The Seduction Of Lindsey Graham [Reader Post]

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According to most conservatives in South Carolina, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has officially gone over to the dark side. Under the guise of ‘bipartisanship,’ Graham has signed on to one of the left’s most ambitious plans to impose a socialist agenda in America – government control of the formerly free market through implementation of cap-and trade, the 1,400 plus page Waxman-Markey bill approved earlier this year by the House.

The main (scientifically unproven) premise of cap and trade is that the earth is melting and government must step in to save the world. Of course, it will be expensive, but hey, this is Mother Earth we’re talking about. And its urgent and essential that the government immediately establish a $700 billion “market” for business to buy and sell “steadily declining number of permits for creating carbon emissions.”

In a New York Times Op-Ed Graham co-authored with Sen. John Kerry cutely entitled ‘Yes We Can’ (get it?) Sen Graham states “..we agree that climate change is real and threatens our economy and national security.” Huh?

Conservatives disagree. Conservatives, real conservatives, believe the fact based studies based on science that stand in direct opposition to the dire reports issued by bureaucrats at the United Nations and embraced as fact by the left.

Conservative think tank, Heritage Foundation, outlines the additional costs that will be imposed on every American family if cap and trade is enacted. Residential electricity costs will zoom up by 90%, nearly 1.9 million jobs will be lost by 2012 overall, and the economy will lose nearly $10 trillion in gross domestic product by 2035. Just what the economy needs, right?

Lindsey Graham was elected to serve as United States Senator in 2002. He was easily re-elected in 2008, largely due to the support of conservatives. Conservatives like founder and past president of the low country’s South Strand Republicans, John Bonsignor. John and his wife campaigned hard for Graham, based on their belief that Graham would govern as a conservative. Meaning, lower taxes and less government.

“Graham is disappointing,” states Bonsignor, “He campaigned as a conservative but his record is moderate left.” When asked if he would vote for Graham now, Bonsignor stated emphatically, “No,” citing Lindsey’s support for Sotomayor, his support for TARP funds, and the final straw, his support for cap and trade.

Sen. Graham’s own website states, “Graham is known as a leader who never abandons his independence or strays from the conservative reform agenda.” This is no longer true.

Graham has been seduced by the left. He has adopted one of their most successful tactics, promising one thing while delivering quite the opposite. Though its impossible to know what is in another man’s heart, actions always speak louder than words. And Graham’s actions clearly show that he has signed on to the leftist agenda. Possibly hoping to earn the coveted ‘maverick’ label and media kudos formerly enjoyed by his good buddy John McCain. But he is doing his own party no good.

Graham has come to exemplify the growing disconnect between conservatives and the Republican party. He believes he knows best, and if the people that elected him disagree, he tells them to just “chill out,” as he did at a recent townhall meeting in Greenville. The same townhall meeting where one of his constituents called him a traitor.

That townhall received little media attention. What did receive national media coverage was Graham’s recent interview where he attacked Glenn Beck, the left’s favorite target. “Glenn Beck does not represent the thinking of the Republican Party,” Graham stated. How he knows this is a mystery, as he went on to say he never watches the Glenn Beck Show. Go figure.

Graham may be right about one thing: Glenn Beck clearly represents the thinking of conservatives, not the GOP. And Sen. Lindsey Graham is now willingly spouting the talking points of the left and abandoning the conservative principles that got him elected. He has been seduced by the left and his reward is ever more national face time and political influence.

Enjoy the ride, Lindsey. More and more South Carolinians, this author included, are comparing you with our real conservative Senator, Jim DeMint, and you’re coming up way short. Keep in mind that we have long memories while the fawning media currently singing your praises have short ones. Your love affair with the left, whether it be seduction or statutory rape, betrays the conservative principles that you claimed to hold. And we don’t like it one bit.

Crossposted from Right Bias

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Dear S.C. conservatives,

Please do this Texan a favor. Run a real conservative against Lindsey and allow us to offer support from afar. Grahamnasty must go… he and the other RINO’s. Conservatives must rally to support conservative competition to sitting RINO’s and force the GOP’s hand in not reflexively supporting incumbents. 3rd party won’t work. We must pull a Reagan and drag the GOP to the right just like he did in the 70’s, and remember, it took him 10 years and the GOP machine was very unhelpful to Reagan until he go the nomination. Go figure. We are back to the late 70’s…!

I have suspected as much. Our Senate is becoming a RINO stampede. TERM LIMITS NOW. Vote out the wishy washy.

@yippie21: Speaking on behalf of my fellow SC conservatives we tried to do just that in 2008 but the man many of us had pinned our hopes on, State Treasurer Thomas Ravenal, was nabbed for cocaine distribution.

