Rep. Chris Stewart wants to name new federal courthouse for Sen. Orrin Hatch

I can roll with that.

Longevity does not qualify for extraordinary name recognition.

I’m with Spoc.

Ben H’s idea has merit too.

I am not in favor of naming the building. However we could bestow a nickname or two, something with a bit of English flair, such as the "PUB", for Pretty Ugly Building.

Why not? It is fitting. The building is plain, square, drab and colorless.

Please squelch this absurd idea before it gets rolling. Mr. Hatch has not done much on his watch to keep this country from sinking to its current sad condition. He should not be rewarded for lackluster performance. There are others much more deserving. And, why does it need to be named after ANYONE?

It's embarrassing, all right, but not for the reason Senator Hatch thinks.

For clarification, the former post office, which historically served several federal purposes, including that of a federal courthouse, is the Frank Moss Courthouse, and is located on Main Street, on the same block as the new courthouse. The Scott Matheson Courthouse is on State Street, west of the City and County Building, and is a state courthouse.

How about naming the courthouse for George Sunderland, the only Utahan, at this time, to serve on the US Supreme Court. He also represented Utah in both houses of congress.

Hatch did not stand for the principles he claimed when he was first in office. He has not represented the standards of his constituency. I don't see any logic in building such an unsightly structure, and I don't see any good reason for naming anything after Hatch.

They aren't proposing The "Ronald Reagan Federal Building" how unusual.

'Hatch called that prospect "embarrassing" and not something he seeks . . ." I can't help smiling. Who wouldn't be embarrassed to have such a piece of work named after them?

Perhaps the designation should go to the planning commission or the mayor who approved the dismal design. Our local graffitti artists could do it, and the building would be better for it!

I agree that the building looks like a Borg Cube and is way out of place in downtown. They shouldn't pay the architect for designing this travesty to our eyes.

That said, naming the Cube after Senator Hatch would be a good thing. He's worked hard for Utah all these years and has largely done a good job. They named the old post office for Scott Matheson, so naming the Cube after Hatch is deserved. Although if I was him, I'd not want the ugliest building in Utah named after me.

Perhaps a new building at BYU or the U of U would work better or an arch somewhere in southern Utah.

I'm pretty sure this is a ploy by Rep. Stewart to convince Senator Hatch to abandon all thoughts of running again. "Orrin, if you'll promise to not run again, I'll get it named after you!"

Nothing scares me more that another term for Senator Hatch, who has been one of the biggest earmarkers in Congress and proud of it ("look at all the federal dollars I've brought home to Utah!").
Tell me, Senator, how did you secure all that loot for Utah?
"Well, I made sure other Senators got the projects they were gunning for--that's what seniority gets you!"
Don't those projects all cost lots of money?
"Well, that's what the people of Utah want!"
No, Senator--what Utah citizens want is for you and your colleagues to stop spending!

I admire Senator Hatch but if I were him, I would run away as fast as I could. The true embarrassment would be to have his name placed on the most hideous looking building in Salt Lake City.

My dog has a name. But only so he will respond when called.

Why must a building have a name?

What's wrong with the "Salt Lake City Federal Courthouse"?

For every 100 people, two won't even know who it is.

And the rest will still call it the Federal Courthouse.

Actually, Dallin H. Oaks Federal Courthouse sounds good to me.

I think it should be called the Borg Courthouse for two reasons. First, it's the most unsightly cube for 1000 light years of travel away from earth. Second, resistance is futile, and we will all be assimilated into the collective of the US Congress.

Yes sir,
Yes sir,
Yeees Sir!

absolutely worst Idea.

Like him or not, and I didn't, but he did what needed to be done. Ronald J. Yengich. A much better name for a court house.

Mr. Stewart, could you publicly suck up more to Mr. "Do Nothing That Would Keep Me From Being Re-elected" Hatch?

You have sited reasons for this hypothetical aggrandizement. Maybe you might want to include actual Senate records that illustrate true efforts for us common-folk Utahans beyond hype that would justify such a feigned honor. Of course, Mr. Hatch would demand that such a naming not take place. It would be too embarrassing. (I'm sure).

IMHO, as was stated in the article, a better choice would be Justice Sutherland. A record of service in the courts and a good legal mind are better examples than a career politician.

Stewart will add this to the shamefully short list of accomplishments during his Congressional tenure. These guys are worse than minimum wage teenagers looking for conspicuous signs of labor. Great job Utahns, keep voting appearance over substance.

How about the "Gayle Ruzicka Courthouse"?