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Bob Bennett Explains Republican Demise and Path Back in One Simple Line

By: hogan (Diary)  |  July 9th, 2010 at 08:25 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

On Wednesday night, PBS aired a special in which Bob Bennett gave us all a glimpse into 1) why he’s been given an early retirement by the people of Utah, 2) why Republicans fell on their collective faces in the last two elections, and 3) what Republicans can do to get power back and hold it.

Now, keep in mind that this is the same Bob Bennett who has a seat at the Senate Republican leadership table and has had enormous influence on Republican policy and decision-making from the inside. He is the establishment’s establishmentarian. His family is nothing short of a Utah political dynasty.

Yet he was roundly defeated in the Utah Republican primary, failing even to make the run-off. If you have ever wondered why, check out his statement during the PBS special:

SEN. ROBERT BENNETT: I found that a good many of the delegates simply wouldn’t talk to me. They were so angry, so determined to — quote — “send Washington a message” — close quote — that coming to one of my events to hear what I had to say on any of these things was — simply, they wouldn’t do.

And many of them who did come, they would hold up their copy of the Constitution, and they would say, if it’s not in the Constitution, you shouldn’t do it.

Well, I’m not quite ready to go that far in my conservative views.

Really? The fact you said that out loud automatically disqualifies you from being a Senator and begs the question why you continue to call yourself conservative. You are not – I don’t care what voting record you tout. Who cares? Because we know that behind the scenes, you are on your best days nothing more than an establishment Republican – and on your bad ones, a Ron Wyden-loving promoter of government-run health care.

Indeed, those of us who actually hold conservative views are QUITE ready for you to go… back to Utah. Because in that one line, you just revealed in a nutshell what has been dragging Republicans down for too long – and that is electing unprincipled moderates like you who fancy themselves conservative yet refuse to actually defend the Constitution.

The good news is that you also make clear that the path back to success is electing Senators and Congressman who recognize that it is their job to preserve, protect and bring back a limited government based on the Constitution.

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  • marshmom

    Because people like him think they now better than our founders and have gotten WAY too far off course. Why do these people think we have a constitution???? So they can spit on it and decide what’s best for America themselves??
    What pompous jackasses. Goodbye and good riddance to all those who deny and mock the constitution like Bob Bennett does!

  • txgho1911

    “Well, I

  • spoutinghorn

    There is no reasoning with the establishment Republicans, because if they ever give you an audience, they’d lecture you instead of listening to you. To hell with Bob Bennett and his ilk. The Party is better off without them.

    Orrin Hatch: Take note.

    • khiri

      …and Lindsy Graham and John McCain and the Maine sisters….

      ….and Scott Brown if he votes for this abomination of a Financial Deform Bill.

  • rdelbov

    Bennett was referring to. For instance as far as I can recall–not a constitutional scholar–the question of the Federal government owning milion upon millions of square miles of land was not addressed in our constitution. I think of the federal government owning all that land in Alaska plus th federal government has reserved for itself all the resources that exists in US territory but beyond a mile or two of state land.

    There may be a few other areas that constitutional scholars can agree or disagree on.

    I certainly agree that when you look at commerce-housing-banking-agriculture-energy-education we have had a huge mission creep in DC where so many things our founding fathers did not conceive have become the norm in DC.

    • gekster

      part of his quote:
      ” they would hold up their copy of the Constitution, and they would say, if it

      • rdelbov

        for sure. I think Bennett is wrong if he is saying that there is any conflict between being a political conservative & limiting government to what is in the constition. If that is what Bennett is saying.

        I suspect Bennett is saying something similar to what I am said. The Federal government has found itself in several situations that are specifically mentioned in the constitution. For instance we paid $15 million dollars to buy Alaska and earlier bought the Lousiana purchase for a similar amount. Unless I am mistaken I can’t recall a provision in the Constitution for buying and selling territory. We can make treaties but I am sure this sort of contract was conceived under the treaty authority.

        So for instance the Federal govenment leases land to farmers in Utah for grazing. Is that in the constitution? Do we set this grazing fee at a market rate or below market rate?

        Ditto for our space program which congressman & senators from utah-Texas-Alabama-Mississippi-Florida (where its a huge employer) consider it a very constitutional and vital part of national purpose but from here in TN I am not sure so its a vital part of our national purpose. You might say its vital to our national defense but even that is questionable. So how that does that fit into doing something if its not in the constitution.

        Don’t get me wrong–I am glad Bennett is gone. I get Mike Lee will be a super US senator but how does a constitutional conservative answer the questions that I posed?

