May 20, 2012

ICYMI: Post on KSL today–”Obama plays politics with same-sex marriage”

KSL ran my post today arguing that Obama’s announcement last week about gay marriage is more about politics of getting reelected than about courage or leadership.

From that post:

With polls showing public opinion shifting in favor of gay marriage at the same time as his opponent gains on the economy, Obama put his finger in the wind and timed his announcement on gay marriage to make maximum impact.

It’s not leadership. It’s polling. And polling says that Obama is losing on the economy but could galvanize support of the liberal base. It’s a lot easier than talking about the dismal job situations of 20.1 million people, and it keeps Romney out of headlines for another month. [cont...]

Surf on over to KSL to check it out.

 

Before you eat another french fry… [infographic]

Before you eat another french fry, think about this:

 

Tough love, you could say. I’m gonna miss my fries.

[The Weight of the Nation]

 

Austerity? Europe never even got there.

Just because France and Greece have decided, by majority vote, that they don’t want to cut down the welfare state does not mean that they can afford to continue spending. Nor does it mean, as Democrats would have you believe,  that cutting the deficit is a bad idea.

All it means is that a majority of voters in France (about 51.8%...not exactly a resounding mandate) picked Socialist Hollande and his promise to end “austerity.”  Meanwhile,  in Greece, where unemployment is well over 20%, Coalition for the Radical Left  leader Alexis Tsipras, when given the opportunity to form a governing majority, thumbed his nose at the holders of Greece’s debt and edged his country closer to national bankruptcy.

World markets responded accordingly…meaning, European stocks dropped when investors fled, taking their money to places where people actually face reality with seriousness.  Places that don’t rhyme with “syrup.”

None of this means, however, that “austerity” is wrong.

In fact, it’s not even clear that Europe has even entered the phase of “austerity” programs where austerity happens. Taxes have been raised on the wealthy, says Michael Tanner, but austerity programs won’t actually kick in for several years.

For example, France will raise its retirement age from 60 to 62, but not until 2017! A cap would also be put on government health-care spending, starting next year. It is a little hard, therefore, to discern whether it is budget cuts that may or may not happen some day in the future, rather than tax increases today, that have slowed French economic growth.

Or take Britain, where the Tory-Liberal coalition recently suffered a drubbing in local elections, in part as a reaction to so-called austerity measures. Among the Cameron government’s first “austerity” measures was to hike the personal income tax to 50 percent for those earning more than £150,000 a year. That measure managed to actually decrease income-tax revenues by £509 million. The U.K. did trim government payrolls and cut back on some government programs, but British government spending still consumes more than 49 percent of GDP. Government spending actually increased by £59.2 billion from 2009 to 2011.

It’s a “tax today and maybe we’ll cut entitlements in the distant future” type approach. There’s no austerity happening. Just promises austerity accompanied by immediate increases in tax rates on the wealthy and middle-class. Says Tanner

  • Spain: imposed a “wealth tax” on citizens with €700,000 of assets, and a 7 percent income tax on those earning more than €300,000 per year; capital-gains taxes were also hiked.
  • Italy: imposed a “Solidarity Tax” of 3 percent on all taxpayers who earn more than €300,000.
  • Greece: increased taxes by nearly twice as much as it cut spending, including a 5 percent surtax on the wealthy.
  • On the middle-class Europe-wide: VAT hikes,  as well as tax increases on fuel, alcohol, and tobacco.

Any wonder why European stocks dropped yesterday? No one wants to invest in a country–or a continent–where their investment isn’t going to grow and in fact faces a very real likelihood of being taken, too.

This shouldn’t be a debate over “raising taxes” and the “cutting taxes.” Rather, it should be about government spending less so that the tax burden on business is not so heavy. The way to growth is to make it easier, and cheaper, for businesses to grow, there by putting more money into the pockets of individuals to spend. You can’t with one hand run up big surpluses and with the other hand raise taxes or print more money. The result is a net loss, especially to those who can afford to save less.

Europe never stopped spending, at least not less than it taxed. Greece and France are going that reality really is non-negotiable. Especially when Germany, who holds the cards, tells them ‘no’ to new bailouts.

“Greece can rely on the solidarity of Europe, but if Greece does not help itself, there is nothing to be done,” German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told a news conference.

“Whether Greece is ready to do what is necessary – only the Greek people can decide.”

When it comes down to it, the Democrats in America can point to the votes in France and Greece as for why cutting government won’t put people back to work. At the end of the day, though, Democrats are wrong. Three years of spending has not brought about real change in our employment or our wealth creation. We are still at around 15% unemployed (when counting those who are underemployed or no longer seeking work).

