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Lindsey Graham and John McCain, Come Out of the Closet

By Larry Johnson on March 7, 2013 at 8:19 PM in Current Affairs

And to think I once imagined that Lindsey Graham was straight, at least when it came to being a conservative who believes in limited Government. Nope. He is a closet authoritarian dressed in drag as a “conservative.” Confronted with the choice of defending the Constitution, which stipulates that the Government cannot barge into your house without a warrant (and, by extension, cannot launch a drone on your ass), or surrendering to using the fear of Islam to justify total war on everyone, including Americans suspected of Islamic ties, Lindsey, and his butt buddy, John McCain, chose the fear option.

McCain’s decision to embrace Graham’s position of giving the Federal government unfettered power with such intense passion is a bit surprising. I did not fully appreciate that McCain, like Graham, is a political cross-dresser. I always thought McCain had it right on waterboarding. He understood firsthand what torture is and the effect on the human psyche. But, in a curious switcheroo, he now sees not problem using lethal force in the United States against a US citizen without worrying about due process. He wants us to trust Obama on drones but not water boarding? Very queer. I guess he now believes that the end justifies the means.

Both McCain and Graham took to the Senate floor today to excoriate Rand Paul. But Paul, unlike Graham and McCain, is not going to bend over and submit himself to an act of political sodomy from these two. Nope.

Rand punched back and hit hard today:

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) blasted fellow GOP Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Thursday, saying the two “think the whole world is a battlefield.”

Paul criticized the hawkish senators for thinking the laws of war should take precedence over the Bill of Rights. The two had criticized Paul’s statements about drone policy during the Kentucky Republican’s nearly 13-hour filibuster on Thursday.

“They think the whole world is a battlefield, including America, and that the laws of war should apply,” Paul said in an interview on Fox News about McCain and Graham, who had described Paul’s comments about drones as “ridiculous.”

“The laws of war don’t involve due process, so when they ask you for an attorney you tell them to shut up. That’s not my understanding of the way America works,” Paul told
Fox. “I don’t think the laws of war apply to America, I think the Bill of Rights do and I think it’s a disservice to our soldiers that our senators up there arguing that the Bill of Rights aren’t important.”

Paul said whether drones can be used against U.S. citizens on U.S. soil is a “very serious question” and was at the root of Wednesday’s filibuster, which delayed a final confirmation vote on John Brennan, President Obama’s nominee to lead the CIA.

This does not mean I agree with Rand Paul on every issue. But he is showing himself to be a man of principle. He is not grandstanding for the sake of getting in tight with all of the good old boys of the Republican Senate. The unseemly criticism by Graham and McCain smacked more of envy and presented those two Senators as a couple of buffoons.

Graham did earn one thing today. When it comes time for his re-election I will be sure to donate to his opponent, regardless of party. Graham really needs to come out of the closet and give up the “I am a conservative act.” It really is queer behavior on his part.

  • no_longer_a_democrat

    I called Dr. Paul’s office to thank him. And as for the dimocrats, WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY?!?!?

    these same scumbags were going after Bush for getting a warrant to spy on american who were suspected of talking to known terrorists, and in my opinion, that is perfectly legitimate, a warrant is needed and then listen in on americans who may be up to no good. But the process is followed, a warrant is first gotten.

    But an American atty general saying its ok to kill americans on american soil with no due process?? THAT IS A-OK WITH DIMOCRATS.

    Bunch of hypocritical scumbags, liberals. Next time there is a republican in the WH, please liberals STFU, you don’t have a damn principal to stand on! You can continue your Obot worship while pretending you actually stand for the things you claim to!

    as for Graham, I’m donating to whoever his opponent is, and since this in SC, the republican will win. I hope they get a woman or a minority to run again Graham, omg, the dimocrats will just raise their voices even more on how racist/sexist america is to elect a woman or a minority, or heck a minority woman from the south elected senator over someone like lindsay graham!

  • HELENK2

    both men have been too long at the fair. They forgot their purpose in being in DC. Their pissy attitude over a filibuster that laid out the rights of an American citizens was uncalled for and they should be ashamed. I do not think they expected the blowback over their lack of standing with Rand.