        • gekster

          But doing things that are forbiden by the Constitution, such as forcing health care on us, Government buying car companies and such, those types of unconstitutional things are what the Tea Parties are about, and in that statement he more or less slapped the Tea Parties and the American people in the face.
          Saying his conservatism is not that deep to follow the Constitution in that aspect says he is not or probably ever was a conservative.

        • billwitten

          The Louisianna purchase was negotiated under the treaty power of the Executive and the funds provided under the spending power of the House. Ditto for Alaska. One could argue that they were after the fact, but the form was repected.

          The Constitution does make provision for the government to own land. Article 1 Section 8 makes specific provision for the Legislature to exercise exclusive legislation over all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the State in which the same shall be. The recognizes, in our federal government, the rightful excercise of purchasing land for the benefit of the United States. Understanding that each State was considered to be its own country, this could also be used to justify both the Louisianna Purchase as well as the purchase of Alaska. Provision was made specifically for purchased lands. And no, this is not the same as using the the “commerce clause” to control firearms, etc. In Article 1 Section 8 the administration of lands owned by the federal government is specifically provided for.

          The Constitution was never intended to be a static document–but it was ALWAYS intended to mean what it said. The process to amend the Constitution was not a light inclusion. It was considered essential to ensure that it remained relevant. I am one who believes that there are many things, amongst them a standing army, which are unConstitutional. The problem is that folks started ignoring the Constitution instead of amending it.

          • rdelbov

            I am impressed by those provisions-I have never considered the implications of the federal government owning land. I agree somewhat with the never intending to be a permanment land owner as we saw in WWII–the vast land ownings in NM came in handy for testing the Atomic bomb.

            In addition we used a space for training airborne-tank units and what.

            The Vast timberlines and grazing areas of the USA might better be sold.

            I am still not sure about NASA but I would certainly be in favor of junking Social security-Medicare-department of education-energy-agriculture–I could go on but I am running out of time and space.

            I will mention HUD–did we have housing prior to 1932? I think for 160 years or so we sorted out our housing situation okay with DC having a department of housing. That’s not even a close call to me.

    • nmcowboy

      The next-to-the last clause limits congress’ power to legislate and exercise authority to such areas as are “purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings….”

      This is coupled with Article IV, Section 3 pertaining to the creation of new states wherein Congress is given power to dispose of the Territory belonging to the United States in connection with the creation of new states.

      Lastly, there is the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 which was reaffirmed post-constitution byCongress. It established the precedence whereby new states were created. Central to this process was the “equal footing doctrine” which, in essence, is that new states come into the union on an equal footing with the old.

      The foregoing was the crux of the sagebrush rebellion of the 1970s which was gaining real traction until betrayed by Nevada’s Senator Paul Laxalt.

      Bottom line: there is no constitutional authority for the federal government to own 1/3 of America’s land mass–virtually all in the west.

  • takemccain2

    It echos what Rush Limbaugh has said about the blue-bloods running the GOP, that they are ashamed of conservatives and embarrassed that they have to associate with us. They wish we would ‘go away’ and let them play footsie with the Democrats and enjoy the lures of the beltway world.
    Bennett just proved that he deserved to get bounced by that one statement.
    Hey Bob, if it isn’t in the Constitution as being a power that is yours then it likely isn’t yours and belongs to the states. My God.. what schools did you attend???
    Good riddance to you, bub.
    Now if we could only remove the cancer called McCain from the Republican ranks just think what we might be able to do.

    • deano64

      show you who they really are. They just can’t help themselves. Because you know, they are just so much smarter then all of us common folk. Right…..

      Argghh. McCain? I wish we had a system like Utah for choosing our candidates, but we don’t. Otherwise I think we might have seen McCain go the way of Bennet. I think we are going to be stuck with him for the next 6 years, We just don’t have the right guy running against him in the primary I don’t think. I’d like to be proven wrong on that but Hayworth has issues.

  • bobojake
  • Aaron Gardner
  • http://michigantaxes.com/wordpress/ Jason Gillman

    I was somewhat amazed that Bennett lost.. but after seeing that line.. Not so much anymore.

    Thanks for putting it out here. It explains much.

  • whiskey_sierra

    **** THIS ****

    is why I am not longer a Republican, but a independent libertarian.

    BOTH parties are against the Constitution, BOTH parties are pro-totalitarian-federal-government, BOTH parties care more about their own power than liberty.

    Republicans are useless and pretty much complicit in allowing the destruction of the country, and Democrats are plain evil. This does not bode well for the future of the US.

    • http://michigantaxes.com/wordpress/ Jason Gillman

      This crappy Republican is now gone because folks finally said NO to crappy Republicans.

      If you want to REALLY make a difference, pick a party and help it become what you want. If ever there was a time… its now.

    • Aaron Gardner

      Is why you are now irrelevant.

