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Chaffetz, Bishop get leadership positions

arc | 5:01 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

As someone who supported Jason, I am not surprised he would be picked. He is a good communicator, understands representing Utah and not DC, and is smart.

Congrats Jason Chaffetz!

Hank | 5:29 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

So much for all of the Cannon and Leavitt folks trying to pin Chafetz as an inexperienced outsider. Looks like Republican leadership and his new peers like him.

Go Jason, go.

Deanie | 5:32 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

I'm very delighted for both Chaffetz and Bishop. They will represent Utah well and be positive strength in Congress. It comes as no surprise to me that Jason is already up and running before he takes office! He never cowers; he's not afraid to articulate the common sense principles that will help get this country back on track. All of our leaders need our prayers daily. I wish them all God speed.

Comments continue below

Daved | 6:58 p.m. Nov. 20, 2008

Sounds like an excellent position for Chaffetz. Glad the freshmen recognized his leadership, and his commitment to return the GOP to its conservative roots.

Lee | 12:12 a.m. Nov. 21, 2008

It's about time that the 3rd District has an articulate representative. A huge improvement over the bumbling Cannon who frequently let his mouth get ahead of his brain and consistently embarrassed the state.

Mom to many | 12:46 a.m. Nov. 21, 2008

Awesome! We knew he was stellar leadership material. Nice to see DC get it so quickly. He and Sarah Palin are the rising stars of conservatism - hallelujah.

Mike Ridgway | 5:42 a.m. Nov. 21, 2008

I'm a Chaffetz supporter as much as the next guy but isn't it possible some of you cheerleaders are reading a little too much into this? We're talking about a leadership position among the freshman class for a party that is substantially in the minority. We're also talking about an election where none of these freshmen have a record. Exactly how many newcomer Republicans won election in this cycle? The Republicans can stake out all of the policy positions that they want now that it won't matter. Too bad they didn't do a better job of staking out policy positions from 1994 to 2006. Good luck at making a dent, Congressman Chaffetz. Sounds like that will be a pretty tough assignment for at least two years, the role of Mr. Congeniality notwithstanding.

Valid Point | 7:33 a.m. Nov. 21, 2008

Mike brings up a valid point about freshmen having little power. However, what 'little power' is available has gone to Chaffetz over a number of other possible individuals.

At this point, it's about establishing himself amongst his peers. All the new reps. will be jockeying for position which advances their influence. The fact that OUR guy is at the front of the line already is a big deal.

It's also nice that Bishop replaced Cannon- guess there's no real 'loss' of power from having ousted Cannon.

Mom to Many | 7:44 a.m. Nov. 21, 2008

No, it is not lost on me that he is a freshman member of the minority party. However, as "valid point" indicated, he is ALREADY establishing himself among his peers and others in the Republican party in DC. There are several R's in minority leadership who are very open and vocal about returning the party to its conservative roots - Jason will fit in quite nicely as they move to do so.

MarkS | 8:31 a.m. Nov. 21, 2008

The article stated 21 R freshman, only 3 of whom garnered leadership positions, at least in this first day. I was a little surprised to hear of that many new Republicans. Maybe the R party isn't quite as dead as it seemed.

Xi- | 10:00 a.m. Nov. 21, 2008

Freshman member of the minority party notwithstanding, it is a great sign. Jason is a firm proponent of limited government and fiscal discipline. To be selected by his peers to lead on day one with that kind of a stance speaks volumes. The pendulum will eventually swing back, and looking forward to that day is what makes this otherwise small event so significant.

I believe there are only 21 | 8:36 p.m. Nov. 21, 2008

Mike Ridgway,

"I'm a Chaffetz supporter as much as the next guy but isn't it possible some of you cheerleaders are reading a little too much into this? We're talking about a leadership position among the freshman class for a party that is substantially in the minority."

Agreed since the position is as a representative of freshman Representatives on the Republican Policy Committee. That isn't something to boast about and normally it wouldn't even be newsworthy except that Jason Chaffetz is from Utah.

"We're also talking about an election where none of these freshmen have a record. Exactly how many newcomer Republicans won election in this cycle?"

If I recall correctly there are only 21 freshman Republicans and slightly more freshman Democrats. It's only fair that we give Chaffetz some credit since at least 11 other Representatives chose him to represent them on the Republican Policy Committee.

Commoner | 11:05 p.m. Nov. 21, 2008

Noticeably absent from the story are any facts about how many of the incoming class were actually vying for a post.

If all 21 wanted one of the three positions, (highly unlikely), and Jason was one of the top three, then that shows a fair bit of support. But if there were only 4 or 5 freshmen trying to get elected, as is often the case is such groups, then it just means that Jason bested a couple of other people for the posts.

Or if these three were the only ones who wanted the positions, and Jason got what appears to be the lowest spot of the three, then Jason is a loser.

Its all a matter of context. Does anyone know since the News omitted this key piece of information?

Anonymous | 2:49 p.m. Nov. 24, 2008

So, how many incoming congressmen vied to be in charge of rearranging deck chairs on the GOP's Titanic?

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