Eminentoes
Is Lindsey Graham Crackers?
The senator breaks his promise not to stray from the conservative reform agenda.
Have you ever seen a middle-aged white guy try and do the Macarena ?
You know the type. A few too many pops at the country club bar, he grabs the hot young Latina waitress and yanks her onto the dance floor. Convinced he’s doing an American Idol-worthy Ricky Martin imitation, somewhere in his brain as he stumbles awkwardly over his white shoes he actually thinks he’s sending The Tolerance Signal. The “ain’t I the hip white guy” sign. The evening ends with a tip to the waitress assuring her how much he supports “you people” in their ongoing struggle for truth, justice and the American way. Oh, and by the way, he’s been to Taco Bell.
The image came to mind watching the behavior of South Carolina’s Republican Senator Lindsey Graham during the confirmation hearings of Judge Sonia Sotomayor. He will vote for her confirmation.
Fleeing from principle, Graham, whose campaign website says he “never abandons his independence or strays from the conservative reform agenda,” did both.
Condescending to Sotomayor about her “wise Latina” beliefs, he also ruminated that some of the speeches she has given are “pretty disturbing,” and they “blow me away.” He wondered aloud “who are we getting” in a Justice Sotomayor, something not unlike guzzling scotch and wondering if there is a connection to perpetual hangovers. When this is followed by praise that she is “bold” and “edgy” and that “elections matter” and the president deserves “deference” and that “I desire as a Senator to find a new way to start over and get back to a Senate that’s more rational in its approach when it comes to confirmation,” Graham appears to be leading the rest of us to a disturbing conclusion.
Senator Graham is no dummy. To proceed to vote to put someone on the Court who is so obviously devoted to principles he claims to oppose gives new meaning to terms such as cowardly, lily-livered, irresolute, chickenhearted or, in Spanish, no cojones.
Or does it?
The problem exhibited by Graham is in fact not what it seems. It’s worse.
“Elections matter,” he says — citing President Obama’s victory. The election that mattered in South Carolina was the one in which Lindsay Graham ran on a pledge never to stray from the conservative reform agenda — and then did so. “Deference” to presidents? President George W. Bush would have appreciated Graham’s deference when he nominated William “Jim” Haynes to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Haynes, then the general counsel at the Pentagon, had been bold and edgy when it came to providing legal advice on the issue of detainees captured on the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq.
But Haynes’s record is not the point here. As a senator Graham is perfectly within his rights to vote “no” on a judicial nominee for any reason. The sly hypocrisy comes from Graham’s insistence that he is voting for Sotomayor in part because of his “desire as a Senator to find a new way to start over and get back to a Senate that’s more rational in its approach when it comes to confirmation.”
The lack of a “rational ..approach” in the confirmation process has many fathers, Ted Kennedy holding pride of place. But Mr. Graham’s performance on the Haynes nomination is part and parcel of this irrationality. Unlike Sotomayor, who will get a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee and a floor vote, Haynes’ 2003 nomination by Bush was, according to accounts at the time, held by Graham for four years. Realizing Graham would never allow him to receive a fair vote, Haynes withdrew in 2007.
As a majority-party Senator until 2007, Graham could have pushed for reform in the confirmation process, not least of all by his conduct with Haynes. He could have supported timelines for hearings, committee votes and floor votes, rules that would have applied to all judicial nominees of all presidents. He did not.
His performance on the Sotomayor nomination, aside from abandoning conservative principles to be seen as the tolerant hip guy who can dance the Macarena and eats at Taco Bell, is really something else.
A Senator operating from political weakness is offering to repair a judicial confirmation process he himself played a real role in damaging. By offering up his vote for the confirmation of a judge who has made it as plain as day she will practice identity politics from the bench.
Is Graham crackers? Unprincipled? Or just plain phony.
About the Author
Jeffrey Lord is a former Reagan White House political director and author. He writes from Pennsylvania at jlpa1@aol.com.
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danny| 7.29.09 @ 6:47AM
all three.
Fred Vazquez | 7.10.10 @ 12:58PM
2013 will be here before we know it. We in South Carolina cannot afford to have Lindsey Grahamnesty represent us any more. He has become one of Obama's "Go to guys" at great cost to America in general and South Carolina in particular.
herb| 7.29.09 @ 7:01AM
I so regret having voted for this phony. He has disapppointed in every respect the voters of South Carolina. They are pretty disappointing, too; in 2008 they returned him to office. Sigh.
Melvin| 7.29.09 @ 7:11AM
Mr. Lord is way to kind of his opinion of Lindsey Graham.
Many of us categorize Senator Graham in a much harsher tone. Senator Lindsay Graham is nothing more than a political horse's ass, who hasn't the courage to stand up for Conservative Principles.
Even a absolute fool could see that Sotomayor is a judicial activist and should have no place on the bench period.
Mr. Graham likes to grab is lapels, and stride forth and declare, "I'm an Independent type of guy, and no one owns me."
No, Mr. Graham, your Harry Reid's strumpet, and he bought you at bargain basement prices, now run along and play jelly fish with Arlen Specter.
Jan Mancini| 7.29.09 @ 7:15AM
He is toast!!!! When he isn't half up mccains butt he is searching for his revelance. He has none. His retirement will be lonely as not even the lobby crooks want him.
Kitty| 7.29.09 @ 7:20AM
Reason #4 could be blackmail. Maybe there's a yucky sex tape of him dangling over his head.
