Lindsey Graham, the GOP's newest traitor

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I can understand how the classic Northern liberal Republican became anathema to the base of today's Republican party, but the vitriol currently being dumped on South Carolina's Lindsey Graham for for daring to support action on climate change is remarkable in its suicidal intensity. Think Progress has been all over this story: The right-wing blogosphere is in a frenzy.

This unhinged response is reflected in the conservative blogosphere, where Graham has been called a "fake Republican," "RINO" (Republican in name only), a "traitor," "disgrace," "asshat," "democrat in drag," and a "wussypants, girly-man, half-a-sissy."

Graham received such rough treatment at one of his own townhalls on Tuesday that he was driven to tell his audience, regarding his vision for how the Republican party should move forward, that "if you don't like it, you can leave." That in turn, prompted Glenn Beck to devote a segment of his show on Wednesday to Graham:

Listen to the arrogance of Lindsey Graham: And if you don't like it, you can leave. Well, Lindsey, I think they have. I think they have. He says they're not going to become the party of angry white men. Oh, well, that's not too racist. What do you mean you are not going to be the party of angry white men? Do you know why the white men, white women, black men, black women, Hispanics, doesn't matter, do you know why Americans are angry? Because of attitudes like yours! If you don't like it, you can leave. Excuse me? Who works for who? You work for me, you little weasel. I've been paying your stinkin' salary! I have been paying I'm paying for your pension until the day you die! Are you excuse me? I want to say, "Are you talkin' to me? Are you talkin' to me?"

Glenn Beck channeling "Taxi Driver's" psychotic would-be assassin Travis Bickle. Why am I not surprised?

But what is truly baffling about this whole outbreak of puritanical hardcore Republicanism, is that in his now notorious New York Times op-ed, co-written with John Kerry, Lindsey Graham makes it clear that his support of a climate change bill is predicated on expanding government support for nuclear power and clean coal. From a liberal environmentalist point of view, Graham is a conservative. But from the Republican base perspective, he's a foul traitor to all that is good and holy. To me, he's the closest thing to sane in the South Carolina GOP.

― Andrew Leonard

http://www.salon.com/tech/htww/2009/10/14/...;aim=/tech/htww

[Chris_Жанна 11]

Hahaha I live in S. Carolina. I can tell you Lindsey Graham is still def as republican as they come. It just shows how radical these fringe right wingers are becoming. Disagree with them and your labeled a "liberal". Calling Lindsey Graham a "Liberal" is like saying Strom Thurman is a race relations specialist.

I think Glenn Beck has been dipping into Rush's Oxy Contin supply......

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Hahaha I live in S. Carolina. I can tell you Lindsey Graham is still def as republican as they come. It just shows how radical these fringe right wingers are becoming. Disagree with them and your labeled a "liberal". Calling Lindsey Graham a "Liberal" is like saying Strom Thurman is a race relations specialist.

I think Glenn Beck has been dipping into Rush's Oxy Contin supply......

LOL

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I think Glenn Beck has been dipping into Rush's Oxy Contin supply......

Glenn Beck is losing it - he apparently installed a red telephone just for the White House to call him. What a buffoon.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Adults are no fun.

I think Glenn Beck has been dipping into Rush's Oxy Contin supply......

Glenn Beck is losing it - he apparently installed a red telephone just for the White House to call him. What a buffoon.

No calls yet.

[AlHayatZween 2]

i have to say, there is something about Lindsey's accent that makes me smile... Edited October 15, 2009 by AlHayatZween

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Adults are no fun.

I think Glenn Beck has been dipping into Rush's Oxy Contin supply......

Glenn Beck is losing it - he apparently installed a red telephone just for the White House to call him. What a buffoon.

No calls yet.

Nobody is going to call him on that phone. You know that, I know that and I would hope that Beck still has enough cells left in that skull of his to know that too. That's just stoopid buffoonery and I'm sure his cheerleaders are just eating this up.

[scandal 951]

I've always respected Graham. I don't always (or even often) agree with him.

But he is an honorable and fair and principled man, and I greatly respect him for that.

I recall that he was troubled when the wiretap scandal broke around 2006-2007, and was very vocal in calling for getting FISA approval for the wiretaps.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

yeah - you gotta wonder what they've been putting in those tea bags if Lindsay Graham is a RINO. I mean with Olympia Snowe and Arnie I can see where they are coming from.

I predict these teabaggers are going to create their own protest party by 2012

[one...two...tree 2,762]

yeah - you gotta wonder what they've been putting in those tea bags if Lindsay Graham is a RINO. I mean with Olympia Snowe and Arnie I can see where they are coming from.

I predict these teabaggers are going to create their own protest party by 2012

They should if they don't want to compromise on their hard line stances on issues...otherwise, they'll be forced to reckon with political compromise under the bigger tent of the Republican Party.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

yeah - you gotta wonder what they've been putting in those tea bags if Lindsay Graham is a RINO. I mean with Olympia Snowe and Arnie I can see where they are coming from.

I predict these teabaggers are going to create their own protest party by 2012

They should if they don't want to compromise on their hard line stances on issues...otherwise, they'll be forced to reckon with political compromise under the bigger tent of the Republican Party.

Compromise? God doesn't compromise.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I predict these teabaggers are going to create their own protest party by 2012

The "Independent American Party" out-registering the Republicans in Nevada. Harbinger of things to come?

From the Las Vegas Sun, dated Oct 12 2009:

Republicans have added just 1,549 voters since February, when the secretary of state’s office cleaned up voter registration rolls.

Democrats, meanwhile, added 4,860 and nonpartisan registration grew by 3,783. Even the hard-right Independent American Party registered more Nevada voters in that span than Republicans.

“Coming in fourth? Ouch,” said Erik Herzik, a professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Reno, and a registered Republican.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I predict these teabaggers are going to create their own protest party by 2012

The "Independent American Party" out-registering the Republicans in Nevada. Harbinger of things to come?

From the Las Vegas Sun, dated Oct 12 2009:

Republicans have added just 1,549 voters since February, when the secretary of state’s office cleaned up voter registration rolls.

Democrats, meanwhile, added 4,860 and nonpartisan registration grew by 3,783. Even the hard-right Independent American Party registered more Nevada voters in that span than Republicans.

“Coming in fourth? Ouch,” said Erik Herzik, a professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Reno, and a registered Republican.

That's just my point. The tea baggers are a real gift to the Democrats as they solidfy the support of the progressive crowd while splitting up the conservative base.

A similar thing happened in Germany over the last decade or so - only there it happened on the left side of the spectrum leaving the country fairly solidly in the hands of the right. At least for now.

[Chris_Жанна 11]

Well, the dems got the "Blue Dogs" and the Rep. got the "Tea Baggers" hahahaha why would anyone name themselves "Teabaggers"? Seems like you're setting yourself up......... I have to laugh every time I hear that word.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

"Blue Dogs" is pretty retarded a name as well.