tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post1340158536767846769..comments2024-01-01T15:35:12.954-07:00Comments on Simple Utah Mormon Politics: Live Blogging the Utah Republican State Convention: A Wrap-UpFrank Stahelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822334061980912687noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-81145082839437489102010-05-10T12:24:52.151-06:002010-05-10T12:24:52.151-06:00Anonymous: Thanks for the details of round one. I...Anonymous: Thanks for the details of round one. I have added those to an update to the article, along with the tallies and percentages I found from round 2. I'm still tracking down the round 3 numbers.Frank Stahelihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01822334061980912687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-21260287993001246852010-05-10T11:57:51.885-06:002010-05-10T11:57:51.885-06:00Do you have the raw tally counts for each round in...Do you have the raw tally counts for each round in the US Senate race? I'm finding round one:<br /><br />Lee 982<br />Bridgewater 917<br />Bennett 885<br />Eagar 541<br /><br />All others = 91<br />Total of 3416 ballots cast. Credentialed voters was 3452<br /><br />Why were some ballots not cast (or were they just spoiled ballots)?<br /><br />I'd like to see raw data for round two and round three. Percentages skew when trying to analyze where support went from other candidates, how many delegates stayed to vote in subsequent rounds, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-26748800604653847882010-05-09T15:03:57.066-06:002010-05-09T15:03:57.066-06:00Dave: That's one way of looking at it. But if...Dave: That's one way of looking at it. But if we extrapolated that nationally as far as it could go, every adult American could also be a member of Congress and help decide every issue. I know that's an exaggeration, but it illustrates my point. Not everyone has the desire to study the platforms of--in this case--8 different candidates (and 3 from the Democrats), and so they come to the caucus meetings and elect representatives to do that for them. Even at that, many people don't come to the caucuses.<br /><br />Delegates to both the Republican and Democrat conventions take their responsibilities very seriously. We spend hours and hours studying platforms, visiting with candidates, and attending debates. You may be right that the populace at large would have elected Bennett, but it's hard to know. <br /><br />Here's my story--I told my caucus members that the REASON I wanted to be a state delegate is so that I could vote against Bob Bennett; I received a (nearly standing) ovation, and I won the delegate seat with nearly 75% of the vote. The reason that I tell that story is because I have talked with dozens of delegates and heard news stories from dozens of other areas that the sentiment almost all across the state was the same--anti-Bennett.Frank Stahelihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01822334061980912687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-9823274594017739782010-05-09T09:12:18.353-06:002010-05-09T09:12:18.353-06:00nacilbupera:
But it won't be "the people...nacilbupera:<br /><br />But it won't be "the people's seat"--is there any doubt that had Bennett been permitted to run in the primary, he would have won? Instead, a narrow group of delegates have subverted the will of Utah Republicans at large.Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-66867667880060180902010-05-09T07:19:09.788-06:002010-05-09T07:19:09.788-06:00Dave: I've not had someone interpret my blog t...Dave: I've not had someone interpret my blog title in that way before. Usually I am referred to be detractors as a "Simple Utah Mormon" or even a "Simplistic" Utah Mormon. That's closer to what the title really means.<br /><br />nacilbupera: Thank you for an excellent find in the annals of history. That is a very good point. You've probably gathered that I support Mike Lee ;-) but even if Tim Bridgewater becomes our next Senator, the process has shown that it is healthy and that the people do have an influence.Frank Stahelihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01822334061980912687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-75551057738586288942010-05-09T01:41:05.141-06:002010-05-09T01:41:05.141-06:00Dave: Although I have stood firmly against Bennet...Dave: Although I have stood firmly against Bennett I wish him no ill and thank him for many votes I did agree with along the way.<br /><br />Flashback to 1992 when Bennett was campaigning for the Senate Bennett was asked:<br />"If elected, you will have no seniority in the U.S. Senate. Even if congressional reform takes place in the near future, Utah will be left in the next few years with a Senator without clout. How do you propose to overcome that?"<br />Bennett's response showed he himself recognized the power a junior senator can have: "The rules of the Senate give a new senator power to influence legislation in a way that many new members of the House cannot.... Recent history reminds us that new senators, who are willing to work hard, often have a significant impact even in their first terms. For example, Sen. Hatch led the fight against significant new labor laws during his first term. I am tenacious and work hard. I will have an impact, even as a junior senator...."<br />Source: Salt Lake Tribune, The (UT) - Thursday, October 29, 1992<br /><br />I fear that Utah would have greater reduced influence if Bennett were kept as we would be a state beholden to lobbyist donations of incumbents rather than grassroots, constitutional republicanism. We will now wield a Senator like Scott Brown who we can claim as "the people's seat".Nacilbuperahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10046889345683119037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-68876000388262683162010-05-08T22:57:09.093-06:002010-05-08T22:57:09.093-06:00I'm really saddened by the results of the conv...I'm really saddened by the results of the convention tonight; having followed Bennett's career and admired his effectiveness as a legislator, I fear it will mean a reduced influence for Utah in the Senate.<br /><br />Also, as a Utah Mormon, I'm a little bothered by your blog title--you may be a Mormon, and these may be your politics, but that doesn't make them "Mormon politics." There is no such thing, and it's contrary to church teachings to pretend that there is.Davenoreply@blogger.com