No other viable conservative would come forward and run against Graham. We’re stuck with him for another 7 years at least.

We know we can only count on Graham about half the time. The other half the time he’s doing crazy stuff like this climate change crapola.

Fortunately, my state’s other senator is Jim DeMint, a 100% reliable conservative voice who has been a rock solid leader on the most difficult issues these past few years. He’s up against a tough fight in 2010 as the Dems would love to get rid of him. Any financial contributions he can get would be greatly appreciated:

http://www.jimdemint.com/home/

@Slatrat: Term limits won’t solve the problem. It would only force us to get rid of many good conservatives along with the RINOS.

@Mikes.. Thanks and good to go. I like DeMint and didn’t know he was facing a tough fight. I’ll send him some Texas bucks as I’ll put my money where my mouth is. I’ll support any real conservative running! I encourage others to do the same. Pay attention and then support! Cheers!

I sure liked Graham’s take on Iraq and his principled stand.

Since then, it seems like he’s working hard to alienate conservatives…
being from SC, I can’t imagine why he’d think that has a future… because it doesn’t.

Maybe he’s just a jellyfish that will go along with President Palin’s agenda, too-
but I wouldn’t vote for the guy if I lived down there…

Following the lead of his hero and the man upon whose butt Grahamnesty still has his lips firmly attached–Juan McCain–, Lindsey does what is best for Lindsey. Like McCain, he will cheerfully sell out the American people and the US if there is something in it for him. It’s only necessary to find out what it is…a big contributor with a solar power unit factory, whatever.

Ms. Morgan continues her campaign of spreading half-truths and canards about Lindsey. From what I gather, Morgan is not a Republican, and is part of that rather nasty childish little cabal in South Carolina determined to destroy anyone who does not agree with their version of conservative 100% of the time.

She failed to mention the incident at Furman townhall was brought about by a hand-full of out of control libertarians, Ron Paul Bots, a ding-bat woman who voted for Chuck Baldwin, and filmed by an unemployed Ron Paul Bot who has made a career out of disrupting anything Lindsey does. Even Allahpundit at Hot Air, who truly detests Lindsey was forced to admit these people were completely out of control and Lindsey made them look like the idiots they are.

Morgan wrote:
“…“Graham is disappointing,” states Bonsignor, “He campaigned as a conservative but his record is moderate left.” When asked if he would vote for Graham now, Bonsignor stated emphatically, “No,” citing Lindsey’s support for Sotomayor, his support for TARP funds, and the final straw, his support for cap and trade….”

She basically lied about this in that Lindsey has a lifetime ACU rating of 90%. I don’t call that liberal. She also failed to mention that Lindsey has declared war on the Ron Paul Bots who are attempting to infiltrate the SC-GOP.

Morgan also did not mention the fact that there is a battle going on in South Carolina, as in many other states, where a very small group of individuals who have never been Republican in their lives are attempting to take over the party in the glorious name of Ron Paul. Lindsey has been battling this group for well over a year. You will also find when an incident like this happens in SC, the same suspects are involved.

I don’t mind when non-Republicans like Morgan do their extreme far right thing. I don’t mind Ron Paul Bots and Libertarians have a right to do what they want to do. I don’t appreciate it when they mis-represent the facts, tell half-truths and spread out-right lies about our good, honorable elected Republican officials. SC’s top political blog, The Palmetto Scoop has been covering the whole Lindsey v. Ron Paul Bots for some time. They have far more credibility than does Morgan.

I am rather surprised a hit-piece like this would find its way into one of the most reliable political sites online. Morgan calls herself a “real” conservative. Funny, so am I. So is Lindsey. One of us is playing fast and lose with the facts. I read Lindsey’s WSJ piece. I cringed at the time, knowing exactly what Lindsey-Haters like Morgan would do (not bothering to actually read the piece but react on cue). I think Lindsey is wrong on cap/trade, but if he can get the Dems to go along with energy independence that includes drill here, drill now, and more nuclear power, along with legislated limits of how much the EPA can tax a business for cap/trade, then I think it might be acceptable. If someone like Jim DeMint had authored the same piece, Morgan would be waxing poetic over it.

How long do we allow the haters to call the shots for the GOP?

SJR
The Pink Flamingo

These RINO’s need to hear from their constituents that pacification in the form of alleged Bi-partisanship will endanger their future employment as Senators. There are true Conservatives out there that need to step up and be seen and heard. The 2010 elections need to carry some blowback for these pretenders in Office.

