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My least favorite Republican Senator
Power Line ^ | Oct. 6, 2005 | Paul Mirengoff

Posted on 10/07/2005 3:39:06 PM PDT by Frank T

[My least favorite Republican Senator] is Lindsey Graham, and by a decent margin. Today, the Senator told conservative critics of the Miers nomination to "shut up," and claimed that their opposition has nothing to do with Miers, but is just an effort to obtain 15 minutes of fame. What nonsense. If the criticism is as Graham claims, why didn't the Roberts nomination generate the same response? Graham seems oblivious to the long history of Republican presidents nominating liberal and centrist judges. Indeed, had Graham been in the Senate during the Bush-I era, he would have offered the same charming advice to conservatives who criticized the Souter nomination.

But how can you argue with a guy whose ability to reason is limited to ad hominem attacks? Graham seems to get off on "standing up to conservatives" but he's unwilling or unable to engage their arguments. That's what makes him worse for my money than the Republican Senators to his left.

And let's not forget that Graham was a prime force behind the deal that snatched a draw from the jaws of victory. Had the Senate banned the filibuster of judicial nominees, President Bush could have nominated a Michael Luttig, an Edith Jones, or a Miguel Estrada without fear of losing a confirmation struggle (of course he might have nominated his crony anyway).

Miers will probably be confirmed and probably should be. But this process is going to hurt Republicans. The difference between a Miers nomination and, say, a Jones nomination could be one or two Senate seats come January 2007, and it will be at least that if conservatives who don't like the Miers nomination decide to "shut up" on election day 2006. Graham didn't help with his cop-out deal, and he's not helping with his ad hominen attacks on some conservatives.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: 109th; graham; lindseygraham; miers
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To: zbigreddogz

(And even if he was, Chafee would be much, much, much worse.)


The problem with that statement is: We didn't elect Graham by comparison, we elected him because he claimed to be a conservative.


21 posted on 10/07/2005 4:29:02 PM PDT by RetSignman
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To: Leapfrog

Ha, I was going to say the same thing...


22 posted on 10/07/2005 4:31:57 PM PDT by hope (I fight poverty 6 days a week.)
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To: SC Swamp Fox

I'm ticked that Graham signed that legislation McCain wrote about terrorist interrogations. He's basically useless, imo.


23 posted on 10/07/2005 4:35:26 PM PDT by Peach (Go Yankees!)
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To: Frank T

[My least favorite Republican Senator] is Lindsey Graham, and by a decent margin. Today, the Senator told conservative critics of the Miers nomination to "shut up




So when is this giant douche up for re-election?


24 posted on 10/07/2005 4:41:41 PM PDT by trubluolyguy (I am conservative. That is NOT the same thing as Republican. Don't place party over principle.)
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To: trubluolyguy

2008. And there are rumblings to get Thomas Ravenel to challenge him in the primary. Whom I will campaign and work for if he runs. Heck there are Reps here in SC that say they will vote for the Dem instead of Graham cause they are so ticked at him.


25 posted on 10/07/2005 4:53:52 PM PDT by Babsig (www.genesysitsolutions.com)
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To: Frank T
Lindsey Graham

Mine are Mike Dewine and George Voinovich.

26 posted on 10/07/2005 5:06:23 PM PDT by SteamShovel
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To: Frank T
Graham said, shut up and give the lady a chance.

It was part of a longer argument.

Let's not jump on his case until we hear the entire segment.

27 posted on 10/07/2005 5:08:52 PM PDT by OldFriend (One Man With Courage Makes a Majority ~ Andrew Jackson)
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To: Frank T
The weird sisters from Maine gets my vote
28 posted on 10/07/2005 5:09:22 PM PDT by MrsEmmaPeel
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To: Frank T

Arlen Spincter, hands down.


29 posted on 10/07/2005 5:10:08 PM PDT by kittymyrib
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To: Frank T

Arlen Specter, R-Scotland


30 posted on 10/07/2005 5:10:12 PM PDT by Clemenza (Gentlemen, Behold!)
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To: Clemenza
Arlen Specter, R-Scotland

Ha! The "not proven" Specter. Yep -- hard to know who is worse: Specter, Chafee or the weird sisters from Maine

31 posted on 10/07/2005 5:11:56 PM PDT by MrsEmmaPeel
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To: Frank T

Strom Thurmond's predesessor?

That would be..let me think...ah...JOhn C. Calhoun


32 posted on 10/07/2005 5:16:11 PM PDT by ConservativeDude
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To: Frank T
Graham, like Miers, still considered himself a Democrat as late as 1988-90. He only became a Republican after he left the Air Force, got back to South Carolina, and discovered that the Reagan phenomenon had swept through South Carolina and drastically altered the political dynamics for electability.

He considered himself a conservative Democrat, mind you, but a Democrat nonetheless. I think he personally identifies with Miers for that reason.

33 posted on 10/07/2005 5:17:45 PM PDT by JCEccles
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To: Frank T
It is with great pleasure that I once again write:

Lindsey is up for election in 2008. It is my fervent hope that by early 2009 he is known as a "Senate one-termer."

I will actively campaign for who ever runs against him the the (R) primary. I really hope he looses there.

34 posted on 10/07/2005 5:20:23 PM PDT by upchuck (A fireman running up the stairs at the WTC as the towers began to collapse: HERO defined ~ Ben Stein)
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To: Leapfrog

Check out Pennsylvania. We have a RINO and a big mouth,


35 posted on 10/07/2005 5:22:24 PM PDT by mombrown1 (PAFairTax.org)
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To: Frank T

There's worse. Unfortunately.


36 posted on 10/07/2005 5:23:24 PM PDT by airborne (My hero - my nephew! Sean is home! Thank you God!)
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To: Frank T
What is puzzling is why does South Carolina have such a weak conservative as one of its two senators? Perhaps we could expect this from a New England Republican, regarding judicial nominations, but from Strom Thurmond's predesessor?

Who knew?
I hope he has a challenge in the primary.
He is not very popular down here.
37 posted on 10/07/2005 5:24:12 PM PDT by cjmae
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To: DevSix
Today, the Senator told conservative critics of the Miers nomination to "shut up," and claimed that their opposition has nothing to do with Miers, but is just an effort to obtain 15 minutes of fame

He's right. Every senator, talking head, even a house member who has no vote (Tancredo) are trying desperately to get their 15 minutes.

38 posted on 10/07/2005 5:27:01 PM PDT by AmericaUnited
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To: Leapfrog

John McCain is my most despised RINO, Senate, House, or 7-11.


39 posted on 10/07/2005 5:31:18 PM PDT by auboy ("Don't get stuck on whiny")
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To: Livin_large
My prediction is that Graham loses his job anyway. Not based on the outcome of Miers' confirmation, but due to his total betrayal of the people in SC.

Ravenel in '08 for SC Senate.

40 posted on 10/07/2005 5:33:18 PM PDT by NeoCaveman (trust but verify)
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