…or a lack of it, by people on the right, that is….
Seems that now that Sen. Lindsey Graham decided to stand up against the bigotry, hatred towards gays and yes, Antisemitism in the GOP. Because this, he is now a lame-duck in the ranks of the GOP.
Chris Cillizza, who is about the only political reporter is has any kind of integrity anymore, has the story:
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R) announcement that he will vote in favor of Elena Kagan’s nomination to the Supreme Court is likely to further incite conservatives already unhappy with him and, according to close observers of the state’s politics, ensures he will face a serious primary challenge in 2014.
“I think there’s a good reason for a conservative to vote yes,” Graham said this morning.
Graham’s apostasy on Kagan comes after other high profile breaks with conservatives in his state (and nationally) over climate change and immigration reform and will likely make him a central target of those tea party Republicans who helped oust Utah Sen. Bob Bennett in his bid for renomination earlier this year.
“It’s no longer a question of ‘if’ but ‘who’ and ‘how many’,” said one South Carolina Republican operative about a Graham primary challenge. The source added that Graham’s approach on high profile issues of late is “putting Lindsey’s friends and supporters in a really tough place.”
Richard Quinn, a Graham consultant, defended his client — noting that the Senator is “not a demagogue”. Added Quinn: “He’s a thinking person’s conservative. I expect him to do well among voters with IQ’s in triple digits.”
Quinn also noted that it’s more than four years before Graham faces voters again; “There will be many battles fought, lost and won between now and then,” he said.
And, Graham has proven himself to be a very able politician — running what was widely regarded as the best campaign of the 2002 election cycle and easily beating back a primary challenge in 2008 when there was already some conservative unrest directed toward him. He ended June with $2.8 million in the bank.
via The Fix – Lindsey Graham’s vote on Elena Kagan ensures primary challenge.
Because nothing says RINO louder, than voting for a suspected Lesbian Jew Liberal Woman in the Supreme Court of the United States! Just ask Pat Buchanan.
Broadly ditto. Unfortunately the Morlocks have been let out of the basement and they are using the furniture for firewood. Ultimately this process has to run it’s course and do the damage it inevitably will in the long term because only experience can teach the stupid. Even then some are immune to its lessons. The GOP today is clearly not fit to govern but they’ll win some elections here and there and prove it and gradually their cred will suffer further erosion from its already low level. It’s not the route to being a credible national party but it has to be gone through.