Posted on 06/04/2005 9:28:03 PM PDT by CHARLITE
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) - Sen. Lindsey Graham's role in a compromise on filibusters against President Bush (website - news - bio) 's judicial picks did not go over well with some GOP regulars in this Republican state. The first-term Republican, who in 2002 succeeded Strom Thurmond, was among 14 lawmakers - seven from each party - who abandoned their leaders and reached a deal among themselves. They agreed to confirm some of Bush's stalled federal court nominees while leaving the door open for rejecting others.
"It's one of the hottest issues I've seen since I've been chairman," said Katon Dawson, South Carolina's GOP chairman for three years. "There was a lot of heartburn inside the base of the Republican Party. President Bush won 70 percent of the counties in the United States and people wanted his agenda moved forward."
Hundreds of people have called state Republican headquarters to complain about Graham's participation in the negotiations. Graham's role has given Charleston businessman Thomas Ravenel further reason to consider a primary challenge to Graham in 2008.
Ravenel, the son of a former congressman, finished third in a crowded field in last year's race for South Carolina's other Senate seat, now held by Republican Jim DeMint.
Ravenel does not like Graham's positions on trade and objects to the senator's Social Security proposal to increase payroll taxes on those earning more than $90,000.
"He has long since offended the fiscal conservatives," Ravenel said. "More recently he has offended the other Republican coalition - the social conservatives."
Those same social conservatives were instrumental in derailing Arizona Sen. John McCain's "straight talk express" bid for the presidency five years ago in South Carolina's GOP primary.
In 2000 Graham supported McCain, a driving force behind the filibuster deal two weeks ago. By 2002, however, Graham had mended his fences with President Bush's supporters.
"Some people said they did not intend to have two John McCains in Washington, D.C., when they voted for Lindsey Graham," said Beaufort County GOP Chairman Doug Robertson.
In an interview with The Associated Press last week, Graham was confident he would weather the storm.
"This state respects senators who are independent, who share their conservative values and who treat their colleagues with respect," he said. "I'm not going to conduct myself in a way where I'm the loudest guy and I'm not going to be satisfied with rhetoric that gins up a small group of people."
Graham said the deal gives the Senate a fresh start and allows lawmakers to consider some of Bush's judicial nominations. Changing the approach to filibusters is still on the table if the compromise fails, he said.
But even in his home county, some people said Graham's role in the negotiations was out of order, according to Oconee County GOP Chairman Ed Rumsey.
"They wanted him to stand firm and have an up-or-down vote on every candidate," Rumsey said. Still, he added: "Lindsey Graham is our hometown guy. We're going to stand by him."
In strongly Republican Lexington County, most people thought the compromise was "typical Lindsey," said Tim Miller, the county's GOP chairman. "He said: 'Look, we can't allow something like this to bog down the country. We need to do what's best for America.'"
South Carolinian Roberta Combs, president of the national Christian Coalition, said the compromise was not what the conservative group wanted.
"What people were upset about and what I was upset about was these judges had been waiting so long and you couldn't get them to the floor," she said.
But she does not think Graham's base is damaged.
"In politics a day is forever. Only time will tell," she said. "I don't think this is going to hurt Lindsey because he is strong on defense and supports the president on the war and has been a team player."
Doug Woodard, a Clemson University political scientist who often serves as a Republican consultant, said Graham always has had an independent streak and a flair for attracting attention.
"He's got the best political instincts of anyone I have ever seen," Woodard said. He noted that Graham won, without any primary opposition, the GOP nomination for Thurmond's seat, which had been coveted by South Carolina politicians for decades.
Graham said that while some people will disagree with the compromise, he and most Republicans want to achieve the same thing - getting more conservative judges on the bench.
"For some people in politics it's not enough to agree with them on the issue, you have to hate the people they hate," he said. "I'm not going to be a hater. I'm going to be a solid conservative and a reformer."
South Carolina has open primaries o.k.
As for Terry Schiavo, I am not pro life but think the Republicans did exactly the right thing. To murder a woman who was not brain dead by dehydrating her to death because a wayward husband said that was what she wanted was foul and disgusting. Any decent human being would want her parents to take care of her and let her live. If you are right and that hurts the Republicans then so be it. I'd rather lose then be on the other side.
