Trump moves to block Romney from the Senate

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

Donald Trump is going all out to persuade seven-term Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch to seek reelection — a push aimed in no small part at keeping the president’s longtime nemesis, Mitt Romney, out of the Senate.

Romney has been preparing to run for Hatch’s seat on the long-held assumption that the 83-year-old would retire. Yet Hatch, the longest-serving Republican senator in history, is now refusing to rule out another campaign — a circumstance Romney’s infuriated inner circle blames squarely on the president. Their suspicions are warranted: Trump has sounded off to friends about how he doesn't like the idea of a Senator Romney.

The president’s mostly behind-the-scenes campaign to sway Hatch will burst into public view on Monday, when he arrives in Salt Lake City to hold a well-choreographed event designed to showcase his affection for the powerful Senate Finance Committee chairman.

Trump’s appearance is ostensibly official in purpose: He will announce his decision to reduce the size of Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand-Staircase Escalante national monuments, a cause that Hatch has championed. But it's also undeniably political: To use the trappings of presidential power to get a veteran lawmaker to rethink his long anticipated plans to leave the Senate.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/03/trump-mitt-romney-utah-senate-hatch-276805

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[bucolic_frolic]

1. Pure Evil in Suits

[Irish_Dem]

2. Look at Trump's evil grin, he was toying with Romney here, and humiliating him.

He enjoys hurting others, a sadist.

[Cosmocat]

38. YEP

I thought that the moment I first saw this photo, heck even when I heard Romney went to see him - "he's my she dog" is what 45 is thinking.

People don't get it, but the point you noted about him being a sadist is a BIG part of why he tees up the base. Yes, he knows it keeps the dimwits in a constant state of disassociation with reality, but he REALLY gets off on the mean spiritedness of it. He REALLY enjoys mind screwing them.

[Irish_Dem]

39. Yes, it is not a political strategy, but a huge sadistic, ugly mess.

He creates it because he enjoys it.

[janterry]

3. Romney would support impeachment

trump knows this

[OnDoutside]

28. The same Romney who left his dignity at the door for the dinner above ?

I wouldn't be staking my lunch on that.

[madaboutharry]

4. Romney was a jerk for showing up for that meal.

It proves that he has poor judgment.

[JohnQFunk]

14. Nevertheless, Romney has more class in his most recent hangnail

… than Cheeto McTreasonWeasel's entire crime family has.

If I were Romney, I'd do an independent run, just to trigger Uncle Dotard and Orrin. I would wager better than 50-50 that Orrin would lose — and Romney would caucus with the Dems to stick one last shiv in Trump and/or Pence.

[Doodley]

22. Agreed. Romney could start a move towards GOP moderation and even rerun in 2020!

[JI7]

23. Hillary Clinton and other Democrats told him he should try to get the SOS Job

of course we know it was all bs on trump's part .

but it's not something i hold against him.

[Doodley]

5. Even as a Republican, Romney now looks like a saint.

[BootinUp]

9. Amazing, isn't it?

[riversedge]

10. I know what you mean!

[Hortensis]

19. Not to me! Religious extremists are potentially dangerous

in high power. This one absolutely knows our democracy is overdue for his god's takeover. The biggest open question for him is likely who will lead our military for god during the big shootout with Satan's hoards, which will be operating out of Russia and Iran. At least they were in November 2008, when he was, of course, sure god and Charles Koch had both chosen him and were working to elect him.

Speaking of successions, Hatch is #3 in line for the presidency--Pence, Ryan, Hatch. The seat normally is filled by Senate vote, traditionally for the oldest sitting member of the majority party, but that's just tradition.

And speaking of Satan, all three of those have extremely beneficial relationships with Charles Koch, who obviously takes more than a passing interest in who's in the succession. And, of course, the Kochs invested many millions in putting Romney in the oval office in 2008.

Be careful what you wish for. Btw, just looked and Sen. Grassley's currently the oldest Republican senator.

[Doodley]

21. RomneyCare Vs Trump No Care. I would beg for Romney to replace Trump.

[Hortensis]

40. Why do you think Romney would fight to save the ACA?

He never wanted the mandate that pays for it, and most Utah politicians have been trying to destroy it.

