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Hatch names service bill in Kennedy's honor

Give Me A Break | 11:01 p.m. March 26, 2009

How sweet that Orrin would name the bill the "Ted Kennedy, What's In It For Me? End of Volunteerism Act".

Grow up Orrin. It's fine to call it service and to pay people for service, but stop trying to portray this monstrosity of government bloat and overreach as promoting volunteerism.

Anonymous | 4:40 a.m. March 27, 2009

The Hatch-Kennedy relationship is a one-way street. Hatch teams up with Kennedy on liberal issues, but Kennedy never teams up with Hatch on conservative issues.

Hatch writes "songs" for Kennedy.

Hatch names things after Kennedy.

Hatch always talks about his relationship with Kennedy, but Kennedy rarely talks about his relationship with Hatch.

Interloper | 4:43 a.m. March 27, 2009

Wonderful! Shows the opposition is capable of showing some class. And the increased role of volunteers is a great idea.

Comments continue below

Voter | 7:45 a.m. March 27, 2009

I have no problem with the obsequius Hatch wanting to bask in some of the radiated glow of the Kennedy name. Let him put the Kennedy name on whatever he wants.

Howver, I do have a major problem with the fact that he voted FOR this very bad bill, under any name.

Hatch has been in Washington too long. Bennett has been in Washington too long too.

These idiots are spending us deeper into debt every day and we will never be able to recover. Instead of fighting this lunacy at every step, with every delaying tactic possible, they meekly go along to get along and heap endless new programs on top of worthless old programs, neither of which we can afford.

Manure is still manure, even if you name it after a man inexplicably still in public office after killing a woman in a drunk driving accident.

Hatch prides himself. . . | 8:18 a.m. March 27, 2009

. . . on his relationship with Kennedy, reaching across the aisle through the years to bridge the gap and to compromise on this or that bill where there was a wide difference of opinion. Ask yourself as a Utah voter -- which politician had to give up more to meet "in the middle" -- Hatch or Kennedy? Frankly, for me it's hard to imagine Kennedy coming even one inch in the direction of Hatch on anything. Hatch has become the poster child for Potomac fever, and his bid for a sixth term as a U.S. Senator must be met with stout opposition in the run up to the 2012 election. Enough is enough, and becoming more and more like Teddy Kennedy is not a badge that I would wear with honor, Mr. Hatch, if I were you. Your own party thinks you are not conservative enough, and there are many of us who have voted for you again and again who share that opinion. With both Bennett (seeking his FOURTH term in 2010) and Hatch, there is growing discontent with the ranks of the party faithful who are looking for new blood. Both promised short tenure, and keep running. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

RightWingNutJob | 10:55 a.m. March 27, 2009

Send flowers, Orrin! In a twisted sort of way, naming this piece of bloated government waste for Kennedy is totally appropriate. But for Hatch (and Bennett) to have voted for it is truly a sad commentary on what our two "Republican" senators are up to.

Gerry | 10:56 a.m. March 27, 2009

Ask Kennedy. Republicans are repulsive. He still hates Hatch.

mjloehrer | 11:53 a.m. March 27, 2009

Ted Kennedy has done absolutely nothing of a positive consequence in the Senate. The guy is a phony and deserves no accolades whatsoever.

Reason | 12:52 p.m. March 27, 2009

Re "Hatch prides himself": I agree.

lost in DC | 1:19 p.m. March 27, 2009

c'mon guys, you're being way too hard on orrin buddy. The dems snooker McCain into thinking they are being bi-partisan with him, too. They get him to come to their side and don't budge toward him either. so orrin is no more of a dupe than John-boy. of course, that's not not saying much.

I can think of things I'd rather have named after kennedy than a bill in congress, especially one that deals with service, but I don't think the DN censor squad would post my comments if I said what they were.

I wanna puke... | 2:06 p.m. March 27, 2009

Why is it that Senators adore themselves so much? They fawn over each other like they are royalty. I just wish they would for once...stop thinking of themselves and how they look and do the right thing!

Interloper | 2:16 p.m. March 27, 2009

Thanks for providing insight into how out of touch some Utah voters are, fellow commenters. Your calls for the GOP to move farther to the Right than Orrin Hatch are priceless.

Anonymous | 2:33 p.m. March 27, 2009

Why are Utahans so petty and hateful? Is hate a family value? Do you get up asking yourselves:"who would Jesus hate?" :-)

Chris Bieber | 11:27 p.m. March 28, 2009

Pure Politics..and Pure FASCISM.
Mussolini/Hitler NATIONAL SERVICE.
How UNAMERICAN.
And the GOP is "opposed" to socialism and its goals of INDENTURED SERVITUDE to the State?
Not with statist goons like your Senator.
At least the socialist Dems are honest about THEIR socialism. Hypocrites and megalomaniacs like McCain and Hatch are twofaced and doublespeakers shown to the Party and Americans as Republicans..
great...and gee wonder where old Willard Mittster stand on NATIONAL SERVICE??? oh yeah he PROMOTED IT ALSO..
thanks for your states "conservative" leaders and thier principled actions....

Dave | 2:14 a.m. March 29, 2009

Hatch is a disgrace and an embarassment. I wonder how many elections will be tainted with another 250,000 "volunteers" out helping ACORN register "voters".

I'm not sure who Hatch thinks he's representing, but it sure isn't the people of Utah, and it's high time he was sent packing. And I think a recall election well before the end of his term is in order.

Why Hatch and the other RINO's in the Senate can't figure out what suckers the Dems take them for is beyond me. They are tricked into willingly selling out the values they profess on a regular basis, and keep coming back for more. And we keep electing them. If not a recall election, Hatch must be stopped at the convention level next time. Enough is enough of this sell-out.

Dave Kreitzer | 6:27 a.m. March 29, 2009

Just what we need, another government program. Tax and spend, Tax and spend, when will it end?

yogiman | 8:28 a.m. March 29, 2009

We keep re-electing congress because they are going to get the retirement program they voted for, for themselves, and to put someone else in their place would add costs to our expense. There should be a time limit in all political offices, and with no retirement program. Those people are supposed to be there for the people. They only seem to be there for themselves.

How many of you,'we the people', get a direct answer from a member of congress for a question you ask? If it's about a political vote, forget it. You most likely will get a punch button reply answer

Lynn Smith | 8:30 a.m. March 29, 2009

Sorry, I've given my 20 years to our country. Now, you want my teenage son to "volunteer?" I don't think so! You can pry him away out of my cold dead hands!

Bamaborn | 8:32 a.m. March 29, 2009

This is another reason for term limits. This brotherhood in the Senate begs compromise, but the Republicans always have to cross the aisle, and stay. Liberals never compromise, because their agenda is power and control. Hatch never has been reliable to conservatives, particularly on the Judiciary Committee. Utah? Vote him out.

Kiddosmom | 9:36 a.m. March 29, 2009

Since when does the definition of Volunteer include "required service". For those who have not read H.R. 1388; this bill will require school age children to do community service if their school wants to continue receiving certain federal money. This is not in any way volunteering; it is using our children to complete pet projects that will be submitted.

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