Comments about ‘Robert Bennett: How I came to write a weekly column’

I have found that many of the more ... should I say "spirited" or "angry" responses come from people who like the anonymous comment status and don't expect to be challenged in their generous use of so called facts and accusations.

I would love to see Bob Bennett clarifying misconceptions, even if these people refuse to change their perceptions as they usually do. At least they would think twice about mindless ranting in the future.

I always enjoy well thought out, well researched comments. It greatly adds to any story, and I sometimes get more out of the comments than the story itself.

Thanks for your moderate and knowledgeable opinions on politics. A respectful voice representing the political center is increasingly difficult to find. Polite and politics seem widely disconnected.

Mr. Bennett,
I am someone who supported your challenger in 2010. I mention this only to let you know that I also believe it would be very helpful and instructive to see your thoughts among the other comments. Of course, you should feel no need to reply to comments that are mean-spirited or hateful, but I can't understand why those at the Deseret News would tell you to refrain completely from getting involved in the comments section.
I also wish to tell you that many of us who opposed your re-election feel no animosity towards you personally. We may disagree on some votes, but that is precisely the reason that it would be so great to hear your rebuttal on the greatest issues of the day.

A person who is willing to engage those they disagree with always earns my respect, even if we don't agree at the end of the conversation. As a side note, I really enjoyed your book, "Leap of Faith" and found it insightful and well-written. I would love to see you in the comments section.

The tea party extremists who used deception and fear tactics to remove Bennett from office have hurt America and Utah in tremendous and irreversible ways. Instead of the clear thinking, rational Bennett, we now have a reactionary, volatile extremist. This is not what we need.

I have been critical of some of Senator Bennett's columns but I have to say that I appreciate him writing a column and it's nice to have some perspective from someone who has actually been in the Senate and understands the difficulties of creating good policy for our Country. I respect Senator Bennett and I appreciate his service to the people of Utah. I think he was a fine Senator although I didn't really have strong feelings over whether he should have been renominated as the Republican Senatorial candidate in 2010. I tend to be glad that Mike Lee is now our Senator because I think you do need to shake things up occasionally. We've had "reasonable" and allegedly effective Senators from all over the Country for so long and we're still on the edge of the financial abyss. Maybe it would be worse if Senators like Bob Bennett hadn't been there- we can't know.
In response to his question I would say avoid the message boards- you won't change many minds (if any) and you'll just unnecessarily raise your blood pressure- it's not worth it.

Let me join the 80% who would like to hear more from an actual former Senator who is willing to speak openly about his experience. Let me start by asking you if you have any thoughts about the "No Budget, No Pay" Act (S 1981) that has had one hearing in Senator Lieberman's Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. Simply stated, if Congress does not pass a budget (which the Senate hasn't in over three years), our Senators and Representatives don’t get paid. Now there’s some incentive! Right now, the bill has 52 co-sponsors (bipartisan) in the House, including Jim Matheson. In the Senate, the bill has 10 co-sponsors. Missing are Hatch, Lee, Bishop, and Chaffetz. Why? Any thoughts?

Replying to comments that are inaccurate or in need of clarification would be valuable. Don't respond to anyone who is ranting or is trying to get a rise out of those who read the commentaries

Mr. Bennett, I'm sorry you got thrown out of office recently. But, the fact of the matter is, the government has grown too large, has it fingers in too much of private issues, has grown an obscene debt with no foreseeable solution... all under your watch. This cannot stand. Those occupying Congressional seats during this period need to go regardless of whether thy contributed in the dilemma or not. Hatch is in the same boat. He has to go as well.

After staying up way to late to comment on this I recommend you don't get involved in comment boards. They are addicting. Thank you for your service as a senator. I wish I knew now what I didn't know in 2010. Mike Lee is a mess. I wouldn't be surprised if he decides not to run again. Politics is harder than he thought it would be.

I think your columns show a lot of insight and common sense about explaining events within our country. I look forward to reading your column every week. I for one was sad to see you replaced in the Senate. I think that you were doing a good job. However, I do agree with one of the other persons that left a comment about shaking things up every once in awhile. I think we need to do the same with Sen Hatch. It is time that Sen Hatch retire. We have this huge federal deficit and Hatch claims that he can get it fixed. It seems like he has only been partially successful at managing the budget these past 36 years. So, it is time to give someone else an opportunity, someone with a record of success. Hatch has been our US Senator since I was in hight school. It is time for someone else to do the job.

P.S. I don't consider myself a member of any Tea Party groups, just someone that wants term limits so more people can get involved in serving in our country.

This is a forum that, since moderated, might actually be able to have that sort of discussion since there wouldn't be mounds of garbage to sift through like almost any other internet forum.

@red state pride
Well we know one thing about Senator Bennett that got him in trouble electorally and that was his willingness to work with others across the aisle (him and Wyden were working together on healthcare for instance). Consider the debt ceiling deal where Obama proposed a 4 trillion dollar package and Republicans wanted similarly large packages but in the end we got something that was less than half that because the two sides couldn't agree to a large debt reduction plan. I think with more people like Bennett or Hatch (who also would work with Ted Kennedy for instance, but of course now Hatch has to pull back in order to save himself electorally) and an atmosphere that didn't treat the other side of the aisle as evil, we probably could've gotten a much larger deficit reduction plan that would've included the sacred cows of entitlements and revenue increases.

Mr Bennett, please continue your editorials. They are reasonable and well thought.

Mr. Bennett, I have a soft spot in my heart for you ever since you gave me a ride to a gas station--I'd run out of gas coming out of a Utah County convention 10 or 12 years ago. Thanks for being a real mensch!

A light touch, not obsessive, in joining the comments occasionally would be welcome. I know I have enjoyed it with reporters who come back to clarify or respond to selected comments.