Orrin Hatch is retiring at the end of this year

[Velar Fricative]

Per alert on my phone from NYT.

[sofamonkey]

Like when? Now, end of his term?

[rjamz]

I suppose we’ll see how strong mitt Romney’s backbone is. My prediction is not very.

[Velar Fricative]

Jan 2, 2018 14:11:38 GMT -5 sofamonkey said:

Like when? Now, end of his term?

Sorry, fixed the title when I read the article. He won't seek reelection this year, so yes, end of term.

[Velar Fricative]

www.nytimes.com/2018/01/02/us/politics/orrin-hatch-retiring-romney-trump.html

Hark the return of Mittens Romney.

[wambam]

That's because he knows the people ahead of him for succession are all going down and he doesn't want to be president.

This is not true, but I wish it was.

[sofamonkey]

Jan 2, 2018 14:12:48 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Jan 2, 2018 14:11:38 GMT -5 sofamonkey said:

Like when? Now, end of his term?

Sorry, fixed the title when I read the article. He won't seek reelection this year, so yes, end of term.

Oh, well that’s better ham nothing. LOL

[seeyalater52]

Jan 2, 2018 14:13:47 GMT -5 wambam said:

That's because he knows the people ahead of him for succession are all going down and he doesn't want to be president.

This is not true, but I wish it was.

It's more that he knows Mitt Romney can easily secure the seat and it won't go to a Democrat. I'm super happy because even Romney would be a HUGE step up from Hatch on most policy issues. 

I'm terrified to see who will end up chair of Senate Finance. Ugh. 

[seeyalater52]

In addition to Finance Hatch is also on HELP and Senate Judiciary so there are some very major committee seats up for grabs. It's going to be a whole musical chairs especially with all these other retirements. 

[jigsy]

About fucking time old man.

I don't know if there should be term limits, but holding a seat for 4 decades shouldn't happen.

[WanderingWinoZ]

Never not funny to post this again

www.sltrib.com/opinion/editorial/2017/12/25/tribune-editorial-why-orrin-hatch-is-utahn-of-the-year/

Because...

His utter lack of integrity that rises from his unquenchable thirst for power.

[jeaniebueller]

McMullen or Romney?

[anodyne]

Jan 2, 2018 14:27:26 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

McMullen or Romney?

[Deleted]

McMullin should run, but he basically endorsed Romney on Twitter already.

Romney is turning 71 this year and it’s unlikely he will run for POTUS again. McMullin should run because he’s young enough to have a future, potentially more successful run for higher office.

[Velar Fricative]

Jan 2, 2018 14:31:26 GMT -5 anodyne said:

Jan 2, 2018 14:27:26 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

McMullen or Romney?

Well that was quick.

[Velar Fricative]

Jan 2, 2018 14:32:05 GMT -5 @bugginnine said:

McMullin should run, but he basically endorsed Romney on Twitter already.

Romney is turning 71 this year and it’s unlikely he will run for POTUS again. McMullin should run because he’s young enough to have a future, potentially more successful run for higher office.

I'm so done with old people. Really. Even the old people that I like.

[iamlaila]

Good thread on the sexist double-standard (HRC & Romney):

[jigsy]

I had no idea Mitt was 71...he doesn't look like a 70 year old. Weird.

[hopecounts]

Jan 2, 2018 14:32:05 GMT -5 @bugginnine said:

McMullin should run, but he basically endorsed Romney on Twitter already.

Romney is turning 71 this year and it’s unlikely he will run for POTUS again. McMullin should run because he’s young enough to have a future, potentially more successful run for higher office.

If they know the odds of holding an impeachment trial in the next 2-4 yrs is real possibility (and I think the Dems taking the house and impeaching is at least a reasonable possibility) they may not want McMullin tainted by them.

Let Romney take the seat for a term and be the one involved in the Russia fall out.
McMullen remains clean and can be the future for them and be the 'new beginning' without the baggage.

[iamlaila]

Another good one.

"So Al Gore is allowed to do an Oscar winning documentary, Bernie Sanders is allowed to belittle Democrats, Mitt Romney is allowed to run again, but Hillary Clinton should knit them all sweaters for the winter?"

[cous0226]

Jan 2, 2018 14:45:38 GMT -5 jigsy said:

I had no idea Mitt was 71...he doesn't look like a 70 year old. Weird.

Yeah compare that to big mac dump truck. I didn’t know Mitt was 71 either.

