Posted on 04/27/2010 9:27:53 PM PDT by rabscuttle385
The Republican lawmaker, under attack from both parties, backs off from efforts to work with Democrats on immigration, energy and Guantanamo Bay.
BY JIM TANKERSLEY
For months, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was one of the few Republicans willing to cross the aisle to work with the Obama administration on controversial issues. Now, he may be the showcase example of why bipartisanship is all but dead in Washington.
In the beginning, Graham's attempts to find compromises with Obama and Senate Democrats on immigration, energy and closing Guantanamo Bay looked like the best chance for a thaw in Washington's icy partisan environment. But now, under attack from colleagues and activists in both parties, Graham is threatening to chuck the whole effort.
That potentially dooms prospects for congressional action this year on energy and immigration, as well as the likelihood of widespread cooperation across party lines on most other issues.
From the right, Republican activists in Graham's home state have heaped scorn and censure on him. Fellow Senate Republicans, including party leaders, have left him to deal with Democrats on his own.
Meanwhile, from the other side, White House officials have criticized Graham's push to include what would have amounted to a new gasoline tax in the energy bill. Liberals have griped that Graham packed the bill with giveaways to industry; moderates say he hasn't delivered Republican support for the bill anyway.
Perhaps most important, Graham suddenly finds himself wrestling with the Senate's top Democrat, Harry Reid of Nevada, over a plan to fast-track the immigration bill. Graham says that by pushing immigration when it isn't ready and can't pass, Reid has jeopardized good-faith negotiations on immigration and energy in hopes of scoring cheap political points against Republicans.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
fyi
I just get the feeling he is trying for a legacy play.
When is he up for re-election?
When is he up for re-election?
2014.
Good catch. Ms. Graham is a loser like his best boyfriend in Arizona.
Ive said many times on here if the pols and SRM think the people were pissed over healthcare, just wait until immigration. Lindsey still doesnt get it.
Why was he re elected 2 years ago. He’s been a Rino longer than that.
I agree. This issue is even more volatile than healthcare, especially following healthcare. The Dems are about to light the fuse.
Graham’s biggest problem is the invention of the hidden camera.
Poor wittle Windsey! All he wants to do is betray his constituents and those mean wascally Wepubwicans won’t let him!
Would the good folks in SC please put this pathetic RINO out of our misery?
Republicans closed ranks and no one would run against him that had the state wide recognition, funding and support.
Similiar to the bahavior of Republicans in Arizona (and some Tea party groups sadly). The difference is J.D. hates McCain with cause. Party pleas are ineffective with him. He has enough good will with conservatives (on immigration particularly), name recognition and of course nationally the financial support of conservatives that hate McCain to run a credibe challenge.
If Lindsey were up for re-election this year it may have been a different story.
I remember driving through South Carolina when he was up for election last, his campaign ads stressed how conservative he was (it wasn’t hidden, the ads were something blatantly targeted to conservatives like “Lindsay Graham is a conservative, he supports conservative values.”) If he dances with the left, he should be noted as such and judged appropriately by the electorate. If he holds to the right, he should similarly be noted as such (and also judged appropriately by the electorate). With as much information as is available today, there is no way a sitting legislator at any level should ever be able to run from his or her record.
Lindsey must now be grilled by the electorate on his “gang of 14”. Obama is running rough-shod over America and could care less about his bi-whatever past.
>>> Lindsey must now be grilled by the electorate on his “gang of 14”
You mean the “gang of 14” that preserved the filibuster when dimwits were eager to throw it away ? That kept the only weapon a minority Republican senate had for the last year to prevent total dem rule by decree? You want him to apologize for THAT “gang of 14”? Somehow I don’t think that will make much trouble for Graham.
Oh please. For the sake of our country. Please let this be true!!!
If Grahmnesty’s ineptitude causes cap and tax and amnesty to be derailed, he will have been a very useful idiot.
GOOD!
It will if South Carolina Conservatives gave him a chance on it. I don't live there so I don't know the mood. All I know is he capitulated and learned about being bi the hard way.
Smokemeister! How the heck ARE ya??
This is already out of date. Now they’re talking about fast tracking Cap & Trade.
His constituents is why he is still in office at all. They WANT him and his type in the office or could have put him out a couple of years back.
His stance on everything is NO surprise to any of the voters. They put him in office and have kept him there.
It's saying something that Graham was the only GOP senator to think that he could work with the Dems and not get his hands dirty. That makes him dumber or more naive or more opportunistic than Snowe or Collins.
No doubt.
Willing to cross the aisle and bend over backwards to stab Conservatives in the back.
Don’t you mean bend over forwards?
Later, he added: “I enjoy my job. The only reason I enjoy it — the lifestyle of a senator sucks — is the wonderful opportunity for a conservative, right now, to have a say on big issues.… As long as you’re willing to let the other side get something, you can have a real say.”
He’s delusional.
“Later, he added: “I enjoy my job. The only reason I enjoy it — the lifestyle of a senator sucks — is the wonderful opportunity for a conservative, right now, to have a say on big issues.…”
You are no conservative, you frigging rino cockroach.
I don't think so. I think his addled brain believes the crap he spews.
as God is my witness, I'll never be bipartisan again....(I'll be a Dhimmicrat)
Aw, the little poofter is having twuble....
We all need to chip in and buy Lady Lindsey a hankie so she can daintily dab at her eyes. Poor baby.
Uber RINO Lindsey Ping
"Republican by day, Democrat by night."
Want on or off this ping list?
Just FReepmail me.
2014 as rabs said. And, unfortunately, SC does not have a recall law. We are stuck with this POS until 2014. But it will be such a joy to toss his ass out on the sidewalk.
Go over the top and you'll get machine gunned.
http://www.alipac.us/article5191.html
headline:
Senator Lindsey Graham’s Miraculous 180 on Amnesty On Display
Graham is nothing more than a bloackmailed closet queer tool of the left.
They yell jump, and he must. Lindsey has had one too many leftist queers in his hopper.He is part of the extended Obaka homo/queer network now lacing through Washington.
He will not be re-elected.
I think Lindsgay would enjoy getting it from both sides.
BRAVO! Proving that most Republicans are 'getting it' and that Graham, as a true RINO, is an anomale.
Get RID of him, SC! We don't need no RINOS!
If he should disappear under a rock...I would not care ...
Everyone despises a Judas Goat.
When you try to please everybody, you only wind up pissing everybody off.
Hope he and a few others from both sides of the aisle do the right thing by tossing all of these crazy bills that only harm the US. Bipartisanship my ass.
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