Bob Bennett Blasts Tea Party

Channel 4's Lazy reporting

Why pay to conduct your own poll when you can just use someone's insider poll?

From KTVX:

SALT LAKE (ABC 4 News) - Utah Senator Bob Bennett may no longer be the front-runner for his own party's nomination.

According to reliable Republican sources, Bennett now trails GOP challenger Mike Lee by a significant amount among GOP delegates.

According to our sources, Mike Lee's campaign has conducted two large surveys in the last month.

Each polled between a quarter and a third of the delegates to next month's Republican state convention.

Reportedly, Mike Lee is first with 37 percent of the delegate vote.

Bennett is said to be second at 22 percent.

Tim Bridgewater, according to information given to ABC 4, is third at 20.5%

And Cherilyn Eagar, we're told, is in 4th place at 13% of those polled.

Here's the problem I have with this:

How do we know this was an unbiased poll?

After all, if you're going to be leaking a poll (especially with that much detail), to Chris Vancour, why does it have to be accurate?

For all we know, The question was "If the convention was today, which of the following candidates would you vote for? Mike "Superhero" Lee, Bob "Old Fart Who Likes Big Banks" Bennett, Tim "Nobody" Bridgewater, or Crazy Cherilyn Eagar?"

-Bob

Matheson: Hard To Argue With 64% Approval

Basically, I'm link dumping here, but Jim Matheson has the highest approval rating of any of our congresscritters:

Name Approve Disapprove Don't know
President Barack Obama 30% 69% 1%
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 21% 72% 7%
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid 25% 55% 20%
Senator Orrin Hatch 64% 30% 6%
Senator Bob Bennett 54% 37% 9%
Congressman Rob Bishop 48% 18% 34%
Congressman Jim Matheson 64% 27% 9%
Congressman Jason Chaffetz 55% 21% 24%
Source: Dan Jones Poll for KSL/Deseret News Margin of error: +/- 6.5%

The poll also asked about aspects of the health care bill:

Reform Agree Disagree Don't know
Pre-existing conditions covered 76% 22% 2%
Coverage for 36 million uninsured 49% 48% 3%
Americans required to have insurance 42% 57% 1%
Exchange to shop and compare policies 77% 21% 2%
Reduce out-of-pocket prescription costs 73% 23% 4%
Source: Dan Jones Poll for KSL/Deseret News Margin of error: +/- 6.5%

Overall Congressional Democrats' Health Insurance Reform Plan
Favor Oppose Don't know
30% 67% 3%
Source: Dan Jones Poll for KSL/Deseret News Margin of error: +/- 6.5%

Of Popularity and Polls

From Utah Policy:

Atty. Gen. Mark Shurtleff has an approval rating of 63%, the second highest rating among Utah's top politicians, only behind Congressman Jim Matheson at 71%....

After Shurtleff comes Sen. Orrin Hatch, 62%; Sen. Bob Bennett, 58%; Gov. Gary Herbert, 57%; SL County Mayor Peter Corroon, 45%; Congressman Jason Chaffetz, 41%; and Congressman Rob Bishop, 39%. Those statewide numbers are the results of a survey conducted by Dan Jones & Associates Jan. 8-11, with a 600 sample and a possible 4% error margin, plus or minus.

Ah! Panic! Corroon only has 45% approval Numbers, right?

Well, these are statewide numbers. Corroon's numbers actually look pretty good:

Corroon, who is running for governor, has a relatively low favorability rating at 45% statewide, but he also has the lowest unfavorable rating of all politicians, at only 12%, and a whopping 40% have no opinion or haven't heard of him. So those who have a locked-in opinion about him are overwhelmingly positive. In his home stomping grounds of Salt Lake County he has a very healthy 67% favorability rating.

LaVarr Webb, who wrote the piece, doesn't say what Governor Herbert's disapproval numbers are. I'd be interested to see that.

-Bob

Shurtleff Out --What does it mean for the other competitors?

With Attorney General Mark Shurleff suspending his campaign for US Senate to deal with family matters surrounding his daughter's depression, what does it mean for the other people in the race?

Sen Bob Bennett (R)

In the eyes of many, this boiled down to a two-person race -- Shurtleff vs Bennett. With the AG out of the picture, Bennett's run get much easier. There's still a chance, but his road to reelection definitely got easier today.