I say all 4.
...
JP| 7.29.09 @ 7:37AM
Senator Richard Lugar holds the distinction of being the first GOP Senator to come out and say Sottomayer has his vote. The confimation hearings weren't 3 hours finished when his office issued the press release. He made sure that word got out quickly on how even handed he was. It's all over the front page of his website.
Hegal, Graham, Lugar, McCain, Snow, Grassley, Collins... the Senate seems to be the place where the GOP has the deck stacked against it. And there appears to be no shortage of liberal people who carry the GOP badge that make the Senate thier home. Wealth, media attention, and most of all power seems to be what these people desire most. Lugar has been there almost 30 years, and has very little to show for it. His "get along and do nothing" approach seems to appeal to many Hoosiers who do not follow politics. He has built the aura (abetted by many in the media) of Elder Statesman. But, if the truth be known he does very little other than cut deals with the Democrats. All of that deal cutting is reflected in our $10 trillion defecit.
TennesseeVolunteer| 7.29.09 @ 7:52AM
Lindsey Graham is McCain Jr.
Pingback| 7.29.09 @ 7:56AM
Is Lindsey Graham Crackers? links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Big J| 7.29.09 @ 7:56AM
There was a brief moment during the hearings that I actually thought Grahamnesty was going to do the right thing.
Boy, was I wrong. It was a dog and pony show.
"See, I asked her some really tough questions. I am satisfied, I will vote to confirm her."
What a joke.
Gill O’Teen ✝✡| 7.29.09 @ 8:03AM
Mr. Lord, you begin this fine essay by asking, “Have you ever seen a middle-aged white guy try and do the Macarena?” Well, yes I have, though it was on TV. Wise weather guru Al Gore was seen performing this dance at the dumbocratic party convention back in 2000. He was every bit as exciting to watch then as cracker jack rino lindsey graham is now. Anybody who supports saint sonia, a racist enemy of the Second Amendment, for anything other than exile to Cuba is no conservative, but just another lying brain dead dinosaur congressman.
Larry| 7.29.09 @ 8:12AM
"Is Graham crackers? Unprincipled? Or just plain phony." All 3. And this is a surprise?
stephanie| 7.29.09 @ 8:15AM
Why in the hell do these RINOS keep getting elected? Hopefully the tragedy of this admistration will the citizenry to see t hings in different light and they will vote these traitors out next election.
Periwinkel| 7.29.09 @ 8:19AM
Thirty years from now, we will still be complaining about Miss Lindsey Graham as she becomes the dotty old aunt who continues to trip up the Senate Republicans but who keeps getting re-elected and re-elected and re-elected!
R. Thomas Trimble| 7.29.09 @ 8:31AM
With RINO's like Graham, Conservatives are doomed.
Phil| 7.29.09 @ 8:31AM
Yup! All three. I would add, you people in the great state of South Carolina should start a recall for that lying POS.
Load it if you got one if not go get you one cause there's surely gonna be a war, and it's getting closer.
Paul Ashley| 7.29.09 @ 8:31AM
When I heard LIndsey Graham's softball sychophantic questioning of Sotomayor, and it became apparent he'd vote for her, I immediately emailed his office telling him he was either extremely gullible - or cowardly. I felt a little guilty about my strong words, but your article shows I have company. Civility in the service of cowards is no virtue. As with BO, so with Lindsey; it's all about him.
Curly Smith| 7.29.09 @ 8:35AM
Lindsey Graham isn't a RINO, he embodies everything that the GOP wants in a candidate: he's flexible, he'll compromise, he's indistinguishable from a Democrat. No, Lindsey Graham isn't a RINO, he's a CINO (Conservative In Name Only), as is the vast majority of the GOP.
R Martin| 7.29.09 @ 8:38AM
South Carolina voters would be wise to wake up. They've got an Arlen Specter on their hands. Get rid of him.
Ray| 7.29.09 @ 8:52AM
I'm pretty much exactly like the 'ugly American' Mr. Lord described in his opening paragraph - except that I'm of Hispanic extraction - and I think Lindsey Graham is crackers.
louis tully| 7.29.09 @ 9:02AM
I agree with Curly.
No, Graham's behavior is not crazy, its typical Whig behavior. Graham is not exceptional. To the contrary, he is quite representative of his party. The guy you lampooned is exactly the kind of person today's GOP promotes. The list is almost too long--McCAin, Specter, Collins, Snow, Grassley, Hagel, Martinez, Voinovich, DeWine, Cornyn, and on and on and on. This is the Bush-Rove GOP.
Crazy behavior? that would be supporting the Whigs, financially or otherwise.
John| 7.29.09 @ 9:09AM
I wonder if someone has a compromising picture of him that he doesn't want published?
Derek Leaberry| 7.29.09 @ 9:12AM
Graham hates conservatives, that is plain. Conservatives had a chance to dump Graham in the 2008 Republican Party primary and proved impotent. That is the fault of conservatives, especially South Carolina conservatives. Hopefully, Obama might appoint Graham Defense Secretary a couple years down the roat after Robert Gates retires.
Ron Liebman| 7.29.09 @ 9:15AM
Used to think that Graham was principled. If he thinks he has a Republican future in politics beyond South Carolina, he'd better reevaluate now. I'll never vote for this creep. Kudos to the other Senate Republicans who had the courage to vot "NO" (Sessions, Hatch, et al.).
