Most are casting this as outing an incumbent during a time when there is much hatred of the way Congress works.
Three-term Sen. Bob Bennett became the first victim this year of a wave of voter anger toward Washington in a defeat that will likely send a jolt through incumbents everywhere.
[…]
When it was announced that Bennett had been eliminated from the race, a huge ovation swept through the convention hall and there were hoots and shouts of “He’s gone! He’s gone!” Other delegates hugged and tea party members waved their yellow “Do Not Tread On Me” flags.
[…]
Julian Zelizer, a professor at Princeton University, said that while Bennett’s defeat may have been an anomaly attributable to Utah’s unique convention system, any time a long-serving incumbent is beaten it sends shock waves.“I think all incumbents are nervous right now. The polls are just showing that voters are unhappy with Democrats or Republicans,” he said.
Some, however, see Bennett, considered one of the Senate’s most conservative members, as not being conservative enough in that he voted for TARP and worked on healthcare with a Democrat.
Bennett, 76, initially faced seven Republican opponents who said he wasn’t conservative enough for ultraconservative Utah. Lee, 38, and Bridgewater, 49, campaigned largely by saying they’re better suited to rein in government spending than Bennett.
“I will fight every day as your U.S. senator for limited government, to end the cradle-to-grave entitlement mentality, for a balanced budget, to protect our flag, our borders and our national security and for bills that can be read before they receive a final vote in congress,” Lee said in his convention speech.
On the other hand, there’s this:
Utah’s quirky candidate selection process too often disenfranchises the rank and file. Electoral decisions are made by a few on behalf of the many thanks to a party caucus and convention system that concentrates the power in the hands of party elites.
For example, all it will take at Saturday’s Republican state convention is 2,100 votes — 60 percent of the delegates — for a U.S. Senate candidate to advance directly to the general election against a token Democrat. In other words, 2,100 people may speak for nearly 3 million. As a result, Utah voting rates are among the worst in the nation.
So, where does this leave other Republicans up for reelection this year? What about Democrats?
Tea party thinking! . Government is bad. Until they need a cop or a fireman or the potholes in front of their house fixed.
Republicans.. I got mine now don’t ask for any, and give me yours because I can use it better than you.
Republicans rely on single-issue nutballs as grunts. Now, they’re taking over.
The head of teabaggers in Utah is taking comprehension of economics from Herbert Hoover back to Caligula. Still, Utah’s a 1-party state; so, the money boys in the RNC couldn’t care less.
“… protect the flag …”
Really? These reactionary nuts are still harping for a Soviet Union style law that would imprison those who worship dyed cloth?
All the problems in the world and they offer shallowness as a virtue?
#3 correction: “… those who don’t worship …”
Tea Party: fundamentalism against themselves …
Bennett may be the most socially and fiscally conservative Senator. Whether you like him or not he operates from principle which means that he voted in the minority, and even sometimes by himself (e.g. domestic partnership benefits). He’s not a populist. So what does this mean?
He wouldn’t play nice with the tea party, so they took him out.
These conservatives viciously turn on each like a pack of wild dogs at the first sign of weakness.
If you run with them, expect to get mauled.
I wuv use guys!
Seems Republicans are swarming in some places. I have not seen anything here.
Termites also swarm around this time of year in Texas but I keep them under control with a pest control company.
Burn the witch!
… oh, did I say that out-loud?
the man lost his way and now he has paid the price
he voted for the bail out
he tried to create his own version of the health care bill no one wanted
he was one of the big spenders of the bush era
the conservatives are back and were cleaning house ,it is time spenders and bought and paid for politicians to pay for their deeds of the past
this is only the first of many.
you liberal fools had your chance and as usual showed your true colors, spend and tax and screw the public with good ole boy tactics and we’ve had enough
Uncle Dave asked: So, where does this leave other Republicans up for reelection this year? What about Democrats?
Republicans are sitting pretty and the Democrats are in the dog house.
The insanity of our society/government continues. Easy and hypocritical/liebertardian to be against taxes while not addressing spending at all.
Middle stages of the Greek Disease.
Guys like PMitchell think that the revolution is coming. Statistically the Dems could walk on water and would lose seats this year. Regression to the mean is just life.
How many seats do the Dems have to lose before it stops being a normal population sampling problem and starts being a tea party revolution?
Washington is not popular. That is what it means. Anybody willing to deal with the big spenders is at risk and maybe those who aren’t.
The people who want to be like Greece, like Uncle Don and company, on the other hand still have lots of supporters so we wait and see. They may pull it out.
I actually think we are already so deep in debt and have such staggering obligations that we are going under. The only way to escape would require we drop the entire social safety net and chop the military to the point that we can’t even pretend to be a super power. More like a chumper power.
The reason the dollar isn’t in the sewer value wise is that the EU is in worse shape. We may stink but they stink worse. The EU is going under. It’s heading for status as a third world Islamic organization. The bad news for use is that they are a major trading partner.
I wonder how many of us even heard of Bennett before today.
Bennett forgot the one overriding rule of politics. Be popular with those who will reelect you. Who cares what anyone else thinks as long as your constituency reelects you?
Feinstein knows this, Pelosi knows this, Reid forgot this.
I would love it if one of these ousted GOP incumbents results in a lost seat for the GOP. Very well could happen somewhere.
I know here in Arizona, if J.D. Hayworth succeeds in beating John McCain in the primary, he will likely lose in the general because the independent swing votes hate the guy.
Isn’t there something in the Morman Bibble about cutting off your nose to spite your face?
Moderates and independents are being frightened off by the radical right wing nuts. The coming summer showdown over financial reform and the Supreme Court nominee will show the heart of the Republicans. And I don’t think it was be pretty.
Bennett’s troubles began in the 2004 state convention when he again campaigned on term limits and fiscal restraint – then went along with Bush Jr on spending and TARP and turned his back on the promise of 3 terms and out like his father.
There were far more libertarians at the convention who remember how the Federal Government confiscated their ancestors property in New York, Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois and who don’t like any of the statists of either party and don’t trust the Government. To them, Bennett is the epitomy of the insider, go along to get along kind of guy.
Minority of Minority Repuke “Tea Baggers” purify the Repukes ??? Gotta Love It !!! Lunatic Right Fringe INSURES OBAMA’S RE-ELECTION AND MORE DEMS IN CONGRESS !!!
I’m anti-tea party, but I’m anti-establishment even more.
Any reason to get rid of an incumbent is a good one.
Plus I really don’t trust someone 76 years old to be making a legitimate forward thinking efforts in government.
Maybe the 2010 elections will end with a near 50-50 split between our 2 annointed parties and nothing will get done for years.