Sam Granato (D)

Easily the person most hurt by this is Sam. Let's face it, the best-case scenario for Dems was a Shurtleff-Granato race to November. The worst-case scenario is Bennett-Granato.

Cherilyn Eagar (R)

This is definitely a win-lose for the Eagar camp. On one hand, it opens the door for more media coverage. On the other hand, she loses much of the "anything you can do I can do better" competition she was playing with Shurtleff. She'll gain some of the delegates that were looking to Shurtleff for change, but not enough to make a difference.

Tim Bridgewater (R)

The second-worst-kept secret in the 2010 cycle has been that Tim Bridgewater was running for Senate. And, because of that, the announcement of his campaign came with little fanfare. However, with Shurtleff gone, it allows him to step up to the plate. His experience in the Republican Convention/Primary system from his two runs for the US House gives him the leg up in recruiting delegates. He is the new favorite to force a primary with Bennett. his ability to win a primary is another question.

-Bob

Sen Bennett's Facebook Ghostwriter Needs Spellcheck

OK, I realize that this is a case of a pot calling a kettle black, but seriously. If you are a United States Senator running for your forth term, make sure whoever you have running your Facebook account knows how to spell words like "campaign."

Otherwise, I'm likely to make fun of you. (click to enlarge)

Bob Bennett: Club For Growth Grossly Misleads Americans

From a Bob Bennett for Senate press release (emphasis mine):

Salt Lake City – Senator Bob Bennett’s campaign today responded to the inaccurate campaign ad released by Club for Growth regarding Bennett’s bipartisan and revenue-neutral health care reform plan.

“It looks like the negative campaign season has started early with this grossly inaccurate Club for Growth ad on Bennett’s bipartisan, self-financing Healthy Americans Act (HAA) to reform our broken health care system,” said Jim Bennett, spokesman for the campaign. “Senator Bennett is absolutely opposed to a government run health care system and saying otherwise is 100 percent false. Bennett’s bill is the only health care plan that would put Americans in charge of their own health care dollars, create competition in the private markets, and drive down the escalating costs of care that Americans can no longer afford.”

“Liberal groups are strongly opposed to Bennett’s plan because it doesn’t include a government-run option, so the Club for Growth must be reading a different bill,” Jim Bennett said. “It is unfortunate that the Club for Growth does not appear to embrace the principles of the Bennett bill such as choice, portability, tax reform, incentives for healthy behavior and would throw money on a campaign ad that hinders solving the health care crisis with a free market, patient-driven plan.”

“This attack is consistent with the inaccuracies about Senator Bennett’s plan that have been perpetuated by his political opponents,” jim Bennett added. “Coinciding with the Club for Growth’s politically-motivated attack, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has decided to run a negative campaign that deliberately misrepresents the Senator’s position. And while Shurtleff offers no solutions, other than a suggestion that health care reform can be accomplished through $49 grocery store clinics, Senator Bennett is on the front lines proposing real reform consistent with conservative principles.”

To see a point-by point rebuttal to the ad, read the press release here.

Watch the ad here:

Bob Bennett vs the Birthers

(h/t KVNU)

Sen Bennett Defends his Pro-Tobaco Vote

In summary: "I'm not pro big-tobacco, I'm pro-small tobacco. And Another Government agency.

And I believe you are five.:

The Video:

UT-Sen: And then there were six

DesNews:

Vowing to wage a low-cost grass-roots campaign aiming to return the country to constitutional principles, Republican James Russell Williams III formally announced his candidacy Wednesday for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Bob Bennett, R-Utah.

"We have to change the way our politicians are running the government. The best hope for our country, and for our families, is to return to our core conservative principles of fiscal discipline, accountability, strong national security, limited government and immigration reform," he said.

He enters a crowded race. Already in it are Republicans Bennett, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, and former congressional candidate Tim Bridgewater, and conservative Cherilyn Eagar is expected to formally announce her candidacy on Thursday. Also in the race is Democratic food business owner Sam Granato.

Williams, 36, of South Jordan, owns a small business called Creative Customs, which provides electronics work for car dealerships. He said he has never run for political office.

From The SideTrack

Annother Member of the Loony Wing Joins the Senate Race

Ethan Millard writes on KSL.com that Cherilyn Bacon Eagar "is forming an exploratory committee in preparation to join the race to replace Senator Bennett."