And if you're remembering what he did when he was governor of Massachusetts, I wouldn't depend on hat. He was governor of MASSACHUSETTS for one term to build his resume before running for the presidency. A liberal New England state.

Romney's deeply conservative, Mormonism is a fundamentalist religious he commits to 100%, and serving god as senator from Utah he would not behave the same way. And these days he'd also be simultaneously dancing cheek-to-cheek with the Kochs, much like Hatch.

During his campaign he literally changed his claimed agenda from audience to audience on the same day, whatever he thought would please each most. Even some of Romney's top campaign staffers said they had no idea what his true agenda was.

Which makes sense if you believe Romney's own often-repeated declaration that his life is devoted to the service of god. As president, his big job would be to prepare America to be the headquarters of god's kingdom here on earth, due to come about any day now.

He couldn't tell the truth about what policies, and our role in all this, THAT would entail, now could he?

[Doodley]

41. I agree, absolutely.

[Wellstone ruled]

24. As you say,carful what you wish for,

Hatch still runs Utah GOP. People hiding in the weeds in Utah you watch for, Jason Chaffetz,Josh Romney. Remember this,if things get to hot for Hatch,the present Governor will pick Orin's replacement if Hatch does a early out just to protect his seat without a Election.

Best guess will be who is on Stage with Trump tomorrow.

[greyl]

29. Is anything not relative? nt

[mobeau69]

6. He was bringing all the best people on board then. The best.

If I remember correctly, I was suicidal around this time period.

[fierywoman]

7. Who is more popular in Utah, Romney or Hatch?

Hatch's name, of course, keeps coming up as becoming prez in circles who hope the top guys (Trump, Pence, Ryan) will be indicted for Russian stuff.

[Scarsdale]

34. Will Donnie Two Scoops

be visiting Hatch's childhood home, under that rock??

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. What an evil, vindictive POS.

[msongs]

11. romney could primary hatch. stress the guy out big time nt

[George II]

12. PRIMARY the Hatch, please! Although I don't agree with him philosophically....

....Romney is SO much better than Hatch.

[SergeStorms]

25. Maybe Romney could get us all....

some of that 'Magic Underwear', and then we'd have nothing to fear! Kim Jong-Un doesn't have anything that can combat 'Magic Underwear'! Good old American made Magic Underwear at that!

[Scarsdale]

35. Mrs. Rmoney could

recruit Ivanka tRump's minions in China to make lots of those magic underwear garments - on the cheap. Make plenty for "those people" as she refers to anyone who is not rich.

[angstlessk]

13. By god! That's Alec Baldwin sitting in for trump!

Wonder who's playing romney?

[Rollo]

27. Mr. Rogers...

.

[More_Cowbell]

15. Romney should take on Hatch re: "people won't help themselves" remark

I bet that would resonate with people in his state.

[lastlib]

33. Mr. 47 Percent?

yeah, I can see that working out.........

[dawg day]

16. Orrin Hatch must be insane or senile

... said Trump was "one of the best presidents."
Time for him to go. Who ever runs against him should put that in an ad.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2017/11/30/sen-orrin-hatch-calls-donald-trump-one-of-the-best-presidents-hes-seen-in-office/

[Scarsdale]

36. Hatch looks as

though he has been pumped full of embalming fluid. So he can vote with the rest of the gop traitors on this tax scam.

[kimbutgar]

17. Romney help me mommy, hes an evil man

Romney would be an improvement over hatch and I think he still has a soul.

[lordsummerisle]

18. I can't believe Romney is coming across as the moderate one

wake me up when it's over...

[Scarsdale]

37. Rmoney can strap

his dog on the top of the limo, and campaign all over the country.

[Grins]

20. ...that "Big Tent" again...! (N/m)

[Drunken Irishman]

26. I will register as a Republican to vote for Romney in a primary against Hatch.

[Mike Nelson]

30. Hatch is...

...declining rapidly in health, in my opinion. Hatch can't control his thoughts anymore. Romney is essentially a "liberal" Republican that changed into something he's not... Romney would vote to impeach and try to reestablish the Republicans.

[Iliyah]

32. I have no faith in any GOP at this point in time

[democratisphere]

31. That is one evil picture!

The Last Supper in more ways than one........

[Jimbo S]

42. What the heck are they eating? eom