Beltway swamp creature Orrin Hatch expects coronation, looks ahead to 2018
Some people really don’t know when it’s time to go.
GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch, apparently still gloating over his machine’s knockout of former potential primary challenger Rep. Jason Chaffetz, told a Utah TV station that he wouldn’t rule out a 2018 bid for an 8th term in the U.S. Senate.
Watch it here.
Looks like he’s confident he’ll be crowned for his 7th without any opposition. That’s not what I’m hearing from grass-roots Tea Party folks in Utah who haven’t given up the fight for a fresh, conservative face after nearly 40 years of Hatch’s service as a “bipartisan” tool for bigger government. More on that soon.
Meanwhile, one of Hatch’s dedicated sycophants has penned a nearly 600-page tome lauding his long, long, long Beltway career.
Our quote of the morning comes from the Club for Growth’s response to the ridiculous attempts to paint Hatch as a Tea Party vanguard.
Ditto this x 1,000:
“No amount of desperate, election-year hagiography can hide Orrin Hatch’s record,” Club for Growth spokesman Barney Keller said, referring to a word that means an idolizing biography. “I suspect conservatives in Utah will find fiction novels about Orrin Hatch’s record more useful as kindling than bedside reading.”
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I suppose Hatch and his DC cronies would gladly consider a lifetime appointment to the imperial senate as a means to save time and money, then we can put an end to the seemingly endless months of and money consuming cost of campaigning.
Only volume 1, I presume.
yes, orrin is a perfect example, of politicians who need a new career field. but sadly, even if he does lose the election, he gets the last laugh, at our expense. they will lavish royal pension and perks on this dinosaur.
We need term limits.
Did Hatch vote to confirm Holder?
The perfection of political evolution. It’s called the Orrin.
Of course:
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/08/24/republicans-who-voted-to-confirm-holder-now-complain-about-holder/
There you go again, Michelle. Your own article quoted Chaffetz as saying he had decided not to run against Hatch because he thought he could to more good in his current position in the House. Where’s the evidence that it was the Hatch “Machine” that “knocked out” Chaffetz?
The most bothersome thing about people like Hatch is that although they seem honest and principled, they continually make the same mistakes, the same mis-judgements, over and over again. In the real world this either gets you killed or fired.
These people are so dellusional that they think a long, long Beltway career is a good thing!
Lem: I hear the orrin hatch is going to be particularly nasty this year.
Lum: I hate those bastards! They destroy everything!
Lem: You’d think that with a six year cycle scientists would come up with something to erradicate them.
Lum: They strip you right down to the bone, like they enjoy it! I mean, what kind of creature takes pleasure in eviscerating people like that? When did that become fun?
Didn’t Hatch give a thumbs up to the “Wise Latina”? What was his reasoning behind that, if anyone can remember?
The founding father’s never meant for there to be politicians for life. At one point a citizen legislator was just that. A citizen who felt honored to be chosen to represent his fellow countrymen (and was not paid to do so). The Congress met for a short period of time to deal with issues that faced the nation. Sure things have changed as the country and the population has changed, but the ideals that founded this nation still hold true. When we allow politicians, of any party, to become so enmeshed in the trappings of the power they accumulate over the years we become doomed to be ruled over by the very people we elect to represent us.
when he’ll only be 112 years old.
I’d be in favor of House members selected by lottery, like jury duty. A randomly selected individual can’t do any worse than these clowns. Bill Buckley would agree.
The late, unlamented Mike Synar thought Okies would just always reelect him, until he was soundly defeated in the democrat primary by Virgil Cooper, a retired high school prinicple who spent just 20 grand on his run.
So just keep being cocky Orrin.
I believe he, like too many other RINOs, is of the opinion that the president is entitled to have his nominees approved generallr disregarding party and ideology.
Works for me….one term and done.
Yeah, but most likely it’ll be family member that’ll be appointed to fill his seat.
Politics has gotten way too incestuous.
I really hated to hear Hatch on Mark Levin’s show and hear Levin throw his support to Hatch. Goes to show you no ones is perfect, ah Mark (The Great One).
Hatch’s last straw is voting for Holder’s appointment into Attorney General. He will not get any vote from me!
Right on – same goes for Hannity – another mouthpiece of the Republican party. IMO conservative pundits need to be just as hard on republicans/”conservatives” as they are on liberals/dems.
