Great googly moogly. Stray a little from the pack, and you get your ass handed to you. That’s what happened today when Howard Rich organization Americans for Limited Government ran a column on its Web site taking the wood to U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, in a serious way. It wasn’t pretty.
With his sell-out late last week on the cap & trade bill in the U.S. Senate, Lindsay Olin Graham officially established himself as “The Watermelon Man.”
Green on the outside, pink on the inside, Graham will now serve as the pusillanimous poster boy for the amorphous mush that emerges when a Washington politician has soaked up far too much Potomac swamp water.
Adding insult to injury, The Watermelon Man got thumped by fellow Senator John Kerry, who convinced the diminutive Carolinian to co-sponsor the ruinous cap and trade bill by promising to let America drill for a little bit of its own oil and build a couple of nuclear power plants here and there. We hasten to add that rumors about the gullible Graham also buying into Kerry’s promises to walk on water and build a swing set on the moon have not yet been confirmed.
It doesn’t take long for the writer, Carter Clews, to call, in effect, South Carolina’s senior senator a hippie, a socialist and, ah, short ([randynewman]because short people have no reason to live[/randynewman]). And if you pay attention to the wording later in the column, the allusion is made to the Senator giving it up — yes, in that way — to the Democrats on cap-and-trade.
Frankly, we don’t have much time for this business. America has two major political parties, not a hodgepodge of groupings. That means you can’t have strict ideological purity, because if you do, you can’t have a majority party. That’s what makes our country different than most other representative democracies in the world. The Democrats dealt with this for decades before most Southern white members either retired or flipped to the Republicans. The Republicans dealt with it, too, until most of its moderates were either excommunicated or defeated in elections. Funny how most of these actions have happened in the past 50 years.
Anyway, point is, if someone agrees with you 75-95 percent of the time, they’re your bud. Ask yourself this: Do you have a friend you disagree with? It might be their general behavior sometimes, who they date/marry or other assorted things. Of course you do. Do you not be friends with them anymore? Of course not. You’re buds, and have more you agree on than not. That’s what political parties are like. And declaring war on one of your own is pretty dirty pool.
The past week has seen some interesting polls put into the field, one by the Republican-leaning Rasmussen and one by the Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling. Depending on who you believe and what you believe, you’ll come out from looking at the polls with your own idea about South Carolina’s U.S. senators.
The Rasmussen poll took a look at the dichotomy between U.S. Sens. Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham. For almost five years, it’s been pretty clear that the Palmetto State’s representatives in the nation’s most deliberative body are fairly different fellows. You can explain it this way and that, but it comes down to this: DeMint won’t compromise with Democrats. Graham will. Everything beyond that is spin for whichever side you support.
According to the poll, which has a 4.5 percent margin of error and a sample of 500 people, 38 percent want the S.C. Republican Party to be more like DeMint. About 32 percent want it to be more like Graham. The balance doesn’t know or doesn’t care. The favorability/unfavorability ratings for both men are about the same — which is to say, they’re both a little more than 60/30 positive, with the difference between the senators being within the margin of error.
According to Real Clear Politics, that looks good for DeMint keeping his seat in next year’s election.
DeMint’s favorable rating in this survey is 63 percent, while 25 percent have an unfavorable view. That number is certainly in the range where incumbents can be considered safe.
But hey, PPP is giving Democrats some hope. That poll had a margin of error of 4.1 percent and a sample size of 570 people. The rub here is that President Barack Obama, DeMint and Graham are all below 50 percent approval (O: 46, D: 44, G: 43). The real difference is that Obama’s negatives are pegged at 49 while the GOP senators have much lower negative ratings (D: 29, G: 35). Also, support for the Democratic health care plan is just getting hammered here, 53-35 against.
Democrats looking for a positive outlook could play up the 47-38 advantage DeMint has over a generic Democratic opponent. That gets donkey types breaking out their “The Candidate” DVDs to analyze the McKay-Jarmon race. We’re still extremely suspect of any chance a Democrat has of defeating DeMint next year. The “generic Democrat” number is bolstered because Democrats really don’t like DeMint, and there’s an anti-incumbency vibe going down (like ‘92, ‘94, ‘06 and ‘08).
Unless there’s a seriously game-changing event in this race, we’re still putting the over/under at DeMint by 10.
The elections to the U.S. Senate of Lindsey Graham in 2002 and Jim DeMint in 2004 sent men with decidedly different styles and base constituencies to Washington. Graham, his power play as a House manager in President Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial notwithstanding, has an m.o. for working across party lines and drawing support from moderates. DeMint has a reputation as a standard-bearer for activist conservatives.
