Deseret News | Reader comments: Shurtleff plans to run for U.S. Senate

Reader comments
Shurtleff plans to run for U.S. Senate

Shurtleff is a liar | 3:02 p.m. May 20, 2009

Shurtleff is pretending to be a conservative but his record speaks otherwise. He will NOT be an improvement over Bennett.

Anonymous | 3:35 p.m. May 20, 2009

If he has a better plan to get us out of this mess than let's hear it if not quit the name calling

checkcitynation | 3:43 p.m. May 20, 2009

Oh no here comes the check city nation, with general Shamleff at the controls!!!!!!!!

Comments continue below

utwingnut | 4:06 p.m. May 20, 2009

shirtleff and bennet. What a depressing choice.

Josh | 4:19 p.m. May 20, 2009

Hopefully this will not impede the BCS lawusuit. He's got my vote, though.

Bennett. . . | 4:20 p.m. May 20, 2009

. . . tired, old, ineffective, windbag, boring, advocate for TARP, chicken little on Y2K, and time to retire. I said earlier "anybody except Bennett," and I meant it -- I'll do everything I can to get him elected over Bennett.

Forgotten Man | 4:31 p.m. May 20, 2009

Take any of Bennett's speeches from 1992 and you could pass them off as Shurtleff's. Kill the Department of Education! I'll only stay one term! etc. "I don't have any conservative credentials but that's what I'll start believing in if you send me to DC!" Words for republicans are just tools for getting and holding power, nothing more.

Contrast that to President Obama who told us he is a socialist and is actually governing as one. At least he's honest.

Voter | 4:43 p.m. May 20, 2009

Shurtleff's track record on a host of issues, particularly illegal immigration, convinces me that he is no conservative. I consider both Shurtleff and Bennett to be skillful politicians who can be bought by special interests. I will vote for neither. Waiting for a TRUE conservative to step forward in the Senate race. Anyone listening?

NO!!!!!!!!!!! | 5:20 p.m. May 20, 2009

Could this be the end of the dynamic duo of Senators from Utah who both ran their initial campaigns with "Term Limits" as a feature. And here they sit, decades later.

Not a huge fan of Shurtleff, but someone needs to get these two fossils out of office.

Shurtleff on Illegal Immigation | 5:35 p.m. May 20, 2009

The following is taken verbatim from the KSL-TV Website:

Thousands Show Up for Monday's Immigration Rally
April 10th, 2006 @ 10:00pm
Amanda Butterfield Reporting

Monday was the second day of immigration rallying in Utah.

Even Utah's Attorney General was there, using the rally to voice his opinion on immigration reform.

Mark Shurtleff/Utah Attorney General: Many of my fellow Republicans will criticize me for being here. They'll tell me instead of speaking to you, that as the chief law enforcement of Utah I should be arresting you. [That's] not going to happen."

Attorney General Mark Shurtleff had the crowd roaring, telling them that unless they're breaking the law, they can stay. That's what everyone here wanted to hear.

McCain's revenge | 5:40 p.m. May 20, 2009

While Bennett endorsed Mitt Romney early in the presidential election cycle, Shurtleff made his opinion known quite early as well. Shurtleff picked McCain, while Romney was still a viable option. Nobody with any intelligence can believe that Shurtleff is really a conservative or that he really has views that are in line with Utah's Republicans. For him to fuel his ambition for higher office with a challenge to Senator Bennett shows that he is nothing more than another demagogue.

LP | 5:56 p.m. May 20, 2009

Mark Shurtleff, to know him is to distrust him!!

rightascension | 6:02 p.m. May 20, 2009

Utah is not South Carolina. We have many political talent people available to serve in the U.S. Senate. Hatch has certainly overstayed his usefulness; 18 years is a long enough term for Bennett. Both of them were entirely too eager to please the Bush administration's misguided wars against terrorism so called and the Bill of Rights. They didn't have anything much to say about Bush's misguided deficits and bailouts of the financial sector: they both functioned happily as apologists if not just out right enablers. Therefore, thank you, no thank you, goodbye.

Anonymous | 6:08 p.m. May 20, 2009

Mike Lee, son of Rex Lee, would be a very good alternative choice.

re: rightascension | 6:24 p.m. May 20, 2009

I would bet that you voted for Bush both times and supported him up until the very end. Now, you are all of a sudden having a change of heart. You know what Utah, wake up, you supported Bush more than any other state so is it any surprise the your representatives did as well!? They do indeed represent you!

Shurtleff grandstander | 6:24 p.m. May 20, 2009

Isn't it funny that Shurtleff didn't bother to think the BSC was worthy of an antitrust investigation until after the University of Utah was shut out twice from the national championship game? Is this the johnny-come-lately approach to the law that we want representing us in Washington?