 

[CBS] [CNBC] [Christian Science Monitor] [CATO]

Your logical fallacy is…

Someone ought to make finding logical fallacies in a politician’s speech into bingo. Just turn on the State of the Union speech and start filling your bingo card.

If it was a game, yourlogicalfallacyis.com would be the score keeper and the posters they are giving away for free would be the bingo card.

From the text on their poster, the site explains what a fallacy is, where  you can expect to find them,  and how to turn them back on their user.

A logical fallacy is often what has happened when someone is wrong about something. It’s a flaw in reasoning. They’re like tricks or illusions of thought, and they’re often very sneakily used by politicians, the media, and others to fool people. Don’t be fooled!

And the site is great, featuring links to each type of logical fallacy so that, when you’re deep in the midst of that never-ending online debate, you can finally prove why your opponents argument just doesn’t carry water.

Also, if you’re feel really gung-ho, they have full size vector files linked to the site that allow you to print out a full color poster of the fallacies, summarized and stylized for your reference. It would look great up on the wall next to that autographed picture of Antonin Scalia, don’t you think?

Learn the fallacies, and learn them well. You’ll be arguing like Plato in no time flat!

 

 

1st Black Republican Woman in Congress? Mia Puts Utah on Drudge.

Matheson’s Re-Election Is On the Rocks

Jason Kane is a recovering rock star and an attorney in Salt Lake County. He is an occasional contributor to Publius Online.

______________________________________________________________

Mayor Mia Love of Saratoga Springs secured the Republican nomination for Congress by a resounding margin at Saturday’s convention, garnering a whopping 70% of the vote from the GOP delegates of Utah’s 4th Congressional District. The excitement and energy Love brought was palpable in the convention center. Mia Love is clearly entering the race for Congress with the wind at her back, something that cannot be said for her Democrat opponent.

Incumbent Jim Matheson’s future as a congressman is now in jeopardy, threatening to dislodge Utah Democrats’ last foothold in the state’s federal delegation. Polling data from the Salt Lake Tribune, reported prior to the convention, showed Jim Matheson slightly ahead of his Republican contenders, but within a margin of error of most of them. Matheson responded to the poll by noting that he hasn’t even begun campaigning, yet. Of course, that also means Jim’s opponent has yet to begin campaigning against him.

Many Democrats I have spoken with have been dismissive of the possibility that Matheson will be unseated by his Republican rival, apparently taking comfort in the soothing notion of the incumbency advantage. What they fail to acknowledge is that the ground has literally shifted under Matheson’s feet with the redistricting in 2011. The new 4tg Congressional District has little overlap with Matheson’s familiar stomping grounds in the former 2nd Congressional District, and the Democratic strongholds in Salt Lake City are a mere fraction of what they were in his old territory.

, Congressman from Utah (D-Utah, 2001-present)

, Congressman from Utah (D-Utah, 2001-present) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Fact of the matter is, Jim Matheson is a weak candidate in the new 4th Congressional District. Matheson has spent his days in Congress carefully straddling every issue, never taking a strong stand, so as not to upset either Party’s base back home too much. Mia Love, on the other hand, brings a youthful energy and excitement for conservative principles, which Jim is simply not equipped to contend with.  Now that she has bypassed a primary, Love will have the rest of the year to spend going after Matheson and persuading the voters of the new 4th congressional district.

Prediction: Mia Love routs Matheson in November.

Photos from the Utah Republican Party State Convention Booths

 
1/30
 

 

Live Blogging the Utah Republican State Convention – Part 3

3:52 PM Sorry, folks. Ran into some friends, and so I took a break. Anyway, what you missed is that the auditor race went to a primary after Johnson campaigned on “I’m a CPA” and Becky Lockhart and Mike Waddups introduced John Dougall. Now, we’re listening to the the First Congressional candidates. Joe Fabiano just spoke, dropped in lots of references to the pre-mortal life, etc.

3:56 PM Now,  bunch of people introducing Congressman Bishop, including Rep. Butterfield. Rob Bishop is making an impassioned speech that’s getting a lot of love from the delegates.

3:59 PM Bishop listing the successes that the Republican Congress has under its belt, including defending the NDAA.

4:00 PM Ending with a critique of the proper use of government by Obama Administration.

4:01 PM Almost raucous applause.