Why do the Democrats keep supporting Congressman Gene Taylor of Mississippi, a man who has a 64% rating from the ACU, and who generally scores low with liberal groups.
Because when it comes time to organize the House, Taylor always votes for the Democratic candidates. Remember, Speaker of the House is an elected position.
For this same reason, you want as many Republicans in Congress as you can. Remember what happened when Jeffords switched, we lost control for a year in a half. I'd rather have moderates who will keep us in control of the committees, the congressional machinery, then ideological purists which will make us a minority.
Remember, the Majority party is the party that controls the operations, who would you rather have setting the Senate agenda, Bill Frist or Harry Reid?
Graham is either a fool or an idiot
It's been over 4 years this BS has been going on
Just how much more time do we the people have to put up with this BS?
Welcome to FReerepublic!! Hey judgemc. Read the above quote to know what a Conservative really feels. It's great to have the leadership position finally, but now we just have to move the Rinos to the right or right out of the senate.
Nam Vet
Do you even understand what a recess appointment is and how it differs from Senate confirmation? Are you still in High School?
No I'm not. But I'm not a mindless robot who just pull the party line. Some things I agree with, some I don't. I just don't see the big deal with what happened with the judges. The hand wringing and the teeth gnashing are beyond my comprehension. I'm just not going to get that worked up over a few appelate court judges that are going to eventually recieve reccess appointments, then none of this will matter. Most likely those who went in on the compromise knew this and just wanted to dispose of the issue.
Every president has a drop in the polls during his second term. Maybe people just get burned out and are ready for a change. It's doesn't necessarily mean a party change. Just something else - a new face.
Be careful listening to the MSM too much . Terri had a lot more support than you realize.
The Republicans may have chose then wrong method, but they had the right motives. They fought for a human life!
Democrats had the right method, but very wrong motives. They just wanted her dead!
Who would YOU want in charge if it were your life or the life of your child and no one knew what you wanted? I have retired relatives in Florida, and people were running for living wills. It wasn't because of the government. They were afraid of cold blooded relatives and lawyers!
Once again, I'm from Alabama.
So, my guy is on the court because of the deal, therefore, you're going to be hard pressed to find me criticize a deal that put a man on the court whose campaign fund I had contributed to. (when he ran for AG, both times) A man I know personally for that matter.
As I told my two Senators, I don't care what has to be done, I want Pryor on the court.
And he's there, so, I'm more than happy. And maybe, if Bush has a last minute pick for SC in 2008, he'll nominate Pryor.
Now, politically, I know full well that the Democrats are going to renege on the deal. But when they do renege, who will be hurt...... The Democrats.
If we had pushed the option while Democrats were playing victim, who could have been possibly hurt...... The Republicans
It's all about picking battles. What McCain and Graham did was give the Democrats enough rope to hang themselves, because as soon as that SC nomination comes up, thats what they're gonna do
I suggest you either read or re-read the Constitution. A recess appointment is a temporary job. The vote is for lifetime, so yes, it IS a big thing.
Nam Vet
Exactly. Some good qualified judges ended up being tossed overboard or just decided not to wait around for the Senate to "act upon" their nomination. I repeat... HIGHLY QUALIFIED judges, none of this EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCE garbage touted by Lindsay, the other 6 RINO's, and the 7 FLAMING LIBERALS.
You don't think Bolton will a reccess appoitment as well. There has already been talk of that too.
I don't want the federal government interfering in state matters for any reason.
The Attorney General of Alabama, who is a very conservative Evangelical Christian, filed a brief in support of the State of California's position in some case regarding marijuana. Not because he believes marijuana should be legal, but because he believes that the principle of protecting state's rights supercedes controlling illegal drugs. The whole purpose of states rights is, if you don't like the laws of your state, you move to a state whose laws you like. I'll never move to Massachusetts and for the same reason, I never expect liberals to move to Alabama.
Glad My senators are true blue conservatives.
Second newbie tonight on this thread.
If Moderate DEMS love Lindsey so much, then Lindsey can switch parties and run as a Democrat.
Yes, I know that they are temporary, but very few judges who are given reccess appointments are later denied the lifetime appointments.
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