It’s been interesting – in that morbidly interesting way that we’ll watch a truck full of people get hit by a train, meaning I’m virtually peeking between my fingers in horror – watching the formerly respectable Senator Graham (R-SC) self-destruct. It dates just about at the same time as the Trump Administration took the reins of government, since prior to the election Graham had been rather direct in his evaluations of Trump’s competency to be President. Here’s an example:
Donald Trump is not a conservative Republican. He's an opportunist. He's not fit to be President of the United States.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) February 17, 2016
There are more. Since Trump’s victory, Graham has more than earned the appellation ‘Lickspittle,’ between his violent defenses of Trump and his frequent golf outings with the President. I think it’s even better than ‘Moscow Mitch McConnell’. In fact, I’m surprised the above tweet hasn’t been deleted and replaced with some butt kissing.
One can only wonder – morbidly, of course – what sort of pressure was brought to bear on Senator Graham to turn tail in such a public and irresponsible manner. There might be direct pressure, such as “South Carolina will get nothing unless you play ball with the President!” Or it might be concerns about his own re-election in 2020, as ABC News 4 pointed out earlier this year:
Regarding U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, his approval rating among Republicans has continued to rise, it now stands at 74% in the Winthrop Poll. Only 25% of Democrats polled support Graham.
“Graham’s approval has benefited from his defense of, and alignment with, President Trump. While Graham’s numbers used to lag those of other Republicans among GOP identifiers, since he has taken up the President’s banner on most every issue, his approval among Republicans in South Carolina has steadily risen,” Huffmon said.
But that was then, this is now. Meet Jaime Harrison, the Democratic opponent for Graham in the 2020 election. He has degrees from Yale and Georgetown (j.d.), has worked within the South Carolina Democratic Party as chairman, and he’s challenging a sitting Senator. How’s he doing?
From Change Research:
It’s worth asking about the historical accuracy of a polling firm I’ve never heard of before, and FiveThirtyEight accords Change Research a grade of ‘C’, so the race may not be as close as it appears. But this statement in the text accompanying the poll results was interesting:
Senator Lindsey Graham’s favorability is exceptionally low among Independent voters and in hypothetical general election match-ups. He looks extremely vulnerable against Democratic contender Jaime Harrison.
While South Carolina does not support impeaching President Trump, a majority of voters would like Senator Graham to approach the impeachment inquiry with an open mind, rather than leap to the president’s defense before hearing evidence.
With that said – the latter point is exactly what I’d hope to hear from American citizens in this situation – is Senator Lindsay out in front, leading the way in running a fair and penetrating trial of President Trump?
Apparently the pressure is too much for him.
Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Saturday that he’s made up his mind that President Trump should be acquitted, dismissed the notion that he has to be a “fair juror” and said he doesn’t see the need for a formal trial in the Senate.
Graham, a staunch defender of the president, made the comments overseas during an interview with CNN International at the Doha Forum in Qatar.
“I think impeachment is going to end quickly in the Senate. I would prefer it to end as quickly as possible,” Graham said. “Use the record that was assembled in the House to pass impeachment articles as your trial record.”
Asked whether it was appropriate for him to share those thoughts given his purported role as a juror in a Senate trial, Graham replied, “Well, I must think so because I’m doing it.”
“I am trying to give a pretty clear signal I have made up my mind. I’m not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here,” he added.
I find it a bit boggling that a Senator who is soon to take an oath …
I solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be,) that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of , now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws: so help me God.
… is so flippant about not honoring it. It’s as if taking care of Trump’s fragile ego and volcanic temper is more important than honoring Senate rules and his own oath.
And it’ll make for a great campaign commercial for Harrison, won’t it? Just play the clip of him making the statements, then him taking the oath, and then ask the viewer if they really want to vote for a man who takes oaths so casually, and then suggest Senator Harrison, regardless of who is on trial, would never do that.
While the brethren of the Republican Party won’t care, the independents will listen and think about it. Graham may not politically survive the 2020 election.
Self-destruction in all its forms. Let me spread these fingers a little wider.
