Posted on 05/24/2012 11:36:21 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Im not going to tell readers that Im Senator Orrin Hatchs biggest fan, but I can tell you, I certainly understand why Sarah Palin has endorsed him, and agree with her 100%.
After breaking the news on Gretas show, Governor Palin eloquently laid out her reasons for backing Senator Hatch on Facebook. Watch the video and read her note here.
As Sarah notes, Orrin Hatch has consistently been the strongest, loudest voice, championing Conservative nominees to the Supreme Court. This is a big deal, as the next president will likely appoint two or as many as three new Justices to the Court.
That he was a strong ally of Ronald Reagans is definitely a plus in Sarahs eye, mine too.
Senator Hatch has also been one of the few voices of reasons in the Senate, when it comes to reigning in spending.
Budget issues are just as important to Sarah, as the rest of America.
Not long after the endorsement, Dave Montero tweeted this about Hatchs opponent in Utah:
Dan Liljenquist just introduced as a Bain Capital, Mitt Romney Republican. Not sure Ive heard that kind of intro before. #utpol #utgop
I shared this with Stacy Drake, noting anyone who would allow themselves to be introduced as a Mitt Romney Republican is not a real deal Tea Party guy.
Stacy did some digging and found that Liljenquist is backed by Dick Armeys phony Tea Party group Freedom Works. And Liljenquist has never been a Tea Party kind of guy.
Liljenquist has enjoyed unofficial support from the monied tea party group FreedomWorks but doesnt himself identify as a tea partier. Hes never labeled himself a tea party [candidate], Holly Richardson, his campaign chairwoman who resigned her own position in the Utah state house to run his campaign, told TPM. He has been labeled a tea party candidate, but in fact, hes a reality-based candidate. He feels like the reality is: Were out of money.
Liljenquist has never fully embraced the tea party he told the Washington Post more than a year ago that the froth and bubble of the movement would die down long before concern over the economy goes away.
Stacy has a lot more here.
Mark Levin, spent almost 30 minutes on his show defending not only Sarah, but Orrin Hatch. He says hes proud of Sarah Palin.
This is a long tape, but please listen.
Levin has old audio of Senator Hatch fighting Senator Joe Biden as the democrat party conducted what has been called a high tech lynching of now Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Youll hear other Republicans on the tape, but it was Orrin Hatch who forcefully stood up for Thomas.
As Levin points out, Senator Hatch has been a leading voice for Liberty and Freedom.
(VIDEO AT LINK)
It should also be noted Senator hatch was one of the few who said they would fight to the end for Robert Bork as the nominee for the Court, when other Republicans ran and hid. We know how that ended.
Levin calls out Dick Armey, a big open borders, amnesty guy, as is Hatchs opponent, Dan Liljenquist.
It goes without saying that Ive never trusted Armey, who pretends to be a Tea Party guy, while shilling for the Republican establishment and their agenda.
Theres more to all of this though. Sarah has called out Hatch before, noting hes one of the few in the Senate looking to do what is right on fiscal matters. Robert Costa over at National Review Online has, as Paul Harvey used to say, the rest of the story.
It seems over the years, Sarah and Hatch have developed a deep respect for each other. Theyve developed a solid relationship and trust.
The two people least surprised by Sarah Palins endorsement of Senator Orrin Hatch this week are Palin and Hatch. In the Twitter and Facebook era, they became political allies the old-fashioned way: through handwritten letters and personal phone calls.
Its an unlikely, politics-fueled friendship thats fit for a Robert Caro book. Hatch, a soft-spoken grandfather, is one of Palins top outside mentors. He encourages her and cheers her. They share family stories, they discuss history, and they talk about legislation.
Its true, Palin tells National Review Online. Hes a warrior. She respects his record, especially his work on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Hatch has frequently been an influential figure during contentious Supreme Court confirmations.
Even though she is 30 years his junior, Palin has grown to appreciate Hatchs historical perspective on Congress, the presidency, and the conservative movement. I respect public servants who benefited from and grew under the tutelage of Ronald Reagan, she says.
The warmth is mutual. She and her husband are the handsomest couple that Ive ever met, Hatch says, smiling, as we chat in his spacious Senate office. Theyre both top-flight people and I got angry with the mainstream media constantly running her down.
Hatch openly acknowledges that he has long and doggedly sought Palins support. For him, strong personal relationships are an elemental part of politics. They do not trump his principles, he says, but they have enabled him to become a force on Capitol Hill.
Read more here.
I know most of us are in a throw em all out mood. I know I am! And it was Orrin Hatch who, said famously years ago of his opponent who had been in the Senate too long, when asked what do you call someone like that, you call them home.
But lets look at this election in Utah, and lets be pragmatic.
First, we are learning that while Hatch may not be perfect, hes been damned consistent over the years, consistently on our side.
Hatch is also the ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee, a very powerful committee. If Republicans can take back the Senate, Hatch will be running that committee. It would be nice to have someone who thinks like Sarah Palin when it comes to slashing spending and balancing budgets.
On the other hand, Dan Liljenquist is not of the Tea Party mindset. Hes made a point of saying so on more than one occasion. As a new member, he would have no rank, no real standing.
Again, I want to see new blood. If I had my way no one in Congress would serve more than 12 years, the equivalence of two Senate terms. That said, we dont have those rules in place, yet, so we have to work with what we have.
Throwing someone out for the sake of throwing them out is not always the best plan.
Lets not forget, besides Sarah Palin and Mark Levin, Senator hatch has the backing of the Tea Party Express, the NRA, and Steve Forbes, just to name a few. Thats a impressive group of people.
In endorsing Senator Hatch Sarah ended by saying:
I join other conservatives like Mark Levin, Sean Hannity, and Tea Party leaders like Sal Russo in encouraging Utah voters to return Orrin Hatch to the U.S. Senate. Since Mark Levin has always got a way with words, read what he recently told Senator Hatch: I feel that you would be a terrific elder statesman to a lot of these other young guys who Im going to be pushing in these other states. Im with Mark. Thats spot on.
We need Orrins conservative Reagan-like leadership and our new crop of conservative senators Richard Mourdock, Deb Fischer, and Ted Cruz might need some friendly advice finding their way around the Senate.
Its not a bad idea to have an elder statesman, especially when that elder has proven to be on our side, and his replacement has an iffy record, at best.
Real key will be being able to hold Dewhurst under 50% and force a run off. Right now that it looking dicey. Here’s hoping.
BTTP
every once in a while Sarah Palin does something that is politically expediant instead of on conservative principles and you can tell when that happens. Conservatives who like Sarah Palin will disagree with her and those who dislike her will agree with her.
Why is going rogue good? The way she went Rogue on McCain was very arrogant. She didn’t win the nomination to be President, he did. Going against McCain was a backstabbing move. Calling it rougue is just a whitewash. It made McCain look incompetent that he would chose someone who would turn around and stab him in the back by going against him. That was pure ego on Palin’s part. It cost McCain the elction, it made him look like an old fool, and Palin like someone without a moral compass, just out for herself.
I will love it, when Ms. Palin fails to mention Romney's name during the whole campaign. As far as I am concerned he is an unnamed GOP candidate. Nothing more.
No. Add this one to her mistakes list along with John McCain and Sharron Angle.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.