She Joins Mark Shurtleff and Tim Bridgewater on the Republican Side. Joe Granato is the only Democrat to have announced at this point.

Who is Cherilyn Bacon Eagar?

Cherilyn Bacon Eagar is an owner of and marketing director for WebsTarget® by Computer Camp, an Internet marketing company that services the real estate industry nationally. She is President and Policy Analyst for World Class Education Research, founded to publish and advocate for ideals that strengthen the traditional family. She was co-author of the first state Family and Educational Rights to Privacy Act, to protect students from invasive psychological and non-academic testing. She is also author of an education policy manual entitled Edugate America: The Deconstruction of a Culture and is completing a book on pornography to help the family members of sexual addicts.

She has presented nationally on education reforms and related topics for over 20 years, has been a media spokesperson for many causes from Stop ERA of the late 70’s to hosting an opinion/comment talk radio show. She is featured in Sean Hannity’s book Let Freedom Ring in recognition of her successful post-9/11 national campaign against the Red Cross’ “neutrality” policy which prohibited the singing of traditional American patriotic songs such as “God Bless the USA” and “America the Beautiful” and “Declaration” (with text from the Declaration of Independence), and songs which mention the words “God” and “prayer.”

She developed a summer program in New York City for aspiring performing artists working with Broadway directors and instructors and rated among the top 2 programs along with NYU’s “Cap 21” program. She received highest ratings while on the faculty at the Orange County School of the Arts (a charter school) and at Brigham Young University. She has been accepted into the Masters Degree program in Education and in Marriage and Family Therapy from Liberty University in Virginia.

Cherilyn has had a wealth of experience in the private, non-profit charitable sector, having raised approximately $1 million for various causes from the Boy Scouts to the Special Olympics, as well as fighting pornography over the past decade. She has also had a lifetime of experience in the political arena in several regions of the U.S., multiple times as Republican county and state delegate, a candidate for the school board in Texas, as campaign manager for the 1994 Congressional race in Utah’s 3rd District, and in supporting conservative candidates and causes that strengthen families.

A lifelong, dedicated Republican, she has also had brief, but vast, top-level, “third party” experience when she helped Patrick Buchanan in his bid for the presidency. During that time, she became the National Press Secretary for the Reform Party. As a result, she is a strong advocate for working within the existing two party-system to affect change. She believes the Republican Party, though its platform reflects correct principles of government and the free market, has drifted too far toward Statism/Big Government in practice.

She is now dedicated to restoring the Republican Party to the principles of its platform, to fiscal responsibility, and to the principles of the free market and states’ sovereignty for which President Ronald Reagan stood, especially in the area of education. She opposes the recent national take-over of America’s economy and recognizes that Congress has adopted a mixed economy of predominantly socialist/fascist principles. This must change if America is to survive and remain that “Shining City on a Hill” that Reagan envisioned as the bastion of freedom for the rest of the world.

She is married to Randy Eagar, and together they have seven children and 9.5 grandchildren.

I'm wondering if the Loony wing of the party are diluting their voting bloc too much with too many candidates.

-Bob

From The SideTrack

Jon Stewart Roasts Bob Bennett

Jan 29, 2008:

Caroline Kennedy -- Qualified, or no?

Much has been made about whether Caroline Kennedy is qualified to be a US Senator.

Even Representative/State Senator-Elect Steve Urquhart weighs in:

I don’t like her politics. For many, many reasons, I would not like to see her in the Senate. But, let’s stop asking whether serious devotion to motherhood is a disqualifying activity (which really is the question being asked – without, of course, actually being voiced).

Along with being a mother, Kennedy has accomplished much. Along with being a mother, she is very well educated. Along with being a mother, Kennedy is a serious writer and editor. Along with being a mother, she is a serious player in the public education arena. Along with being a mother, she is a political heavyweight.

Flawed and naive in some areas? Of course.

Unqualified? Give me a break.

If she were a man, the narrative would be much different. If, for example, her brother John were alive and being considered, the question of qualifications would not gain traction in the media (though, in that case, it should).

Everyone should be vetted. That’s fine and necessary. So, vet her. Don’t mock her and dismiss her. Don’t dehumanize her.

I agree. Much has been made about the fact that she hasn't yet held political office.