John G| 7.29.09 @ 10:03AM
Oh c'mon y'all. Ms Lindsey Graham is a Southern Belle. They talk so sweet while they stab you in the back.
Bob NT| 7.29.09 @ 10:26AM
Graham is the symptom of a large and intractable problem. He is the product of our being asleep at the switch. These clowns are perennially reelected because the voters for the most part are not paying attention.
We can bitch and moan all we want about the Rinos, and the party elites but unless and until we are willing and able to do the hard work the results will not change significantly.
We must begin now in earnest to explain to our families, neighbors, friends and coworkers what is at stake. Too many just trun away.. ‘ I don’t really pay much attention to politics” or “they are all the same” or “my vote really doesn’t matter” or “I have too much on my plate already” is what you hear most often when you ask someone about a current political issue.
To quote a famous line from the ‘Untouchables’ when the fight is getting tough Connery asks Costner “What are you willing to do?”
The only way we get rid of Graham and the rest of the Rinos is to increase our involvement by an order of magnitude. If before no you have been active in voting and volunteering and contributing you need to consider running. If up until now you have seen it as your civic duty to keep yourself informed you need to now organize and teach.
You have to be willing to speak out to your family friends and neighbors and encourage to the point of annoyance that they take notice of what is going on. Spoon feed them if you must but they must be made to see that they have a vital stake in this boil issues down to bite size nuggets and force feed them if you must.
For almost a generation our education system has abandoned civics education as a result we must become remedial educators.
There are several great books out now Levin’s ‘Liberty and Tyranny’ and Becks Common sense come immediately to mind. Share them! Send one to a friend or relative, discuss them. We must educate everyone within our reach about our founding principles and why they are not just the right choice but the only choice.
Vinny| 7.29.09 @ 10:27AM
Ever wonder why democrats rarely if ever change party affiliations yet Republicans change on a dime it seems. Why are Republicans so anxious to be bipartisan when the democrats are not? I think it's simple, the libs believe what they say no matter how warped it is while the people we trust to represent us are only thinking about themselves. Lindsey Graham has been a turncoat for years and I would not for a minute be surprised he pulls an Arlen Spector on us.
It's time we as conservatives stand up for our principles fight the left even when it seems the world and the mainstream media are all against us. It's time we start pointing out the sins of the left and show them the true history of why the Republican party came into existence. Put the years and votes of both parties side by side and show which party stands for the rights of man. Then maybe even the disenfranchised voter would see the truth of who they have been backing all these years and hopefully realize they have been trampled upon and taken for granted by the very party they have supported all these years.
Bob NT | 7.29.09 @ 10:33AM
I have been thinking a lot lately of how as an individual can I impact what is happening. It has occurred to me that a model exists that has been very successful. It is one that could be used to advantage in this situation. If you have ever been to a network marketing presentation you have probably seen someone show the numerical power of 3. You get three people and help them get 3 people and they help them get 3 people and so on. In the network marketing presentation it is the means by which they sell their soaps or services.
Regardless of how you feel about network marketing the underlying principle is both sound and useful in this context. Very few of us can honestly see ourselves making much of an impact individually. The problem is too big; the nation is just too vast. We are fighting entrenched powers and organizations. But everyone knows 3 people. If we each can get 3 people who in turn each get 3 people who in turn each get 3 people by the time the process is repeated 10 times you have touched almost 20, 000 people.
If we keep the message simple sticking to the core of our founding principles, if we further keep the actions to be taken manageable, we can retake our country.
I am tired of the polished packaged tried and true party regulars promising to make things better and delivering the same downward corrupt spiral. These clowns care nothing for the constitution or the people they are elected to serve, they care only about their own power and privilege. The only way we will ever hope to have citizen legislators as envisioned by our founders is to take an aggressive and active interest and ACT.
Kind of like baseball you can go to every game, you can memorize every statistic, you can be an authority on the rules, you can discuss the intricacies of the every game but until you step on to the field pick up a ball or a bat you cannot affect the outcome of the game. Unfortunately this is not a game it is our future and we can choose to let the self described ‘professionals’ decide what’s best for us or we can get in the game and affect the outcome.
My suggestion may not be sophisticated, may not be effective, and may even be corn ball, but that we must get involved is not in question. Sorry to have gone on so long.
Voter| 7.29.09 @ 10:34AM
He (Miss Graham) has disappointed me for the last time. Never will I cast a vote for him again!
rdman| 7.29.09 @ 10:34AM
Jeffrey... you are too kind!
Graham epitomizes what's wrong with Washington DC... phony, deceitful, duplicitous frauds, selling their calculated positions to a public to the point where We, The People can no longer tell the fabricated image from the real person. Citizen voters are so seduced by the slick package that they often do not realize that there is nothing in it… the package is the message.
NOT ANY MORE... Graham and his RINO buddies have exposed themselves!!!!
We, The People need to eliminate the Washington DC snake-pit of entrenched appeasing, expediency, placating and crab-walking despots by voting these delusional, parasitic, megalomaniac realpolitiks out of government… they are not worthy to represent We, The People of this magnificent Country.
Ben Trovato| 7.29.09 @ 10:36AM
With the likes of Scalia and Thomas on the Supreme Court there needs, of necessity, to be a 'tempering" factor such as Sotomayor. Frick and Frack, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, call them what you will, have done more harm in relieving us of some of our freedoms than anyof the others on The Court. And, if they had their way, they'd have us all attending church services several times a day, relegate women to slave status, work for coolie wages and go to war with any nation whose leader dared "glare" at our president.
