GOP delegates' convention behavior troubling

I'm still trying to process what delegates to the state Republican and Democratic party conventions did to us (or for us) on Saturday.

Anger carried the day. Lashing out is rarely preceded by deep contemplation.

When it was over, Sen. Bob Bennett was out of a job. He apparently wasn't conservative enough, which strikes me as odd, given his endorsement by the National Rifle Association and other popular conservative groups and individuals.

Delegates selected entrepreneur Tim Bridgewater and attorney Mike Lee as candidates for the GOP Senate primary.

I don't always agree with Bennett's politics, but I do have immense respect for him. He's a conservative and a pragmatist, understanding that the legislative process requires compromise. Bennett can always be counted upon to be the grown-up in the room.The GOP delegates apparently blamed Bennett for the sluggish economy. They apparently didn't like him voting for the bank bailout packages, even as GOP national party darling and possible presidential candidate Mitt Romney has explained why these steps were necessary. (And have they forgotten that this bailout business was initiated by Republican President George W. Bush?)

None of that seemed to matter. The delegates were bent on throwing out Bennett. The tribe has spoken.

Now what? When you're on record with political positions that are further to the right than the average Utahn, where do you go from here? How do you seek support from moderates when you've already shown your arch-conservative cards?

Democratic Senate candidate Sam Granato says he is the "voice of reason." He hopes to appeal to disenfranchised Republicans, Independents and Democrats. That's a tall order in the reddest of red states. After Saturday, one might even call it blood red.

The tea party wanted change. They got organized. They were elected as convention delegates. They called the shots. It's hard to begrudge people who are so politically interested that they'll invest the necessary time and energy in these exercises.

But I'm troubled by the conduct that was displayed on Saturday. Grown men and women behaved as if they were attending a professional wrestling match. Some of them whooped for joy at Bennett's ouster.

After 18 years of distinguished service, Bennett deserves better than that.