The foundation has been laid for tension, and Graham’s consultants’ blog, The Palmetto Scoop, went after DeMint in comments on a post about Graham’s support, or lack thereof, of cap-and-trade legislation.
Ouch. Does Graham approve of this? And if so, what does it say about the current state of relations between South Carolina’s senators? Also, there could be spillover into next year’s state elections. You would think that Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster’s people wouldn’t be looking to rip into and freeze out the guy who will be at the top of the GOP ticket, and someone who’s pretty popular with the type of Republican voters who show up for the primaries.
A security protocol became assured of when Gov. Mark Sanford, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano agreed to Project Seahawk, a plan to protect ports like S.C.’s State Ports Authority. The headquarters for the project is at the old Charleston Navy Base. The plan was developed after 9/11 to adequately coordinate federal, state and local government entities.
Graham said the Port of Charleston is, “one of the most strategic locations in the United States in the war on terror.” Part of the project is a large number of cameras, which cover local highways, the Arthur Ravenel Bridge and numerous marshlands in the area of the port.
Because of Sanford’s issues with his six-day disappearance and his affair with an Argentine businesswoman, he did not not allow himself to be available to questions from the press. The same day, Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler gave his consent to appointing Sen. Tom Davis, Sanford’s former chief of staff, to the State Ports Authority’s board.
“Tom Davis’ knowledge, experience, and commitment to running an efficient port operation made him the obvious choice,” he said. “Senator Davis will take a conservative approach to the oversight committee that ensures accountability and a focus on economic development. His extensive background and knowledge of port issues is exactly what we need on this committee.”
Davis, who had opposed the SPA restructuring bill, committed himself to doing the best job he can.
“I am pleased that Senator Peeler recommended me to Senator McConnell to serve on the committee and accept that appointment,” Davis said. “I sincerely appreciate the faith that Senator Peeler has shown in me. It is no secret that I opposed the port-restructuring bill, but now that it has become law it is time to move on and do the best we can for South Carolina ports. And in that regard, I think I am well suited and qualified to oversee the operations of the South Carolina State Ports Authority and to screen the qualifications of new members to the ports authority board to ensure that the its objectives are met.”
The cheese, and Gov. Mark Sanford, stands alone. Wednesday brought more statements from S.C. Republicans, with the sentiment going from obliquely asking him to resign to outright demanding it. According to a top state Republican in Politico, “His support has collapsed. … He was made aware that his support is getting to be dang-near nonexistent.”
That response was in reference to phone calls to Sanford made by U.S. Sens. Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham, and U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett. DeMint made an appearance on “Fox & Friends” this morning, saying that the Governor should “make the right decision about what needs to be done,” but didn’t want to elaborate beyond that. If DeMint stepped away from Sanford, which is what it looks like, it would be a body blow to to the Governor’s credibility. Both largely share the same policy positions and political constituencies. DeMint is quoted in South Carolina Radio News all but advocating for Sanford to go.
“I’m concerned that he’s no longer in a position to lead the state,” DeMint said. “A number of us are talking to him quietly and we hope it can be resolved.”
State Republican Party chair Karen Floyd echoed the sentiment, saying, “For the past two days, I have been speaking with Republican leaders across South Carolina. There is clearly a growing view that the time may have come for Governor Sanford to remove himself and his family from the limelight, so that he can devote his efforts full-time to repairing the damage in his personal life.”
Rep. Dan Hamilton went a step further, encouraging Sanford to take a serious look at leaving office and letting the state move on from the mess he’s taken from his private life and put in the public eye.
“Unfortunately, in light of recent less than candid and contradictory statements, it has become clear that Gov. Sanford has lost the ability to effectively govern at this time,” he said. “I regretfully ask the Governor to consider resigning his position and take the time to focus on his personal well being and his responsibility as a husband and father. The job of Governor is temporary in nature and can be passed on to other people. The role of husband and father is permanent and cannot be done by anyone else.”
Rep. Nikki Haley, who is seen as Sanford’s heir in her run for governor, broke her week-long silence by saying, “What we do need to hear from the governor is an explanation as to how he can lead our state going forward. He has a responsibility to outline what he wants to accomplish over the next 18 months and how he intends to accomplish it. I remain willing to listen to that case, but if he cannot make it convincingly, then he must move on.”
