Graham, DeMint differ on strategies for GOP to regain power [the time for choosing is coming]

McClatchy / The Herald, Rock Hill, SC ^ | 2009-10-25 | James Rosen

[rabscuttle385]

WASHINGTON -- The national debate among Republicans over their party's future is nowhere sharper than in South Carolina, where Sens. Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint pursue distinctly different visions for restoring GOP primacy at the polls.

Graham and DeMint, who profess to be friends and live within an hour's drive of each other in the conservative Upstate, prescribe conflicting cures for the Republican ailments that led to sweeping defeats in the last two national elections.

Graham, a Seneca Republican elected to his second term last year, says the party must stop alienating young people and Hispanics and start promoting pragmatic, “center-right solutions” to the country's most pressing problems.

. . . . .

DeMint, a Greenville Republican seeking to win a second term next year, believes that young voters and ethnic Americans will flock to GOP candidates if they push plain conservative principles and offer a stark contrast to Democrats.

[rabscuttle385]

“The overwhelming majority of conservatives and independents appreciate the fact that their elected leaders are trying to solve hard problems,” Graham said.

“South Carolinians could care less who I work with,” he said. “Most people in South Carolina are looking for their elected officials to improve their lives, get the unemployment situation turned around and help our environment to get cleaner.”

Well, I, for one, resent it when a representative of the people refers to you and me, the free men and women of this country, as "the masses." This is a term we haven't applied to ourselves in America. But beyond that, "the full power of centralized government"—this was the very thing the Founding Fathers sought to minimize. They knew that governments don't control things. A government can't control the economy without controlling people. And they know when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose.
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN

Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN

This is the issue of this election: Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capitol can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves.
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN

No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. So governments' programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth.
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN

What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
PATRICK HENRY

The ultimate arbiter is the people of the Union.
THOMAS JEFFERSON

A republic...if you can keep it.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

The doctrine of the Declaration of Independence, predicated upon the glory of man, and the corresponding duty of society, is that the rights of the citizens are to be protected with every power and resource of the State, and a government that does any less is false to the teachings of that great document, of the name American. Beyond this, the principle that it is the obligation of the people to rise and overthrow government which fails in these respects. But above all, the call to duty, the pledge of fortune and life, nobility of character through nobility of action: this is Americanism.
CALVIN COOLIDGE

The time for choosing is coming. Whose side are you on?

Send Lindsey, his buddy McCain, Scozzafava, and the rest of the RINOs to the back of the unemployment line!

Don't tread on me!

God save the Republic!

[rabscuttle385]

*Ping!*

[indianrightwinger]

when is the lo$er up for re-election?

sorry, if it is a poor question.

[rabscuttle385]

Lindsey...2014.

McCain...next year!

[BP2]

The choice is clear ...
absolutely no more damn RINOs!

[MestaMachine]

In a naturally born citizen heartbeat!!!
The tide is with us. McCain and Graham, Gingrich and Steele ain’t! Romney and Huckabee have their fingers in the wind half the time, and up their noses the other half.
RINONO as bad as ONONO.

[indianrightwinger]

He must be defeated in the primaries. Truly must be.

I will be donating big time to the primary challenger (even though I live in CA).

I will donate the maximum.

[KarenMarie]

Graham, as in Lindsey Granham, as is Goober??

The is no choice. He needs to go.

[Iron Munro]

We already know that Lindsey Graham's strategy of "Drop-Trou For Democrats" doesn't work.

[mojitojoe]

Send Lindsey, his buddy McCain, Scozzafava, and the rest of the RINOs to the back of the unemployment line!
_______________________
AMEN to that!

[FLAMING DEATH]

“Graham, a Seneca Republican elected to his second term last year, says the party must stop alienating young people and Hispanics and start promoting pragmatic, “center-right solutions” to the country’s most pressing problems...”

Dumbass.

[Lancey Howard]

Graham believes that government is supposed to “improve people’s lives”??
Wow. That simple pantload is more vain and arrogant than I imagined.

“Please make my life better, Mr. Lindsay. Please?”