    Did not both of them fight for the rights of American citizen, how can they not stand up for someone who is fighting for them today? its a puzzlement.
    .

    Bill of Rights trumps all

    • HELENK2

      did they think that dinner with backtrack was going to get them brownie points for cooperation and Rand showed them for what they are?? pawns for backtrack?
      Has backtrack even showed them the courtesy or respect of responding truthfully on their questions about Benghazi or the sequester cuts. NO

    • KenoshaMarge

      That seemed to be Rand Paul’s message. And McCain and Graham attacked that? As you said, “too long at the fair” and way too long in thinking they speak for the Republicans/Conservatives in this country.

  • Popsmoke

    It would be a real hoot if Hagel released McCains POW record. Lindsey? There is no excuse for this mop-head. He is a 06 USAF Reserve Jag… He should know fucking better….

  • Dave L.

    As I have said before, I think McCain has gotten senile. He is now the Great Appeaser. No longer has Conserative values, time to go to the home John. You will never get another vote from me !

  • HELENK2

    do either of these men have a clue of just how many voters not obots feel today about the direction the of the country? there is a feeling of fear that everything this country stands for is being destroyed by the backtrack bunch. Most people including me have never had that fear before under presidents of either party.

    Rand Paul gave a feeling of hope to those voters, McCain and Graham missed the boat

    • getfitnow

      “McCain and Graham missed the boat.”
      ************************
      Too bad he won´t take a page out of Carl Levin´s playbook.

  • Deapster

    It is great the last election go the Republican down so far, they don’t have nothing more to lose. So the young bucks can now redefine what the younger generation (those stuck with all the baby-boomer bills) is thinking, feeling….. and now saying.

    This is the Black Swan come cruising in on the Democrat cesspool, folks. These guys even make “cool and hip” OBrata look tired and useless.

    Oh, I forgot, he already is. I’d say, pass the popcorn because the second act just got a whole lot better than the last act. And the hoary old Dems are watching their message yet yanked right out from under them.

  • HELENK2
  • Theymustbemorons

    I agree with you, Mr. J., it does look like Sen. Paul is showing himself to be a man of principle. Wish my own Senator, “Chuckie from NY” had some eau de principle. These days he reeks more than ever of something else.

    As for Graham and McCain, I hope you’re right — that their actions “smacked of envy.” I hope they are only jealous or senile or lost in a harmless closet.

    To me it seemed as if they were sent out after dinner like two attack dogs. They were grotesque and I am wondering who is really orchestrating this tableaux. Who is giving Holder, McCain, Graham, and for that matter, the man playing the part of our President, their lines? And now that Sen. Paul has shown he will not be silenced easily, what’s going to happen to him? Men of principle are very scarce these days.

    • Deapster

      Principle makes good politics.

      • foxyladi14

        YES

  • HELENK2
  • HELENK2

    http://weaselzippers.us/2013/03/07/lindsey-graham-gushes-over-dinner-with-obama/

    Graham gushes over dinner with backtrack. this only makes it worse

  • getfitnow

    W started the program, but someone please correct me if I’m wrong. I never heard that Bush was intent on targeting American citizens on American soil with automated planes.

    Had to post the following comment: Perfect.

    *******************

    Last night, Rand Paul ended his filibuster because he had made his much needful point and needed to go pee.

    Today, McCain and Graham took off their Depends and crapped all over the Senate floor.

  • KenoshaMarge

    John Kass at the Chicago Tribune wrote a great column about McCain’s monumental stupidity in attacking Rand Paul. At least I thought so.

    A Senate battle between a libertarian whippersnapper,
    crotchety establishment

    http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/colum….223,full.column

  • Dew_South

    Well, the country is on the wrong track, but let’s see if I’m on the right track.
    Republicans constantly criticize the elected members of their own party, thereby insulting the constituents who exercised their choice of representation, but then republicans expect those constituents to vote and donate to the party.
    Brilliant!