And, it seems that Sanford has totally lost the Republicans in the Senate. Last night, a number of powerful GOP senators signed a letter asking the Governor to resign. As the hours have moved on, four more Republican senators (Sens. Danny Verdin, Ronnie Cromer, Shane Martin and Wes Hayes) have come out publicly for resignation, representing over half of the caucus. Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell, highest-ranking senator, has come just short of advocating Sanford’s resignation, instead leading with the fact that the Governor has lost any support he once had.
“Neither I nor my colleagues in the General Assembly can require that the Governor resign,” McConnell said in a statement. “That decision is his alone. I do believe, however, that the Governor has lost the support of the people that is needed to govern. Therefore, I would ask the Governor to look in his heart and decide whether with his family situation and the public uproar over what he has done and said locally and nationally whether he can lead our state for the remainder of his term.”
Now, even Sanford pal and former chief of staff, Sen. Tom Davis, put out a statement saying that he has yet to make up his mind on the matter. When you can’t even get your boy to back you up, it’s probably time to pack it up and hit the dusty trail.
One has to wonder about the weeping and gnashing of teeth that is going on over at 1600 Gervais Street these days. First, some one-term Democratic senator makes their boy John McCain look like the new Bob Dole, and now he goes and takes their candidate for 2012.
Monday, President Barack Obama appointed Utah Gov. Jon Hunstman as his administration’s envoy to China. Huntsman, who was seen as a leading contender for the GOP presidential nomination in three years, had been solidifying his ties with the gentlemen at Richard Quinn & Associates, and Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster.
Even The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza called this one:
LOSERS
Former McCainiacs: A number of people with close ties to McCain’s two presidential bids — led by Weaver and South Carolina consultant Richard Quinn — had already signed on to help Huntsman in 2012. With their guy now off the presidential playing field indefinitely, they have to find a new rising star for 2012 or run the risk of being left out of the machinations over identity of the party’s next nominee.
Oops. Well, there is always Sen. Lindsey Graham, if he can manage to keep his home state Republicans with him.
In what amounts to the next bombshell move in the race for S.C. Republican Party chairman, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint is personally calling up party activists on behalf of SCGOP chairman candidate Kevin Hall.
According to a source close to Wolfe Reports, DeMint just started whipping votes for Hall recently, following up on the endorsement letter he and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham sent out in the second week of February.
“It’s not unusual for an elected official to endorse another candidate,” the source said. “But for a U.S. senator to put in the time to personally call activists urging them to support Kevin Hall for state party chair, well, that’s a big deal and it illustrates how badly DeMint wants Hall running the party during his 2010 reelection campaign.”
Other currently announced candidates are former Superintendent of Education candidate Karen Floyd and Spartanburg County Republican Party chairman Rick Beltram.
U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett announced Wednesday morning that he is officially running for the Republican nomination for governor in 2010, in a new Web site and vodcast.
Tuesday afternoon, Jim Davenport of the Associated Press ran with a story that Barrett had told him that day that he would be announcing on Wednesday. Coincidentally, Atty. Gen. Henry McMaster, who is also expected to run for governor, was holding a fundraiser on the same day with U.S. Sen. John McCain in Washington.
Barrett is the Third District congressman, winning his seat when Lindsey Graham vacated it to run for, and win, Sen. Strom Thurmond’s U.S. Senate seat. Among other things, he his known to be an opponent of online poker and a supporter of the Fair Tax.
According to a widely-circulated letter that was leaked today, U.S. Sens. Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham have endorsed Columbia attorney Kevin Hall for chairman of the S.C. Republican Party. The move is a bombshell of sorts in the race, coming at the same time RNC committeeman Glenn McCall announced that he had no intention of running for the post.
“Throughout all of his service, he never made a dime from the campaigns he’s helped,” the letter read. “He does it because he is a true believer in our party and in the conservative cause. He does it because he understands that if we’re going to reclaim our credibility as Republicans, we must recruit and support candidates who will be true to our ideals and principles.
“Kevin’s philosophy of volunteerism is exactly what built our Party’s grassroots organization. Who better to recruit and organize new volunteers for our party than someone who has volunteered so much of his own time and talent.”
The endorsements put the momentum firmly behind Hall, who is up against Spartanburg County GOP chairman Rick Beltram. Though McCall has taken himself out of the running, others may still jump in. According to SCHotline, Karen Floyd is seriously considering a run and could make her decision within days.
Sunday night, Jeffrey Sewell started up a Facebook group to back Floyd, “Karen K. Floyd,” to draft the former Superintendent of Education nominee to lead the party.
As of Monday afternoon, however, the group seemed to have disappeared from the social networking site.
A new chairman will be chosen at the party meeting in May.