[Wolfhound77]

“The national debate among Republicans over their party’s future is nowhere sharper than in South Carolina, where Sens. Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint pursue distinctly different visions for restoring GOP primacy at the polls.”

Why are they shaping the future? We need to be. Vote them all out in 2010. They were a colossal failure in 2008 and will eat each other trying to win in 2010 ensuring the Rats another year of victory. There has to be someone out there willing to run against these guys. There is no better time to get true conservatives on the tickets, the people hate congress right now.

[HarleyD]

Graham...says the party must stop alienating young people and Hispanics

The party should spent more time standing for principles and less time worry about "alienating" people.

[Markos33]

"Graham, a Seneca Republican elected to his second term last year, says the party must stop alienating young people and Hispanics and start promoting pragmatic, “center-right solutions” to the country's most pressing problems"

I'm not speaking of Americans of Hispanic descent, but the Hispanics that Graham is talking about would slit him from amnesty to elbow in a second,
given a chance.

But he doesn't care, because he has been paid for.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

The party should spent more time standing for principles and less time worry about "alienating" people.

There you go HarleyD! Problem solved and stated so simply!

It is the political consultants, the ones paid to get a candidate elected, who worry about that stuff. We need candidates strong enough to tell the consultants to just do the grunt work and let the candidate decide what he believes, not the other way around.

[ChiMark]

Graham should have been censored for his “angry white male”
remark.

Who is he courting? likely the growing Hispanic population
in Carolina the liberals in the northeast. Most certainly, he does not stand with conservatives.

[Lawgvr1955]

As Thomas Jefferson stated “When the citizenry fears the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the citizenry, there is freedom”.

[billmor]

Well Graham is pushing hard for Bernie of Weekend at Bernie’s while DeMint wants to see Bob Dole give it another try....

This is why the average people see the Repub Party with an average age as ‘Deceased’...How about some new blood, new faces and new ideas to get this country back on track...Tribal Elders may work best in other cultures but in American politics it’s the guy with the better mousetrap and better common sense that usually wins...

[maxter]

"Vote them all out in 2010."

No. There are a few very well worth keeping and Jim DeMint is one of them.

[Wolfhound77]

You may be right...but not in my state. We have all Rats and Rino (Martinez) that resigned.

[paudio]

Has any well known conservative announced their intention to challenge McCain?

[personalaccts]

Some Republicans blame DeMint for helping compel former Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania to switch parties in April — which put the Democrats closer to holding a filibuster-proof 60 Senate seats.

If Rubio and Toomey pull off victories in 2010 Demint will be the “darkhorse” for 2012.

[liberateUS]

It doesn’t appear that Lindsay is too worried about alienating conservatives.

[maggief]

“The overwhelming majority of conservatives and independents appreciate the fact that their elected leaders are trying to solve hard problems,” Graham said.

There is so much wrong with that statement.

[Mamzelle]

Opensecrets.org is your friend. For those candidates you care enough to donate against, also do some research as to who their donors are. You'll find that Graham doesn't care about conservatives because that's not where his money comes from.

I'm not saying donate to him, I'm saying expose who does donate to him.

[mkjessup]

"Graham ... says the party must stop alienating young people and Hispanics and start promoting pragmatic, “center-right solutions” to the country's most pressing problems."

Translation: Lindsey wants to put on some baggy pants hanging off his azz, join the little mall rats while they go looking for trouble, and he'll even wear a Mexican sombrero while he tries to gain their favor. Principles? What principles?

"DeMint ... believes that young voters and ethnic Americans will flock to GOP candidates if they push plain conservative principles and offer a stark contrast to Democrats."

Translation: DeMint is your Dad, he remains dressed respectfully, he'll do what he can to help you based on time honored conservative principles and values, but don't you ever think he's going to condone, let alone join you in smokin' a joint, leering at the babes going by, or any of that adolescent behavior in hopes of being 'accepted' by you or any of your immature and still irresponsible pals.

[Nateman]

McCain...next year!