  • HELENK2

    http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/03/07/Former-Bush-Adviser-Continues-Elitist-Crusade-Against-Palin-Conservatives

    I am afraid that Rand Paul is going to run into the same ambushes that Sarah Palin did. It has been over 5 years since she ran for office and she is still being attacked by Republicans. Notice that both Palin and Paul woke up the American people and gave them hope and the expectation that they deserve more then they are getting from the old guard.

    • Deapster

      Misogyny drives most of the vitriol against Palin. You will see Rand Paul not get the same extreme treatment as Palin was asked to suffer. It’s a guy thing. Attractive Ms Palin even unglued women who should have known better.

  • HELENK2

    http://www.nationaljournal.com/daily/why-lindsey-graham-isn-t-acting-like-a-worried-man-20130307

    Linsey Graham may not realize it yet but he made a large misstep in not standing with rand. Rand hit a nerve and woke up a lot of people, the filibuster will not be forgotten quickly. Those who stood with Rand while he spoke out on the rights of Americans and those who schmoozed with the guy who wants to undermine those rights will be remembered

  • HELENK2

    http://www.newsmax.com/Estrich/Paul-Filibuster-Democrats-Drone/2013/03/08/id/493824

    interesting article. Rand Paul’s filibuster got some democrats thinking

    • Deapster

      Oh lordy, what happens when Democrats start thinking? I thought all they were good for was spending. And demagoguery.

  • HELENK2

    http://weaselzippers.us/2013/03/08/dem-sen-dianne-feinstein-echoes-mcrino-in-slamming-stupid-rand-paul-drone-argument/

    Rand Paul must have scared the hell out of them. here is dianne feinstein on the tweety tingles show bad mouthing Paul

  • Deapster

    The young people I know who remain politically astute (few) sense they are getting stuck with something they did not create. Much like the prior youth 1960′s generation got stuck with the “Old Man’s War” Viet-nam.

    Expect a similar revolution. Only question is who will lead this and who will take up arms. Rand Paul is a very popular folk hero among this younger generation and they may not even know why.

    Expect a dam burst soon after this timely outburst. It no longer matters if the Old Guard does not approve; the younger voices stuck with this debt are coalescing among those who are no longer living in their pot-hazed stupor. No wonder the Democrats favor legalizing marijuana.

    Clearly the massive federal debt foisted on this new generation was trumped up by the Democrats. But the Democrats are clearly trying to shift blame to the Republicans, the greedy corporations, Bush’s wars and the 1% who are not paying “their fair share”. Whatever that is.

    The Republican (neo-conservative) challenge is to take control and define the issues that led to this present generational disconnect, accept the blame for being part of the problem AND present and stick to solutions that will solve the future generation debt crisis that we on both sides of the aisle created today.

    This issue has no color lines. No haves and have nots. No pitting 99% against the alleged 1%. Just renewed fiscal common sense as a national priority.

    And doing exactly what the “tea party” movement has been trying to do all along.

    Get the nation to realize we are close to a tipping point in our nation’s history where government will swallow us up whole until we learn to say no and stick to it. Until we bring personal initiative back into people’s lives, instead of expanding the government nanny-state.

    A recent Congressman said it best (wish I could remember his name because he deserve credit for stating this so clearly):

    When asked to vote on government programs he asks does this program increase dependency on the government or does it reduce dependency on the government?

    Obviously you know then how he would vote. This is an appropriate litmus test question to ask any candidate in your own local elections who come to this seat of national power.

  • HELENK2

    David Burge
    ‏@iowahawkblog

    Somewhere outside Del Webb’s Sun City, an IHOP is missing a customer arguing about an expired coupon. #McCain

    twitter is not going to good today for McCain

    • KenoshaMarge

      I liked the one about McCain being a Winnebago headed in the wrong direction. Too funny!

  • Deapster

    In 1985 the best seller was a book called “When I Say No, I Feel Guilty”. I suggest we all go back and read this book along with the other now timely books by this author.

    We need to admit we as a nation did want to do good things for people in America. And for a few decades we did think we could do it all. Those days are over and now we do have to learn as a nation we have limits and we can and should say no.