Souter was a decent man and he will be missed. I'm just thankful that he won't have been replaced by another of Scalia'a and Thomases ilk.
Tim| 7.29.09 @ 10:39AM
The Senator's a dupe. There's a straight line to be drawn from Sotomayor's decision in Ricci to Obama's knee jerk decision on the Cambridge incident.
loulou| 7.29.09 @ 10:43AM
Li'l Lindsey is unprincipled AND a phoney.
I don't think there are any compromising photos he's worrying about. Everyone already knows.
RustyG| 7.29.09 @ 10:51AM
Careful Mr. Lord.... I hear a lecture coming. "All you racist bigots need to shut up." I think that was Graham's Shamnesty quote.
Paul from SA| 7.29.09 @ 11:39AM
Lindsey Graham is one reason why I am not a Republican anymore.
He is planning to run for president, just like his buddy John McCain did. He thinks this vote will help him.
Everytime Sonia Sotomayor makes a bad decision on the court, we should call Lindsey Graham.
F-22| 7.29.09 @ 11:40AM
Lindsey Graham is SO gay.
Louis Jenkins| 7.29.09 @ 11:55AM
Lindsey Grahamnesty is a joke. Once upon a time you could count on SC producing some dyed in the wool conservatives. I guess Gen. Sherman killed off the conservative gene pool during his tour of the South. If Graham runs in 2012 his political slogan will be "Four More Years!"
Jill Gershen| 7.29.09 @ 12:08PM
If "standing up for principle" means siding with the majority party and abandoning core values just to be with the "in" crowd, then he's principled. Frankly, if it's now OK with him that this woman truly believes her "wise latina" decisions to be superior to those of Roberts or Alito, then he really has abandoned his ethical conservative values and should probably go the way of Arlen Spector.
ds80| 7.29.09 @ 12:13PM
ATTENTION: Liberal Public Service Announcement
(See Ben Trovato| 7.29.09 @ 10:36AM)
Ben, please elaborate:
What is meant by "the likes of Scalia and Thomas" ? I'm assuming it's synonymous - but if I'm wrong, please also expound on "ilk"
Which freedoms of your have you been "relieved of"
Can you provide evidence for your claims of "attending church services several times a day, women to slave status, coolie wages, war with any nation"
No? Ok. We'll file your posts under "baseless invective"
Michael Tomlinson| 7.29.09 @ 12:13PM
The best way to have reformed the judicial nominating system, as to pay deference to a President’s Supreme Court choice, would have been refusing to join John McCain's ill advised gang of 14 that undermined Presidential prerogative. But reforming the system or restoring civility to the process is not the issue. The real issue is Sotomayor – based on her record is she a credible Supreme Court justice? The answer is a resounding NO!
Sadly, like the man who appointed her she lacks intellectual credibility and depth, racial tolerance and empathy for the truth that should be factors in measuring a SCOTUS nominee. That she lied throughout her testimony about her racial bigotry stands in sharp contrast to her previous honesty – revealing that like her political master she is a self-serving and mendacious creature. In short Graham is choosing to vote for a racist bigot with a superficial knowledge of the law suffering dubious and questionable integrity. This stands in glaring contrast to the outstanding selections of President George W. Bush whose nominees for the Supreme Court and Federal bench were consistently excoriated, slandered and libeled by Democrats.
As for those who would rather belittle Republicans than address specific issues you are one reason the Democrats control Congress, Barack Obama is in the White House and Sonya Sotomayor will be on the Supreme Court. Elections do mean something and attacking Republicans ad hominem only helps Democrats. Quit being Democrats patsies or expect Obama to get the second term he believes he’s entitled to.
Jeffrey Lord| 7.29.09 @ 12:22PM
Ben....
"And, if they had their way, they'd have us all attending church services several times a day, relegate women to slave status, work for coolie wages and go to war with any nation whose leader dared "glare" at our president. "
How can this be? They aren't Democrats?
Joe | 7.29.09 @ 12:23PM
He have been an eye sore for some time. He was part of the gang of 14 that stop some good people for the appelete courts.
Lester Jackson, Ph.D.| 7.29.09 @ 1:37PM
Reading conservative comments on the Sotomayor vote, one does not know whether to laugh or cry. Jeffrey Lord omits the most important single criticism regarding Lindsey Graham. He just faced the voters in 2008. Why is he still in the Senate? There is no excuse. Graham made clear long ago what he is.
The true target of conservative criticism of Graham’s vote should be conservatives themselves. One can almost understand how John McCain gets away with so much because he is from Arizona. But how and why in the world did conservatives permit such an insidious man as Graham to be reelected from so conservative state as South Carolina? Could no true conservative in the whole state be found to run? Where are the conservative resources? If conservatives could not or would not take advantage of the opportunity to defeat this man, they are a pitiful paper tiger. They are also laughable when they take solace in the claim that Sotomayor had to commit perjury by pretending to be what she’s not because the American people support judicial restraint and oppose activism and as many as 30 Senators will vote against confirmation. So what? We know what Sotomayor will do once she’s on the Court?
Since confirmed judges are unaccountable, there will be no improvement until conservatives actually hold the Grahams of the political world accountable for the predictable activism of those they vote to confirm.
Until this happens, conservatives will be reduced to pathetically crying on each others’ shoulders and taking solace in “moral victories.”