4:06 PM Jacklyn Smith is giving what comes across as a Tea Party message. She wants change, she wants new leadership, but she’s not getting a lot of love from delegates.

4:11 PM We’re waiting for polls to open…and polls are open.

4:13 PM Wright declares polls closed. As usual, applause. People are always happy when they can register another progress point to finishing this day.

4:15 While were waiting for results, we’re watching a video about the Party plan to increase the turnout for the primary. It’s plan heavily weighted on vote by mail. Thomas notes that 42,000 people were registered for vote by mail during his tenure as Salt Lake County Republican Party chair.

4:21 PM While the federal government can run up the credit card, Utah cannot. Hold our federal delegation responsible for these policies.

4:22 PM Further, says, Lockhart, we need to be careful about the growth of state government.

4:23 PM Rob Bishop just won the nomination for the First Congressional District with 81%.

4:24 PM Lynn Wardle will be the first speaker for the Third Congressional Distict.

4:26 PM Wardle is former marine (I think he said), government lawyer, and law professor for thirty years. Says that, among other things, we must cut the budget and make Utah a leader in defending religious liberties.

4:28 PM Wardle unleashing a volley of founder quotes.

4:31 PM Here comes Jason Chaffetz, “a candidate for Congress,” he says. He’s throwing out a lot of big numbers, which I am sure Matthias Shapiro would be glad to turn into a good visual image.

4:33 PM Chaffetz criticizing the increase the federal government of the number of federal workers, as well as that there are over 400,000 federal workers who make more than $100,000 a year.

4:34 PM It has been more than 1,100 days since the Senate has passed a budget bill, says Chaffetz. Also, Chaffetz is on the budget committee with Paul Ryan and is fighting against fast and furious.

4:36 PM One bill that Chaffetz is trumpeting is one to fire federal workers for not paying their taxes. Asks delegates to thank our military.

4:37 PM Right on Chaffetz heels is Bryan Jenkins, who says that we may not know him because he “hasn’t campaigned” and because he campaigned against electronic voting. Gee…after how long this is taking due to all the candidates and how much faster its going because of electronic voting, I can’t imagine how anyone could support him.

4:39 PM Jenkins telling story or two about George Washington, including the first inauguration.

4:43 PM Jenkins finishes with a discussion of the inaugural oath of office. Kudos for patriotism, but meh for impact.

4:49 PM We’re waiting on someone who had some kind of issue.

4:50 PM Michael Waddups is addressing us next. He’s retiring this year, I believe. He says he gets a lot of requests from around the country from people asking “What is Utah doing” that is making a difference. He says we often hear that Utah is the best managed state.  One other thing he says that we should know about is that only four states have a positive asset picture (?).

5:09 PM We’re still waiting for results, so we’re watching a video of Ann Romney asking for support of their endorse delegates. I guess it was four delegates whose voting had problems, not just two.

5:12 PM Jason Chaffetz wins the nomination for the Third Congressional District with 74%.

5:14 PM Kenneth Gray says that if he is elected, there will be many open pit mines in Utah…not sure if that kind of promise is what people want. We want access to our resources, but an open pit mine?

5:15 PM Gray is running on natural resources. Or at least that’s his plan. “This land is our land.” And then a 1940s version of “This is our land” plays while Gray stands there… a little awkward.

5:19 PM Senator Valentine just took the stage to introduce Stephen Sandstrom.

5:20 PM Sandstrom comes to the pulpit, and after he begins speaking, his family files on stage. Says that it is an honor to be nominated by a fellow former marine (Valentine).

5:21 PM Sandstrom is hitting all the usual talking points, and I’m kind of tired of repeating them here.

5:27 PM Carl Wimmer up after an intro video. Gotta be honest–I like Carl as a person, but the video did seem to stretch some facts.

5:29 PM Wimmer says seeking office was never in his plans, but felt like he was doing his part to protect America as he walked door to door.

5:30 PM Wimmer’s getting a lot of applause from about 100 yards to my rear…not sure whose there, but he’s getting it. “Born in the USA” playing…oddly.

5:32 PM Mia Love is introduced by a video from Josh Romney.  Love takes the stage to applause.

5:34 PM Love hitting all of the conservative talking points. And bashing on Matheson… a lot. People listening intently (in other words, quietly).

5:35 PM Now Love is talking something I want to hear. The American dream is not dead. The government is not the road to prosperity. Hard work can take you far beyond what the government can ever promise. And that gets applause. Lots. Standing.

5:38 PM Jay Cobb is up. Haven’t heard from this guy in a long time. Alone on the stage with his wife, and, surprisingly, his speech is unoriginal, but personal.

