Keep Hatch
Sometimes Republican politics make me think I am living in Seinfeld's bizarro world, where up is down, left is right, and George Constanza charms women and gets a job with the Yankees. And I am not even talking about the presidential debates where Ron Paul seems to be an alien visitor greeting us earthlings or Newt Gingrich is building moonbases where we can greet ourselves from space. Instead, I am referring to the drive-by activists in the states who seem determined to purge conservative senators, such as Orrin Hatch from Utah, for not being ideologically pure.
Hatch, for whom I once worked in the mid-1990s, is under threat of losing his Senate seat because of Utah's unusual primary caucus system, which also ousted Bob Bennett in 2010. In this piece, I argue that Hatch has ironically done more than any other Senator to set the foundations for the Tea Party movement, whose members sometimes criticize him, by being one of the few Senators who has stood tall to defend the confirmation of conservative nominees to the Supreme Court. Without Clarence Thomas or Antonin Scalia, there would be no conservative intellectual agenda for the Constitution, and without Hatch, these men would not be on the Court today.
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Comments:
Dec '10
Re: Keep Hatch
Orrin Hatch is 77 years old and in his sixth term. At what point does it make sense for a Senator to consider retiring and making way for a new generation?
Jul '10
Re: Keep Hatch
When he or his constituents so deem. Even speaking as a Tea Party supporter, not every Tea Party candidate has measured up to expectations. My favorite instance, the Tea Party freshmen that voted to extend ObamaCare to the veterinary medical market. Congress wants a cut not just of our children and parents, but our dogs and cats as well.
Edited on February 1, 2012 at 2:03amDec '10
Re: Keep Hatch
Sisyphus
When he or his constituents so deem. Even speaking as a Tea Party supporter, not every Tea Party candidate has measured up to expectations. My favorite instance, the Tea Party freshmen that voted to extend ObamaCare to the veterinary medical market. Congress wants a cut not just of our children and parents, but our dogs and cats as well. · 9 minutes ago
Edited 9 minutes ago
He's a Senator, not a Supreme Court Justice. His is not a lifetime appointment.
At what point does a Senator reflect on his advanced age and determine that he should stand aside for a new generation? I am not talking about capitulating to the TEA Party, but deciding to retire and campaigning for a successor whom the Senator feels would carry on his legacy. After all, at some point in the not-too-distant future, morbidity or mortality will catch up to Senator Hatch and possibly rob him of the chance to pick a preferred successor.
Oct '10
Re: Keep Hatch
With respect, Prof. Yoo, you seem to be saying here that since Hatch has done some good things in 36 years, he's owed something. But that makes little sense. It's not as though the choice is between Hatch and some wild-eyed Liberal who will block conservative SCOTUS nominees. The anti-Hatch is likely to do as well or better on issues that matter to conservatives. Six terms is enough already! Time to move on . . . for all concerned.
Dec '11
Re: Keep Hatch
His endorsement of Mitt Romney in and of itself justifies a primary challenge, but I dont live in utah.
Nov '11
Re: Keep Hatch
Strom Thurmond held on til 100. Hatch has 13 years...
(Probably not the best precedent.)
Dec '10
Re: Keep Hatch
Leigh
Strom Thurmond held on til 100. Hatch has 13 years...
(Probably not the best precedent.) · 23 minutes ago
Well, we could always point to Robert Byrd.
Sep '10
Re: Keep Hatch
Didn't Hatch suggest Justice Ginsberg to president Clinton? It is hard for me to imagine a democrat suggesting her equivalent. I wish the senator well
Jun '10
Re: Keep Hatch
Senator Hatch is, with a few minor deviations in 36 years in the Senate, a real conservative. The only way he will be defeated in Utah is if his opponent gets 60 percent of the delegates at the Republican convention. This is extremely unlikely to happen (as opposed to Bob Bennett, who was beat out in convention by two serious opponents). Representative Jason Chaffetz made noises of challenging him, but backed off.
An argument can certainly be made that it's time for him to retire, and I have to think this will be his final term. In the meantime, we can depend on him as a consistent conservative voice. If he ends up in a primary, I'll certainly vote for him.
May '10
Re: Keep Hatch
Leigh
Strom Thurmond held on til 100. Hatch has 13 years...
(Probably not the best precedent.) · 5 hours ago
23 years?
Nov '10
Re: Keep Hatch
If you don't think he's on our side, watch this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JBYBhpXZAs
Hatch pounces on Biden starting at around 2:00.
Nov '11
Re: Keep Hatch
Ottoman Umpire
Leigh
Strom Thurmond held on til 100. Hatch has 13 years...
(Probably not the best precedent.) · 5 hours ago
23 years? · 4 hours ago
Umm... yes. My bad.
Nov '11
Re: Keep Hatch
Hyperbole (bizarro world) and insults (drive-by activists) don't win my heart . . . or my mind. Speaking of driving by, Mr. Yoo, when was the last tIme you saw the beauty of Utah from your car window?
Edited on February 1, 2012 at 2:20pmMay '11
Re: Keep Hatch
Hatch was complimented in another article similar to Mr. Yoo's as "gentlemanly".
One could make the argument that Hatch is gentlemanly because he has run out of energy.
"Gentlemanly" often means "over-the-hill or past-the-prime." I don't hear the "Gentlemanly" compliment about Rubio. Yet he is one.
Edited on February 1, 2012 at 4:10pmApr '11
Re: Keep Hatch
I'm neither pro-Hatch or anti-Hatch. I've got to wonder, though, about the motivation of politicians that hope to die in office. Is the power that alluring that you can't think of anything you'd rather do in your (likely) last remaining decade? I guess I'm just lazy.
Sep '10
Re: Keep Hatch
I know a staffer for Mr. Hatch who has worked for him for many years. The stories I have heard would curl a conservative's hair. He is arrogant and self-promoting. Twice I have been told that his nomination to the Supreme Court was imminent. Of course it didn't happen. He has also taken stands on things like stem cell reserach that I cannot agree with. Perhaps back in his day he was a true conservative and effective. That day has long passed.
Feb '11
Re: Keep Hatch
I live in Utah and I'll be supporting Dan Liljenquist to replace Hatch. I appreciate that Hatch has done many good things, but it is time for a new face. From what I've seen of Dan, he is a classy guy and he has a great head on his shoulders. He'll do us proud.