Derek Leaberry| 7.29.09 @ 1:54PM
As I hinted at in my original post, I concur with what Dr. Jackson has just written. Lindsey Graham has shown only disdain for conservatives and yet only a minor, poorly funded former state committeeman was willing to go up against Graham in the 2008 primary. Conservatives, from Mark Sanford to the incumbent Republican congressmen from South Carolina, are all to be blamed for Graham's free pass. And you know what? Graham is even more emboldened to stick his thumb in the eyes of conservatives.
somnolence| 7.29.09 @ 2:27PM
Part of the reason I rip up everything Michael Steele and the GOP send to my house these days. They still don't get it.
David T.| 7.29.09 @ 3:13PM
Lindsey Graham and his buddy John McCain represent everything that is wrong with the Republican Party today.
KR| 7.29.09 @ 3:26PM
I'm from SC, and he won't get my vote ever again. What a pedantic, self-important fraud.
Maggie | 7.29.09 @ 3:31PM
Well, somebody had to fill those tiny little shoes of Arlen Specter. I'd say Limpsey Graham does a fine job of it!
i.m. madashell| 7.29.09 @ 3:42PM
F-22 -- I've been waiting for someone to say it! Thank goodness I live in Alabama, where men are men.
Wright| 7.29.09 @ 3:44PM
I would like to make a snarky remark on the wisdom (or lack thereof) of the people of South Carolina on sending this jerk to the Senate. Unfortunately, I live in Minnesota.
Bobby Weeks| 7.29.09 @ 3:51PM
As a S.Carolinian who never voted for this idiot,I am sick of hearing and seeing him always doing the wrong thing and NEVER representing the SC voters.
So he'll get voted in again I guess. Shame on us.
Pam| 7.29.09 @ 3:52PM
Does Lindsey participate in townhall meetings? I am not a resident of South Carolina; however, I have written and called the graham many times. I am pleading for the residents of S.C. to confront this "whatever" at a townhall meeting. I would love to watch the show on YOU TUBE. Good Luck.
captainmike| 7.29.09 @ 4:24PM
I have heard him referred to as "Lightfoot" Lindsey, among other things, down here on the coast, and that's probably why he sucks up to the Dems. I just can't understand why the Bible Belt upstaters who vote for him can't see him for what he really is. He gets most of his campaign contributions from the same groups that fund the Dems.
Richard Baker| 7.29.09 @ 4:34PM
Emasculation is his problem. A gelding isn't sure because there's no testosterone flowing. Don't think that the voters in South Carolina are very pleased that they have a eunuch as US Senator.
GC| 7.29.09 @ 4:50PM
Graham represents the wing of the GOP that I despise. When asked about my politics, I tell people that I'm a conservative. I no longer call myself a Republican. The GOP can have my vote again when they start running conservatives again. McCain was the last straw for me.
Richard Baker| 7.29.09 @ 4:57PM
GC:
Absolutely correct. These clowns are trying to emulate the Whigs. Remember the Whigs? The Republican Party replaced them. Is history repeating itself? Who will be the replacement party?
Bill in Lexington SC| 7.29.09 @ 5:12PM
My friends & I have been protesting Grahmnesty for YEARS. We protest at any area function where he dares to show his slimy face. During the campaign, Grahmnesty quit showing up anywhere that wasn't a $100 a plate function for HIM - I presume because of me & my pals. If traitor Grahmnesty shows his face around here, we will continue to greet his betrayals in like manner. SC desperately needs a "recall" statute for clowns like that.
Pam| 7.29.09 @ 5:15PM
Thanks Bill in Lexington and your friends for your protests against Lindsey!!!!!!!!!!!!!
William| 7.29.09 @ 5:31PM
"Is Graham crackers? Unprincipled? Or just plain phony."
He is a kapo. Most elected Republicans are.
chemman| 7.29.09 @ 5:32PM
Curly Smith good acronym. But I'll stick to the one that I have been using at other sites. Senator Graham is a DICC, pronounced DICK, Democrat in Conservative Clothing. (Liberally translated from wolf in sheep's clothing)
William| 7.29.09 @ 5:43PM
Ben Trovato - you are a definitely belong to the Brownshorts of the Turd Reich.
300,000,000 guns in private hands in this nation.
Think you have enough Brownshorts to take them all?
John Girvan| 7.29.09 @ 5:47PM
Senator Graham is the ultimate phoney weasel!
John Girvan| 7.29.09 @ 5:48PM
Senator Graham is the ultimate phoney weasel!
William| 7.29.09 @ 5:58PM
Michael Tomlinson wrote: "As for those who would rather belittle Republicans than address specific issues you are one reason the Democrats control Congress, Barack Obama is in the White House and Sonya Sotomayor will be on the Supreme Court. Elections do mean something and attacking Republicans ad hominem only helps Democrats. Quit being Democrats patsies or expect Obama to get the second term he believes he’s entitled to."
............................
Just 8 years ago we worked and donated and voted to give it ALL to the GOP.
EVERYTHING.
And here we are. With nothing.
Such GOP and Bush family epic failure cannot be belittled. It is so impotent, so incompent, so inexcusably small that there it is IMPOSSIBLE to belittle the hand wringing eunuchs and simpering Quislings who make up and dominate the Republican Club.
Damnation and swift oblivion to the GOP.
Greg| 7.29.09 @ 6:10PM
"Is Graham crackers? Unprincipled? Or just plain phony."
Yes!