Which is interesting, given that she would replace Senator Hillary Clinton, who had not held office herself prior to being elected to the Senate.

Last time I checked, the Constitution, which sets forth the qualifications for Senators, has no requirement for prior office.

In fact, both of Utah' Senators have held exactly one elected office -- US Senator.

-Bob

Bob Bennett thinks VP spot is much like being Junior Senator from Utah

The Hill Newspaper asked the 97 Senators not running for President whether they would consider a VP slot.

Bob Bennett's answer:

Of course. Big house, big car, not much to do. Why not?

Pretty much sums up his 15 years in the Senate, doesn't it?

-Bob

Bob Bennett in 2010

From GenRolly Speaking:

Any doubts that Utah Sen. Bob Bennett will seek a third term in
2010 can be put to rest.
Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller played host to a campaign strategy
meeting for Bennett's campaign Friday at the Jazz practice facility.
Most of the Utah Republican Party's movers and shakers were in
attendance and 65 attendees pledged to raise $10,000 each to launch
Bennett's campaign.
The senator, who currently is 74, will be 77 on election day,
2010, which makes him old enough to be Strom Thurmond's son during
Thurmond's last term in the Senate.

If he's 77 on election day, that means he'll be 83 when that term ends. Just something for the voters of Utah to consider...

Bob Bennett now anti-war

Bob Bennett, Utah's "Junior" Senator, is now against the war.

From KUTV (via KVNU):

Senator Bob Bennett also participated in Memorial Day ceremonies. But he is not sponsoring a resolution urging president bush to make a greater diplomatic effort to end the war in Iraq.

As he said in an interview on Sunday, “All I’m saying is pay attention to the other options.”

In the past Bennett made strong speeches favoring the war in Iraq. But now he says things have changed, and American strategy should change, too.

Sen. Bob Bennett, “When I made that speech, I believed those things,” says Senator Bennett, “and the war was going a different way. But the enemy has adjusted, and we should adjust depending on what happens.”

Bennett’s resolution says troops should be withdrawn, maybe beginning next January.

The Press Release:

Washington, DC - Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR), Bob Bennett (R-UT), Robert Casey (D-PA), and Judd Gregg (R-NH) announced this morning on the Senate floor that they will join in offering legislation next month to make the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group (ISG) official U.S. policy. The Iraq Study Group Recommendations Implementation Act of 2007, announced last week by Senators Ken Salazar (D-CO) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN), is expected to be introduced in early June.

"Partisan votes will not end this war and neither will the President's refusal to provide an exit strategy to the American people. This gamesmanship is not helpful to our soldiers and their families," Pryor said. "I am proud to be a part of Senators Salazar's and Alexander's constructive dialogue to find common ground. This strategy we hope will move Iraq to a path of self-sufficiency and hold Iraqis accountable for progress so American troops can come home."

"Given the current situation in Iraq and my briefings with General Petraeus, I believe now is the time for Congress to act and implement the study group's recommendations," said Bennett. "The administration is working with the Iraqi government and engaging its neighbors to determine the next steps toward a peaceful resolution, and this bipartisan legislation will only help to augment their efforts."

"Coming from a state that has lost the third highest number of troops in Iraq, the urgency to change course in Iraq is clear," said Casey. "The Iraq Study Group recommendations are the product of an expert and bipartisan review. Today, we aim to revive that same spirit by seeking to implement these commonsense policies."

"The Iraq Study Group Implementation Act of 2007 helps chart a responsible path forward and it does so in a way that prizes serious, thoughtful policy over partisan rhetoric," said Gregg. "The report lays out a comprehensive plan that was forged out of consensus, and one that can change the political climate here in Congress and lead to an acceptable end to the Iraq war."

"The Iraq Study Group's recommendations offer a bipartisan way forward for our nation in Iraq," said Salazar. "The fact that we have been joined by Senators from both sides of the aisle shows that there is growing support in the Senate to provide a new and responsible approach that emphasizes diplomacy and transitions our military mission in Iraq from combat to support."

"We need a political solution in Washington, DC, as much as we need one in Baghdad," said Alexander. "These four senators - two Democrats and two Republicans - move us one step closer in that direction."