  • http://theminorityreportblog.com Repair_Man_Jack

    Disrespecting that silly old Constitution Thingy is NOT the new killing it! 1/2 of The Tea Party’s mission is to take out garbage Republicans.

  • antisocial

    That guy is history. Let us move on.

    • acat
  • indyjohn

    A so-called Conservative said, regarding adherence to the Constitution, ‘Well, I

    • amendment10

      Bennett really was clueless at how angry people were.. AT HIM, not at D.C.

      Jason Chaffetz is a rockstar in Utah (3rd district congressman) because he’s a pitbull conservative. He was easily the most popular person at the state convention, running unopposed for re-election. People weren’t pissed at him, Bob, you idiot.

      He is so damn deluded still that people weren’t really pissed at him for his dances with liberals, pork barrel spending (and stalwart defense of pork), and his crafting of unconstitutional legislation–bennett/wyden healthcare and TARP but were really just angry with DC and would have voted out anyone.

      UH, NO. NO NO NO NO and we all said it a thousand times, that jackass just wouldn’t hear it. He was NOT going to hear it was HIS VOTES that made our blood boil, so arrogant and elitist.

      EFFING TARP.

      I went round and round with Bennett staffers on TARP and they couldn’t understand what he did wrong. They were just mystified.

      They really just did not understand and still do not understand. 18 years in DC will do that to a person I guess.

      But I’M the one who just doesn’t get it. Big government and uncontrolled spending are the right way to go about things, didn’t you know? Stupid hillbilly. Just vote for Bob and SHUTUP.

      Honestly, a lot of times I can understand why democrats/liberals hate Republicans.

      When Mike Lee was asked, are you a CONSERVATIVE or a REPUBLICAN first? He always answered “CONSERVATIVE”.

      Since you guys don’t read the Utah papers probably, you have no idea how PISSED off the “R” establishment still is in Utah. First they lost Bennett, a huge pork barrel asset to them, source of many freebies and handouts. Then they lost Bridgewater, their handpicked successor for more freebies and handouts, ok, they would have to wait a while for him to gain seniority but owell, they’ll live with the inconvenience.

      But Mike Lee?!??!?! Oh they hate Mike Lee for his strict constructionist constitution views on everything.. he’s such a simpleton, such a 1 trick pony, waving that constitution around like it’s the be all end all of everything. The establishment can’t contain their seething contempt for the tea partiers who made this happen.

      May God give us 9 more Conservative first Republican second Mike Lee types in the Senate, and 60 of them in the House.

      The key is to do what we did in Utah. Conservative Republicans, Conservative Libertarians, Conservative Constitution Partiers, and even Natural Law types finally had a light go on in their head and they said..

      Hey, if we all just attend the R caucus and vote ourselves in as precinct chairs and as delegates, WE decide what candidate will go on the ballot! Damn, let’s do that! We’ll remake the R party in our own conservative/libertarian/constitution limited government view. You know, the one originally envisioned by the founders. And we did.

      And there was great rejoicing! (don’t tread on us), and also quite a bit of weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth (still going on).

      • indyjohn

        Here in Indiana we have Dick Lugar. A good man, but one who has simply been in Washington too long. He was once a conservative, and still pretends to be, but the D. C. miasma gradually altered his brain chemistry. He is now a ‘Republican Statesman’, which means two things:
        1) He likes activist government.
        2) The Dems know he can be rolled on certain issues.
        I would love to see him retire and someone like Marlin Stutzman take his place. He is very much like Mike Lee.

  • falgore

    Despite the MSM’s attempts to spin this as plain anti-incumbancy rage, I would note that some incumbants, like my own Senator TOM COBURN, are doing just fine in this election year.

  • msctex

    On both sides of the aisle, we are confronted by people who think they know a better way than that set forth in the US Constitution.

    But even their most eloquent spokesman, in the privacy of his own home, surrounded by likeminded individuals could never put into words exactly how they hope to bring about this quantum leap. It is a metaphysical matter. They just know — or more to the point Feel — it is what Good people Should do.

    So it comes back to the central question of Philosophy: what is the Good?

  • fpete13527

    Bennett’s mindset and actions epitomize too much of the current core GOP Congress mindset. As far as I’m concerned, Bennett

  • jcincy

    Americans are ignorant about our history. We’ve been misled and deceived. Our educational system and the media have distorted the truth about this nation’s history and they have slandered the Founding Fathers.

    Many Americans have never read the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence or the Bill of Rights. MOST Americans have never read any of the other of the writings of our Founding Fathers.

    Here’s a few links to get folks started…
    Declaration of Independence: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html
    U.S. Constitution: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html
    Bill of Rights: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
    George Washington’s Thanksgiving Day Proclamation: http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=3584