tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post7173353224642086473..comments2023-09-11T08:58:24.710-06:00Comments on Reach Upward: Post-Election Thoughts: UtahScott Hinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831447472339880148noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post-70891976092109521192008-11-05T20:15:00.000-07:002008-11-05T20:15:00.000-07:00Aye. Many of Utah's leading elected Republicans a...Aye. Many of Utah's leading elected Republicans are quite moderate, perhaps even to the point of being RINOs. Except for certain social issues and a handful of fiscal issues, they seem to line up more with Democratic ideals while supporting the national GOP.<BR/><BR/>One of the reasons a McCain win would have been nice is that Gov. Huntsman hinted that he might be considered for an important cabinet position. That would have elevated Lt. Gov. Herbert. He is a more conservative thinker than Huntsman.<BR/><BR/>Still, I'm not looking to Utah's mainstream Republicans to provide leadership or even coherent thought on where the GOP ought to be headed.Scott Hinrichshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11831447472339880148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post-6735225759386468612008-11-05T19:26:00.000-07:002008-11-05T19:26:00.000-07:00Clearly, Republicans dominate Utah. Some may think...Clearly, Republicans dominate Utah. Some may think that since Utah is the most Republican state that it should play a prominent role in defining the party line. <BR/><BR/>My observation is that Republicans in other states have a strong distaste for domination. They believe in a Republican form of government with a frequent change of leadership.<BR/><BR/>Such people feel much more comfortable having the party position defined in battleground states, or even in states where Republicans are a minority. Some of the best Republican thought comes from places like California, Chicago and NY where Republicans are largely marginalized.<BR/><BR/>Conversely, one finds that Utah is a fertile ground for defining Democratic thought. Democrats point to Utah and say the stilted homogenous culture of the state is what they stand against.<BR/><BR/><BR/>The National Republicans I know like vibrant ideas, spirited discourse and debate. <BR/><BR/>You don't get that in a place where one party dominates. <BR/><BR/>Places where one party dominates is more likely to have the form of an inner circle that dictates positions surrounded by a doltish group of wannabes who toe the line.<BR/><BR/>As you pointed out, there is a really ugly <I>Us V. Them</I> quality to the relation between Salt Lake County and the rest of the state.<BR/><BR/>I believe that the single party domination of the state makes it infertile ground for quality political thought and the national party is right for treating the state as that red-headed stepchild.y-intercepthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03389285761013186443noreply@blogger.com