Well it looks like Senator Lindsey Graham and I agree on something:
http://www.nytimes.com/...
Many Republicans admitted their efforts to hobble executive agencies by denying confirmation of their leadership was wrongheaded. “Cordray was being filibustered because we don’t like the law” that created the consumer agency, said Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina. “That’s not a reason to deny someone their appointment. We were wrong.” - New York Time, 7/17/13
No shit Sherlock. I'll give Graham a little credit for being honest on this. Plus lately it's the smartest thing he's said recently. Unlike this idiotic idea:
http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/...
A key U.S. senator has told NBC News that the United States should consider boycotting the upcoming Winter Games if Russian President Vladimir Putin grants leaker Edward Snowden asylum — a suggestion that a top U.S. Olympic official quickly rejected.
"I love the Olympics, but I hate what the Russian government is doing throughout the world," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told NBC News on Tuesday. "If they give asylum to a person who I believe has committed treason against the United States, that's taking it to a new level." Graham even suggested that Putin's actions should raise the specter of the pre-World War II Berlin games hosted by Adolf Hitler's regime.
In response, U.S. Olympic Committee spokesman Patrick Sandusky tweeted Wednesday, "While we acknowledge the seriousness of the issues at hand, we strongly oppose the notion that a boycott of the Olympic and Paralympic Games is in our country's best interests." - NBC Politics, 7/17/13
Graham's idea to boycott the Olympics is not only a dumb idea but also an ineffective one:
http://www.nydailynews.com/...
The U.S. Olympic Committee slammed the suggestion by Sen. Lindsey Graham that the U.S. consider boycotting the 2014 Winter Games in Russia.
"Olympic boycotts do not work," the group said in a statement, adding that depriving athletes of their chance to compete was not in the "country's best interest."
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) brushed aside the boycott threat, calling the Republican’s rhetoric as “a purely hypothetical situation.” - New York Daily News, 7/17/13
Graham is blatantly trying to balance himself between a common sense conservative and a moronic tea bagger because Graham actually has a serious Tea Party challenger in businessman Richard Cash (R. SC):
http://canadafreepress.com/...
After declaring his intention to enter the race on April 15, 2013 and challenge Senator Lindsey Graham in the 2014 US Senate Race, Richard Cash has been traveling the State spreading his conservative message. Cash’s message has resonated with those who have become disillusioned with Graham’s voting record and moderate agenda. Support for this 2010 3rd Congressional District Republican Primary winner has been overwhelming.
After several weeks of fundraising, the campaign ended the quarter with $275,000 raised and a quarter million on hand demonstrating that the people of South Carolina are ready to support a conservative change for South Carolina in Washington, D.C. Cash is in our nation’s capital this week meeting with several conservative groups to shore up additional support.
Richard Cash stated, “We have only just begun,” when commenting on the first reporting of campaign contributions. “We don’t need more money than Senator Graham, we just need to raise enough to execute our plan.” Cash went on to thank the growing statewide network of conservative Republicans getting behind his campaign because they realize Graham no longer represents the values of South Carolina voters and Richard Cash will. - Canada Free Press, 7/17/13
Graham has a big war chest in terms of campaign funds but his vote to allow the gun control debate to move forward in the Senate as well as his support for immigration reform have pissed off the Tea Party so much that I think Graham is the most likely Republican incumbent to be outed by a Tea Party challenger. That's why I think we should keep our eyes on Libertarian-leaning Democrat, Jay Stamper. He may be an underdog but his campaign is worth following:
http://www.jaystamper.com/
I've been in touch with Stamper's campaign and I am going to do an interview diary with him very soon. In the mean time, check out his interview with Down With Tyranny, it's worth a read:
http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/...