tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post7619778628732059777..comments2024-01-01T15:35:12.954-07:00Comments on Simple Utah Mormon Politics: Why Utah Mormons Fell for George W. BushFrank Stahelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822334061980912687noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-31382170484140870762008-01-12T18:23:00.000-07:002008-01-12T18:23:00.000-07:00I agree about choosing from viable candidates. I ...I agree about choosing from viable candidates. I suppose I think differently than you and Scott that there definitely were other viable candidates than Bush and his Democrat opponent.<BR/><BR/>I completely agree with you, though, about Jesse Ventura, and when you say "we really need to do is get rid of the consultancy class that is currently advising our politicians and get them listening to 'we the people' once again".Frank Stahelihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01822334061980912687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-28263270081063858592008-01-12T14:47:00.000-07:002008-01-12T14:47:00.000-07:00Frank - I have to agree with Scott here. You have...Frank - I have to agree with Scott here. You have to chose from the viable candidates sadly. Otherwise you have the mistake we had in Minnesota (Jesse "the Body/Mind) Ventura. While his gubernatorial reign was entertaining for the punditry class, it was an absolute disaster for Minnesota (roads and bridges suffered at the rails of LRT for example). I can not even begin to IMAGINE what kind of a national disaster someone like that would have been in the White House.<BR/><BR/>What we really need to do is get rid of the consultancy class that is currently advising our politicians and get them listening to "we the people" once again....<BR/><BR/>LLThe Lady Logicianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441251478384866408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-41125685688988674122008-01-08T09:16:00.000-07:002008-01-08T09:16:00.000-07:00It's true that there were only 2 major candidates,...It's true that there were only 2 major candidates, but Utahns, of all people, should be looking around instead of voting for "the lesser of two evils" offered up to them by the Establishment. An excellent alternative candidate in 2004 was Michael Peroutka of the Constitution party. 2000 had Pat Buchanan of the Reform party and Harry Browne for the Libertarians.<BR/><BR/>I really appreciate (and agree with) your statement:<BR/><EM>most Utahns have a track record of respecting authority figures by default. It may be possible that LDS culture helps feed that</EM><BR/><BR/>You make a good point as to the morality side of things. Clinton clearly was not; Bush appears to be for many Utahns.Frank Stahelihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01822334061980912687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-49576624368921488922008-01-07T13:52:00.000-07:002008-01-07T13:52:00.000-07:00Interesting insights. But there are probably at l...Interesting insights. But there are probably at least a few additional reasons why Utahns voted for W. Among them would be the available alternatives. You suggest that you found someone else to vote for, but it is obvious that in the minds of most Utah voters, W was the best choice among the viable candidates. I was not very happy that he rose to the top in the 2000 nomination cycle. But, then again, I seem to have a habit of voting differently than the majority.<BR/><BR/>When 2004 rolled around, there wasn't even a GOP primary. You could have voted for an unviable candidate, but for most Utah voters, the choice was between Bush and Kerry. What they thought of that selection is obvious by how they voted.<BR/><BR/>But Bush has continued to get higher approval ratings in Utah than anywhere else in the nation. Since coming into the mainstream a century ago, most Utahns have a track record of respecting authority figures by default. It may be possible that LDS culture helps feed that.<BR/><BR/>This is not a bad thing when properly balanced. But I think that for many Utahns, Pres. Bush seems like an authentic authority figure in ways to which Bill Clinton could never even aspire. Your suggesting that W is purposefully (or maybe unintentionally) playing us for dupes simply won't resonate with most Utahns, even today.<BR/><BR/>I agree that many religious people (not just Mormons) fall for the compassionate conservatism thing. They fail to realize that compassion via a church organization is accomplished via free choice, while 'compassion' through government programs is accomplished via coercion (even if many vote for it). LDS folks ought to recognize this difference, as it is an essential part of LDS theology. But strangely, many have no problem with a big government approach.Scott Hinrichshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11831447472339880148noreply@blogger.com