was bounced from office on the second round of balloting, failing to finish ahead of attorney Mike Lee and businessman Tim Bridgewater, who move on to the final round.

If neither Bridgewater nor Lee receives 60 percent of the delegate vote they will square off in a June 22 primary.

Bennett becomes the first Utah senator to fail to get his party's nomination since Democrats tossed out Sen. William King in 1940 over King's opposition to the New Deal.

When the results were announced, there was a huge ovation with shouts and yells of "He's gone! He's gone!" Delegates leapt to their feet, and embraced and waved "Do Not Tread On Me" flags


Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_15046264

---

The inmates are now in charge of the insane asylum.

[rurallib]

1. hard to believe Bob Bennet isn't crazy enough for the Repubs

[Ter]

77. He was for the bailouts

Anyone, Democrat, Republican, or Independent that is pro-bailout ought to be voted out in their respective primaries.

[Joe Bacon]

2. Bennet tweeting that he will run as a write-in!

Please do and split the GOP vote! That may get a Democrat elected :-)

[onehandle]

3. Good. nt

[Andy823]

9. Amen!

I wonder how many other republicans in congress would do the same thing if a tea party candidate won in their primary? Would the likes of Boehner, Cantor, or some of the other loudmouths take defeat, or would they also run as a write in or independent? This could be very ugly for the republicans if more tea party candidates take them on in the primaries, and even worse if the tea party candidate wins!

[totodeinhere]

24. I can't find any such tweet. Can you please post a link?

As far as I can tell, Bennett doesn't even have a Twitter account. I know that the Huffpost is saying that he will not rule out a write in campaign, but his home town newspaper, the Deseret News, doesn't seem so sure about that.

Bennett could still attempt to run a write-in campaign, but Utah law prohibits him from appearing on the ballot as an independent because the deadline for that has passed. "We'll see what the future may bring. When I have anything to say about that, you'll be the second to know," he told reporters.

But he made it sound like his 18-year career in the Senate is over. "I will congratulate whoever emerges," he said.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700030688/Religion-based-campaign-ad-targets-Sen-Bob-Bennett-at-Utah-GOP-convention.html?pg=1

[Joe Bacon]

33. Here's the link from Kos

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/5/8/864782/-UT-Sen:-Bennett-Is-Out

[totodeinhere]

36. Thanks but that wasn't a tweet from Bennett.

The poster said that Bennett tweeted that he would run as a write in candidate, but that's not true. At this point there is nothing but speculation about what might happen next.

[Tx4obama]

45. That tweet was from Mike Allen, he's a Politco.com blogger. n/t

[Tx4obama]

44. Link to Bennett's Twitter acct below....

http://twitter.com/BobBennettUtah

[totodeinhere]

50. Thanks but I don't think I want to follow him. LOL. n/t

[DCBob]

26. Wonder if Bennet could pull a "Crist" and run as an Independent?

Would Utah rules allow that? If so, that would give the Dem candidate a very good shot.

[totodeinhere]

51. No, the filing deadline for independent candidates has passed.

His only recourse is to run as a write in candidate, but I do not think he is that stupid. He is finished in Utah politics and I think he knows it.

[Ter]

37. Not in Utah it won't

Independents and Republicans can split four ways or more and there's still no hope for a Democrat, at least not a liberal one. It is the deepest of red. Only Idaho comes close.

[No Elephants]

38. Run, Bennet, run!

[cascadiance]

73. Liebermann the bastards!

Should be fun to watch! Hope Dems can clean up that mess later!

[Andy823]

4. Could be intersting

I wonder what the tea party candidates will do if they win in November? Are they going to be like Brown and do their own thing, will the simply tow the republican line, or will they be so far out in right field they won't work with either side, but will come up with all kinds of insane stupid ideas of their own? I think the republicans in congress who have been catering to the nuts in the tea party may be in for a surprise especially if some tea bagger runs against them in the primaries, and wins! :evilgrin:

[Tx4obama]

5. It's pay back time for all the republicans that didn't put a stop to the nutty teaparty ;) n/t

[Frances]

6. I think it's a dangerous myth to say that Brown is doing his own

thing. He's a Republican!