The ISG was created in March of 2006 at the request of a bipartisan group of members of Congress and was co-chaired by former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III and former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Lee H. Hamilton. The ISG released their recommendations in December of 2006 that built a bipartisan approach to bring a responsible conclusion to the Iraq war. Specifically the bill sets a 'new way forward' by establishing as United States policy:

• A new diplomatic offensive in the region that includes the creation of the Iraq International Support Group;
• Giving the highest priority to training, equipping and advising the Iraqi military and security forces;
• Assessing the full budgetary and personnel impact of the war in Iraq on the United States Military;
• Accelerating and increasing oil production and accountability including equitable distribution of oil revenues in Iraq;
• Implementing and oversight of economic reconstruction programs in Iraq with the creation of a new Senior Advisor for Economic Reconstruction;
• Ensuring that the President includes the cost of the war in his annual budget request; and
• Setting conditions that could lead to redeployment of United States combat brigades not needed for force protection as early as the first quarter of 2008 if diplomatic, infrastructure and security benchmarks are met.

Email Senator Bennett or call him ((202) 224-5444) and tell him thanks.

-Bob

Wayne Holland Calls Out Bob Bennett

Perhaps Senator Bennett will respond personally to this post and explain how a bi-partisan commission required to give the public the opportunity to review and comment upon any proposal they make somehow gives Democratic voters greater influence in an election than Republican voters. Perhaps he can also explain how dividing up communities like Tooele, Helper, Price, Moab and Ogden to maximize the likelihood of Republican success is a better way to handle redistricting than attempting to keep communities intact without regard to the party affiliation of incumbent legislators eager to hold on to power.

(Utah State Democratic Party Blog, Utah Amicus)

Send a Postcard to Senator Bennett about taxes

When Senator Bennett was first elected to the United States Senate, one of his campaign promises was that he would see to it that we would simply send the IRS a postcard to let them know our tax status.

For 1040 isn't exactly postcard sized. Even form 1040EZ isn't.

So, to remind Senator Promise of this yet unfulfilled promise, I will be sending him a postcard:

Dear Senator Bennett:

I just thought I'd let you know that I paid my taxes again this year. In 1992, you promised that we would be able to send in our taxes on a postcard. That still hasn't happened.

Just Thought I'd Let you know.

-Bob

What Really Endangers Marriage

I've sent a copy of this to Sens. Hatch and Bennett. It's a must-read, from annother DailyKos Diary:

I'm bone tired and disillusioned. I have listened to the Senate all day on C-Span and all the polticial pandering from the Republicans on the gay marriage ammendment. It makes me sick.

You know what is endangering my 30 year marriage right now? No, not gays and lesbians...they aren't even close. Not how someone decides to have sex...no, not that either. It's how am I once again, going to break the news to my huband after he has worked hard all day long, that we are in the hole again and it's a week before payday. I have 3 prescriptions to buy in a few minutes and I don't have the extra cash to buy them. One is my heart meds the other two are medications that are used to treat depression for me and my daughter. My co-pays are going to come up to almost $100 alone. I still have to buy gas and groceries for this week. In two months I am going to have to come up with college money for the fall semester....almost $6,000.

I have medical bills that need to be paid now. I'm so tired of seeing my husband working and doing the best he can when his best is never good enough. I'm trying to get a job but with my medical problems, it's making it hard. I just suffered a two week bout of asthma and I have a whole host of other problems that I won't even get into.

We are not a low income family. My husband makes over 70K a year but with a house payment and 2 car payments...it's taking everything we have and more. I can remember a time when we had a substantial savings account and we were contributing a good portion to his 401K and we were saving a little for our daughter's education. It's gone. All of it with the exception of the 401K. We have pratically no savings left and have little hope of any in the near future. The economy for me and my family sucks right now. Groceries and gas are out of sight. My health insurance is going out the roof. What are we supposed to do?

We don't spend a lot of money and try to live as frugal as possible. I'm just so tired of it never being enough.

This is more of a rant than anything and I appreciate you all allowing me to get his off my chest.

While watching the Senate go through this bullshit today, I just sat and cried. Who is speaking for me and my family right now? We need long term help. Not political pandering. Gays are no threat to me and never have been. Losing my home is a real concern. I need my medications and so does my daughter.

If any politicans read this...please do something. Go to your job tomorrow and say enough is enough. The American people are tired and want someone to represent their real needs and concerns. Please.