Reader comments
Bob Bernick Jr.: Utah GOP faces 2 issues — one minor, one not

Mark | 7:22 a.m. June 20, 2008

I like your suggestion on the elections officer, Bob. No matter which way Herbert rules, he can be accused of partisanship. Now, how does such a change occur? Is this done through an executive decree, legislation, or constitutional change?

Instereo | 7:24 a.m. June 20, 2008

Little problems or big problems it all points to the same thing, Republicans in Utah have 1. been in power to long, 2. have to much power, 3. act as if they are entitled to the power, 4. have become experts in exclusion to keep ahold of their power, and 5. have become two factions within the party. One devoted to maintaining the power at all cost and then imposing their politics on the state and the other trying to do the people's business. I wouldn't trust Walker or anyone that supports him. It's time for a change in Utah.

Anonymous | 7:43 a.m. June 20, 2008

When it comes to "arrogance of power," Bernick is well qualified.

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lost in DC | 7:53 a.m. June 20, 2008

Shurtleff has pushed my vote over to the democrat this fall.

Merrill Cook | 8:03 a.m. June 20, 2008

You are absolutely right, Bob, that the chief elections officer of the state should not be a partisan-elected official. I made the same point repeatedly in 1988 and, again, in 1992 because of the obvious conflict of interest potential. When you think about the fact that the duties of the Lt. Governor are almost entirely limited to the administration of elections, apart from the occasional ribbon cutting that the First Lady doesn't want to do, then it becomes pretty obvious that the elections office should be made independent and non-partisan and the LG's office could easily be eliminated. Hopefully the AG's office will move quickly enough to shed some light on the mess in the ST's race before next Tuesday's election. With the obvious conflict of interest there, I'm not holding my breath.

BBKing | 8:05 a.m. June 20, 2008

Let's look at this in another way.

What is Bob proposing? If he is saying vote Democrat across the board then he should could come out and say.

I tend to agree that in general the Republicans have become pretty sloopy. Why is that? Is it because all Republicans at their core at just a mess? No. It is because they have no opposition.

The Democratic party really needs to step it up, and they haven't. For every Ying there must be a Yang, and the Demos are just botching. What are they doing? What have they done? And they do have some pretty good leaders such as Caroon and Matheson, with lots more in the wings.

If you think the GOP is driven by the right-wing, what drives the Demos? They come across just as liberal as anything out of San Francisco or New York.

In a free market world when one get's sloppy that means they have no competition. The Demos had better figure a few things out.

Short of that the fight will always be inside the GOP, internal fight that is.

Hahahaha | 8:29 a.m. June 20, 2008

Merrill Cook-

Don't take out your bitterness over losing on the Lt. Governor and the elections office: They just receive the vote tallies from the Counties, they don't cast the votes.

The Lt. Governor's Office does more than just elections oversight: Notary Public, Authentications, Certification of Annexation and other city actions.

What office will you run for in 2009? 2010?

Silly | 8:39 a.m. June 20, 2008

Bob-

How can a merit employee be held accountable for their decisions in such a "post-partisan" elections office? Answer: They can't. At least the Lt. Governor can be held accountable by the Governor and by the voters of the state.

RE: Silly 8:39 | 9:30 a.m. June 20, 2008

EXACTLY correct. Just because a person's job does not come with a party label attached does NOT mean he is not partisan and just because it does, does not mean he will act in an unfair manner. We saw how personal agendas were very much present in the State school board this last year on BOTH sides of the school voucher debate.

There is no perfect system, but at least when an elected official is directly responsible, the voting public can hold him directly accountable for his actions, or lack thereof. If the voters are also blinded by partisanship, they will eventually get what they deserve anyway.

RE: Instereo | 7:24 a.m | 9:35 a.m. June 20, 2008

As BBKing points out, the Democrats need to come up with a better reason to vote for them than 30 years of electoral failure. The Utah GOP has some real problems. But look at what comes out of the Democrats every year:

Attacks on our ability to defend ourselves by legally and peacefully keeping guns close at hand;
Attempts to repeal our anti-sodomy laws;
Civil unions, hate crimes laws, and other special rights for gays;
Higher fees, higher taxes, more welfare, and more class envy.