[Andy823]

11. Yes

Hew is a republican, but he has already voted against what the party wanted him to, mainly I think to make sure the more liberal voters back home aren't to mad at him. I agree he is a republican, but he hasn't been in lock step with the party of NO, and only time will tell if he is willing to work with democrats on other issues and buck the party line!

[FBI_Un_Sub]

12. Fancherites

My LDS friends (I am NOT LDS -- but run in a heavy LDS crowd) call the Tea Baggers "Fancherites"

[customerserviceguy]

27. I presume the term "Fancherite" refers

to the people who were killed by the Mormons on their way to California at the infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre.

Looks like these Fancherites got some revenge...

[No Elephants]

41. Mormons were Teabaggers before Teabaggers were Teabaggers.

Bennett was primaried because he was not the candidate Mormons wanted, not because of Utah Teabaggers who are NOT also Mormons.

Mormons can defeat gay marriage in California, but they can't get their candidate to win a Republican primary in their own state?

Sorry, not buying it.

[FBI_Un_Sub]

75. "WERE" is the operative word.

The Kuku nuts of the tea baggers are far far to the right of the LDS community. The tea baggers that I personally know are Second Amendment absolutists, immigration wing nuts, sexual issues (choice/pro-life, gay rights/traditional marriage, etc.) absolutists, immigration nut cases --- far far to the right of Bennett. And, I am very worried that they are growing.

Note: they have the guns and ammo.

[No Elephants]

40. Brown does what he thinks he has to do in order to get Massachusetts to re-elect him.

In the Massachusetts state legislature, he voted with his Party 96% of the time. His alleged independence was an election ploy, believed only by really low info voters. He has yet to cross the line in Congress, except, I think, for the jobs bill. You can't get away with voting against jobs in this recession unless your state is so bloody red that it would never vote for any Democrat.

Brown's independence is a myth.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. Wow. M$M hasn't even jumped on this breaking news yet!

Why am I not surprised. :eyes:

[grantcart]

20. I am guessing that a lot of people are taking the weekend off because of Mother's day

[jeff47]

8. (Nelson Voice) Ha ha! (nt)

[bemildred]

10. Well, he can always go the Lieberman/Specter route. nt

[Sebastian Doyle]

13. And watch the DLC'ers here proclaim him their new savior

Like they have with the still-repukes-no-matter-what-they-call-themselves Specter and Crist.

[customerserviceguy]

28. He's prohibited by state law

from running as an independent, but he could try a write-in candidacy, both in the Rethug primary, and in the general election.

However, I fail to remember anyone who did better than third place in a write-in candidacy, and that was Jerry Brown in the 1976 Oregon primary, if memory serves me.

[DFLforever]

35. 1952 - Dwight Eisenhower won MN presidential primary

as a write-in. Not that Bennett is another Eisenhower.

These Repukes are sowing what they reaped via the tea baggers, catering to their
ignorance and bigotry.

[customerserviceguy]

72. Good research!

But as you had to go back over half a century, you see the point. Bennett is just going to ride off into the sunset. I cannot see him mustering a write in candidacy.

[cliffordu]

14. This is REALLY going to be an interesting election for them...

interesting in the Chinese curse kind of way.....


My schadenfreude is chubby just thinking about it...

[grantcart]

18. that particular chubby could get worn out this election year lol

[cliffordu]

19. I wore out the other one in Cali....

You are a sexy beast.....


