One of the positive side effects of Joe Cannon — former greasy lobbyist, former GOP state party chairman and continuing brother to marginally sane Congressman Chris Cannon — being appointed editor of the recently re-sanctified Deseret News is that it has relit the fire in the belly of DNews political editor Bob Bernick.

In his Friday column, Bernick enumerates the crimes of the Utah County GOP's Gang of Four — state party chair/lobbyist Stan Lockhart (right) and wife, state Rep. Becky and Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble and his wife, party secretary Susan:

• Lockhart used party money and clout to raise money for the incumbent "Fab Five" most of whom are opposed within the party.
• E-mail addresses of GOP delegates were selectively released to candidates. Susan Bramble has access to them and Bramble has GOP opposition to his re-election. Bramble says he would never use his conjugal connections for an advantage.
  
• Chance Williams, who is challenging Rep. Mike Morley, was told to shut up about Big Mike's $2 million entanglement in a SEC lawsuit.
  
• Bramble GOP challengers are complaining about the high proportion of semi-secret "superdelegates" in Utah County that tips the odds in favor of party insiders.
  
• Lockharts' daughter was elected a delegate in a district that at the time she was not residing.

Says Bernick:

Note to a likely re-elected Huntsman, who is the nominal head of the party: In 2009 get involved in who the new GOP state chairman is and lead an effort to clean up the Utah Republican Party.