Tom in So Cal | 7.29.09 @ 6:56PM
Apparently, Sen. Lindsey Graham does not know that ‘ideology’ is the very definition of political orientation, an orientation based on foundational principles that characterize the thinking of a group or even an entire nation. Abandoning your ideology means abandoning your principles. RINO’s as ‘fixers’ are a huge part of the GOP’s problem.
As long as RINOs are running the GOP as all but Democrat-Socialist Lite, the Republican Party is no more “relevant” than boobs on a bull. “Useless” is about as kind a word as I can think of for an opposition party that chooses to enable America's slide into an anticapitalist socialist-democracy rather than vehemently fighting against it.
It absolutely underscores the argument that the RINOs aren’t opposed to socialism, they just want to ease into it rather than see it implemented quite so quickly. To the RINO’s, the re-establishment of the America the Founding Fathers intended is of far far less importance than their own momentary popularity. Just like the nonsense blathering talking heads we see on TV when they speak from their wooden thrones in the chambers of Congress, and from the Oval Office for that matter, it’s all about their popularity and keeping themselves on their thrones. Not one iota more.
To paraphrase good ol’ Benjamin Franklin, ‘Those who would abandon principle to achieve power will lose both, and be worthy of neither.’
See ya later bye, RINO Senator Lindsey Graham. You abysmally performing lecherous self-serving scumbag. I, for one, am sick and tired of you and all the other RINO’s that profess strong Republican principles then shun those very principles in favor of moving up a notch in the popularity contest.
Don’t let the door hit you on your big fat RINO buttocks on the way out, Senator Lindsey Graham.
PCP Smoker| 7.29.09 @ 7:39PM
He is "Goober" as Levin calls him. He is also "Grammensty", as Limpaw calls him, and that is really the reason for the Soto-Mayor vote.
vatvince37| 7.29.09 @ 7:51PM
I need not duplicate the sentiments expressed here by a large number of respondents about Sen. Graham's "conservative" credentials, but, along with Signor Jackson, et al. I must once again remind you that when you use the term RINO, you are being somewhat disengenous: the Republican Party is populated with large numbers of Liberals who make no bones about their political proclivities. Hence, they are accepted by default: no "conservative" would vote for a Democrat.
I sit on the Board of the American National Council for Immigration Reform (ANCIR), and last Fall some of our people went to So. Carolina to educate the voters about where Sen Grahmnesty stood on the issues, especially amnesty for illegal aliens. We received no support from the State's GOP, which is understandable in that Graham, like his fellow GOP stalwart, Orrin Hatch of Utah, now have the state's party mechanism pretty much tied up and one that closes the door to primary contenders. Perhaps the conservative voters of So. Carolina feel differently, but Graham's actions cannot seriously carry the label "conservative."
I also remind you that former President Bush, whom I largely fault for the disintegration of the GOP, often acted in ways totally against conservatives: he refused offer Pat Toomey, the real conservative in the race, any support against Snarlin' Arlen Specter, the president would not sypport the GOP candidate who ran against Lieberman. Yes, his picks for the Supremes were superb, but the political machinery of "conservative" Republicanism was seriously eroded.
Finally, I cannot help but smile when I see the name "Ben Trovato," followed by the drivel that follows. As Signor Ben Trovato well knows, his nom de plume signifies "a bright idea," something, unfortunately, the formulation of his ideas fails to achieve.
Had Enough| 7.29.09 @ 7:56PM
Maybe Palin will come down and kick his pansy ass in a cage fight. RUN THIS BUM OUT.
Siegfried X| 7.29.09 @ 8:59PM
These RINO senators get reelected to their six year terms by pretending to be conservative during the two years before the election, like McCain is doing now. As soon as McCain is reelected, he will be his RINO self again, bear hugging every Democrat is sight and voting for their stuff (amnesty).
Greg| 7.29.09 @ 9:39PM
Lindsey Graham is a jackass. Republicans like him are a piece of crap. He is no conservative. Politicians like him are a reason I no longer consider myself a Republican. This party is now a party of cowards. Join the Constitution Party!
Cow Rie| 7.29.09 @ 11:47PM
God save us from Snow, Collins, Goober Graham, and Grassley. It is time to target and eliminate these fools.
Steve| 7.30.09 @ 7:53AM
He is counting on McLame making him his VP when McLame is put up by the Repub's in 2010 for the president nomination.
Pingback| 7.30.09 @ 8:20AM
The Conservative War Against Lindsey Graham (and the GOP) : The Pink Flamingo links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
WorkingTommyC| 7.30.09 @ 8:21AM
Gaham spent something like $10 million in 2008 to beat virtual unknowns in the primary and fall elections by blanketing the airwaves with his lies about his being a conservative. Add the $305 million in earmarks used in FY 2007 alone to buy votes and reward campaign donors and it was difficult for the challengers (both of whom I actively and monetarily supported) to get any traction with the media. The media here and nationally are very friendly to Graham and the other fascist liberals in both parties.
Graham is the "Corporate Welfare Queen." He is a puppet of the mega-corporations as well as one of the biggest promoters of big government. He has cynically traded their campaign contributions for taxpayer money and eschewed principles as he has maneuvered between being a liberal and a somewhat socially conservative Senator in order to maximize his exposure. The only thing you can count on with Graham is that he will do whatever gains him money, power, or exposure.
If you REALLY want to know what's driving him in his Sotomayor vote, look at how he and Lieberman were treated by Obama at first with their being consulted on international matters. After that, Lindsey has been virtually ignored.
