Deseret News | What a mess Utah Republican Party has made

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Bob Bernick Jr.: What a mess Utah Republican Party has made

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A Utah County Delegate | 8:33 a.m. April 19, 2008

Wow! I appreciated the article by Bob. Nicely done. I am, however, concerned with the response. As a Native Born Utah Countian and a life long Republican, most of my adult years were in California. Political graft and corruption by the democrats in CA are at a Graduate level of achievement. The things reported on by Bob are basic, grade school politics. Neither is right. Neither is fair. But my gosh, let's keep things in perspective. This sort of thing is child's play to the Clinton's and Kennedy, but exaserbated on the National Level to the power of 10. OK, maybe not the power of 10, but certainly 3 or 4. I think Utah got it wrong when they allowed the delegate system to overtake the true primary system. Several other states have the delegate/caucus system as well, but it doesn't make it right. Yes, we are a true Republic as a Nation, but something about the popular vote at the grass roots level is right. Now all of us have to work to change corruption and do things a little bit better. We must change the attitude of entitlements with our encumbents or vote them out.

SJ Bobkins | 9:04 a.m. April 19, 2008

I am a Republican, I've been elected to several offices in local and county government., outside Utah. It's tough to be a out of state Republican coming to Utah, where utilities, Banks, water, and power generating combines, seem to own the party.
When I read that some clown in Utah County proposed an amendment to charge Satan for the illegal immigration mess, during the county convention, I thought we had reached the point of no return. While that was whackoo, everyday that the legislature in in business we hear about the connection lawmakers have to the industries they control. the sponsors of the bill to allow power companies to charge rate payers for any work on the idea of nuclear power, (consultants, land acquisition people, planning) even if the plant was never built is yet another example of my party saying to Hel_ with the voters I'll take care of my employer.
Key sponsor was someone who had a job with an affiliate company.
Isnï¿½t it time to vote NO and look for an unencumbered candidate, someone who looks after our interests?

Left the Party | 9:15 a.m. April 19, 2008

In high school I learned about a corrupt Soviet government with only one party on the ballot (Communist Party). I served in our military at the height of the Cold War to end their power. I returned home to find the same thing in Utah County.

Utah County has not elected a non-Republican for decades, many times they run unopposed. The Republican Party created an elaborate system whereby if one candidate gets 60% of delegate votes, all other candidates are off the November ballot. The Republican Party then closed their primary, forcing unaffiliated Utahn's to join their party to vote in primary elections (remember the lines in the presidential primary?

The Republican Party has met in closed caucus for decades to decide legislative issues, no open debate, no public scrutiny, then straight to the floor to vote. With Republican Party county leaders appointed to the bench, all three branches of government are in the control of the Republican Party.

When I discovered there are socially conservative Democrats, I changed parties, working for any check or balance in Utah Government. I am working for a government as outlined in the constitution. I am glad to see others waking up.

Comments continue below

Bill Borah | 9:28 a.m. April 19, 2008

As a Republican, reading this article makes me want to puke. Why do we even keep pretending that the people in have a voice in government? Republican Party leadership in Utah has turned into a monster and someone needs to cut the head off.

yorktown | 9:38 a.m. April 19, 2008

Money Magazine is right on! It's easy to manage a state when there's no possible way for opposition to encroach on your power. The GOP leaders have a strangle hold, I mean complete management, of the system. I have to agree with Money.

Utah county is a joke, politically speaking. The Guv is not the prophet and elected officials don't serve in a calling capacity. They are public officials and should be scrutinized to the last degree in order that we might preserve some of our disappearing liberty.

There is no way to fix this problem with more rules. It doesn't matter what the rules are, the GOP leaders ignore them or change them at will with absolute disregard for the non-auto delegates.

Let's start replacing incumbents. Who cares how many "conservative" bills are passed, there is too much power too concentrated in too few hands in Utah GOP politics.

Dave D. | 9:39 a.m. April 19, 2008

I believe that people are elected by common consent (vote) and that parties need to obey the laws that govern this nation and the parties involved. Thanks for this article.

