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I clearly see there’s a lot of joy and jubilation here over the news that Orrin Hatch has to compete in a primary. Now, forgive me, but could someone please explain to me why do so many Freepers want to see Hatch go? Is it because of his position on some specific key issues? Or is it that he’s just simply been around too long and is thus viewed as part of the establishment?

One thing I find curious is, according to the Heritage Foundation’s legislative scorecard which is constructed as a comprehensive and revealing barometer of a lawmaker’s willingness to fight for conservative policies in Congress, Orrin Hatch currently receives a score of 91%, which is a higher score than all but five senators. (Heritage prides itself on being tough graders, as they should be):

http://heritageactionscorecard.com/scorecard/index.html#all

I’m not trying to be disagreeable here, nor do I claim to be some big fan of Orrin Hatch... I’m genuinely interested in learning what am I missing here that should make me want to see him retired?

“”Orrin Hatch currently receives a score of 91%,”””

I think you answered your own question. In a super conservative state like Utah their Senators should have a 100% conservative voting record.

A tough conservative would have no problem getting elected and staying elected in Utah.

Freepers in general are people who are aware of what is going on, so they assume other Freepers are too, and should not have to waste their time recounting all the info that is common knowledge as to why any conservative would want some other conservative to replace Hatch.

Since you asked for some specific issues, Hatch voted for TARP and is a big Dream Act supporter. That’s not all, but it enough right there.

In his first race for elective off Hatch criticized his incumbent opponent Moss’s 18-year tenure in the Senate, saying “What do you call a Senator who’s served in office for 18 years? You call him home.” [6] Hatch argued that many Senators, including Moss, had lost touch with their constituents. So, Hatch who has been in the Senate for twice as long a the guy he replaced made the case against himself in this election rather well 36 years ago!

As far as being part of the D.C. Establishment, it does not get more establishment and stickier than this - Hatch’s son Scott is a partner and registered lobbyist at Walker, Martin & Hatch LLC, a Washington lobbying firm. The firm was formed in 2001 with Jack Martin, a staff aide to Senator Hatch for six years, and H. Laird Walker, described as a close associate of the senator. In March 2003, the Los Angeles Times reported that the firm was formed with Hatch’s personal encouragement and that he saw no conflict of interest in working on issues that involved his son’s clients.

How many times over 36 years has Hatch voted to raise the debt limit to get this country to whatever portion of the 15 trillion dollar debt he is presonally responsible for? I’m not gonna count them up for you. Just say, most people instinctively understand the guys that got us into this debt disater are not the ones we trust to get us out of it.

This is all the information I have time to give you, but now that you have learned what you have been missing here that should make you want to see him retired, perhaps you will count yourself as a supporter of Dan Liljenquist.

Have a nice weekend!