Another satisfied regular MM reader! Why.. you can apply it to any fawning apparaisal you like! Orrin “looks ahead to 2018″ while the rest of us get to figure out how we’re going to make it to Friday?
The people of Utah will soon realize alll the pork that power and influence brings to their state. Long term Senators have that power. They are on the best committees, probably chairing the best one.
They are owed a lot of favors from other Senators. They know their way around. They bring home the bacon to their home state. The people in Utah benefit greatly from this. They don’t want to give it up.
If they vote for a newbie, they will lose power and the benefits and trappings that come with it. A lot of people vote selfishly. They want the power so Hatch will be easily reelected.
I hope the Utah voters recognize Ruling Class Elitist when they see it and put Ole Orrin out to pasture.
Unfortunately the only way to get a constitutional amendment for term limits is a 2/3 majority from each house of congress or of state legislatures. This is highly unlikely even for the states as they would be voting themselves out of a current or future lifetime of perks and benefits. Too bad we can’t have a federal ballot proposal like in state elections to enact term limits—that would likely pass as it has in many states.
He needs to go down the hatch……
I just can’t get enough of being called a “chump” by Mark Levin for disagreeing him when he is THIS wrong.
Sometimes you are just too close to the elephant to see that it is an elephant. The Levins and Hannitys have to step back a few steps to see what it is they are hugging. I can’t stand watching or listening to Hannity lately. How about asking a non-leading question that is as long as a stump speech?
Somebody remember to have plenty of birthday candles on hand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw-fjlUWDyk&feature=fvst
And our girl Sarah is behind him,too
Anyone else notice that Bachmann is now being ignored by the entire media? (Except for her “God is sending DC a message” a few days ago in response to the “hurricane” and earthquake). It’s all Rombama and Perrybush.
It’s intentional. The MSM is already tryng to ‘crown’ the GOP nominee withn Rombama or Perrybush.
I have become of the opinion that a LOT of Talk Radio/conservative pundits journalists are really in the hock for the GOP per se. One day they will sound very Tea Partyish, and the next day they will be groveling for whatever cockamamie plan the GOP has come up with (like Boehnor’s Debt Ceiling/continuing resolution ‘negotiations’). I guess they are are not as independent as they claim to be. Cases in point: Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham, and Mark Levin (on hatch)-there are more. Perhaps they feel they have no financial future outside the Republican tent?
It’s times like this when we really need the Tea Party to step up and flex its muscle. This won’t be easy, but it will show that we’re not just “out to get Obama.” We need to show once again that it’s unwise for anyone to believe they are safe.
Go Utah Tea Party, go!!!
Say! Anyone know where they stashed Bonzo?
I watch a RR’s movie with Bonzo the as co-star the other night w/some of the Grandchildren. Mr Bonzo seemed both smarter and more honest than (h)Orrin (sn)Hatch.
There are very few people with whom shaking hands left me feeling compelled to count my fingers and scrub my hands after counting… he’s one.
UT, I’m no longer living amongst your most BEAUTIFUL mountains, but PLEASE comport yourself better than Arizona did with Juan (The Maverick) McCain!
Please!
Just another enemy within the gates.
I, too, have suspicions.
These suspicions first awoke when Rush, (Rush!) went on air after a weekend and to allay fears about GWB said he’d spent a weekend with GWB and proclaimed he wasn’t like his father… GWB was conservative – a True Conservative!
Conservatives were somewhat concerned with GWB – considering what a “prize” his father was. Many people accepted Rush’s judgement on GWB, but me…
Well, my wife was stationed at Lackland training doctors during W’s time as gov. of Texas. I’d characterize him in many ways, but not as a Conservative!
I didn’t at the time, (and still don’t) think Rush lied. I think he was hornswaggled. This experience did underline for me the import of relying on my own judgement!
I have a lot of respect for Mark, though not much for Shawn Hannady. I’m more than willing to grant Mark the benefit of the doubt. Hannedy is just a jello mold (very popular among LDS in UT, especially embedded with fruit[grin])
I will be voting against Hatch. He doesnt understand the damage he is doing to our country. Or he doesnt care.
If Utah voters are only concerned about “their” pork, where is their love of country. That is the whole problem with “pork”. Look at West Virginia….constant flow of other people’s money into that state still didn’t make it the best place to live. Get rid of this earmark nonsense. Vote Hatch and all the rest of this dead weight out so we can start over with a government that lives within its means.