Dave Donaldson
State Delegate

Talisyn | 10:22 a.m. April 19, 2008

Quote:
Strong Republican | 2:04 p.m. Apr. 18, 2008
To "What's you point" you are right that we are Republicans because of our values. However, "our" values include more than opposition to abortion, pornography, gay marriage, etc. It also includes basic morality. And, we believe here in this valley, that the Lord established this country and gave us our Constitution and rights. That is part of our values. So, Republican means basic values of honesty and integrity, not screwing everyone every chance you get. If that is what you think politics should be, then maybe the rest of us should not be Republicans anymore. "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." President John Adams. Do we wonder why we have the problems we have? En Quote
This is the attitude that spawns the sense of entitlement every corrupt politician feels. No, we don't wonder why we have the problems we have, from the county level to the White House. But thank you, Strong Republican, for making it even more obvious than before.

George P. | 11:04 a.m. April 19, 2008

The comparisons of the Republican Party with the LDS Church are spot on. Naive, simple-minded Mormons are so eager to bow to authority of any kind that has a connection to Church hegemony, that they will act "on faith" to join a party that is as corrupt as they can be, or to join a MLM "opportunity", or to endorse a real estate scam - all just because of the connections with the Church. Trouble is, it is not just the Republican Party that gets corrupted by this. The LDS Church is also becoming corrupted by the same activities. Nobody wins when corruption occurs - not the political party, not the Church, and certainly not our communities! And it all can be traced back to an elitist mentality combined with a simple-minded faith in authority that take the place of rational thought. What an embarrassment for the State of Utah.

Spanky | 11:32 a.m. April 19, 2008

So Utah Republicans are getting what they deserve by having been blind followers of one political party and not using their God given brains to think for themselves. Oh my. What a shame. I'm so sorry.

JJ Suprise | 11:43 a.m. April 19, 2008

First off to A Grassroots Republican Mormon, America is NOT A DEMOCRACY! It is a REPUBLIC and you would do yourself well to learn the difference.
Second, to Orem Man, yea they are doing a great job, property taxes doubled this year. Great.
Let me ask you a simple question Orem Man, "Will you ever own your house?"

I am a first time elected delegate and the only reason I am involved is because of a very special person(he knows who he is) who brought all of this corruption to my attention.
After learning about this corruption, I had to get involved, so I registered as a Republican for the first time in my life.

I will be at the Conventions and will be working to get the Utah Republican Party back "into its fireplace" where it belongs.

Since becoming a Delegate, I have been getting calls and letters and invites from the various candidates and have been attending meetings. I have noticed that attending a Republican meeting is just like attending a Democrat meeting, "give me, give me, give me, someone else's money!" No difference between the two!
Sickening!
JJ Suprise
Sandy

Tired of Bernick Mr. Cannon | 12:34 p.m. April 19, 2008

Bob, were you frothing at the mouth when you wrote this? Your column wreaks of personal vendetta. You come across as the bitter unpopular kid jealous of all the cool kids in your class. This whole article is so juvenile. Once again you're careful to leave out facts. Lockhart wasn't appointed by anyone. He was elected by the Republican Party State Delegates (that means all state delegates, Bob, not just Utah County). These are delegates who were elected long before the party chair position became open. They were elected at their caucus meetings by their neighbors.

You have truly become the Paul Rolly of the Deseret News. Low on facts, but high on personal agendas. And I'm pretty sure there's more than just coffee in Rolly's mug. What's in yours?

socalmon | 12:53 p.m. April 19, 2008

No checks and balances = Not having to balance the check!

Mountain High | 1:01 p.m. April 19, 2008

Ref: IM
You say you know these people well????? ....and they haven't done anything wrong, at the end of the day........Hmmmm....isn't it a little hard to come to that conclusion when you obviously haven't bothered to pull your head out of the sand for several months...or is there an alterior motive, since you say you know them so well......maybe you too, are a bought and paid for benefactor....Obviously you wouldn't know what nepotism is, even though this article has put it right smack in front of your face. If these people could have "Absolute Power" they would...and they'll get away with whatever they can....of course apologising when caught. It's only when "We the people" get involved and force them to be accountable that prevents them from doing so......good luck my Ostrich friend............I hope that "Absolute Power" doesn't reach out and pluck your tail feathers in the near future.

A Grassroots Republican Mormon | 1:58 p.m. April 19, 2008

To "JJ Surprise": The U.S. goverment is not a democracy or a Republic. It's a fusion called "Representative Democracy." There's a difference. You can look it up.

