What Was He Thinking?
July 11th, 2006Over the weekend, news broke of a music producer being arrested in Dubai. CNN, NYTimes and others picked it up. What’s so striking? The involvement of Utah’s ultra-conservative Senator, Orrin Hatch (R). Seems Orrin pulled some strings and helped the producer avoid any jail time. Orrin and the producer share a friend, their music attorney.
Background on Hatch:
Hatch is the senator who, in 2003, suggested that people who download copyrighted materials should have their computers automatically destroyed. This article points to Hatch’s hypocrisy as his website at that time used an unlicensed javascript (that helped build site navigation).
Hatch has clung to the chestnut of using election year wedge issue tactics. Since I can remember, he’s brought up a flag burning amendment to the constitution, wanting to make it illegal to burn a U.S. flag in protest. This motion died on the floor recently.
Endorsement Time
Fortunately, for Utah residents, there is an alternative to re-electing Mr. Hatch. Pete Ashdown, a local internet entrepreneur is running against Hatch. I think Hatch should be worried. But that is more a hope than anything having basis in reality. Here is Pete’s take on Hatch’s behavior. Ashdown mentions a Utah family (SL Tribune article here) who tried to play by the rules and were deported. Hatch didn’t lift a finger, but his staff attempted to help the family through the bureaucracy. Quote from Hatch’s staff:
“it appears unlikely the senator will sponsor legislation to ensure legal residency for the Sahs, said spokeswoman Heather Barney. That, she said, is reserved for rare life-and-death situations.”
Cocaine carrying producer: 1, honest, hard working family: 0.
It would seem that with Rush Limbaugh’s battle with prescription drug dependency, maybe the GOP’s stance has shifted in their War on Drugs? Maybe Hatch is pro-cocaine now? Does this contribute to the culture of corruption? Or is it just a lack of culture? Or being afraid to touch immigration issues in an election year?
I wanted to wait until September before I mentioned my support of Ashdown, but I can wait no longer. Blurbomat is endorsing Pete Ashdown for the U.S. Senate this November. It’s time for some new ideas. o
[Thanks to the main Mump for sending me the Ashdown link this morning.]
I would vote for a goat if it ran against Hatch.
But here’s another question for you, what to you think of Mitt Romney’s possible run for the White House?
And Ashdown has set up his website with a pretty nice Wiki that explains his policies. And he’s a nice guy to boot.
Here’s the wiki page: http://tinyurl.com/l2bbl
It’s this kind of hypocrisy that makes my blood boil. What the hell? These guys are a bunch of sycophantic dillholes.
How did our political system get so chocked with these jokers?
I’m also endorsing Pete Ashdown. That makes two of us. Unfortunately, you’re more likely to get a gin and tonic at a Mormon temple than to see this happen in the next 50 years. I hate to be a pessimist, but if my own personal experience is any indicator…well…maybe I’m just being realistic. Here’s what common sense is up against this year (again):
http://www.eighthourlunch.com/archives/20060131.php#hatch
Workman, IMO Romney is a tool of the highest magnitude, and I look breathlessly forward to MA having a Democrat in the governor’s mansion this fall. While Romney has great hair and relatively strongish charisma, he was largely absent and uninvolved with MA in general during his term. Its as if from day one he was using the job to pad his resume for the White House.
As far as his being a Mormon affecting his chances for prez; it didnt matter much in MA for governor, I think because we know little about LDS up here. When I discussed this topic with friends from the bible belt, they insist that it will be a BIG problem among the Baptists and Church of Christ rightwing types. Im not too sure…I have a sinking feeling he may pull of a good run in 08 with his neat coif.
The Republican to fear in 08 is Huckabee.
The advantage to writing this post about Ashdown now as opposed to waiting until September is that hopefully it will help increase his support from people – like me – who don’t need to give to local candidates as they are overloaded with money and victory is assured.
Perhaps this is a Clog Army call-to-arms, for a November coup…
My husband’s ultra Mormon, ultra conservative Grandpa lives in Utah and actually yelled “Shut up Mr. Hatch!” at the TV when Hatch was on.
Maybe Ashdown has a shot?
This is so off subject, I’m sorry. But I have to know: Heather doesn’t have arm cancer, does she? (I had arm cancer when I was six. That was 22 years ago. I’m fine. No, I’m not kidding.)
Oh, and I think you should consider running for office, Jon. Seriously. Hell, just the folks on your comment runs would almost certainly do a better job than the jokers in office right now.
Workman, I’d love to see Romney run. If only for the voyeuristic aspects. I don’t know if he’d play on a national level. The Mormon thing is flat out insane and only demonstrates how messed up religious intolerance is in this country. Rommney might have a shot, but I wouldn’t vote for him.
Sorry Jon, this is another off-topic comment. Do you know that one of your ads states that instead of boarding your dog while away, you can cryogenically freeze it?! Just thought I’d point it out….
And for what it’s worth, Orrin Hatch isn’t popular among LDS people either…..
Let’s re-elect ANYONE else…….PLEASE!?!?!
I laughed my ass off when I actually paid attention to an ad… No offense but I totally tune them out, not just here.
“Hatch has clung to the chestnut of using election year wedge issue tactics.”
Oh dear. Your comments thingy was sending me to ’server not found’ land for the five minutes I could squeeze in earlier so you were ROBBED of my response to this which was…
well, let’s just say that ‘wedgie’ as a mis-read for ‘wedge issues’ was the most family friendly bit.
Who says politics aren’t sexy?
Well, having spent 23 years in Washington, D.C., as a congressional staffer, journalist, and lobbyist, I can say that all members of Congress, liberal or conservative, Republicans or Democrats, watch out for the interests of major campaign contributors first and constituents second. No one else even rates a passing synapse, much less a handshake. The first question asked, when favors are being sought and allocated, is, “How much did he give?” No pay, no play is the universal rule. That’s just how it is. Money is the engine and the fuel of modern electoral politics, and not even the Tooth Fairy or John McCain can make it all better.
People in MA may not have much of an opinion on Mormons in office, but I sure got a kick out of a recent national poll that showed Mormons second only to Muslims as the least likely to be voted for in an American Presidential election… as for Hatch, I don’t think he’s ever going away. Do we know he’s out in the daytime? I think he’s a vampire.