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An Unfond Farewell to Un-statesman Orrin Hatch
Townhall.com ^ | Jan 03, 2018 | Michelle Malkin

Posted on 01/02/2018 9:27:21 PM PST by Oshkalaboomboom

The longest-serving Republican senator in U.S. history announced this week that he will finally, finally, finally, finally, finally, finally, finally retire.

That's seven "finallys" -- one for each of the consecutive six-year terms Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, served. He begin his occupancy in 1976, when all phones were dumb, the 5.25-inch floppy disk was cutting-edge, the very first Apple computer went on sale for $666.66, the Concorde was flying high, O.J. Simpson was a hero, Blake Shelton was a newborn, the first MRI was still a blueprint, and I was a gap-toothed first-grader wearing corduroy bell-bottoms crushing on Davy Jones.

This encrusted longevity will be marketed by Hatch, 83, and his supporters as proof of his "statesmanship." Indeed, The Atlantic magazine described him this week as "an elder-statesman figure in the GOP." Newsweek likewise reported on the farewell announcement of the "elder statesman." And Hatch's own press minions have disseminated press releases quoting other entrenched politicians such as Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., hailing their boss's "reputation as a statesman."

But that word doesn't mean what Beltway barnacles think it means.

Merriam-Webster defines a "statesman" as a "wise, skillful, and respected political leader." Earning the approbation of other office-clinging politicians doesn't make you a "respected political leader." It makes you an echo-chamber chump.

Wise? Skillful? Hatch was a Big Government business-as-usual dealmaker. His wisdom was of the wet-finger-in-the-wind variety, claiming a Reagan conservative mantle during election cycles and then throwing constitutional conservatives under the bus once comfortably back in his well-worn Senate committee seats.

Hatch joined with his old pal Teddy Kennedy to create the $6 billion national service boondoggle and the $8 billion-a-year CHIP health insurance entitlement.

He preached about the "rule of law," but was an original sponsor of the open-borders DREAM Act illegal alien student bailout, and, despite claiming to oppose it, he voted to fully fund the unconstitutional Obama amnesty during the lame-duck session.

He crusaded for "fiscal conservatism," yet voted for massive Wall Street bailouts, 16 debt ceiling increases totaling $7.5 trillion, and scores of earmarks totaling hundreds of millions of dollars for porky projects. He ends his four-decade reign as the Senate's top recipient of lobbyist cash.

And for the past two years, Team Hatch allies have spearheaded a multimillion-dollar fundraising campaign, squeezing donations from corporate donors and pharma and tech lobbyists to subsidize a "Hatch Foundation" and "Hatch Center" to commemorate the Hatch legacy.

"Statesman" isn't a titled earned by mere length of service. It's not a cheap status conferred like an AARP card or IHOP senior discount. A politician who notches decades of frequent flyer miles back and forth between Washington and his "home" state, enjoying the endless perks of incumbency, does not acquire statesmanship by perpetual re-election and political self-aggrandizement.

The idea of amassing $4 million to $6 million campaign war chests, as Hatch did the past two election cycles, is antithetical to the ideal of statesmanship. In the days of Cincinnatus and George Washington, self-sacrifice and civic virtue marked true statesmen. Affability, which Hatch is credited with possessing by his backroom Democrat chums, was no substitute for the humility exhibited by statesmen who volunteered to relinquish power at the very height of it -- not in its waning twilight.

So: Call Hatch a clock-puncher. Time-bider. Log-roller. Deal-cutter. Back-slapper. Call him most anything else now that he's finally, finally, finally, finally, finally, finally, finally called it a day.

Just please don't call him "statesman."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Utah
KEYWORDS: 115th; amnesty; buildthefence; daca; dreamact; dreamers; elderly; hatch; malkin; michellemalkin; orrinhatch; retirement; seeya; senate; washingtondc
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If Mitt Romney takes his place Michelle will be missing him soon enough.
1 posted on 01/02/2018 9:27:21 PM PST by Oshkalaboomboom
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

There is nothing wrong with Hatch. Why all this hatred?


2 posted on 01/02/2018 9:29:23 PM PST by theoilpainter
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To: theoilpainter

I dont know. Dont know his history well enough.