With nobody else on the ballot in the primary election in Arizona last time around, I'm really looking forward to voting against McCain. I don't care too much about who that other fellow is, just that I have a choice this time and I'm using it.

[Diogenesis]

“We like using you to fill up our Congressional brothels, my friend.

---

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

Bravo! Two thumbs up! Succinct and Informative!

I don't think I need to remind Freepers who can, to help out Doug Hoffman?

I can just imagine that the Grand Poo-bahs of the Grand Old Party inside the beltway must be sh*tting bricks at the thought of Hoffman winning and seeing their influence waning as "we the people's" takes on a new meaning.

This is a big one, because it could be the template on how we (from different areas) can work directly to affect the outcome of elections of true conservatives in 2010 and lay the groundwork for (IF WE CAN FIND A CANDIDATE) to take back the W.H. in 2012.

[Rick_Michael]

Conservatives never really alienated me; only some Republicans and most Dems.

[Venturer]

To be or not to be, That is the question.

How far left can I allow the republican party to take me and still remain a member ?

I believe they have just about reached that limit.

[EternalVigilance]

Graham, DeMint differ on strategies for GOP to regain power

This is the problem. The GOP's sole goal is to "regain power." Their lives are devoted to "strategies" for doing that.

And then there are the true patriots, whose goal is that "We the People" would regain their power, and whose strategy is for rebuilding a political system in which that can happen based on the principles laid down by our Founders.

[EternalVigilance]

America's Independent Party

[plain talk]

“center-right solutions”

So Senator Graham - start moving to the center right instead of the center left.

[fieldmarshaldj]

What a nice photo. Looks like Franken (who looks astonishingly like Letterman in the pic) just got up from servicing Twinkletoes Graham.

[MSF BU]

Lindsey; the effeminacy continues.

[Condor51]

One day. Hopefully soon. Senator Lindsey 'Light-in-the-loafers' Graham, is gonna get caught toe-tapping in a Men's Room.

He's already been outed in Gay Mags, he should just 'come out' publicly and get it over with. Off course he'd loose all his military benefits (he's Active Reserve) but so be it.

And then he can openly switch to the Dem Party too. They'd gladly 'embrace him' (snicker)

[NotSoModerate]

Graham lives in the D.C. elitist bubble where political power means everything, and the American people are viewed as cattle. He has no need or interest in rogue cattle. He wants a meek and mindless herd.

[andy58-in-nh]

If you have any principles at all and are willing to express them, you are certain to alienate those who hold to their opposite. If you believe in objective truth and definable reality, you will in time make enemies of those who do not or who seek to deny them.

People who lack principles or beliefs cannot ever attract real enemies. Because enemies of human liberty exist, such ethical flexibility is not a virtue, but a vice.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

It doesn’t appear that Lindsay is too worried about alienating conservatives.

It is my opinion that Lindsay tries to play the system to accomplish what he considers to be conservative things. He reminds me of Trent Lott when he was Senate Majority Leader. As a result, he has to consort with the enemy (Democrats).

Unfortunately, the Democrats are not trustworthy partners. They will take what you give them and give nothing in return. Additionally they are notorious liars and will double cross you with premeditation.

Lindsay's attempts at bipartisanship usually backfire on him and the conservatives who elect him.

[maggief]

“Opensecrets.org is your friend. For those candidates you care enough to donate against, also do some research as to who their donors are. You’ll find that Graham doesn’t care about conservatives because that’s not where his money comes from.”

---

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00009975&cycle=2010

Top 5 Contributors, 2005-2010, Campaign Cmte
Contributor Total Indivs PACs
Nelson, Mullins et al $79,491 $70,491 $9,000
Scana Corp $57,630 $51,130 $6,500
EnergySolutions LLC $35,800 $35,800 $0
Edens & Avant $31,900 $31,900 $0
Blue Cross/Blue Shield $31,450 $24,950 $6,500

http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/10/15/15climatewire-carper-suggests-bolstering-nrc-as-part-of-cl-83161.html

(snip)

Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) is helping to negotiate a nuclear energy amendment that could help bring aboard swing votes who support the industry. Architects and backers of the nuclear effort include Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who are seeking more federal financial backing and other support.