"Democracy" as an ideal, is when the opinion of the people matters to the government. When I use the term "American democracy" (lower case d) I mean a government that cares about the good of the people, as opposed to a government that serves its own interest. A wise ruler named Benjamin talked about that difference. You can look that up too.

Better yet, wait until you get to the convention and experience first hand the power of your voice from outside the oligarchy.

The ideal of republicanism (lower case d) is that you should, as an elected representative, be able to influence government according to the dictates of your conscience. At convention you will learn that the deals have already been made. The agenda is set and the platform is written. The delegates of the oligarchy will vote en masse and your conscientious study will be of little or no use.

My cynicism and despair for our current state of the state is based on experience, not just ideals.

A Grassroots Republican Mormon | 1:55 p.m. April 19, 2008

To "A Utah County Delegate": The failures of the corrupt Democrat Machine(upper case d) in other states should never be used as an excuse for the tolerance of corruption among the Republicans here in Utah.

I grew up singing a song that went "Dare to be true! Other men's failures can never save you." Utah Republicans would be wise to hold that ideal.

Absolute Power CORRUPTS... | 7:02 p.m. April 19, 2008

Absolute Power CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY!

Our state Republicans may be good people individually, but collectively we have the worst Republican legislature in the country. Too many developers lining the pockets of their friends and of their own. There is the Republican party, of which I'm a member, and then there's the Utah Republican party, of which I am disgusted.

REAL Republican | 4:35 p.m. April 20, 2008

There is no such thing as a "conservative Democrat"

Rob Alexander | 7:52 a.m. April 21, 2008

Somebody who is a legislative lobbyist, whose wife is a State Representative, and whose best friend is the Senate Majority Leader shouldn't have run for Chair of the state's majority party in the first place. If Stan Lockhart truly cares about Republicans getting elected this year, he will resign his position as Party Chair and allow somebody less conflicted to be voted in to lead the State Party.

To add to this story, last month I filed to run for State Representative as a Republican in Legislative District 35, at the request of the Salt Lake County Party Chair, James Evans. Soon the Senate District 2 Chair, Carrie Towner, called me up claiming to be my Senate District Chair (even though I reminded her a couple times that I am in Senate District 3). She said she had recruited my Legislative District Chair, Brodrick "Rick" Taylor, to run for State Representative, and she encouraged me to withdraw from the race. That strengthened my resolve to stay in so that I can help bring much needed ethics and transparency to our political and legislative processes.I encourage everybody reading this to get more involved in the political process to correct these problems.

Rob Alexander | 10:54 p.m. April 22, 2008

In a comment to a follow up article today, Carrie Towner's husband, Mark, pointed out that Legislative District 35 splits between 2 Senate districts, one of which is Senate District 2. I wish that information had come to light sooner. I telephoned Carrie today, discussed this with her, and apologized for this misunderstanding getting escalated to the point it has been. I also posted a similar comment to this on the follow up article.

connor | 1:44 p.m. April 23, 2008

I believe that Mike Morley is a good man with good values. I am still standing behind Mike Morley.

Lauren | 2:06 p.m. April 23, 2008

I am a whole hearted republican and very much think that Mike Morley needs to be elected again.

Victoria | 5:17 a.m. April 24, 2008

Mike Morley has accomplished so much in his time in office. I believe that he will continue to provide excellent service to our community.

Wayne | 6:44 p.m. April 25, 2008

I am a republican and could not be happier with what Mike Morley has done in his time in office. I am glad to see the other supporters here and will be voting for Mike Morley.

Regina_323 | 2:09 a.m. April 29, 2008

Firstly, the suit by the SEC is a civil suit, not a criminal suit. Secondly, there is absolutely no allegation of impropriety on Rep Mike Morley's part . He is not suspected of or being investigated for wrongdoing. His attorney, Doug Griffith of Kesler & Rust has indicated that Rep Mike Morley has not been the target of, suspected of, or investigated for any misconduct or wrong-doing in connection with a criminal investigation by the SEC or any other government agency. Any allegations to the contrary are misinformed or display a lack of understanding of legal pleadings.

Tom Melton of the SEC has said, "I've no reason, no knowledge, no evidence to believe Morley or his wife knew that the money [may have been] misappropriated. That's why they're named as relief defendants in the case."

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