Deseret News | Reader comments: Bennett worries about fate

Reader comments
Bennett: Obama overhaul is overkill

I wonder-- | 7:00 p.m. June 18, 2009

I do truly wonder if Bobby Bennett will pick any votes by crying over the criminals in Blanding that were caught. Are you folks going to buy this weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth???
Bennett is as dishonest as the people caught for playing the political posturing game.
I wonder if he would be so fast to defend and chase ghosts if it were 4 years away for his re-election bid!!!!!

Standards | 7:33 p.m. June 18, 2009

I think that ILC's in a general sense could work just fine as long as they DO hold to high standards, though I am not clear that the right standards are the ones that will come out the presidency. That remains to be seen. Still, I think that the whole motion to create a centralized regulatory body to slow and reduce rediculously speculative and risky ventures that are unescessary is of course a good thing. I'm glad the subject was brought up, but loopholes and lack of comprehensive, rock solid accountability is definitely the problem in many sectors of investment. It's way too "wild west" with a few big guns shooting everybody else down along with their own foot. I know, I was a victim of fraud. Had some common sense ground rules been in place I would not been taken advantage of even when I was in my young, naive state. Agencies and professional investors are informed enough to know when they've gone over the line, they just need to be expected to act like it.

Westg323 | 7:38 p.m. June 18, 2009

An apparently good man, who nevertheless is very inexperienced, is making dramatic changes. Changes that go far beyond simply addressing a crisis situation, but will possible rock the foundation of our society. After thousands of years of tight controls by government and rulers, the US constitution largely put trust in the people and their ingenuity. This led to far and aware the most free and prosperous country ever.
Now, after a matter of mere months we are being scared into returning massive controls and market freedoms to the government. Rushing to take serious actions with long lasting repercussions with only minimal discussion. Intolerance and even demonization of any opposition by large and powerful segments of the population is a huge step toward fascism.

Comments continue below

Campaign Contributions | 12:05 a.m. June 19, 2009

I wonder how much money Bennett has received from ILC's or corporations who want to start one, based out of Utah? Walmart, HELLO!

Anonymous | 12:23 a.m. June 19, 2009

Westg323: Amen!

No One of Consequence | 1:39 a.m. June 19, 2009

This issue shows clearly the intent of Obama's administration: the destruction of the US economy.

Bennets is a fool | 5:45 a.m. June 19, 2009

What our esteemed and stupid mr. Bennett is referring to in his acronyms is the fly by night and unethical lending companies in Utah. The Payday lenders, the in store credit cards, and everything that has to do with fair and equitable lending by all credit card companies to consumers. These ILC's as he likes to call them are all consumer lending companies that use fraud and unethical lending.

This tactic by Bennett is a slap in the face to consumer lending and consumer rights. Utah does not want consumer protection laws or rights, and Bennett is acting criminal to prevent consumer rights and consumer credit laws.

Anonymous | 6:39 a.m. June 19, 2009

ILC's are a Utah thing mostly, so Bennett is putting self-interest above reform. He proves again he represents the money class, not the middle class.

So let me see if I get this. . . | 7:14 a.m. June 19, 2009

. . . Mr. Bennett thinks TARP was absolutely essential in saving the economy last fall, and advocated passionately for its immediate passage "or the markets will fall off the cliff by Monday morning," but now he thinks the stimulus spending was going overboard. Not too surprisingly the recipients of the TARP bailout money were the very benefactors who have historically contributed to Mr. Bennett's campaign coffers, and were rewarded handsomely with whopping returns on their political contributions. Mr. Bennett took his lead from the Democrat-controlled Senate Banking Committee, and has become their lap dog. Not a peep of opposition from him when TARP was crafted and rapidly deployed. He was the advocate, the spokesman for Chris Dodd. I suppose he assumed that by the time the election rolled around in 2010 that his constituents back home would forget his pivotal role as the pitch man. And now he is deploying that exact strategy as he ramps up for his re-election bid. As the election nears, it appears Mr. Bennett finds his "religion." I'm afraid it's too little too late, and that Mr. Bennett grossly underestimates the intelligence of the Utah voters. No sympathy for you, Mr. Bennett.

