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Senator Bob Bennett has served the people of Utah well for nearly 18-years.
It's unfortunate the general populace didn't have opportunity to decide whether or not he should be retired at the end of his third term. Instead, his fate rested in the hands of a few thousand delegates at last weekend's state GOP convention who seemed determined to defeat him, whatever the cost.
Senator Bennett certainly has solid conservative credentials, but also an understanding of the art of political compromise and the ability to work closely with those of all persuasions. It is a gift sorely lacking in today's divisively toxic political climate. And, sadly it is an attribute that likely contributed to his defeat as anti-Washington fervor spreads across the nation.
KSL doesn't endorse candidates, and our criticism of what happened last Saturday should not be construed necessarily as support for Senator Bennett's re-election. Our concern is the way he was so unceremoniously, even boisterously defeated by a system that rewards extremist rhetoric more than rational dialogue. That this dedicated and capable public servant would be roundly booed, even vilified by resolution, speaks volumes about the tenuous nature of politics today.
For all he's done for Utah, Bob Bennett deserved better.
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