:rofl:

[underpants]

15. Sounds like the GOP needs to drop a dome on that mess

They could pay Halliburton to do it

[Hubert Flottz]

16. Good...that is one toxic antiAmerican old bastard.

[old mark]

17. Could be the start of something very amusing....Bye bye , Bob, you asshole....nt

[Carnage251]

21. Double Post

:argh:

[Carnage251]

22. The tea party can only win in a deep red state

[No Elephants]

42. Maybe, but they can get a Senator elected in Massachusetts.

[Carnage251]

47. brown isn't a tea partier

he is more of a moderate.

[Arkana]

23. Yowch!

You gotta be kidding me!

[DCBob]

25. This is good news folks.. the more extreme the GOP candidate..

the more likely the Dem candidate can win.

[customerserviceguy]

29. Anyplace else, and you'd be right

But this is Utah. While SLC is not as Neanderthal as the rest of the state, there are still plenty of true believing Mormons in the surrounding suburban counties to offset any Democratic votes from SLC.

During 2005, I lived there for six months, it was the longest ten years of my life...

[DCBob]

48. So you think a radical teapartier has better chance to win than Bennet would have?

I find that hard to believe especially now that the "TP movement" seems to have peaked and losing steam.

[customerserviceguy]

71. I do, indeed

In Utah statewide elections, the Repuke primary is the election. It's the reddest of the red states, and because of its demographics, it will be that way for decades to come.

I disagree that the tea party movement has peaked, while it is true that pollsters have finally figured out how to ask questions that tend to show that it is no longer rising, the next five to six months are an eternity in politics. Bennett's ousting just gave new hope to the movement, and it will surely flex its muscles elsewhere.

[No Elephants]

43. Not really. The more Republicans go right, the more Democrats seem to go right after them.

It's lousy news for the nation, IMO. Unless one assumes the nation is better off if someone legislating far to the right of Nixon puts a (D) after his or her name.

[DCBob]

49. There is a progressive candidate running who very well could win the Dem nom..

Claudia Wright.

[No Elephants]

52. If that is your response to my post, then, with all due respect, you did not understand my post.

[customerserviceguy]

30. Not really good news

Bennett was someone who we could work with on occasion, the new Senator will not be such an individual. And this pattern is bound to repeat itself, if you remember the times when Teddy would work with Orrin Hatch, well, those times are also going to be gone for good as soon as the tea partiers are through with Hatch.

They've finally tasted some blood, and I predict this will energize them in other red states. You think we have trouble finding moderate Repukes now? After the tea partiers have their way this year and in 2012, there won't be any left, period.

[Change Happens]

56. I see this as a national tragedy, really. Very sad to see lunatics win the day...nt

[lunasun]

31. Roll the dice, new game

and the slimy lizards like Bennett, can crawl back under their rocks . What comes to D.C. will be a whole new species.

[Kablooie]

32. What did he do to get people so upset with him?

[progressoid]

39. He was a standard crappy Republican.

They want a bat shit insane Republican.

[No Elephants]

53. Maybe he was semi-reasonable a time or two?

[CanonRay]

55. He said Glenn Beck had to go.

That's a political death sentence in Utah.

[Inuca]

61. From what I know

off the top of my head (and I did not follow this at all, so the information is sketchy) he voted for and worked on the TARP legislation (part of the R group that worked on that, I think) and woeked with Ron Wyden on a serious healthcare reform proposal.

[Ter]

78. He supported the bailouts and is not a hard-liner on immigration

n/t.

[karynnj]

34. The ugliest thing in this article is that people actually cheered

saying he was gone. This was a primary and it is hard to believe that kind of lack of respect at what they had to know was a moment of victory for them and a painful time for him.

[Tx4obama]

46. Teabaggers are NOT respectful people. n/t

[Inuca]

67. I saw a short clip this morning

he was on the verge of crying, painful to see... In any case, kudos to him, from the little that I know, he behaved more honorably than McCain and did not sell his soul for a seat.

I guess this leaves Kerry as the tallest Senator, right :-)?

[karynnj]

76. I saw it too - and it was painful to see

It struck me how many careers end in painful moments. Gephardt's pulling out of the Presidential race was very emotional as he had given up running for the House. Dean's entire last month as his campaign imploded from its promise 6 months before was another.