I don’t believe Mark Levin is one of your typical rino pundit’s like so many authors and talk hosts are. Such as Laura Ingraham can’t stomach her anymore, Coulter lost me when she decided “Two Ton” Christie was sent from the heavens, Hannity have not been able to stand that guy from years. PP, you nailed with Hannity and his “How about asking a non-leading question that is as long as a stump speech?”
I do think Levin did not research Hatch very well, I hope that was the case, if not I’m through with Levin also and I listen to him everyday unless I’m at the doc’s office.
Be very leary of Orin Hatch. He has operated for many years.
From April 1997
http://biggovernment.com/bmccarty/2011/08/30/patent-reform-act-threatens-engine-of-prosperity/#more-322324
The following day, as Senator Hatch took his seat in the cavernous Judiciary Committee hearing room in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, he was confident that he would pass S.507 out of his committee by unanimous consent. But that was not to be. When Senator Hatch called for the vote on S.507, Senator Thompson rose from his chair, pounded his fist on the table, and shouted, “NO, BY GOD, SENATOR. I OBJECT!”
When Obama mentions patent reform in his speech, do not think it is more meaningless hyperbole. This goes back to Clinton.
*He is neither if you just look at the wealth of voting record; He is a Wilson progressive, and all of them must be voted out of congress, and the sooner the better; When Jim DeMint and his SCF puts forth a worthy primary opponent, I will due my part and send some coin; I’m working extra over the next few months for the specific purpose of flipping the Senate and getting the enemy within out of the White House; It’s the least I can do for my children and future grandchildren.
Bless you sir, a true patriot…along with all others that feel and act the same to save this great country.
Michelle, Chaffetz is NOT well liked in Utah. He wisely decided not to run against Hatch because he probably would have lost. It would have left it open for Matheson (D) to come in and win the senate seat if he had beat Hatch in the primaries.
Hatch is NOT perfect–I have never campaigned for him and am not related. He has been good for Utah though. Why are you not working on the dems in Colorado and all of your own states before spending so much time on Republicans in Utah? We have Brown in Mass and you are spending time and money on Hatch?! This is beginning to sound like a personal vendetta imho.
Thank you for the link, very interesting, believe I’ll send the link to Mr. Levin and ask if he is aware of this traitorous act by his new Tea Party clown.
This is pretty much an immediate issue. I think it will come up quickly and some of them hope quietly.
old goat, have you bothered to follow up on what bjc said at 6:35 pm? You may just want to look it over, it appears Hatch may have been doing good for Utah (my former home state that still is dear to me) but not so much for the country. And where did you come across the idea Chaffetz is not well liked in Utah, source please.
The problem with Chaffetz running is not beating Hatch’s machine, it is beating Matheson, the Kennedy family of Utah politics.
Rightisright. I live in Utah and I don’t know anybody who likes Chaffetz is my source. People in Utah, as I’m sure you are aware, do NOT like candidates bashing other candidates. There are a number of other reasons–just ask Utahns.
WE will try to find a better candidate than our very (not extremely) conservative Hatch. You all work on finding a republican to represent you. As I am sure you must be aware Rightisright, Utahns do NOT appreciate easterners telling us what to do.
DanMan, I wonder if Levin is aware of this also that Hatch was the originator of the Dream Act of 2001, S. 1291… quite the conservative eh.
Excuse me, you referring to me as an easterner? Hate to break this to you at this time in your life, but most people don’t appreciate people from any other state trying to tell them what to do…that would apply to neighboring states such as Nevada in your case and mine…actually I live in western Orygun, not exactly an eastern state. and who was trying to tell you what to do?
In reality most people don’t like their neighbors telling them what do on any issue, not in America, so far anyway.
Now, as far as your friends not liking Chaffetz I don’t know about that, but someone in Utah must like him since he has been elected and re-elected to the U.S. House of Reps. from Utah.
Rightisright. No, I was not calling you an easterner. You said you were from Utah. Many of the people behind this “get rid of Hatch” campaign are from the East. While most states do not like people from outside telling them what to do, we in Utah have some history to go along with that.
I did not say ‘nobody in Utah likes Chaffetz’, obviously somebody is electing him from HIS district. In a statewide race I don’t think he would be popular. He had another press gaffe just yesterday trying to blame some things on Hatch which turned out to be Chaffetz’s own fault.
I am trying to say to Michelle and those non-Utahns behind this “get rid of Hatch campaign” to clean your own house first. We appreciate the info on Hatch and know he is not perfect but which state has a more conservative record than Utah for Pete’s sake?
