Posted on 07/29/2009 5:55:31 AM PDT by rabscuttle385
Political headlines on health care and the Supreme Court have offered competing visions for the future of the Republican Party, and "(R-S.C.)" has played a prominent role in both debates.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of the gang of 14 that ended partisan deadlocks on previous Supreme Court nominees, won praise for his sometimes thoughtful (though occasionally condescending) questioning of President Barack Obama's pick for the court, Sonia Sotomayor. Last week, he bucked his party's leadership and supported her nomination. When challenged by conservatives in his own party, he told Politico he had no time for "blind ideology."
Sen. Jim DeMint, who panned Sotomayor weeks ago, has already moved on to another controversial debate: health care. In speaking with supporters, DeMint framed the issue as an opportunity to damage Obama's larger agenda, saying a defeat would "break him" and be the president's "Waterloo."
"We have two very different senators," observes David Mann, a political science professor at the College of Charleston.
Just beginning his second six-year term, Graham is moving to the middle, giving reasoned arguments for compromise in an attempt to prove the GOP is still relevant in the minority. DeMint, facing his first reelection next year since winning the seat in '04, is focusing all of his attention on the party's conservative base, ratcheting up rhetoric as he calls for a smaller, more principled GOP.
It's the kind of relationship that harkens back to the days when Republican Sen. Strom Thurmond and Democratic Sen. Fritz Hollings were in Washington, says University of South Carolina political science professor Blease Graham.
"There's been a traditional division of labor between the South Carolina members in the U.S. Senate," he says.
DeMint plays the role of the conservative anchor, he says, while Lindsey Graham is the kind of Republican that reassures independents.
(Excerpt) Read more at charlestoncitypaper.com ...
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Graham is garbage
WTF is wrong with Graham? He needs to join Sphincter.
Lindsey is a rino. He is out.
DeMint is intelligent and a real conservative.
WHOO HOOO
Can’t hardly stand to look at or hear Graham- he has gone total poofter and a patronizing one at that.
I suspect this egg head and McCain will be working behind the scenes to iron out some half @ssed health care reform bill that the dems and Obama will use as a “bipartisan” bill.
All republicans and Blue dog Dems should oppose any health reform legislation.
This is all about Obama and not about the American people.
We stand to stop this socialization of our country in its tracks.
I say to the so called moderate republicans, move to the side if you’re not going to embrace conservative programs.
I recall clearly that Reagan was criticized soundly by these guys...but held true.
So being concerned about Sotomayor's blatantly racist and sexist statements and track record on the Ricci case, etc. is "blind ideology" to Sen. Graham?
This needed a Barf alert!
How can Graham say that the wise Latina is “center-left but still in the mainstream” ?
Is he really that stupid? Don’t answer that.
Just the fact that Obama would consider you, pegs you as a radical.
You can basically come out right now and state that you are going to oppose any Obama nominee or initiative.
I do not know why Graham is selling out this country but he sure is doing it.
No bias here.
Grahmnasty just won re-election? We have 8 more years of this? Oh Lord this is awful. He’s such a publicity whore. He was on saying how he would question here “wise Latina” remark then he does a flip flop and will vote to confirm.
I present prima-facia evidence that if the rest of the party goes along with this lame brain the GOP is finished as a viable poltical party.
Go Jim Demint! At least you have a set of what Lindsey is lacking.
Now I believe that the Republican leadership decided some time ago that they would not attempt to block the Sotomayor nomination. Good or bad, right or wrong, that is what they did. So ... that decision precludes a partisan vote in committee. That means at least ONE REPUBLICAN HAD TO VOTE YES in committee. That someone turned out the be Lindsey Graham. Maybe he did it willingly. Maybe less so. But don't let the Republican Party off the hook on this one. They decided not to fight.
Graham do the pubs a favor and go democrat - liberal one at that so you will be in your real comfort zone and leave the pubs alone.
“Although I’m certainly no Lindsey Graham fan I think there is a small item being overlooked with regard to his YES vote for Sotomayor. That item is the rule (correct me if I’m wrong) that says the Judicial Committee vote must include at least ONE VOTE from the minority party for the nomination to be sent to the Senate floor for an up/down vote.
Now I believe that the Republican leadership decided some time ago that they would not attempt to block the Sotomayor nomination. Good or bad, right or wrong, that is what they did. So ... that decision precludes a partisan vote in committee. That means at least ONE REPUBLICAN HAD TO VOTE YES in committee. That someone turned out the be Lindsey Graham. Maybe he did it willingly. Maybe less so. But don’t let the Republican Party off the hook on this one. They decided not to fight. “
I totally agree with you.
An alternative source to fund, if you are so inclined, is this one:
http://senateconservatives.com/index.php?p=home&c=UFWC8
This is the Conservative Fund and is basically headed up by Jim DeMint and friends ... any money you give them goes right to conservative candidates. If you give to the RNC, you are supporting Graham and his ilk. Time to financially starve the Republicans to weed out people like Lindsey Graham. Remember, a "weed" is simply a "misplaced plant." Graham is a Democrat, he's just growing in the wrong garden.
He’s a fagoo.
Graham is out next time, IMO.
Good idea. Then we can have a smaller, more principled GOP. Emphasis on the smaller.
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