Free Republic

The amendment infuriated Graham, a South Carolina Republican with close ties to another presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Pacing the Senate floor and waving Obama's amendment, Graham loudly accused Obama of undermining a delicate agreement whose advocates have shown political courage. Issues that require bipartisanship often fail, Graham said, "because some people, when it comes to the tough decisions, back away." Obama's amendment, he said, would destroy the bill's prospects and bring special woe to Republicans—such as himself—who have endured conservatives' searing criticism for backing it. It would undercut "everybody over here who's walked the plank and told our...

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who sits on the Judiciary Committee and is close to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), is blocking a nominee to the federal bench whom Graham’s friend opposes, Senate sources say. Conservatives and the American Bar Association consider the nominee, William “Jim” Haynes, one of President Bush’s more qualified. But his nomination has languished in committee since the president tapped him for the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in September 2003. Graham’s blocking of Haynes means the senators need not argue against the administration’s treatment of enemy fighters, which might prove less popular connected to a judicial...