Arrogance | 6:32 p.m. May 20, 2009

I have never heard a more arrogant speech than what Mr. Shurtleff shared on the steps of the capital today. Why don't you check your ego, stay home, and quit throwong your wife under the bus for your own megalomania? There are many in our state qualified to lead and serve, and Mr. Shurtleff doesn't in any positive way stand out of the crowd.

Politics is such a catch-22- anyone who thinks we need them, well, we don't. The good ones are too humble to throw themselves into the mess that is politics, with few exceptions. Mark Shurtleff is not one of those exceptions.

The TARP mess | 6:33 p.m. May 20, 2009

Senator Bennett's involvment with the TARP mess is reason enough for me NOT to vote for Bennett again. I'm not a big Shurtleff fan, hopefully better choices will come forward. I think it is funny thought that Bennett has already started his ad campaign on TV.....he must be worried....and rightly so.

I agree NO | 7:07 p.m. May 20, 2009

I wish him to run for Governor!

The one that is about to take over, is about as incompetent as Nero was a fiddler.

At least Mark knows his audience, law, and policy.

Gary (Hooverville) Herbert knows nothing about government, outside the mileage charts he has had to keep the last 4.3 years.

IMN | 7:44 p.m. May 20, 2009

I'm excited about Mark. I've been a delegate and have known him for quite a few years and ALWAYS respected his honesty. He and I haven't seen eye to eye on every issue but the same could be said about me and my wife. He's a consistent straight shooter and that's what I love about him.

Waiting for a "true Democrat" | 9:31 p.m. May 20, 2009

Hey, if you guys are waiting for a "true republican" I can wait for a "true democrat'

Dare to dream.

Re: I agree NO | 10:32 p.m. May 20, 2009

You obviously know nothing about Utah politics, and your 'head in the sand' comment about Gary Herbert's experience shows it. Gary has accomplished much as Lieutenant Governor. Then again, since you don't know the responsibilities of that elected office, you wouldn't know he has done a splendid job. It will be hard to find someone as conscientious.

Too ambitious | 11:01 p.m. May 20, 2009

Even his wife admits that he wanted this his whole life. Shurtleff is another overly ambitious politician going to the far right to take out a moderate, effective Senator. Why do out of touch right wing extremist Republican delegates get to determine who are Senators are?

JMT | 5:21 a.m. May 21, 2009

Bob is a good guy whose time has come to return home.

Shurtleff is a very moderate grandstander. His flip flop on immigration is well documented. Throw in his support for the gay agenda, which I'm sure he will do numerous handsprings to cover his true position.

What about Tim Bridgewater? Is he going to run? He should atleast throw his name out in an exploratory committee to give voters a chance to consider. Test the waters Tim and lets see what happens.

PLEASE!

PS Mike Lee is a great guy with absolutely no track record. I'm done testing out rookies with great rhetoric and now record. More often than not they bite us in the back side. To make my point, since I know all the rhetoric why not make me the starting quarterback for the UofU or BYU football team? Why not? Because you need more than rhetoric to be successful. Public office is the same.

UTAH Bill | 5:48 a.m. May 21, 2009

As I've noted in past comments, I've worked with Shurtleff and would not vote for him.

I find it hard to tolerate Shurtleff's stance that he's now a fiscal conservative. Take a look at his budget moves while AG. He proposed and pursued the largest AG budget increases in Utah's history and is still unsatisfied. He continually laments he needs more staff and even larger budgets to do his job. Even in this last round of cuts he argued his office should be exempt - that other agencies should be cut but not his.

Shurtleff has been first in line at the public trough his whole career. Why would I believe he'll be any different if sent to D.C.?

Shurtleff=solid / Bennett=old | 6:43 a.m. May 21, 2009

Bennett will be 84 YEARS OLD in office if re-elected. The republicans won't even have a majority back within the next 6 years. So, we need a new/younger senator to begin building seniority right now so when the power shifts, Utah will have a voice. Bennett is WAY TO OLD to ever make a difference for Utah again. Shurtleff is a leader who will shine in the US Senate.

Anonymous | 7:04 a.m. May 21, 2009

Anyone who bases a run for office on bashing Obama is wasting his time and that of the voters. Obama and the Dems will be running the show in Washington for a long time. Does Utah want to go further into the wilderness? A Dem would be Utah's best hope, but Bennett would be more helpful than this opportunistic windbag.

michelle | 7:10 a.m. May 21, 2009

Go away Shurtleff. I don't like how you pretend to be a conservative.

Anon | 7:42 a.m. May 21, 2009

Literally dozens of Utahns have died because Shurtleff failed to enforce immigration laws (remember the Coran Family... killed by an illegal alien drunk driver).

Shurtleff is not fit to lead!