    How do we make this switch from “Yes, we can” …… to “No, we should not”?

  • HELENK2

    http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/286943-senators-expect-more-talking-filibusters-after-rand-paul-masterpiece

    senators expect more talking filibusters after Rand Paul masterpiece.

    is that a damn i better get up off my dead ass and do something if I want to get reelected thought?

  • elizabethrc

    McCain demeans, belittles and ridicules his constituents at town hall meetings quite freely. He criticizes Paul and Cruz as “wackos”, and chastises them for breaking Senate ‘rules’. He’s all about the decorum of Congress, but thinks nothing of breaking those rules of decorum if it suits his ends, as in this case.
    There was a time when I respected McCain. I still respect his service. What he went through was horrendous and his conduct then was filled with grace. That was then. This is now. He has changed into a curmudgeon who seems to delight in tough guy-ism. The hypocrisy seems lost on him.
    How refreshing to have a crop of unimpressed Congresspeople who still have the courage of their convictions. They give respect when it is deserved, but call Congressional sloth by name, something which must not be done lest someone be offended.
    I can see how so little is accomplished with the status quo.

  • HELENK2

    way off topic

    http://www.presidentandceomagazine.com/news/4535-two-chilling-developments-suggest-asia-may-be-one-step-away-from-war.html

    two chilling developments suggest Asia may be one step away from war.

    • MG6

      Sad. But china has always had the desire to conquer and dominate. Like to see what the liberals have to say when the ants start their destructive march to devour their neighbors.

      • Deapster

        Actually for most of China’s history they wanted to be left alone — as famously stated when the British tried to trade with them – “you don’t have anything we want.” They are the Middle Kingdom. They are happy among themselves. The world comes to them; not the other way around.

        • MG6

          Not talking about the Europeans. Am talking about their neighbors such as Tibet and the like.

  • HELENK2
  • HELENK2
  • foxyladi14

    AMEN

  • MG6
  • wwwild

    “surrendering to using the fear of Islam to justify total war on everyone, including Americans suspected of Islamic ties,”

    Don’t disagree with this statement, but this is a minefield. One (or more?) comment said “the Bill of Rights trumps everything”; but, how do we reconcile that with the so-called religion of peace that actually wants to kill all the infidels; e.g. me? This country needs to have an adult discussion on this topic, and I think Pamela Gellor has one answer to this by differentiating the religion from the jihadists, but, I’m not convinced that can be done successfully. Unfortunately, I think the days of adult conversations on much of anything in this country is probably over. Free-for-all in 3, 2, 1 … grab your guns folks.

    www

    • Deapster

      Recently back from Indonesia and it would be hard to characterize this Islamic nation or Malaysia which is an official Islamic nation as blood enemies of the US.

      Islam came peacefully to these countries supplanting the prior rigid caste Hindu religion with the new message that all were equal under Islam’s one God. Puts a new perspective on Islam and its appeal around the world.

  • HELENK2

    http://theulstermanreport.com/2013/03/08/republican-operatives-take-on-mccain-and-graham-r-i-related/

    McCain and Graham not as influential in the Republican party as they think they are

  • HELENK2

    Mccain is on Fox News now the shepard smith show. he still does not get it

    • KenoshaMarge

      In trying to do harm to Rand Paul I believe McCain is doing himself irreparable damage. He’s an old Washington hand, doesn’t he remember the rule of holes?

  • Nor Alexander

    “he now sees not problem using lethal force in the United States against a US citizen without worrying about due process.”

    Hate to have to defend McCain, as that guy is a complete moronic prick, but when did McCain every say he supported using drones in the U.S. against U.S. citizens as you suggest? I think McCain’s and Graham’s point is to even suggest that drones could be used in the U.S. against U.S. citizens as Paul suggests, is bullshit, unwarranted and cheapens the discussion.

    Didn’t you Larry Johnson voter for McCain and actively promote him on your website and didn’t you also vote and promote Romney who’s policy advisors were largely neocons, created the drone program and support expanding it?