Then there are so many careers, that started idealist and maybe accomplished a lot, but ended in scandal and embarrassment - like Dodd and Stevens.

It is almost like their lives and careers have as many incredible low moments as they do incredible high moments.

[reformist2]

54. This is starting to look like a purge, kind of scary.

[w4rma]

57. Go inmates! (nt)

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

58. It takes 14 graphs to find out he was an R and only in a roundabout way.

In graph 4 they mention jubilant teabaggers which infers a D loss.

In graph 5 they mention a D getting tossed 70 years ago, though.

Finally, in graph 17 we get confirmation of his affiliation.

Granted, locals probably know the party affiliation but still pretty shitty/biased reporting.

[Demeter]

59. Bennett Announced on NPR His Responsibility for the Debacle

said his votes encouraged his opposition. AND then he said he wouldn't have voted any other way, even though he regrets the consequences.

That's the sign of a man who is too stupid to live. He deserves everything that's coming to him, and unfortunately, so do the people who voted for him.

[Inuca]

60. Too stupid to live?!?!?!?

The fact that he said that he stands by the votes and positions that he took though they cost him his career (and he was on he verge of tears in one snippet I saw, he does care) make him TOO SUPID TO LIVE?!?!? What kind of insane argument is this? It makes him rather respectable in my book. Bennett is very conservative but he is not in the crazy neocon group. He worked a lot (years I think) with Wyden on health care reform, from what I heard/read one of the things, together with his vote and work on TARP that cost him dearly. Is that what you call TOO STUPID TO LIVE?

[xsquid]

62. With terms like too stupid to live du sounds more like

freeperland every day. I never thought I would live to see such hate on the left, I knew it existed on the right.

[Demeter]

65. Actions Have Consequences

and this man's actions have sent many people to their deaths, and will send many more even when he's out of office and his Teabagging successor is in.

[xsquid]

74. Thar has nothing to do with saying someone is too stupid to live,

that's teabagger talk in itself.

[Demeter]

79. Sorry, But It's Been in Use Here LONG Before Teabaggers Existed

Project much?

[xsquid]

82. You are missing the point, it's a hateful comment coming from the party of acceptance.nt

[Demeter]

63. Setting Up the Country for Fascism Is Too Stupid To Live

It really doesn't matter how sincere you are if you are doing something bad.

[Inuca]

66. Setting up the country for fascism????

What exactly did Bennett to that "set up the country for fascism"? He is an old fashioned conservative, I do not agree with him but that does not make him a fascist nor "too stupid to live". Statements like these are no better than Obama is a islamic communist Hitler, they are equally narrow-minded, devoid of meaning and fueled only by uniformed hate. It's offensive and destructive, whether it comes the right or the left.

Moreover, your original statement above was "he said he wouldn't have voted any other way, even though he regrets the consequences. That's the sign of a man who is too stupid to live." Had you paid any attention, he was referring to his "good votes" (from our perspective) and was saying that though they cost him his career, he does not regret them. That's taking a principled stand and is to be admired or at the very least not to throw stones about. What did you think? That he was voted out because he was too much like DeMint?

[Demeter]

68. If You Haven't Been Paying Attention, Don't Start Now

It's his "Conservative" votes that have set the country up for fascism, and he was just as sincere about those, if not more so. Furthermore, he sees nothing wrong with them. Still.

[Inuca]

69. QED n/t

[Blue_Tires]

64. Holy fuckin' DAMN -- when Bennett is too mild for these nutbars

there's nothing for me to add...

[grantcart]

70. Yep officially this is the Coca Puff crowd == just plain too cuckoo

[PatSnow]

80. He should face the voters in the primary

I don't get it. Shouldn't the voters not delegates determine who should represent them?

[Unvanguard]

81. It's hard to see how this could end badly for us. More power to them. n/t