I’d say Jim Demint right off but he hasn’t served his lifetime in the Senate.
I’m not trying to dither or argue with you about Hatch it’s my opinion he is not as conservative you would like to think. Don’ forget the vote of the wise thinking Latino to be confirmed to the U.S, Supreme Court, then there is S.507 of 1997, a treasonous act if their ever was one and the fact he was the original sponsor of the Dream Act S. 1291 in 1997, remember Clinton/Gore and Chinese? Now I could be wrong and you support such liberal moves, I wouldn’t think you would from your previous comments, but…
I’ve been selected for jury duty pool at least four, possibly five, times in the past decade at the county level. With my luck, I would probably draw that many times in Congress. Could not afford to do that voluntarily, unless I could send in my votes via e-mail or the internet and then work my day job here.
Wait a minute! What was I thinking? Someone mentioned term limit of one time. Oh, and then no problem. Don’t suppose they would do that for jury duty, would they?
…and a tank of oxygen.
oops that was The Dream Act S.1291 2001 not 1997…damn this old age is a pain sometimes, literally.
Hatch
An opening, as in the deck of a ship, in the roof or floor of a building, or in an aircraft.
The definition sounds like a coward RINO.
Senator Hatch. Adios.
My maximum allowed donation will go toward your Tea Party challenger.
Will the RINOpublican elites like Rove and eye-of-Newt go and sabotage the Tea Party to support a Marxist like they did in NY23?
Magic 8-ball says “YES!”
These career politicians like Hatch are what put this country in the bind it’s in today. Their only loyalty is to themselves.
The GOP is more of an obstacle to the people than the communis….er democrats. They pretend to stand for freedom and liberty and then do everything they can to help their friends across the aisle destroy the country.
Hatch is but one example of the virus that infects those in the District of Corruption too long. Lugar, Collins, Snowe, Corker, McConnel are others.
Most of the GOP Senators for that matter.
We The People have no representation and won’t until we have a 2nd party alternative to the two-headed monster that wears R and D jerseys to fool people.
Fedzilla must be tamed or it will devour us.
If any of you out there happen to read this please comment on the following.
I was just told that if the Senate goes R in 2012 Hatch will be chair of finance. If he is booted out by the Easterners then Olympia Snowe will be Chair of Finance. How does this work? I can see she is a ranking member but would she indeed be chair?
Virginia Patriot
FINALLY!!!
Someone who gets it.
I agree 100%. We have a conservative problem in this country, not a liberal one.
If you have any doubts, look no further than the 2 districts that recalled state senators in WI, Ben Nelson, Byron Dorgan, Max Baucus or John Tester.
In a 1995 op-ed in USA Today, Senator Orrin Hatch argued against term limits and mentioned that he running for re-election in 2012 was “not on the list”. Here is what he said:
As much as I would like to see Hatch get his wish and spend more time with his great-grandchildren, I’m not sure it’s going to happen. He is pouring money into this campaign and running ads all day long. Bennett lost because he was over-confident and thought he couldn’t lose. Hatch has learned from Bennett’s mistake and isn’t taking any chances.
The main problem with Orrin is that he “goes along to get along.” If Democrats continue to control the Senate, he will be a RINO like McCain. But if conservatives gain control of the Senate, Hatch will act like one of them. He will try to get along with whoever is in power. That is good because I think Republicans will gain control of the Senate this fall.
So, if Hatch does win another term, it won’t be all bad. He has always fought for conservative judges and many credit him with getting Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court. That’s probably why Levin supports him. He has also championed a balanced budget amendment over the years and vows to get one passed next year. Because of his seniority, he will be in a great position to get it done. In my opinion, those are the two most important things the Senate needs to do.
I would correct that to say Chaffetz is not well liked in Salt Lake City. The inner city is a democratic stronghold. I lived downtown for a few years. In my area no Republican had been elected to local office for over 30 years. It was all Democrats. Luckily, the rest of the state out-numbers the inner city and elects mostly Republicans to state-wide offices.
Chaffetz is well liked among Republicans in Utah, the Democrats not so much. But that’s because he’s been an effective conservative. I think he would have a great chance at winning a Senate seat or any other state-wide election. I just think he wanted to get a little more experience first. Or maybe he and Orrin came to an “understanding” and that’s why he changed his mind. Perhaps Orrin promised to support him in 6 years when he retires. Who knows.