2018: Does Hatch Stick Around?

[Free Bird]

He said he's retiring, but this early, that means nothing. Coats, Mikulski, and Reid were initially all running, so this could easily change.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Mikulski and Coats never actually said they were running, people just assumed that since they weren't dropping hints about retirement in the months before announcing it.

Anyways, of course he will. The guy will be 84 on election day. Simply too old to run.

[Free Bird]

Mikulski and Coats never actually said they were running, people just assumed that since they weren't dropping hints about retirement in the months before announcing it.

Anyways, of course he will. The guy will be 84 on election day. Simply too old to run.

[Türkisblau]

You got to post an unflattering picture of Thurmond as well if you're going to do it for the others lol.

[Free Bird]

You got to post an unflattering picture of Thurmond as well if you're going to do it for the others lol.

I didn't want to startle myself with pictures of an aged meatloaf every time I checked this topic.

[Free Bird]

"What do you call a Senator who’s served in office for 18 years? You call him home." - Orrin Hatch, 1976

Power is intoxicating, especially when it is guaranteed for as long as you want in a safe state like Utah

[Maxwell]

Even for a politician, Orrin Hatch is a deceptive old windbag. He'll probably run.

[Vega]

I'm pretty sure the Utah GOP wants to open the seat up to fresh blood, and that obviously isn't Hatch.

[Zioneer]

Every time Hatch promises to retire, he breaks that promise. And he's apparently fundraising a lot for a guy who promise to retire in 2018. On the other hand, the younger Utah GOP pols are getting really frustrated that he's sticking around, and Jason Chaffetz in particular is angling himself as Hatch's successor. So I think he'll run, but lose to Chaffetz or someone else.

[Simfan34]

What about Huntsman?

[Figueira]

Mikulski and Coats never actually said they were running, people just assumed that since they weren't dropping hints about retirement in the months before announcing it.

Anyways, of course he will. The guy will be 84 on election day. Simply too old to run.

I could have sworn Mikulski said she was running before she announced she wasn't.

[Maxwell]

Every time Hatch promises to retire, he breaks that promise. And he's apparently fundraising a lot for a guy who promise to retire in 2018. On the other hand, the younger Utah GOP pols are getting really frustrated that he's sticking around, and Jason Chaffetz in particular is angling himself as Hatch's successor. So I think he'll run, but lose to Chaffetz or someone else.

At some point movement conservatives have got to realize Chaffetz is selling them a bill of goods. Chaffetz TP'd Chris Cannon just to become a part of the GOP leadership/establishment wing, despite exclaiming "libertarianish" leanings. Like Hatch, Chaffetz is a snake.

[Nyvin]

I swear there needs to be an age limit on how long elected officials can stay in office.   The country would be so much better off without senile old people like Hatch and John Conyers running the place.

Chuck Grassley and Patrick Leahy should go too.

[Türkisblau]

I swear there needs to be an age limit on how long elected officials can stay in office.   The country would be so much better off without senile old people like Hatch and John Conyers running the place.

Chuck Grassley and Patrick Leahy should go too.

Things worked a lot more "smoothly" in congress when experienced olds ran the show and the young'uns fell in line. See: modern history.

[Zioneer]

What about Huntsman?

He's also a possibility (and he knows it, which is probably the reason he's buddying up to Mike Lee). Huntsman has some disadvantages though, in terms of being considered a Jack Mormon (i.e., not very faithful, treats the faith more like culture than religion, etc), and being critical of conservative ideology in many cases. On the other hand, he's a former governor and still quite popular among some Utahns. I'm not sure what Chaffetz would do if Huntsman ran and Hatch retired. I don't think Huntsman would run against Hatch though.

Every time Hatch promises to retire, he breaks that promise. And he's apparently fundraising a lot for a guy who promise to retire in 2018. On the other hand, the younger Utah GOP pols are getting really frustrated that he's sticking around, and Jason Chaffetz in particular is angling himself as Hatch's successor. So I think he'll run, but lose to Chaffetz or someone else.

At some point movement conservatives have got to realize Chaffetz is selling them a bill of goods. Chaffetz TP'd Chris Cannon just to become a part of the GOP leadership/establishment wing, despite exclaiming "libertarianish" leanings. Like Hatch, Chaffetz is a snake.

I don't see how becoming part of the leadership automatically makes you no longer a "movement conservative", but I do agree that Chaffetz is a snake. A senator who will be Senator in January 2019, however.

[Maxwell]

Every time Hatch promises to retire, he breaks that promise. And he's apparently fundraising a lot for a guy who promise to retire in 2018. On the other hand, the younger Utah GOP pols are getting really frustrated that he's sticking around, and Jason Chaffetz in particular is angling himself as Hatch's successor. So I think he'll run, but lose to Chaffetz or someone else.

At some point movement conservatives have got to realize Chaffetz is selling them a bill of goods. Chaffetz TP'd Chris Cannon just to become a part of the GOP leadership/establishment wing, despite exclaiming "libertarianish" leanings. Like Hatch, Chaffetz is a snake.

I don't see how becoming part of the leadership automatically makes you no longer a "movement conservative", but I do agree that Chaffetz is a snake. A senator who will be Senator in January 2019, however.

Well Chaffetz was the original guy who stripped Meadows of his position on the Government Oversight committee, and there is no doubt that he would primary himself if he were in his earlier position.

[Zioneer]

Every time Hatch promises to retire, he breaks that promise. And he's apparently fundraising a lot for a guy who promise to retire in 2018. On the other hand, the younger Utah GOP pols are getting really frustrated that he's sticking around, and Jason Chaffetz in particular is angling himself as Hatch's successor. So I think he'll run, but lose to Chaffetz or someone else.

At some point movement conservatives have got to realize Chaffetz is selling them a bill of goods. Chaffetz TP'd Chris Cannon just to become a part of the GOP leadership/establishment wing, despite exclaiming "libertarianish" leanings. Like Hatch, Chaffetz is a snake.

I don't see how becoming part of the leadership automatically makes you no longer a "movement conservative", but I do agree that Chaffetz is a snake. A senator who will be Senator in January 2019, however.

Well Chaffetz was the original guy who stripped Meadows of his position on the Government Oversight committee, and there is no doubt that he would primary himself if he were in his earlier position.

Fair enough. He still has a few populist/libertarian views as far as I can tell, but I guess he's become somewhat establishment.

[SATW]

I like how becoming pragmatic = being a snake lmao. Chaffetz would be my favorite candidate if Hatch retires and/or Chaffetz challenges him.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Hatch ran to the right in 2012 because the Tea Party scared him. He'll run to the right again and win. He's a lifer.

[Simfan34]

What about Huntsman?

He's also a possibility (and he knows it, which is probably the reason he's buddying up to Mike Lee). Huntsman has some disadvantages though, in terms of being considered a Jack Mormon (i.e., not very faithful, treats the faith more like culture than religion, etc), and being critical of conservative ideology in many cases. On the other hand, he's a former governor and still quite popular among some Utahns. I'm not sure what Chaffetz would do if Huntsman ran and Hatch retired. I don't think Huntsman would run against Hatch though.

Yes. Here's hoping Hatch retires.