Posted on 03/23/2010 5:52:45 AM PDT by rabscuttle385
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) says he is not abandoning negotiations on a comprehensive energy and climate bill even as he warns of partisan gridlock following the Democrats' push this week to pass health care reform.
"It's going to make it very difficult to do anything complicated and controversial," Graham told reporters yesterday.
"I'm still committed to trying to roll out a vision of how you can price carbon and make it business-friendly. We're still going to do that. ... But the truth of the matter is, I think you're going to find most of our colleagues around here risk adverse."
Graham's continued role in the climate talks with Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) is critical for lawmakers trying to maintain momentum on an issue that has largely been kept on the sidelines while President Obama and Democrats focused on health care.
In recent days, Graham warned that immigration reform would be the "first casualty" following the Senate Democrats' efforts to complete the health care bill via a fast-track reconciliation vote. And he is also predicted GOP gains this November. "Republicans will pick up a lot of votes from people who think this is bad for their business, their family, and the process used to pass it was sleazy," Graham said over the weekend.
(snip)
"If Lindsey Graham flies the coup, this thing is dead," said Kevin Book, managing director with ClearView Energy Partners.
While Graham said he is staying put, his predictions about the Senate mood appear to be spot on -- at least among some moderate Republicans.
(snip)
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) said she would "continue to work" with Democrats on energy and climate change legislation.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Grahamnesty alert!
I can see why the democrats are pushing cap & tax; it’s the same reason they pushed health care: Control. But I honestly have absolutely no idea why any Republican would back cap & tax. Graham is clearly nuts.
So now that his sister, Juanita McLame, has to pretend to be a conservative for a few months in order to get re elected it’s Lindas turn to be the liberal in charge?
You can kill any hopes of a Republican resurgence and a return to power as long as Lindsey Graham and his ilk are polluting the cause and giving the democrats cover.
It’s time for the Republican leadership to “be rid of this troublesome priest” or face a complete desertion of the ranks to a Tea Party siren. As of now, with Graham in the driver’s seat, the Republicans are in the same spot as the Whigs of 1855.
Flies the coup? What is this, the NYT? COOP, as in "Chicken coop."
Graham must be REMOVED!
price carbon? still? After global warming has been debunked! Has the whole world gone insane?
That would be "risk averse", Poodle.
Get him out of office. And McCain. We need to nail down Palin on exactly why she is all about McCain, no flames, I like her just want to understand where she is coming from with this.
Not grahamnesty but grahamcaptrade. What. A. Dolt.
So after the huge unConstitutional takeover of health care against the will of the people, it’s back to “business as usual” for Linseed and some others. “Hey, Obama and the rats just enforced their will upon an unwilling populace, but we can still work with them in a bi-partisan fashion to pass another scam against wealth producers”. They make me sick.
On the Sarah issue we’ll have to wait and see what plays out in Arizona. She might owe him a campaign favor but I sure hope this is it.
They deserve to be hounded, hounded, hounded for this.
Follow the money or personal relationships.
I saw Lindsay Graham yesterday morning in the lobby of my building in midtown. He was going in the Hess elevator.
He was giving a speech last night at AIPEC. While I know that is a foreign policy matter, you should have heard Graham gushing over how in love he is with Charles Schumer. And Corker is making me sick too; apparently he is ready to move on after the destruction of the best health care system in the world. Let me tell you what; if the Republicans cooperate in any way with these fascists, don’t make any case to me about not considering a third party.
Who is holding “WHAT” over Graham’s head?
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