Graham gets heat for deal

The State ^ | 05/25/05 | LAUREN MARKOE

[lilylangtree]

Graham basically became a bureaucratic politician out to save his hide representing himself and not the people who elected him to office. This maturation process usually begins on the 2nd term but Graham started early.

[SkyPilot]

[M. Thatcher]

Most already know him as a senator who often goes his own way.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[kellynch]

And I used to like Graham.

Isn't he the guy who, when he was first running for office, said something to the effect that he was running because the stuff Democrats were doing in government made him sick to his stomach?

I guess Democrats don't make him sick anymore. Well Sen. Graham, YOU make ME sick now!

[pgkdan]

He was afraid McCain would start looking for another girl friend if he didn't get on board. Lindsey Graham is a testosterone challenged sellout.

[skeptoid]

I agree with you.
But on his website, LG says:

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) tonight made the following statement on the agreement which clears the way for some of President Bush's nominees to be confirmed to the federal bench.
Graham said:
"The American people won tonight. The Senate is back in business. And I truly believe future judicial nominees will be treated better because of this agreement."
"The agreement allows up or down votes on deserving nominees and gives the Senate a chance to start over regarding future nominees. It's my hope both sides have learned from their mistakes and we can get back to the traditional way of doing business when it comes to judges.
"One of the major elements of the deal makes clear that if one of my seven Democratic colleagues decides to filibuster in the future because of an "extraordinary circumstance," I retain the right to vote for a rules change. It's my hope we never get to that point.
"With better communication and a spirit of putting the country ahead of ourselves, I believe we can avoid future filibusters.
"We are a nation at war which desperately needs a functioning Senate. Our men and women in harms way deserve Senators with personal courage and respect fo the institution. They are risking their lives to defend our freedom and those of us in the Senate should have the courage to put the welfare of the country ahead of our own personal political interests. That's the least we should do.
#####

[petercooper]

I'm out baby!! I'm out!!!!!

[Freemyland]

"Underscoring his “90 percent conservative voting record,” he said he disagrees with those who would have him spurn Democrats when the good of the country requires him to work with them."

That's all well and good, but when something as important as this is part of the 10%, don't be surprised when the people who put you into office get pissed.

[kjam22]

I think after hearing him on television the past couple of days... that he is hoping the senate dems break the deal and support a filibuster, so he can vote to nuke it and get back in good graces. I think he expected some flack... but didn't expect to take the hits he's been getting.

I also think he won't be re-elected.

[YaYa123]

Graham was so smug, so full of himself when the compromise was announced. His condescending comments should insult all his supporters. He told Chris Matthews that the folks angry with him just don't get it. He belittled our intelligence with: We don't understand how the senate works, we don't understand he did this to preserve the senate, blah, blah, blah.

[Freemyland]

Well, there are other things he can do to try to get back in some good graces, like take a lead role in support of Bolton, for starters.

[Freemyland]

Oh, and after that, be very vocally supportive of the President's other judicial nominees from here on out. And when it comes time for the President to appoint a justice, Graham needs to go to the mat for the nominee.

[Conservababe]

One of two things has happen to LG. The first possibility is what you mention. The second possibility, and I lean towards this explanation due to the ridiculous speech he made with the gang of fourteen. "They" have something on Graham, something big. Careering ending info. The powers that be have been saving the Graham trump card until a consistent conservative voice was needed to pull down the leadership. Enter the compromised Graham.

Years ago, I heard Trent Lott caught in a bad moment on tv saying that Lindsey Graham was "light in the loafers". Maybe this is well known on the Hill, but not to his constituents.

[Sybeck1]

Can senators be removed, and if so how?

[Conservababe]

Well, I only heard Trent Lott say it. Maybe he didn't know he was on a live mike, but the comment was aired on tv.

[Sybeck1]

"Lispy"

[RandDisciple]

I went to a political event where Graham spoke a couple of years ago. He said the demographics were changing so quickly in his state that one day he would have a very hard time being elected if the Republicans did not appeal more to minorities. He stressed that this was happening in a very conservative state that had elected Strom Thurmond, etc. etc.

At the time I thought he seemed to be exaggerating a little bit. Now I see that he felt early on he had to turn left to be reelected. So much for principled leadership, he was only thinking of what he would have to do to get elected again.

I faxed and wrote his office to remove my name from his list of past contributors for his traitorous actions on the judiciary and Social Security reform.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

“But I will not use this job to hate people. There are some people on the right and the left, (who) expect you not only to vote with them, but to hate the people they hate. Count me out.”

I love his "logic" here. If you vote against a bill, you HATE the person who drafted it and the people who vote for it. It's not just a disagreement or difference in view, it's HATE.

The voters need to send this nutjob home. This time next year, he should just be sitting around drooling in his mush.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Lindsey Graham needs a Prozac the size of a softball.