Trying to save his diminishing political future…. (The Hill) Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) addressed his bailout vote head-on Friday in his appearance before conservative activists. He said he regrets voting in favor of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) but added that he believes it prevented the nation from descending into an economic depression. 
“I probably made a mistake voting for it,” Hatch said, but then went on to justify the vote. “We were in trouble and it looked like we were heading for a depression. I believe we would have gone into a depression.”
Hatch got a mixed reaction from the conservative crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference. But he appeared unafraid to take on the crowd even as activists booed him on more than one occasion. (Read More)
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Rut Roh… (NPR) The Tea Party Express, the group sponsoring Tuesday’s forum, was a leading force in the Utah Senate race that ousted Bennett.   The group also helped dark-horse GOP Senate candidates knock off establishment front-runners in other states, including Alaska, Delaware, and Nevada. Tea Party Express spokesperson Levi Russell said that the group didn’t invite Hatch to the forum.   The senator invited himself.   Huh???