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Senate meeting erupts as Graham clashes with Dems over asylum bill: 'You're not going to take my job
Fox News ^ | August 1, 2019 | Ronn Blitzer

Posted on 08/01/2019 11:13:15 AM PDT by jazusamo

The Senate Judiciary Committee erupted with infighting Thursday as a top Republican lawmaker pushed legislation aimed at crafting new rules for asylum-seekers from Central American countries.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the chairman of the committee, faced immediate accusations as he brought up the bill that he was violating Senate rules. In a dispute that quickly got personal, Ranking Member Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said the committee was one Democrat shy of having a quorum during a meeting last week and therefore could not advance the bill.

“Why even have rules?” Feinstein asked rhetorically. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., backed her up, saying, “If the majority is willing to break any rule in order to report this bill today, there are no rules.”

Graham defended the move, stating the bill had been ready to move forward for seven weeks and Democrats intentionally did not show up last week in an effort to stymie the legislation.

“I’m not changing the rules,” Graham said, noting that the rules allow a majority of the committee to decide to vote.

Graham said that if he allows the Democrats to get their way, “the committee becomes irrelevant.”

“It would be different if I had not tried. For seven weeks I withheld marking up this bill and I got nowhere,” Graham said angrily. “What you’re telling me is I should ignore what you did to me last week. I will not.”

In an uncomfortable moment, Graham addressed Leahy directly, stating, “Senator Leahy, you’ve been here a long time. I would never have done this to you,” only for Leahy to state that he missed last week’s meeting “because a member of my family was being buried.”

Graham immediately offered condolences but noted that he had been told Democrats would not show up for political reasons.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California; US: South Carolina; US: Vermont
KEYWORDS: asylumbill; asylumlaw; california; democrats; diannefeinstein; feinstein; leahy; lindseygraham; obstructionism; patrickleahy; richardcblum; sanfrancisco; senjudiciarycom; southcarolina; ussenate; vermont
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1 posted on 08/01/2019 11:13:15 AM PDT by jazusamo
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To: jazusamo; alarm rider; Alex1977; at bay; Babsig; BILL_C; bnelson44; Califreak; ColdOne; DesScorp; ..
Lindsey

Graham

Ping!

Want on or off Linda's fav ping list? Just FReepmail me.

Remember that Linda is up for reelection in 2020.

2 posted on 08/01/2019 11:15:54 AM PDT by upchuck (No muzzy is fit to hold public office - their cult (religion) is incompatible with the Constitution.)
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To: jazusamo

[[[In an uncomfortable moment, Graham addressed Leahy directly, stating, “Senator Leahy, you’ve been here a long time. I would never have done this to you,” only for Leahy to state that he missed last week’s meeting “because a member of my family was being buried.” ]]]

Too bad he didn’t jump in the hole too. Another senate fossil.


3 posted on 08/01/2019 11:17:55 AM PDT by headstamp 2 (There's a stairway to heaven, but there's a highway to hell.)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...

4 posted on 08/01/2019 11:19:55 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: jazusamo

Linda growing some balls?
Color me surprised.

Perhaps some of that excess Trump testosterone has leaked over to Lindsey’s Senate office?


5 posted on 08/01/2019 11:20:24 AM PDT by oldvirginian (Winning isn't everything, it's the ONLY thing. TRUMP 2020!!)
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To: headstamp 2

Leaky Leahy! Ha, ha


6 posted on 08/01/2019 11:21:11 AM PDT by V V Camp Enari 67-68 (Viet Vet)
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To: upchuck
Please be respectful to our own at the very least.

Go after the Dems.

7 posted on 08/01/2019 11:24:08 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: jazusamo
Graham said that if he allows the Democrats to get their way, “the committee becomes irrelevant.”

I'd say that ship sailed a long time ago.

8 posted on 08/01/2019 11:26:31 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: jazusamo

“because a member of my family was being buried.” joins “the dog ate my homework” as the lamest excuse ever.

At Leahy’s age, the last place he should hang around is a funeral. Somebody might think he’s the corpse.


9 posted on 08/01/2019 11:28:32 AM PDT by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners. And to the NSA trolls, FU)
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To: oldvirginian

Leaky Leahy and DiFi knew exactly what they were doing, good for Graham.


10 posted on 08/01/2019 11:28:57 AM PDT by jazusamo (Have You Donated to Keep Free Republic Up and Running?)
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To: oldvirginian

Really? You surprised. This is a classic McCain tactic. Vote like a lib for 6 1/2 years, and poss as a tough conservative for the other 1 1/2... which just happens to be right around election time. It’s time we make a stand and vote ALL these bums out! Vote out all these phonys, the Teds, Marcos, and Lindsey. It’s been8 years, what the hell has he done but appear on Fox and throws red meat. He is a gay Gowdy!


11 posted on 08/01/2019 11:31:34 AM PDT by Bommer
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MAGA!

Support Free Republic Folks, Donate Today!

Please bump the Freepathon or click above to donate or become a monthly donor!

12 posted on 08/01/2019 11:34:36 AM PDT by jazusamo (Have You Donated to Keep Free Republic Up and Running?)
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To: oldvirginian

Someone here made an observation that he needs a strong male to look to.

It WAS mccain and now it is Trump, they were saying.

Crazier things have happened.


13 posted on 08/01/2019 11:45:19 AM PDT by dp0622 (Bad, bad company Till the day I die.)
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To: jazusamo
“Why even have rules?” Feinstein asked

"Why even have laws"?, some Democrats ask.

14 posted on 08/01/2019 11:47:10 AM PDT by OrangeHoof (Trump is Making the Media Grate Again)
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To: headstamp 2
“Senator Leahy, you’ve been here a long time. I would never have done this to you,” only for Leahy to state that he missed last week’s meeting “because a member of my family was being buried.”

I would have responded with "So Senator Feinstein, why weren't you here? Did anyone in your family die or were you just playing politics as usual?"

But that's just my winsome personality...

15 posted on 08/01/2019 11:48:12 AM PDT by henkster
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To: jazusamo

Yes, he gave them seven weeks and not one democrat showed up.


16 posted on 08/01/2019 11:51:46 AM PDT by oldvirginian (Winning isn't everything, it's the ONLY thing. TRUMP 2020!!)
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To: dp0622

It may be that Graham is finally waking up to who (and what) is on the other side of the aisle. We want to believe that people with a certain level of accomplishment and education are decent people; after all, I and most everyone I know are decent people, right?

When you are dealing with folks that have a radically different definition of what “decent” actually means, you get surprised and offended sometimes that _________ would even be CAPABLE of doing _________, let alone going to _____________ as the first option... maybe Kavanaugh and some of the other crap he’s seen first hand over the last 2+ years is getting to him.


17 posted on 08/01/2019 11:54:40 AM PDT by L,TOWM (An upraised middle finger is my virtue signal.)
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To: L,TOWM

That could be.

But I do think that combined with Trump has changed him.

Or maybe i’m completely wrong :)


18 posted on 08/01/2019 11:56:20 AM PDT by dp0622 (Bad, bad company Till the day I die.)
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To: headstamp 2

Can that be verified?


19 posted on 08/01/2019 12:04:05 PM PDT by IllumiNaughtyByNature (Elections have consequences. get over it, we won! ~ Barack Obama)
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To: oldvirginian

Flimsey Grahamnesty is up for election in 2020, he’s trying to appear to be on the side of the citizens.

As soon as he is re-elected, he’ll be right back to trying to pass the amnesty he’s been working on since 2006.


20 posted on 08/01/2019 12:10:21 PM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here Of Citizen Parents_Know Islam, No Peace-No Islam, Know Peace)
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