I have it on very good authority that Graham wants a cabinet level appointment and would probably take less than that if offered. He took it upon himself in this approval process to play both good cop and bad cop himself. He wanted to show Obama in his harsh grilling of Sotomayor that if he were to be further ignored, he can cause a lot of trouble. He also wanted to show, with his vote of approval, that he can defy his constituents and openly support Obama. He only publicly rationalizes his vote as being one in his quest for a more "rational" confirmation process.
The reason for all his constant political maneuvering, IMHO, is that Graham is going to make a run for President. He's going to follow McCain's footsteps and ignore his home state while pursuing his political career. He thinks he can keep the money coming in for repeated attempts for the nomination.
I know that it sounds pathetic, but Graham is arrogant beyond belief. He really does think most people like him. The liberal media certainly do.
Graham has already put himself in a poll of Republican possible nominees and, of course, polled dead last. This will not deter him, however. As I've said, he's arrogant. He wants Obama to "promote" him beyond his Senate seat in order to gain national attention. Graham knows he needs more national recognition and executive branch experience to add to his resume. A Presidential appointment would put him in a place of prominence from which he can campaign and, he thinks, appeal to a wide variety of big government donors and voters nationwide of both major parties.
G. A. Kevis| 7.30.09 @ 9:02AM
The answer for Graham-ites:
GOP Primaries.
To weed out GOP apostates.
JACK| 7.30.09 @ 2:29PM
I did not vote for Senator Graham because he does not represent the voters of his State. In his mind, he votes his mind and not the wishes of the people he represents. I do not favor confirmation because of Sotomayors statement about her interpretation of the Second Amendment and I believe in the Law, as written, and not how a justice "feels" about the law. The law is the law.
Alan| 7.30.09 @ 4:49PM
Lindsey Graham is a John McCain Republican. As is the pathetic Tim Pawlenty, who sat on his ass and did nothing while the ACORN employee who was his state's Secretary of State took Norm Coleman's rightful victory and gave it to a buffoon.
RINOs. Add the names Lugar, Bob Gates, Jim Jones, Janice Brewer in Arizona, Schwarzenegger in California (at least, unlike Brewer, he finally showed some guts and sided with the smashed-up taxpayers of his state against Democratic Special Interests) to the names of Graham and Pawlenty.
Memo to Michael Steele - Unless you rid the Party of these RINOs and perverts like Ensign and Sanford, we will continue to lose elections, when sadly, this time we CAN WIN.
No more to the McLosers, the Grahams, the Pawlentys, the Lugars. NO MORE.
Alan| 7.30.09 @ 4:53PM
Steve,
I don't think you'll have to worry about McLoser being back in 2010. He may very well be ousted by those of us in Arizona who plan to vote for Chris Simcox, a true Conservative over the guy who bleeped at a fellow Republican John Cornyn but didn't have his military guts or brains to utter three words at Obama during the debate - Wright, Ayers, Khalidi.
Had he done so, and showed some fire instead of being another Jerry Ford, we might have been spared the piece of crap sitting in Lincoln's House.
McLoser is going to have his hands full this next time.
R Smith| 7.30.09 @ 5:31PM
I wish he would join Specter and we would be shed of him.
Don White | 7.30.09 @ 5:35PM
I agree with most of the above comments and all of Ben's article. What is a hearing supposed to do, put the nominee in mortal fright by reiterating the truth, then have the Republican senator -- because Democrats at least are honest, evil through and through -- swoop in at the last moment and say "You've passed the scrutiny test, I'll vote for you despite your obvious inadequacies?" False magnanimity by senators should be outlawed and Graham should resign. He's no conservative, not even a social or a neo conservative. He's a charlatan and South Carolina voters should oust him soon as possible. It was a disgusting display of deceit in front of a national audience. Run him for the local dog catcher, and he would probably let all the dogs go in a show of vain glory.
Don White
Roy Thompson| 7.30.09 @ 6:14PM
I live in Nashville, Tn. and found out today that the old traitor, Lamar Alexander, is going to vote for her confirmation too. I wonder if Graham and Alexander would vote for her if they were up for re-election next year. I say no. Of course, when they are getting close to the election, they will change course and try to show their conservative side, but I hope that the voters aren't fooled. I sure want be. We have to get all the Rinos out.
Obi Won| 7.30.09 @ 6:37PM
1--"Crackers" Graham stars in "Revenge of the Sith" (hint: he's one of the Sith)
2--Da Dems, dey got somethin' good on old "Crackers" (wonder what it is), and they own the boy
JimmyMac| 7.30.09 @ 6:54PM
Curly and others have hit the nail on the head: the Republican Party is now run by RINOS.
So, I guess we can no longer call them RINOs. I think we'll have to use another term for these unprincipled turncoats: Republican
JimBeam| 7.30.09 @ 7:05PM
Lindsey Graham owns the center of South Carolina politics. As a result, neither the right nor the left will be able to defeat him.
South Carolina has open primaries and a "true conservative" from South Carolina will be more than enough to scare all the country club Republicans and Independents into voting for Graham.
Leo Rugiens | 7.30.09 @ 7:59PM
Graham, Lugar, Hatch, et al will keep the Republican Party a minority party in Congress in 2010 and 2012. Truly they are RINOs and CINOs.