But 5.25-inch floppy disk?

RIGHT, there was no Viagra yet either :)


3 posted on 01/02/2018 9:31:00 PM PST by dp0622 (The Left should know that if Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR!)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom
Orrin Hatch came into the U.S. Senate as a firebrand conservative and was reasonably effective for his first decade or so until he got to accustomed to the Washington establishment and forgot why his constituents sent him to the U.S. Senate. Romney, OTOH, was always a GOPe guy with no conservative roots.

If that jack-wagon announces, I do hope he gets primaried.

4 posted on 01/02/2018 9:31:33 PM PST by Vigilanteman (ObaMao: Fake America, Fake Messiah, Fake Black man. How many fakes can you fit into one Zer0?)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom
Rules


5 posted on 01/02/2018 9:32:35 PM PST by MuttTheHoople (Yes, Liberals, I question your patriotism)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom; fieldmarshaldj; AuH2ORepublican; BillyBoy; Galactic Overlord-In-Chief; ...

Come on Michelle, he’s not that bad! I like him better than most of the other dinosaurs. He’s been supportive of the President.


6 posted on 01/02/2018 9:34:10 PM PST by Impy (I have no virtue to signal.)
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To: theoilpainter
There is nothing wrong with Hatch. Why all this hatred?

Let's see, you (of dubious conservative reputation as your posting history shows) or Michelle Malkin (a Stalwart of Conservatism).

Do you see where I am going with this?
7 posted on 01/02/2018 9:40:05 PM PST by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: theoilpainter
There is nothing wrong with Hatch. Why all this hatred?

Orrin Hatch gets a solid F from conservative review.

Once again, do I listen to you or ConservativeReview?
8 posted on 01/02/2018 9:41:57 PM PST by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: theoilpainter
There is nothing wrong with Hatch. Why all this hatred?

Hatch, Tillis & Lankford Introduce the SUCCEED Act: Critical Legislation to Create a Path Forward for the Dreamer Population
9 posted on 01/02/2018 9:46:02 PM PST by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: theoilpainter

Hatch is a total Rino. It was great to see him filed with contrition and kneeling at the alter of Trump as the tax bill overwhelmed him with defeat.


10 posted on 01/02/2018 9:47:34 PM PST by raiderboy ( "...if we have to close down our government, weÂ’re building that wall")
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To: theoilpainter
There is nothing wrong with Hatch. Why all this hatred?

Here is the REAL Orrin Hatch (Liberty score 27%). His very unconservative votes.
11 posted on 01/02/2018 9:53:45 PM PST by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: SoConPubbie; theoilpainter

Voted yes on the Gang-of-Eight Amnesty bill.


12 posted on 01/02/2018 9:55:15 PM PST by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: theoilpainter
There is nothing wrong with Hatch. Why all this hatred?

He supported the DREAM Act in 2010, which the conservative grassroots soundly defeated.

13 posted on 01/02/2018 9:55:58 PM PST by montag813
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To: SoConPubbie

Voted to re-authorize the GWB Boon-doggle of “No Child Left behind.”


14 posted on 01/02/2018 9:56:44 PM PST by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: SoConPubbie; theoilpainter

Voted against the bill to balance the budget in five years without a tax increase.


15 posted on 01/02/2018 9:57:39 PM PST by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: SoConPubbie; theoilpainter

Voted against a bill declaring Obama’s Executive Amnesty Unconstitutional.


16 posted on 01/02/2018 9:58:28 PM PST by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

Everett Dirkson was a statesman. Orrin Hatch is just a RINO hack. Mitt Romney will be a disaster.


17 posted on 01/02/2018 9:59:54 PM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: dp0622

I’m feeling nauseous. Just retire, Hatch. Over 80 - no one wants to hear about your floppy disc.


18 posted on 01/02/2018 10:00:17 PM PST by Yaelle
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To: SoConPubbie

Supported Loretta Lynch Nomination.


19 posted on 01/02/2018 10:01:02 PM PST by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: SoConPubbie; theoilpainter

Voted to fully-fund Obama’s Executive Amnesty.


20 posted on 01/02/2018 10:01:49 PM PST by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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