Posted on 04/23/2022 9:49:04 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
SALT LAKE CITY — Orrin G. Hatch, who became the longest-serving Republican senator in history as he represented Utah for more than four decades, died Saturday at age 88.
His death was announced in a statement from his foundation, which did not specify a cause. He launched the Hatch Foundation as he retired in 2019 and was replaced by Mitt Romney.
A conservative on most economic and social issues, he nonetheless teamed with Democrats several times during his long career on issues ranging from stem cell research to rights for people with disabilities to expanding children’s health insurance. He also formed friendships across the aisle, particularly with the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.
He also championed GOP issues like abortion limits and helped shape the U.S. Supreme Court, including defending Clarence Thomas against sexual harassment allegations during confirmation hearings.
Toward the end of his career, he also helped pass a federal tax overhaul and pushed for President Donald Trump to downsize two national monuments in Utah as he called for a return to an era of political civility. He became an ally of Trump.
(Excerpt) Read more at mlive.com ...
He was better than Romney.
Not saying much.
Longer than Strom Thurman? Please check.
That’s pretty young for a Mormon Elder, the only ones who last longer are Jewish comedians and truly Catholic Chinese Bishops.
RIP
Was mostly an honor to our country, from what I remember off hand.
I agree.
RIP
Carl Hayden of AZu??
Thurmond switched from Rats to GOP in the late 1960s, I believe.
Anyone would be better than Mittens. Benedict Arnold, were he alive today, would be an improvement on Mittens. Disabled war hero, and all.
He began his stay in DC a conservative. He ended it in bed with Ted Kennedy.
“Hatch has long been a proponent of expanding intellectual property rights, and introduced the Senate version of the Copyright Term Extension Act in 1997.[86] Hatch believes intellectual property laws should, in general, more closely mirror real property laws, and offer greater protections to authors and creators.[86]
Hatch caused an overnight controversy on June 17, 2003, by proposing that copyright owners should be able to destroy the computer equipment and information of those suspected of copyright infringement, including file sharing, he stated that “This may be the only way you can teach somebody about copyrights.”[87] In the face of criticism, especially from technology and privacy advocates, Hatch withdrew his suggestion days later, after it was discovered that Sen. Hatch’s official website was using an unlicensed JavaScript menu from United Kingdom-based software developer Milonic Solutions. Milonic founder Andy Woolley stated that “We’ve had no contact with them. They are in breach of our licensing terms.” Shortly after the publication of that story in Wired magazine, the company that runs Hatch’s website contacted Milonic to start registration.[88][89]
On September 20, 2010, Hatch once again attempted to outlaw websites which could be used for trademark and copyright infringement through the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA). This bill would authorize the United States Department of Justice to blacklist and censor all websites that the department deemed to be dedicated to “infringing activities”.[90] “
Don’t count your Hatches before they chicken.
Throughout his Senate years, Mr. Hatch had been a gentlemanly conservative rock. He blocked labor law reforms and fair housing bills with filibusters, tying up Senate business for weeks. He voted against the Equal Rights Amendment, which would have enshrined gender equality as a bedrock civil right, and he proposed a Constitutional amendment to make abortion illegal.
NYT
He did some good things
Edward Kennedy, the guy who flew to Moscow to ask for Soviet help with defeating Ronald Reagan.
Not really.
Did I agree with him 100% of the time? Hell, no. Then again, in my lifetime,I have never agreed with any politician 100% of time. I look at his record and found I more agreements than disagreements and that's why I consider him a good (not great)Senator.
It's a cautionary tale about people who stay in DC too long. The fierce conservatives in the beginning, after decades, gives way to big government statism. The lure of DC does that. Recent examples are Bob Dole and Barry Goldwater.
Dear old dad often went to DC for funding military medical programs. Hatch was one of his best friends and a strong supporter of the spending requests. Hollings, a South Carolina Democrat, was the other dad worked with, but Hollings also supported with Hatch the spending requests.
I asked dad which one would be fun to invite to a party. He said Hatch would be boring because he was an honest man, but Hollings would be a blast as he was so damned corrupt.
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