[rjamz]

Jan 2, 2018 14:45:38 GMT -5 jigsy said:

I had no idea Mitt was 71...he doesn't look like a 70 year old. Weird.

He HAS aged well. No drinking or smoking ever probably helps. The Mormon lifestyle does wonders for the skin

[seeyalater52]

Jan 2, 2018 14:45:44 GMT -5 hopecounts said:

Jan 2, 2018 14:32:05 GMT -5 @bugginnine said:

McMullin should run, but he basically endorsed Romney on Twitter already.

Romney is turning 71 this year and it’s unlikely he will run for POTUS again. McMullin should run because he’s young enough to have a future, potentially more successful run for higher office.

If they know the odds of holding an impeachment trial in the next 2-4 yrs is real possibility (and I think the Dems taking the house and impeaching is at least a reasonable possibility) they may not want McMullin tainted by them.

Let Romney take the seat for a term and be the one involved in the Russia fall out.
McMullen remains clean and can be the future for them and be the 'new beginning' without the baggage.

I think the biggest factor is just knowing they have the seat locked down and don't have to worry about the election at all or put many national resources in. Romney is a shoe-in but I don't think McMullin would be, at least not in the same way or at the same level. 

[Deleted]

Jan 2, 2018 14:21:29 GMT -5 jigsy said:

About fucking time old man.

I don't know if there should be term limits, but holding a seat for 4 decades shouldn't happen.

I am in favor of long term limits. A couple of House terms or one Senate term would make Congress more dysfunctional because every few years, half the members would still be looking for the bathroom and no relationships that lead to compromise would happen. But something like 12 House terms and 4 Senate terms would allow people to serve for up to 24 years. That would help retain sufficient institutional knowledge without having people like Hatch and Grassley in office forever.

[seeyalater52]

Jan 2, 2018 15:12:17 GMT -5 @angryharpy said:

Jan 2, 2018 14:21:29 GMT -5 jigsy said:

About fucking time old man.

I don't know if there should be term limits, but holding a seat for 4 decades shouldn't happen.

I am in favor of long term limits. A couple of House terms or one Senate term would make Congress more dysfunctional because every few years, half the members would still be looking for the bathroom and no relationships that lead to compromise would happen. But something like 12 House terms and 4 Senate terms would allow people to serve for up to 24 years. That would help retain sufficient institutional knowledge without having people like Hatch and Grassley in office forever.

YES. This is one of those issues where I totally get where people are coming from but it has to be way more terms than most people would initially think seems reasonable. The Senate is fucking complicated, and it's a total shitshow when people don't know how to do their jobs. I think even 5 Senate terms is probably reasonable. 

[StrawberryBlondie]

I have no idea Romney was that old, either.

He's aged really, really well.

[pixy0stix]

We should take bets on how fast Mittens rolls over and starts kissing cheeto ass.

[jigsy]

Jan 2, 2018 14:57:10 GMT -5 rjamz said:

Jan 2, 2018 14:45:38 GMT -5 jigsy said:

I had no idea Mitt was 71...he doesn't look like a 70 year old. Weird.

He HAS aged well. No drinking or smoking ever probably helps. The Mormon lifestyle does wonders for the skin

Maybe I should re-think my decision to leave the church.


nah....

that is what face cream is for.

[Deleted]

Jan 2, 2018 15:25:09 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Jan 2, 2018 15:12:17 GMT -5 @angryharpy said:

I am in favor of long term limits. A couple of House terms or one Senate term would make Congress more dysfunctional because every few years, half the members would still be looking for the bathroom and no relationships that lead to compromise would happen. But something like 12 House terms and 4 Senate terms would allow people to serve for up to 24 years. That would help retain sufficient institutional knowledge without having people like Hatch and Grassley in office forever.

YES. This is one of those issues where I totally get where people are coming from but it has to be way more terms than most people would initially think seems reasonable. The Senate is fucking complicated, and it's a total shitshow when people don't know how to do their jobs. I think even 5 Senate terms is probably reasonable. 

Haha, I wavered between writing 15 and 5 vs. 12 and 4. I’m flexible on the exact line.

[rjamz]

Jan 2, 2018 15:50:20 GMT -5 jigsy said:

Jan 2, 2018 14:57:10 GMT -5 rjamz said:

He HAS aged well. No drinking or smoking ever probably helps. The Mormon lifestyle does wonders for the skin

Maybe I should re-think my decision to leave the church.


nah....

that is what face cream is for.

Truth! Retinol also does wonders for the skin 😉