Anonymous | 7:15 a.m. June 19, 2009

I am not against a stimilus in principal, it was needed, but I am upset that so much of it was wasted on stupid projects, like saving rats in Sanfrancisco.

I was expecting to see people put to work retrofitting insulation on buildings and houses, which in the short run would put people to work, and in the long run would lessen our depencence on oil.

Obama, I like your words better than about any other president, but unfortunately you have yet to make your actions match your words.

utah man | 7:18 a.m. June 19, 2009

And all this from a man that supported bush in a war that has killed and destroyed thousands of lifes. He sits back now trying to be so high and mighty. Get a life bennett and leave politics and your comments to yourself.

Did I read that right? | 7:30 a.m. June 19, 2009

Bennett knows the ILCs were NOT responsible for the subprime mortgage debacle, so does that assume that he surely MUST KNOW who was? I think so. You can look at his major campaign donors for a list of the who's who in the debacle, and then connect the dots. They contributed millions to his political career to assure his re-election, then he rewarded them with swift passage of TARP to save their companies. He knew what was going on. The Senate Banking Committee is charged with oversight of those very companies, and Bennett was in a position to know exactly who the bad actors were. His silence in the aftermath of the mortgage-backed securities meltdown was deafening. Not a whisper of indignation back then, now he cries foul on Obama for seeking to regulate a segment of the banking community that he says were NOT responsible? How disingenuous can you be, Bob Bennett? If you know who wasn't responsible, then surely you must know that your donors WERE responsible. Yet, to this date has anyone in the federal government been called into account for this massive failure, including Beneficial Life? You will be on election day.

Bailout Bob! | 8:06 a.m. June 19, 2009

Sen. 'Bailout Bob' Bennett needs to go!

Sen. Hatch & him have been in there way too long & have lost touch with their state & the people.

Sen. Hatch & Sen. Bennett are only concerned about the 'Party' politics ... & by the way, there is really very little difference between Repubs. & Demos.

one who knows | 8:30 a.m. June 19, 2009

I challenge any of you attacking the ILCs to name ONE Utah ILC that has failed. Name one. I don't believe any of them have accepted a nickle of TARP money (please correct me if I'm wrong).

don't show your ignorance - for your information, pay-day lenders are not ILCs; the consumer in-store credit card banks are for the most part not ILCs, but banks that were supposed to be regulated by the OTS.

Walmart most likely would have had a profitable ILC; they faced dem opposition because they are not unionized. Why else would Barney Frank oppose Walmart, who makes billions, but defend auto makers, who lose billions, having ILCs?

ILCs provide not only a lot of high paying jobs for the executives, but good living wage jobs for hundreds of employees in the state, and they all pay state income tax. Bennett is protecting his state's interest when he defends them, not his own.

Just because you dislike Bennett doesn't mean you should trash the ILCs just because Bennett supports them, it just shows your ignorance about the industry.

Obama's plan | 8:58 a.m. June 19, 2009

Of course it's overkill. It's part of his subterfuge to subject capitalism, industry, to the rages of redistributive economics and socialism. He's crazy as a fox. They're using the economic "crisis" as the cover to implement staggering economic and governmental changes. Why does anyone agree that the President has the power to fire the Chairman of General Motors like he did? And replace the board of directors with his cronies, like he did? And give his political patrons, the UNIONS, a 60% share of General motors like he did (using our tax money!!!). I don't even recognize this country anymore. Great of Senator Bennett to stand-up against that scheme. That "hopey, changey" thing isn't working out too well, now, is it?

Bennett for Senate | 9:30 a.m. June 19, 2009

Last night I received an invitation to participate in a live phone call with Bennett. I was surprised that he would call me. Regardless, for an entire answer he answered constituents questions and I was impressed with his grasp of the issues. I hung up the phone after the call and decided that he is not someone we want to get rid of for someone like Shurtleff.