So............. | 7:46 a.m. May 21, 2009

Mr. Shurtleff should have given his candidate speech for Senator on April 9, 2006. He had a much bigger crowd at the Capitol that day. 40,000 supporters waving flags (Some were U.S.) and blowing whistles, The crowd would have chanted
"Viva Mark" instead of "Viva Che" (Che Guevara) that was heard.

Attorney General, you do have a lot of work to do to reestablish trust with the citizens of Utah.

MI | 8:34 a.m. May 21, 2009

The reason he flip flops is he tells people what they want to hear not what they need to hear.

Logan | 9:07 a.m. May 21, 2009

Anyone but Bennett, even a Blue Dog Democrate.

Re: Michelle | 9:40 a.m. May 21, 2009

I agree! What part of Shurtleff's record is conservative? The part where he supports illegal immigration? What about the part where he opposed the gay marriage amendment? Or the part where he supported school vouchers?

Fiscally conservative? Nope, not that either. He has continually asked for raises for himself and his office as AG. He raised taxes and cut services as a Salt Lake County Commissioner. During the recent budget cuts at the last session what did Shurtleff say? He said that despite all the cuts his office should not be cut.

Shurtleff, you can't fool us. We know the truth about your record. And you don't have any grounds to say that you are a conservative!

Just say no to Shurt | 9:51 a.m. May 21, 2009

He is FOR illegal immigration!

Sandy Republican | 11:23 a.m. May 21, 2009

I have several times discussed issues with both Bennett and Shurtleff. I find both men to be of good character and are trying to do what they think is best. However, I will still vote for Bennett as I believe that he has a better understanding of national issues.

Lend me a buck | 11:42 a.m. May 21, 2009

At least he will be the only United States senator who champions payday loan stores. Of course, he needs them for campaign cash.

Another Shurtleff | 12:08 p.m. May 21, 2009

I know Mark personally, and much better than any who have written so far. While I disagree with him on some socio-political issues, anyone like "arrogance" or "Too Ambitious" above, who try to cast aspersions on his motivations and purpose are just plain wrong. If he is running it is because he loves our country and wants to serve and try to preserve it. If he thanks his wife, you can bank on it, that it is from the heart and has nothing to do with arrogance or showmanship. How very sad that so many lack any understanding of what it means to truly love one's spouse, or to truly care for one's country. Such cynics are so poisoned by current politicians that, they cannot see a true statesman for what he is, and thus attack the "person" because they dislike his "views." I pity such!

Madden | 12:44 p.m. May 21, 2009

Bennett...for term limits to get in. Once his time to leave comes, he makes an about-face. I call those people liars.

Shurtleff...another lawyer, hooray! Member of the Utah GOP good ol' boys network, check. Supported the incompetent Mark Walker for treasurer...turn in your "good judgment" card now!

None of the above...looking pretty good. Sigh.

To: Another Shurtleff | 12:53 p.m. May 21, 2009

Shurtleff is the same person who cleared S.L. County D.A. Lohra Miller of any wrongdoing when we now know she was doing everything wrong (mainly illegal). He cleared her because of their friendship, maybe he treats you different because of your friendship. He has made us cynics with his actions!

Benit is ARiGent | 1:13 p.m. May 21, 2009

Bennett hasn't lived in Utah for years -- he no longer knows or cares about the people of Utah . . . unless, of course it's campaign season.

Dave | 4:19 p.m. May 21, 2009

I am not voting for Bennett for many reasons. I was surprised to see Mitt Romney campaign for Bennett. Honestly, Mitt should study a bit more before he throws his support behind someone, or was it a Bennett campaign expense that both camps negotiated to get Romney's voice?

I am not voting for Shurtleff. A true opportunist and politician (in a negative way) that everyone can see through and few can trust.

I would vote for Jim Matheson for the Senate seat before I would vote for either of these "Republicans". I hope another Republican steps forward that I can vote for.

Far West Journal | 7:04 p.m. May 21, 2009

Cynicism is a choice. To: Another Shurtleff as an apparently all seeing, all knowing, self-appointed judge and jury has convicted Lohra Miller of many crimes. Shurtleff, with an apparently different and independent view did not. Since To: Another Shurtleff disagreed with that choice, he/she chooses to impugn Shurtleff and attribute his decision to some dark purpose. That is cynicism for its own sake!

Go away Shurtleff | 10:27 a.m. May 22, 2009

Some politicians just don't know when to hang up the gloves and go home. Bennett and his father were both too long in the Senate, but Shurtleff...Now that would NOT improve things. Please retire now, Mr AG, before you mess anything else up.

McKay | 3:13 p.m. May 22, 2009

This is a great opportunity for Utah. Senator Bennett has done a great job representing Utah but it is time for some new blood and Mark Shurtleff will be a great Senator to represent us. Remember the definition of insanity is doing the same thing expecting different results...

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