Is It Time For Hatch To Pass The Torch?

I believe I was elected to be a delegate because I told my precinct members that I stood for limited government, individual liberty and personal responsibility.  Our caucus took a straw poll and the group was split about 50/50 on whether Senator Hatch should be re-elected.  So I entered this process committed to my principles and committed to do everything I could to explore the various candidate's positions, backgrounds and records.  I have dedicated many hours of time to this process and so far I believe that I have personally met with and listened to every candidate, some several times.  I was also determined throughout this process to be open-minded and to seriously evaluate without previous prejudice.  This exploratory process has been very revealing.  And as I have evaluated voting records and positions, I realized that even though I considered myself pretty well-informed, I was not aware of the seriousness of the situation and the urgent need to make changes in the bureaucracy of the Washington environment.

This week I have found myself feeling saddened and recognized I was going through a mourning period.  I feel sad that the country I grew up in, won't be the country my grandchildren grow up in. I feel sad that we are saddling the upcoming generations with our selfish debt burden and no economic means to pay for it.  I'm saddened that as citizens we are steadily embracing a socialistic model--that the government should take care of us.  This will reduce freedom and opportunity for growth and result in a lower standard of living for all.  I recognized it was time to say goodbye to Senator Hatch and I was mourning the loss of a iconic grandfather figure.

Senator Hatch is a wonderful person who has been an example of family values and good living.  He has done many excellent things for his consituents and legislative co-workers.  He has worked to help keep Hill Air Force Base open and has been an example of civility throughout the years.  I express my thanks for his many efforts to serve our state.  Thank you, Senator Hatch.

If the majority of the senators are republicans...If the senate doesn't vote to change their seniority rules like the house did...If Mitt Romney is elected president...If Senator Hatch doesn't have a stroke, heart attack or other disabling health issue..If the stars align just right...If, If, If...Hatch may be the chairman of the senate finance committee. Is this the sole reason that we should re-elect him? Right behind Hatch in seniority on the finance committee is Senator Mike Crapo from Idaho. He would be an excellent chairman. His vote is consistently more conservative than Hatch's.  Here are some votes.

Crapo -Nay,  Hatch-Yea for the Economic Stimulus Act - Vote #10, 2/7/08

Crapo -Nay,  Hatch-Yea to confirm Cass Sunstein - Vote #274, 9/10/09

Crapo -Nay,  Hatch-Yea to confirm Eric Holder - Vote #32, 2/2/09

Crapo -Nay,  Hatch-Yea to the NDAA, Stripping citizen's rights,Vote #230, 12/15/11

Hatch co-sponsored and voted for the Dream Act on 12/14/07.  He voted for English as the official language but against English as the common language.  He voted to expand entitlements and debt with the passage of Medicare Part D.  He supported further intrusion into our state educational system with No Child Left Behind.  Additionaly, the Natl'Assoc. For Gun Rights does not consider Sen. Hatch to be a defender of Second Amendment Rights.

At his event, Hatch was praising Ben Bernanke as a brilliant, upstanding man.  I asked him if he was concerned with Bernanke's quantitative easing, which basically devalues our dollar by printing more money to cover our debt.  He said that Bernanke surrounds himself with brilliant economists and we need to trust him.  This easing undermines the very economic foundation of our country!  I was shocked at Hatch's response.

Later I asked him if he regretted his votes to confirm Justice Ruth Bader Binsburg, Cass Sunstein and Eric Holder.  Ginsburg recently commented that Egypt should pattern their constitution after South Africa, rather than our Constitution. Sunstein and Holder have both done massive damage to our constitutional foundation in the current administration.  He ignored Sunstein and Holder and proceeded to defend Justice Ginsburg telling us he was the one who championed her nomination because "even though she is liberal, we know how she will vote."  I disagree with Hatch that "advice and consent" means confirming anyone the President wants.  The senate's job is to vet appointments and make sure appointees uphold the Consitution!

We are at a critical crossroads in our country.  The tenatcles of socialism are spreading deeply into our government and culture.  Mr. Hatch has been in Washington so long that he has become a part of the culture and doesn't recognize its strength, nature and all-invavsive power.  He has been part of a system that has given away congressional power to the executive and judicial branches and he hasn't stood up to stop it.  He is now part of the problem, not part of the solution.  It's sad but true.

I was diappointed by Hatch's recent comment, that a group that had the courage to expose his voting record, stood up for principles they believe in and happened to disagree with him, are despicable.  He said..."these people are radical libertarians.  I despise these people." True conservatives do not attack individuals for their beliefs.  That is a tactic of liberals.  It's sad that Senator Hatch tarnished his statesmanlike reputation.  It is also unusual that no one from the current Utah delegation to Washington has endorsed Hatch.  You will note that even Governor Herbert has not endorsed Senator Hatch.

It is time to do the difficult thing and make the hard choices.  The status quo has not worked and we are in trouble.  We need to send new, strong, committed warriors back to Washington to shake things up, fight against the encroaching socialism, replace federal bureaucracy with state's rights and cut spending.  Those who have been there holding the torch in the past can't change a system they are entrenched in.  We must bid a sad but grateful farewell to Senator Hatch.  It's time for Hatch to pass the torch!

Fortunately for Utah, the delegates to the Republican State Convention, gave the people the opportunity to replace Senator Hatch with a younger, dynamic, conservative leader who can join with Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Mike Lee and others to change the direction of Washington.  His name is Dan Liljenquist and he has the business experience as a turn-around specialist and the legislative experience to reform unsustainable entitlements.  Most of all he has the COURAGE to stand up and tackle our difficulat fiscal problems because he has no strings attached and he doesn't owe favors.   93% of his compaign funds are not coming from outside the State of Utah.  As Utahns, let's control our own destiny and let's choose our own senator.  Senator Hatch has had 36 years of chances.  Let's give this opportunity to DAN LILJENQUIST!  Please vote for Dan in the Republican Primary on June 26, 2012. Go Dan!  You are the warrior we need now! - Kristen Price, West Jordan Delegate