Chris| 7.30.09 @ 9:18PM
http://www.ourcaucus.com/
The conservative movement is dead in the Republican party. Both parties are, by and large, virtually identical and their loyalties lie with lobbyists/special interests. Political ideology is not a factor, as the lobbyists contribute equally to both parties on any issue just so they can make sure they have their bases covered. The country is a virtual Oligarchy, run by the few for the few and the rest of us simply don't matter. Join the Independence Caucus, and, even if you don't join, at least go to the link above and look at the 12 Articles videos that explain very well how we got here and what to do about it.
Brian Richard Allen | 7.30.09 @ 9:50PM
"Is Graham crackers? Unprincipled? Or just plain phony?"
Yes.
Brian Richard Allen
Lost Angeles - Califobambicated 90028
And the Far Abroad
Tony| 7.30.09 @ 11:00PM
If Governor Sarah Palin wants to do America a favor she could take over the GOP and "clean house". Declare a Bill of Principles (a la Martin Luther) and then stage an official "eviction" of anyone who refuses to sign on to them from the party. ...No gov't funded abortions, no treaties that cede American sovereignty; no unconstitutional expenditures whatsoever and especially no playing "nice" with the Party of Racism, Communism & Treason. We may lose some elections at first, but dammit I will
NEITHER belong to, nor support any party that welcomes the likes of Collins, Snow, McCain, Lugar, Grassley & this clown in particular. The GOP needs to be "rebranded" and it needs to stand for some identifiable ideals. We need to have that debate and then Gov. Palin needs to be drafted to enforce them.
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Arnold Irwin Persky| 7.31.09 @ 12:13PM
Wrote Lindsey as he had practiced before me while on active duty. Shamefull to see a talented attorney vote for an activist, unqualified person because of her ethnic background.
AMBRO| 8.1.09 @ 7:16PM
Hey everyone.....remember when Lin called anyone to his right on the Amnesty bill the "noisy people"? Prez Bush said"I'll see you at the signing"? Various remarks by Kay Hutchinson, Asa Hutchinson, Cornyn, etc.?
Whatever you may think of the Amnesty bill, the supporters certainly expressed their contempt for all those 'baccy-chewin', spit-droolin', one-busted-strap-overall-wearin', gun-ownin', Bible-readin', fly-over-country gazoonies in no uncertain terms.
To do an historical overwiew...Sen. Barry Goldwater's most virulent critics were the Establishment Stoopid Party(GOP)-Rockefeller-Nixon-NorthEastern Country Club republicans. They also were most active in the GOP campaign to indifferently support, if not actively sabotage his campaign.
Does history repeat itself?once again?
suzy| 8.1.09 @ 11:10PM
I used to be impressed with his ability to speak out for Republicans. But now I am I believe they have something on him. He will join Sanford and Edward's with some dirty little secrets dragged across the tabloids if he does anything they do not like. Obama & Soro's and Company have dug up on the goods on all their opponents and will expose at will. It is a tragedy for our country. Look for more scandals closer to 2010.
Steve| 8.2.09 @ 7:51AM
People of S. C. start a recall campaign against him.
RationalGeezer| 8.2.09 @ 2:01PM
Sen. Grahamnesty is only one of several reasions why I left the Republiwussie Party. Save your postage, cowards; no more money from this former sucker.
Joel| 8.3.09 @ 2:40PM
It shames me to say that I voted for this closet socialist democrat.
Raygun9| 8.9.09 @ 12:57PM
Graham would do well to listen to Rush's admonition to the Blue Dogs - If you talk one way and vote another-you will be out of a job - Just ask all those Republicans that went down in defeat.
poptropica | 4.9.10 @ 11:30PM
I’ll have a Poptropica full written walkthrough very soon, but in the meantime, here are some answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Mythology Island. Having trouble? Post a question in the comments and I’ll try to answer it!
Getting Hercules to Help You Poptropica
Hercules won’t help you until you have all five items from Zeus’ quest. Once you have the five items, bring them to Athena. Zeus will appear and steal them. The big jerk! Once this happens, talk to Athena and she will tell you that Hercules will help you. You’ll need to have the magic mirror from Aphrodite because Hercules doesn’t want to have to walk. He’s so lazy!
Getting the Hydra Scale poptropica
You can see how to do this in the videos, but basically you need to jump up when the Hydra is about to strike. He will rear one of his heads back to attack and his eyes will bulge out. poptropica
When this happens, jump up in the air and then try to land on top of his head. That head will get knocked out. When all five heads get knocked out, the Hydra will be asleep and you can click on him to get one of the scales. poptropica
I’ll have a full written walkthrough very soon, but in the meantime, here are some answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Mythology Island. Having trouble? Post a question in the comments and I’ll try to answer it!poptropica
Getting Hercules to Help You
Hercules won’t help you until you have all five items from Zeus’ quest. poptropica
Once you have the five items, bring them to Athena. Zeus will appear and steal them. The big jerk! Once this happens, talk to Athena and she will tell you that Hercules will help you.poptropica
. You’ll need to have the magic mirror from Aphrodite because Hercules doesn’t want to have to walk. He’s so lazy!
Getting the Hydra Scale
You can see how to do this in the videos, but basically you need to jump up when the Hydra is about to strike. He will rear one of his heads back to attack and his eyes will bulge out.Poptropica When this happens, jump up in the air and then try to land on top of his head. That head will get knocked out. When all five heads get knocked out, the Hydra will be asleep and you can click on him to get one of the scales. poptropica
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