And the list goes on.

The Democrats need to get in touch with the majority of Utah voters and make a case that they are not the party of the radical liberals. Until then, they can hardly complain about their near total failure to be entrusted with power.

Distortions Again | 10:36 a.m. June 20, 2008

Bob,

You know good and well that Herbert will act on the complaint after the primary. Instead of making it sound like Herbert has simply swept this all under the rug forever, perhaps you could have mentioned that Ellis sat on this little tidbit of information for over two months and sprung it with little time left before the June 24th primary. The Supreme Court made the right decision in not forcing Herbert to conduct some expedited investigation before the primary. If Ellis would have reported this when it happened, we would not be in this predicament. If there is any finger pointing, it should be at Ellis.

Still wondering | 11:12 a.m. June 20, 2008

I continue to wonder why voters put these people into office. Can't they tell that the whole apple cart is now full of bad apples and its time to dump the lot?

Hey Distortions Again | 12:16 p.m. June 20, 2008

I will meet you at this site on November Election Day. If Herbert has done ANYTHING about this issue before then, I will publicly call you a genius. I have it written in my day planner. How about returning the favor?

Anonymous | 1:52 p.m. June 20, 2008

Most the blame should rest with Ellis. He illegally solicited assurances that he could keep his job, engaging Walker in the discussion. Then Ellis sat on his "complaint" for almost 3 months (through the convention process), dropping it on the Lt Gov just 3 weeks before the primary. I imagine this would have already been resolved if Ellis had presented it in mid March, instead of stalling for the best political effect.

If the Deseret News did any investigative reporting the public would have already gotten to the bottom of this. Instead we have gossip, rumor, and innuendo, instead of reporting. Who's derelict? Just the pot calling the kettle black.

As usual | 2:07 p.m. June 20, 2008

This Republican long time delegate is sick of these games. I will unaffiliate after the primaries and be happy with doing so. Too much power! Absolute corruption. You should get a close up look at this as I have. Absolutely, disgusting. The motto of "I CAN" the Repubicians are doing this year simply mean "I Can" do anything I want because I am a Republican leader!

LoL | 2:08 p.m. June 20, 2008

Prepare to call me a genius, too then. Herbert will act. He's simply doing it at the right time, and in the right way.

Re: Anonymous | 3:07 p.m. June 20, 2008

Your story doesn't mesh with the facts. Walker is a guilty man. 8-10 witnesses will so testify if called upon. Are they all liars?

Blame Ellis for the timing if you're a cynic. But blame Walker for doing something illegal and then lying through his teeth about it, all while hoping no one notices he doesn't have any clue about finance, bonds, or investments.

So your told? | 3:28 p.m. June 20, 2008

Bernick,
You're a journalist. Must you be "told" a demonstrable fact?

20A-9-204. Inducements not to become candidate.

(1) (a) It is unlawful for any person to pay or reward, or promise to pay or reward, another in any manner or form for the purpose of inducing that other person to be, or to refrain from or cease being, a candidate.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to solicit any payment, promise, or reward from another for the purpose of inducing that other person to be, or to refrain from or cease being, a candidate.
(2) Any person who violates this section is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

reality | 11:04 p.m. June 20, 2008

Earth to anonymous: Blame Ellis for Walker calling the treasuer's office and being so arrogant that he acutally showed up in the office on March 10 to try and convince Ellis to drop out of the race? Get real. Mark and his buddies Curtis, Bramble, Valentine, Lockhart and Hughes keep changing their stories. Walker needs to go back and read the first D. News story about the bribe, I think he forgot what he said. The problem with lying is that it becomes difficult to remember just what was said. Walker's going to have a lot of explaining to do along with those who promised him money to buy Ellis off. Sleep tight.

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