[Vigilanteman]

I think Orrin Hatch is basically a decent fellow. He was actually a firebrand conservative when he first came up and helped corral moderate Democrats to join him in filibusters against some of the more outrageous liberal legislation.

As bad as things are now, people who aren't old enough to remember that post Watergate/Ford/early Carter era which lasted from 1974-78 have no idea how weak the conservative movement was at that time.

Even solidly conservative states like Idaho (Frank Church), Wyoming (Gale McGee) and Utah (Frank Moss) had far left senators who were routinely re-elected because they brought home the pork.

Most senators, including Orrin, tend to grow too much like Washington the longer they stay there. Jesse Helms was one of the few exceptions to that rule.

[nascarnation]

Most senators, including Orrin, tend to grow too much like Washington the longer they stay there

Dick Lugar our senator from Indiana fits that description. He's a good man at heart but been in DC far too long - 34 years.