Tinfoil Hat Instructions here! | 9:35 a.m. June 19, 2009

Remember, Westg323 and others: shiny side goes OUT!

How many of you complainers (or your parents or grandparents) are already on some sort of government "socialist" program?

Medicare? Social Security? Old enough that you get double tax deductions? YOU all should NOT have a vote on this issue, unless you are willing to step up and pay for your own retirement and health care.

So what if your retirement was tied up in a "Free Capitalist" ponzi scheme! Hey, that's the American way!

Those commie pinkos aren't going to fool you, are they?

Health insurance company: Big bank.

Health co-op: credit union.

ireneelizabethgrooms | 3:30 p.m. June 19, 2009

OBAMA WANTS CONTROL OF US ANDWE'LL BE UNDER HIM COMPLETELY AND LIVE UNDER THE MUSLIMS RULE YOU HAD BETTER WAKE UP aMERICA TODAY NOT TOMORROW.

BOB | 9:49 p.m. June 20, 2009

BOB has something to say.

Oh, that's it; he is running again.

BOB, it's so nice to hear from you every six years!

I know you're hoping we will forget about the last six years.

Who knows, maybe we will.

VOTE FOR BOB.

Chris in Texas | 9:58 p.m. June 20, 2009

Wake up folks! The new regime's plan, before the popularity wave dies out and the press holiday is over, is to project extreme crisis and the need for the most cliche word in America now - CHANGE.

Without going into ILCs and the individual elements of the financial crisis, if you take a sanity pause and do the Common Sense Test, it really is scary how fast things are changing. The taxes and inflation are coming folks! And your civil rights are going!

Bennett's No Fool | 5:45 a.m. June 21, 2009

Why do some of you feel entitled to berate and belittle elected office holders just because you disagree with some of their views or positions? That's so Junior High! Grow up. Bob Bennett is no fool. He's a proven, highly successful businessman and now Senator. You don't get to those positions by being a slouch. At least he's run a business and knows what it takes, unlike Obama who has never had a "real job" prior to being elected to the Senate on his meteoric rise to the top.

IRENEGROOMS | 8:46 a.m. June 21, 2009

He is right we're in debt that we can't ever pay for. If Obama wounld have given each family a check that we counld have put back into the system we might have a come back.

Bennett's No Dummy | 11:58 a.m. June 21, 2009

He plays "pay to play" as well as anyone in Washington D.C. At 77 years old, he's earned his retirement, but his benefactors, every financial institution in the country, will be more than happy to return him to office for another round of bailouts and rescues whenever they need to call upon his vote in exchange for their donations. That's exactly the kind of guy I want representing me. Vote Bennett -- he's all about keeping Washington politics predictable and rewarding.

Time to go | 7:44 a.m. June 22, 2009

Bennett is smart, but he has been there too long and he is not as effective as he thinks. He is using a small pick on a wall that needs a bulldozer.

It is time we replace Bob with someone like Cherilyn Eagar.

I have a real problem with Mark Shurtleff running for re-election for AG and then a few months later running for something else. If he wanted to run for the 2012 Senate spot, that would be one thing, but who will we get for two years as AG if he were to win?

It is my opinion that Cherilyn Eagar has the best chance of being elected for this race.

The press can't decide of Bob Bennett promised we would have him in D.C. for 1 term or 2 terms. Either way, 4 terms isn't going to happen. Bye Buy Bob.

tired and OLD | 11:09 a.m. June 22, 2009

Time for Bennett to retire -- too old, powerless and irrelevant.

Phoenix Roberts | 2:36 p.m. June 22, 2009

You know you're in trouble when Tim Geithner wins the argument simply by ignoring you.

Artz | 3:40 p.m. June 22, 2009

Anyone with a comment regarding Mr Bennetts status as a representative has to be discounted here. This is an issue regarding the future of our economy and the action of this administration which is killing our ecinimy and you just stand there making unfounded political comments.
Pleaqse use your brain to understand what is happening to you and this country before it is to late.

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