First Senate Republican Incumbent's Head Removed: Sen. Bennett Loses Primary

[ssforronpaul]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/utah-sen-bob-bennett-loses.html

Brief excerpts below:

Utah Sen. Bob Bennett lost his bid to be nominated for a fourth term Saturday, defeated at the state Republican Party convention by a strong conservative sentiment that threatens to unseat other establishment-backed GOPers in the months to come.

The next race to watch in the ongoing fight between the GOP establishment and the tea party wing of the party is in Kentucky. Ophthalmologist Rand Paul, who has the strong backing of the tea party movement, is facing off against Secretary of State Trey Grayson, the handpicked candidate of McConnell, on May 18 for the Republican Senate nomination.

ssforronpaul

[ssforronpaul]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/96813-bennett-loses-battle-for-utah-gops-nomination-in-senate-race

Excerpts from article:

A second round of voting was triggered because no candidate had secured 60 percent of the vote. The second round showed Lee at 37 percent and Bridgewater at 35 percent -- ahead of Bennett, who received 26 percent, dropping the senator off of the third round of voting.

Bennett's ouster is a blow for Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) to whom the Utah senator served as counsel, a leadership position.


Let's send him a second blow on May 18th.

ssforronpaul

[ChaosControl]

So Lee or Bridgewater are any of them halfway decent? Or are they just new faces to replace Bennett?

[t0rnado]

This doesn't mean anything. Utah is going to replace a neocon with another neocon.

[chiefsmurph]

Isn't Mike Lee a Ron Paul supporter?

[Lucille]

Lee is opposed to nation-building. Bridgewater is your typical warmonger.

[ssforronpaul]

Bridgewater is definetly a neo-con which is probably why he has more campaign money and will probably win the primary with support of other neo-cons.

Excerpt from his website http://isupportbridgewater.com/issues-2/afghanistan/:

When Barack Obama campaigned on a “cut and run” strategy in Iraq, I strongly opposed that position as naïve and dangerous. We are engaged in a war against international terrorists whose goals are to kill us and destroy our way of life. Giving those terrorists a stronger position in Afghanistan and Pakistan now could provide our enemies with a strong economic base and access to Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.

Although the reality of office seems to have tempered the irresponsibility of Barack Obama’s campaign rhetoric, I am still doubtful that he is committed to the military action, in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world, which is necessary to defend U.S. interests and citizens.


Lees' words, at least, appear as much less of a neo-con than Bridgewater and closer to the Liberty movement http://www.mikelee2010.com/issues/:

FIVE STEPS TO A RETURN TO LIMITED GOVERNMENT

The federal government must be returned to the limited scope envisioned by the framers of the Constitution. To reverse the vicious cycle of expansion, Congress should follow five critical steps outlined below.


#2 was STRENGTHEN NATIONAL SECURITY

A core constitutional function of the federal government is to “insure domestic tranquility” by protecting our country. We maintain peace and freedom when our national defense is strong. We must continue to develop sophisticated, cutting-edge tools and weaponry to defend our citizens from threats of terrorism. We must have clear objectives when we place our brave men and women of the Armed Forces in harm's way. Once engaged, we cannot tie the hands of our military with unnecessary rules of engagement. When our objectives are achieved, we must bring our troops home.

I was hopeful Lee would win the convention with 60%, but it is unlikely now. Neither have much of a record that I can find.

ssforronpaul

[MRoCkEd]

DeMint endorses Mike Lee:

http://senateconservatives.com/v1/index.php?p=post&id=93

[chiefsmurph]

Update: going to June primary. We should jump on this race.

[libertybrewcity]

Hell yea! who is next? And who won the primary? Is he or she just another neocon?

[ssforronpaul]

A little more about Lee from a person in Jan. on the Daily Paul: http://www.dailypaul.com/node/120568.

Excerpt most of article:

He's no Ron Paul but at least he understands the enumerated powers in the Constitution and has sworn to our group that he will be faithful the oath he takes. From talking to him and reading up on him, here are ways he is similar to Ron Paul (but more importantly here are ways how he will advance the cause of freedom):

-he believes in state's rights as outlined in the 9th & 10th amendments.

-he advocates a non-interventionist foreign policy and that our military should be used for defensive purposes only.

-he is concerned about protecting our civil liberties and considers the Patriot Act one of the worst pieces of legislation during the Bush years.

-he is a huge supporter of free markets.

-he believes in balanced budgets.

-he won't legislate beyond the enumerated powers outlined in the Constitution.

-he despises the federal reserve.

-he doesn't believe the federal government has any authority to make any form of drug illegal but believes that decision should be left to the states.

-he is believes the right to keep and bear arms is an individual right that should be protected.

-he puts principle above party.


Sounds pretty good if this person is right.


ssforronpaul

[Original_Intent]

Lee OR Bridgewater would be a huge improvement. Our objective for convention was to make sure that no matter what Bennett did not make it to a primary.

Mike Lee has VERY strong support here, I am a little suprised he didn;t get the 60% at convention to win the nomination outright.

[Lucille]

Update: going to June primary. We should jump on this race.

This.

Lee for Senate!

[libertybrewcity]

Email from the Club for Growth....