(snip)

Nuclear Energy Institute spokesman John Keeley said the industry’s priorities include greater funding for loan guarantees. Congress has set aside $18.5 billion thus far for nuclear plant loan guarantees under a DOE financing program first authorized in the 2005 Energy Policy Act. But this would cover only a small number of new plants.

Four proposals remain in the running for DOE guarantees from this funding, according to several published reports. They are: UniStar Nuclear Energy/Constellation Energy Group’s proposed Calvert Cliffs plant in Maryland; NRG Energy Inc.’s South Texas Project; Southern Co.’s Vogtle plant in Georgia; and Scana Corp.’s Summer plant in South Carolina.

[algernonpj]

Love the post!.

[cc2k]

paudio wrote:

Has any well known conservative announced their intention to challenge McCain?

Two Republican challengers have announced for McCain’s Arizona Senate seat. They are Chris Simcox of The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps and Jim Deakin.

Simcox might be interesting.

Among the unannounced people who have been rumored as possible challengers, the top possibilities are J.D. Hawyworth and Congressman John Shadegg. Both of them would be strong contenders and have political experience in Arizona.

The funding picture right now looks daunting. Simcox is leading Deakin, but both are so far behind McCain that it isn’t going to be a fair race in advertising. This is where the grass roots might be able to help, much like we have pushed Hoffman in the NY-23 race.

Mamzelle wrote:

Opensecrets.org is your friend. For those candidates you care enough to donate against, also do some research as to who their donors are. You'll find that Graham doesn't care about conservatives because that's not where his money comes from.

Opensecrets.org is an excellent research tool. It will show where the money is coming from. It also tends to be a good source for finding all of the announced candidates in any given race.

You can also see who supports a candidate, or you can look up by donor name to see which candidates someone has donated to.

Lots of good information there. It is a very strong tool.

---

From the desk of cc2k:

Candidates I support: Doug Hoffman for Congress, NY 23rd (PayPal), David Harmer for Congress, CA 10th. Please, spread the word about these important special elections on November 3, 209: New York’s 23rd congressional district and California’s 10th congressional district.

[tennmountainman]

Throw the bums out and start over.

[Bokababe]

This November 5th!

A slate of candidates who are pro-Constitution, pro-Liberty, pro-Life, who need our support.

PS. John Dennis (at the bottom of the first page) is running against Nancy Pelosi, so for all those who claim to hate her guts, it's now time to put your money where your mouth is and unseat this witch!

[SaraJohnson]

“The party should spent more time standing for principles and less time worry about “alienating” people.”

You are exactly right. The democrats play the game of race group socialism offering some races preferences over other races and promising to give away free stuff for those of a third world begging peasant mentality.

Hispanics - most - came to this country to make it big. They came to have businesses and to be successful. They came to be free like Americans are free.

The only reason Republicans lost ground is that Rinos started playing race preferences (amnesty) and socialism for votes and stopped talking about reform and expanding liberty and business beyond the banksters’ shake down games. They permitted the Fed. and the banksters to run loan scams on the world set up by Clinton.

We should know better than to pretend there is a free market when there is not a free market because of government interference and intervention. This idea of bi-partisanship is fine for things that do not wreck the country but Republicans should have never gone along with Clinton’s shake down of the banks to give loans to the poor.

[upchuck]

Oh, goody, goody. A ping list twofer :-)

Let's get the bad news out of the way first... (2014 seems a long way off)

Uber RINO Lindsey Ping
"Republican by day, Democrat by night."

Want on or off this ping list?
Just FReepmail me.
I have a strong urge to go shower with Lysol after that.

---

Now the good news (2010 is just next year)

Jim DeMint Ping!

Want on or off this ping list? Just FReepmail me.

Follow Sen. DeMint on Twitter.

[DTogo]

Vaya con Shamnesty, Grahamnesty!

[Diggity]

First thing to do is get rid of Mr. “Lite in his Loafers” Graham