5:42 PM Cobb’s not really inspiring me, but I can’t help but like him. He means well, he’s articulate, and he’s sincere.

5:44 PM Cobb petters out and we all give one more round of applause for the Fourth Congressional candidates, and I’m out of here.

 

Live Blogging the Utah Republican State Convention – Part 2

1:08 PM We’re listening to a “short” report from Senator Mike Lee. Talking about a constituent request from a young man, a boy of 13, really, about opening up a road for his grandfather to check on his land better. Now, Logan Dalton being introduced with his grandfather…but I don’t see where they are.

1:12 PM Senator Lee says that he will not join the government can’t be changed crowd because he believes it must be changed.

1:14 PM We’re starting the speeches for the race for Governor of Utah. Wright giving the order. Looks like six candidates.

1:15 PM Listening to a guy I’ve never heard of, whose first is Lane Ronnow (sp?), and who dated a Romney when young. Unfortunately, he didn’t get an endorsement video made by her back then.

1:16 PM Ronnow wants Utah to have access to the mineral resources available in the Great Basin. Says education is underfunded and badly managed, that unemployment is higher than the 5% that the governor is reporting.

1:19 PM Next up is…I don’t know, but Ronald Reagan is speaking. In black and white. Oh, wait. It’s Morgan Philpot.

1:20 PM Philpot says that he’s running for governor of the “most” sovereign state. How can you be the “most” sovereign? Aren’t you just sovereign or not?

1:21 PM Philpot is talking about making the future better than the present. Says that we should pick a new governor, because “The Devil…” and then is interrupted by applause. Awkward place to pause in a sentence when talking about ones opponent. “…is in the details.”

1:23 PM Philpot is dropping names of national conservatives like Chris Christie and Nikki Haley. Says we cannot run on the past, but with a bold vision for the future.

1:24 PM Philpot is dropping the hammer on Herbert, spelling out one criticism after another, saying that it’s all resulting in loss of sovereignty for Utah. Also, thanks to all of the volunteers.

1:25 PM Philpot finishes with appeal for first round vote.

1:27 PM David Kirkham is up, although Sumpsion was announced on the screen.   Kirkham’s voice is passionate and emotional as he talks about his ancestor that came here looking for freedom.

1:29 PM Kirkham is making the “I’m a business man” appeal and citing Mitt Romney. Telling the story of how he started a business in Poland, then Russia, from old weapons plants.

1:30 PM Kirkham says he is different because he’s the only candidate with global experience and who makes something that people actually want to buy. Has always made his payroll, but has missed his own paychecks to make sure people were paid.

1:31 PM He brought his company to Utah to import jobs. Wants to create jobs here so that people’s kids can move out of the basements and stay in Utah.

1:33 PM People filing onto the stage…Howard Neilson, former congressman, nominating Ken Sumpsion for governor.

1:35 PM Sumpsion talking about the federal government subsidies to Utah and the federal government control of Utah lands. Says that the Governor did not act on the legislation that the legislature gave to the governor to get lands back.

1:36 PM Says he would relinquish federal funds and leave No Child Left Behind.

1:39 PM I’m getting reports from people in the hall that lots of people with credentials are leaving…and we haven’t even finished the second race’s speeches yet. What, the senate is over and you’re done?

1:42 PM William Skokos now speaking. Actually, seems pretty confident. Sounds like he’s developed oil extraction from tar sands. Says he doesn’t care who gets credit, as long as good is happening.

1:44 PM Skokos lists a number of problems (none of which seem to be under the control of the governor) and seems to blame them on the current governor.

1:46 PM Gary Herbert up next. Looks like there some people arranging themselves up there. Greg Bell is introducing Herbert.  Says we don’t need to speculate what Governor Herbert will do. “He’s been doing it and getting great results.”

1:48 PM Herbert seems especially passionate today. He knocks “talking points” and “empty rhetoric” and says “let’s talk results.”

1:50 PM Herbert says that solutions to educations challenges will always come from the bottom up, not from Washington, D.C. “This job” is more about the people we serve than the office we hold.

1:52 PM Just told us that guys like Chris Christi wishes that they had what we have in Utah. [Lots of applause] [Heck, lots of applause in general]

1:54 PM Thomas Wright has opened the polls and is having each section vote, one section at a time, to make it easier for the hardware to register the votes.

2:32 PM Herbert wins 63% of the vote and will avoid a primary after a second round of voting.

