Yes, the teabaggers have an incumbent's scalp. Yep, in one of the most conservative state's in the nation, one of the most conservative Senators was defeated in at the GOP's nominating convention (a gathering of the most conservative of the conservatives):
When it was announced that Bennett had been eliminated from the race, a huge ovation swept through the convention hall and there were hoots and shouts of "He's gone! He's gone!" Other delegates hugged and tea party members waved their yellow "Do Not Tread On Me" flags.One of those "minor exceptions" was Bennett's support for the TARP bailout. So, looks like the economic crisis has caused one more job loss.
Bennett becomes the first Utah senator to fail to get his party's nomination since Democrats tossed out Sen. William King in 1940 over King's opposition to the New Deal.
Bennett, who is the son of four-term Sen. Wallace Bennett, was in tears as he answered questions during an emotional meeting with reporters.
"The political atmosphere, obviously, has been toxic and it's very clear some of the votes that I have cast have added to the toxic environment," he said, choking up. "Looking back on them, with one or two very minor exceptions, I wouldn't have cast them any differently even if I'd known at the time it would cost me my career."
In Utah, winning the GOP nomination is usually akin to winning the general election. That doesn't happen in most states. So, in other states, let's have more of the teabaggers taking over the GOP and nominating candidates who are way outside the mainstream. Be helpful if they nominate Rand Paul in Kentucky on May 18th.
