Eighteen And Out

Even though everyone saw it coming, the big political news of the day is three-term Utah GOP senator Robert Bennett has been ousted at the state convention. He finished third in the delegate vote, so he's gone. (The top two guys will have a runoff.) They have a system where 3500 delegates make the call, so Bennett's war chest couldn't help him.

I assume the Dems like to see the Repubs fight amongst themselves, but there's little doubt, barring some weird surprise, the Republican nominee will win the general election. Bennett was fairly conservative, and had experience. Is it a mistake for the GOP to throw him out? I have no idea.

Bennett took it hard. He called the present-day atmosphere "toxic." I can see why he's mad, since last time around he didn't even really have to run, much less be insulted by his own party. He's now 76, and I think figured he'd have this job the rest of his life.

There's not much question why he's gone. He may seem conservative to most, but not to Utah's delegates. He voted for the bank bailout and tried to forge a compromise on nationalized health care. Each of those alone could have finished him off this year.

Some are saying there's a general anti-incumbent feeling out there. I don't think so. It's true, Congress is highly unpopular, and a fair amount of that is due to the perceived weak economy. But almost every specific thing the voters don't like--the stimulus, health care reform, comprehensive immigration reform, trying terrorists in criminal court--tend to be supported by Democrats. Guess that's what happens when you're finally in power and get to do the things you always wanted (but the public didn't). The only question is will this feeling stay strong enough for the next six months to make a big difference at the polls?