We did it! The Club for Growth PAC defeated big-spending Sen. Bob Bennett today in his bid for renomination by Utah Republicans. It was the first time in Utah history that an incumbent Republican Senator has been denied his party's nomination.

Bennett's defeat also marks the first time the Club's PAC has defeated an incumbent Republican senator. It will set off a political earthquake in Congress.

Bennett's defeat came at the Utah Republican nomination convention this afternoon when Bennett did not even make it to the final ballot, eliminating his chance to run as a Republican for reelection. Under state law, Bennett is also barred from running as an independent.

The two candidates on the final ballot, Tim Bridgewater and Mike Lee, will now face off in a primary next month. Club for Growth PAC believes both candidates are strong supporters of pro-growth and limited government policies, and therefore will not take a position in the primary. We are grateful that both of them ran and gave Utah Republicans a real alternative to Sen. Bennett.

The Club's PAC was the only organization to launch a campaign to defeat Bennett in the primary. Club for Growth spent over $180,000 in Independent Expenditures in an effective campaign that drove voters to caucuses in record numbers and educated voters and convention delegates about Bennett's record.

Bennett had sponsored a health care bill every bit as bad as ObamaCare, voted for billions in wasteful spending, including the "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska, and played a key role in killing legislation that could have reformed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored enterprises that helped create the financial crisis. As Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn told the Politico newspaper, "If you look at his record on spending, it's not good."

This is a huge victory for all Club members and a stern warning to all Republicans to do a better job on spending. Bennett paid the political price for his reckless spending.

Utahns and all Americans will greatly benefit from the new Republican senator who we are confident will be sworn in next year.

Thank you to all Club members for your support of the Club's PAC and our efforts to bring about better policies for our nation's future.

Now is a good time to make a donation to the Club's PAC, so that it can continue its important work to elect the best candidates in the most important races in the country. Click here to make a donation now.

Again, thank you for your support.

Best Regards,

Chris

Chris Chocola
President, Club for Growth
2001 L Street, NW, Ste 600
Washington, DC 20036
PH: 202-955-5500

[ssforronpaul]

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2010/05/04/beware-of-bridgewater-part-ii/
Beware of Bridgewater Part II by Erick Erickson

Excerpts:

He takes money from taxpayers’ wallets to do so. Here’s what we know about his business dealings:


•Bridgewater paints himself as a businessman, when in reality he’s effectively a lobbyist hired to secure government funds for companies (think stimulus and bailouts). He’s the chairman of Interlink Capital Strategies, a company that says right on its website that it specializes in accessing “funding for international projects using government support from U.S., European, Asian, and Multilateral Developmental Institutions.” Interlink works in “green energy finance through various government programs, including the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Guarantee Program.”

•Another company Bridgewater has owned is Ignite! Software with Neil Bush — George W.’s brother. Together, they both profited from the No Child Left Behind legislation by selling computer products that catered specifically to the requirements in that legislation.

•Bridgewater also has links with Neil Bush to an organization called the CP Group. This is the same group that was tied to the Buddhist Temple fiasco with Al Gore and Bill Clinton and with influence peddling in Washington DC.

All of Bridgewater’s business operations that I’ve been able to review have received or arranged for government funding. All of them. He has expressed opposition to the stimulus while on the campaign trail, but in private he and his companies and clients have profited mightily from federal programs and our tax dollars.

And if these business dealings were not bad enough, Bridgewater was also the Western States Coordinator for John McCain’s presidential campaign in the primary. This isn’t the mark of a true conservative who is going to stand up for our values.
So, let’s go over what we know about this guy:

1.Supported NCLB
2.Supported Medicare Part D
3.Uses government subsidies, grants, earmarks and loans for businesses he has dealings with.
4.Was Western States Coordinator for John McCain in the 2008 Republican primary for president

Does this sound like a Senator who would work to correct the ills that Senator Bennett has left in his wake?

I hope the Republican delegates in Utah don’t fall for another Bennett in conservative clothing. We will just end up with more of the same


Bridgewater appears to just be supported by those already in power. It would be like Grayson vs. Paul part II.


ssforronpaul

[Matt Collins]

This might have something to do with it:
[/URL][url]http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=241470 (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=241470)


.

[TCE]

This doesn't mean anything. Utah is going to replace a neocon with another neocon.

Not quite. Lee is much better than Bennet. Liberty Slate also supports him: www.libertyslate.com

[catdd]

"The Club for Growth PAC defeated big-spending Sen. Bob Bennett today in his bid for renomination by Utah Republicans"

Congrats and much respect!

[Brian4Liberty]

The most disturbing part about Bennett's defeat has been the absolute fits that the mainstream media has thrown. Pundits on both the Right and Left. They can't stand any threat to the status quo. "Throw out the incumbents"? They must giggle inside every time they say it, as it it the last thing that they really want.

[georgiaboy]

just in: Bennett voted against the Fed Audit Amendment.

byebyeBennett!

[Badger Paul]

You're only going to find a few candidates out there who perfectly fit the Ron Paul mode. But the more candidates there are that talk the same language, like Mike Lee, then it shows the influence and the impact we've made since 2007

Trust me, before then, this would have never had happened. No way an incumbent GOP Senator would have been dethroned like this. We have have stirred the pot ladies and gentlemen.