I have no party affiliation for a multitude of sound reasons. Both Parties went on a spending binge, allowed the Treasury to be raided, have not forced Obama’s hand on winning the War on Terror and allowed DHS/ICE to suspend enforcement of Immigration Laws and forceful deportations of folks that have overstayed VISAs. Bringing the Club GITMO tourists to the US to grant them Constitutional Rights is pure hogwash that should have been blocked. Currently I do not see too many Patriots in the ranks of Congress, the Senate or the Obama’s appointees. They are admitted Socialists, Tax Cheats and IMO Scoundrels that should have no place in US Foreign or Domestic Policy.

Ignoring the Constitution or attempting to bypass oversight is Not the American Way nor should it establish a new precedent. I see it as a Duty to restore the Republic to traditional American Values for any candidate for any level of Public Office and refuse to Vote for any other alternative. Fiscal Responsibility is a Duty as well. Every Socialist State in history has failed. Voters need to be reminded of that. There is no free lunch and there should be no “safe seats” for those unworthy of the Duty of Office or those that have betrayed the Public Trust through rampant overspending or unwarranted earmarks for crap that America does not truly need. America is running on borrowed money and borrowed time right now.

And NO I’m not running for Office!

Time to weed out the weeds. I’m gonig to do my best to get rid of Benedict Arlen, followed by Bob Clueless Casey.

I agree – RINOs need to go and I would like Lindsey to lead the way! The People are waking up! We just need to keep the pressure on!

With Senator Graham’s announced support for the Senate Cap & Trade Legislation, does anyone know if this also includes a promise that he will also vote to ratify the Copenhagen Treaty? As we are all aware, Obama is more than ready to sign.

The Copenhagen Treaty IS all about wealth redistribution to third world countries and giving away even more American sovereignty. . .if not the end of it.

@SJR

It seems suspicious that you are so adamantly opposing Ms. Morgan.

Lindsaey is a RINO, and this site carries no water for Repubs…We are Conservatives.

Lindsey will NEVER get the Dems to drill anything in this country but their Pages, and the “danger” from CO2 is a crock…Why so angry, ma’am?

@SJ Reidhead: I used to be a contributor to the Palmetto Scoop and have been a conservative voter in SC for many years. As anyone on this blog will tell you, I’m not a Paul Bot.

And I also know that many, MANY SC conservatives are disappointed with Lindsey Graham.

I did not read anything in your comment which recognizes the very real disagreements that SC conservatives have with Graham.

@Patvann… Lindsey will NEVER get the Dems to drill anything in this country but their Pages, and the “danger” from CO2 is a crock…Why so angry, ma’am?”

Ha ha ha… made me laugh out loud! Ha!

SJ: There is a difference between the GOP and conservatives. AND even if what you say is true, what would be wrong about some conservatives moving to unseat a weak-hand RINO like Lindsey? He is right some of the time, but is just like McCain. He does what suits him. In another time, that was unacceptable but we put up with it. Well… what we’re saying now is …. NO LONGER.

Too much latitude has been given and the GOP RINO’s are doing real damage. We conservatives , ( who should be united in this cause) must rally to reinstitute a small Federal Government / increased States rights platform and even undo the last 50 years of paternal behavior and giveaways by the government. We must educate and push for a Federal Judiciary that knows it’s place and stays within the bounds of law and not force-feed liberal/socialist ideas on a public that doesn’t agree.

I love this site. Great comments!

@Yippie21

Thankyouverymuch…I’ll be here all week. 😉

Graham Cracker

I’ve written about this before: I’d strongly consider voting for Graham for national political office. I keep looking for a national 21st Century Republican whom I could support. Mitt Romney was my initial candidate for President in 2008, before he turned into the most shameless panderer I’d ever seen, or at least remembered. I wouldn’t have been at all unhappy, had McCain won in ’08, which I viewed as a can’t-lose election, save for the nonsense of his running mate, his age, and his history of melanoma.

If the GOP wants to beat Obama in ’12 and even it wants to break even with the Dems in the ’10 elections, it needs more candidates like Graham, not fewer.

You can go for ideological purity or you can lead the nation. Your choice.

– Larry Weisenthal/Huntington Beach, CA

@openid.aol.com/runnswim: If you believe in Graham so strongly then perhaps you can donate to his campaign and make for the big bucks that fellow SC conservatives like myself will no longer be providing his campaigns.

Put your money where your mouth is Larry. Otherwise, it’s just talk.

P.S. No one on your side is “leading the nation.” You can’t even get members of your own party to agree on health care let alone Afghanistan.

@Mike: Does Graham currently NEED any money? Here’s what you wrote (#3):

No other viable conservative would come forward and run against Graham. We’re stuck with him for another 7 years at least.

Larry W/HB

yippie21, here from 31st december 2010, you where right then,
you still are right today, please accept my best wishes for the new year coming
bye