2:39 PM Been listening to Sean Reyes, candidate for Attorney General, speak. I’m actually impressed with how much audience applause he’s getting.

2:42 PM Touchy feeley music now and a thing on the screens about Obamacare. Oh, it’s John Swallow, running for Congress again…er, I mean, Attorney General. Sounds like the same speeches he’s been giving since 2002.

3:00 PM Motion from the floor to move next year’s convention to St. George. Lots of attention for the motion from the Washington County section of the hall. Moving to vote…and nays have it. Thomas Wright says “That doesn’t mean it’s not duly noted.”

3:01 PM Enid Greene Mickelson is reporting on something.

3:01 PM Oh, it’s the executive committee commending Thomas Wright for his great efforts and success in expanding and growing caucus night, as well as for the wonderful job organizing convention.

3:04 PM Also, the silent auction is closed. We’re still waiting for results from the AG’s race.

Live Blogging the Utah State Republican Convention – Part 1

10:33 AM Getting a little bit of  a late start this morning…but give me some credit. There are 51 candidates here today and I had to run around and get pictures of as many as I could. At this point, they’ve already explained how electronic voting will work, and it means that no one will ever need to leave their seat. That means awesome sauce.   Also, they’ve just adopted the rules for the day.

11:05 AM I know it’s not exactly live…I’ve had a few wi-fi issues with my laptop. Rolling now.

11:06 AM Jeremy Friedbaum is going to be the first US Senate candidate. Gotta be honest: never heard of him. Also, I didn’t realize there were so many candidates for the Senate. Little girl named Faith Ashworth is introducing. Says she has $12.47 in her piggy bank, and isn’t here to ask for money since she’s a Republican, not a Democrat. [Applause] Now she’s talking about the national debt clock and ripping on politicians in DC who are spending it…also, this is still the 10-year old. She’s gotten several rounds of applause, now.

11:11 AM Faith Ashworth (10-years old) is still speaking…when do we hear from Friedbaum. People are eating it up. The red meat, that is, that she’s throwing out. She says that if we retire Hatch, he’ll have more time to spend with his grandkids, and great grandkids.

11:13 AM Friedbaum finally gets up, says he hopes to nominate Faith in 20 years, when she’s eligible, then says thank-you and sits down. Next up is Kevin Fisk. Fisk is a marine, knows how to recognize leadership, and says we don’t need people just with experience to go back to Washington. He’s a little miffed at not getting invited to the debates. After bashing on Hath, he says that Dan Liljenquist is a nice guy, “but he’s a liberal.” Argues that Chris Herrod is the only conservative in the race (but also does not want to campaign for Herrod).

11:20 Were watching a video of news and C-SPAN clips bashing on the Fed. Subtitles that include “Hitler received federal reserve funds.”

11:22 AM Loy Brunson is singing to us about the federal reserve, the national debt. He’s sporting a vest under his suit and using his preacher-pound-the-pulpit voice, and with good reason. He says we need to interpret the constitution by holding it sacred.

11:25 AM Brunson is getting some applause as he cites and quotes from the constitution and declaration of independence. Are we here to vote for our friends, he asks, or to vote for the person who most upholds the constitution. Brunson is running through different amendments. “We need people in Washington who understand that it is against the law to be liberal… it is called ‘thou shalt not steal.’”

11:26 AM Dale Ash giving a straight forward speech alongside his wife. He said that he had an epiphany while writing a book. Cites the unborn, children in school, protecting women from pornography, etc as all groups that are not being protected by the law. Says the constitution is being shredded by the US Supreme Court. How do we change it, how do we bring it back? Ash wants a constitutional amendment that shifts power back to the states.

11:30 AM Ash says that the current elected officials strategy is not good enough to win nationally. Ash says “they” are attacking us economically, too much regulation, taking our lands, and trying to make our businesses fail, tying up natural resources. Need to stop tying up resources on public lands and too much regulation. If we can put a man on the moon, we can harvest our natural resources without destroying the environment. Also, Ash loves this party, this government.
11:33 AM Tim Aalders up now.  Introducing him is Mark Maxon (?), a state delegate. Mark is talking about how “big” Aalders is, as a conservative, a family man, etc. Ends almost in a shout, then to Tim Aalders. Tim says that “if you cannot stand up there and speak from your heart, you cannot represent in Washington, D.C.

11.35 AM Aalders gets the crowd going by raising a pamphlet copy of the constitution and calling it sacred. “We cannot vote what is comfortable, but what is right, what is in our heart.”

11:39 AM Ok, I realize I’m missing a lot of Aalders speech here, but I see why I’ve heard of him. He’s given a rebel rousing speech.

11:40 AM Dan Liljenquist speaking alone on stage and opens to lots of a applause. Says the country did not start with one person, but with “we the people.”

11:41 AM Today’s vote, Liljenquist says, has nothing to do with the title chairman or seniority, but has to do with turning around country, which Liljenquist says he has done at Bain. He’ll use every thing he learned at Bain to not just propose things, but actually do them.

11:42 AM Liljenquist will live in Utah, will not serve more than three terms. Will work with Utah legislaure, and will go to them rather than summoning.

11:43 AM Gotta be honest; Liljenquist is easy to blog. These are not long sentences, but short, pointed, and clear. And it’s getting a lot of applause, more than I expected from the buzz on the floor before.

11:44 AM Liljenquist says no one senator is too big too fail. Citing the Hatch record of joining the senate in 1970s and being immediately effective. Talks about a new young generation of senators that he wants to be a part of in Washington.

11:46 AM All in all, Liljenquist made a great speech, and he got a lot of applause.

11:49 AM William Lawrence giving a folksy and rambling speech. Dropping a few names, served in a few positions in Davis County (sheriff, county commissioner). Among the names dropped (Reagan, Hatch), Ted Bundy.

11:51 AM Says that they were able to build a case with the help of Salt Lake County. After all the energy that the audience was giving Dan Liljenquist in the last speech, this is like the opposite side of the moon.

11:52 AM Lawrence finished by dropping Spencer W. Kimball’s name.

11:53 AM David Chiu, who also ran in 2010, is speaking. He starts off by asking who has lived abroad.

11:55 AM Chiu just said “I come from a long line of fugitives.” Random. Last thing I would expect to come up in a speech, but, heck, why not? Also, Chiu has mentioned his support for Mitt Romney and how his contrast to Romney will boost Romney’s campaign. Odd.  Also, his son is a missionary and a marine.

11: 58 AM Chiu ends with “I am David Y. Chiu. Choose more.”

11;59 AM Chris Herrod starts with Huey Lewis and the News playing.

12:00 PM Former Russian, sounds like Herrod’s wife, is introducing Chris Herrod now.

12:02 PM Herrod says that once in every generation there is an election that defines a generation, and this is that election. Says most proud day was when he put his hand to the square and took an oath.

12:03 PM Time for the silent majority to stop being silent.  Herrod one of the founding members of the Patrick Henry caucus. Says he has been perceived as ultraconservative or radical. But everyone is talking about the issues he has proposed. He’s actually done something on lands issues and Obamacare, he says.

12:06 PM Video of Mitt Romney introduces Orrin Hatch and asks for support. Warm and fuzzy music playing. Orrin on the stage alone. Lots of applause.

12:07 PM  Hatch says he has never let us down and he never will. This will be his last six years, and the most critical six years of all. The lady behind me is saying “yes” for everything he says (and “woo-hoo!”).

12:09 PM Hatch says he has proven his worth before, putting conservative judges on the court. As chairman of the finance committee, he will make difference that matter.  Will have ability to put the BBA on the floor to force every senator to vote for it.

12:10 PM Will fight for our land. It’s our state, it’s our land, and we should control it. Will make sure that Hill Air Force Base stays open permanently.

12:11 PM Hatch says he’s a tough old bird, and asks for the vote one more time. Voice cracks a little bit while closing, and lots of standing applause.

12:12 PM And back to Thomas Wright for credentials report. 3921 delegates here today. 79 did not make it, statewide.

12:18 PM Wright’s video is explaining how the elimination of candidates will occur. Says delegates must think about who is the second choice in case first choices are eliminated.

12:20 PM Wright calls for the poll watchers to go to the poll watching room while “Another One Bites the Dust” plays overhead. Also, because Washington County is sitting so far away from the voting machines, they are having to walk close to the center of the hall to cast their ballots.

12:22 PM Wright says 3900 votes have been cast and calls for the last 21 votes to be cast.

12:55 PM Here’s what happens when I get up. Hatch took 57% and we had a second round between Hatch and Liljenquist, and Wright has closed the polls for the second time. And people are loving this electronic voting.

12:57 PM Next up is the governor’s race. The speeches will start as soon as we have results from the second round of voting.

1:00 PM Results from second round are 40.81 % for Liljenquist and 59.19% for Hatch. Wowsers.

LIVE BLOGGING CONTINUED HERE.