Anna Molly: Clara or Feisty will get back to you. You made my day!!

Amazing... Graham has been pushed from the right to the center.. he is now a moderate, like Brown and the two esteemed Maine women!! Funny, how being a reasonable man makes you admired...

Anna Molly - I sent you an e-mail invite! Let me know if you need any help finding your way! ;0)

Graham is just another RINO, like Snow, Collins and the newest member Brown. He knows the Repubs do not have the power to stop Kagan, so he throws in with them to show BI-PARTISANSHIP, which is just a phrase meaning: Republicans must forget their principals and cave-in. With party leaders like Graham, there is no doubt Republicans will shoot themselves in the foot just like they did when they were led by the spineless jellyfishes Bill Frist and Denny Hastert!

Funny how Lindsey Graham is "his own man". What does that make the Democrats voting in lockstep? Republicans?

I love the libertarians calling Rupublicans like Senator Graham a Rino. They can't get elected as libertarians so they try to paint the responsibile politicians as the bad guys. They need to run in their own party. They could get the teaparty crowd to join them.

Everett Dirksen, a Republican senator from Illinois for whom the Dirksen Senate Office Building was named, once said, "I am a man of fixed and unbending principles, the first of which is to be flexible at all times."

That attitude is the mark of a statesman.

Thank you, Sen. Graham, for stepping forward in fairness. In recognizing that elections have consequences and that a President has a constitutional right to appoint the justice of his or her choosing, you have enhanced your stature in my eyes.

America needs more Republican statesmen like Lindsey Graham, who aren't afraid to break free of groupthink and speak their minds.

The only ones thinking Graham is doing the right thing is progressives/liberals/socialists. Conservatives do not respect Graham.

Since Kagan is a complete liberal and a clone of Obama, a true conservative would never vote for her. The liberals seem to think voting no in an era of complete liberalism is a bad thing. Actually liberals hate any sort of challenge to their ideology... hence the name calling, complete showing of hatred and outright anger against anyone conservative.

There is a double standard when it comes to liberalism. It is evident, the liberals know it and take it to the full limit. Conservatives simply ignore it.

Gail, TN. Exactly right. Dirksen was one of the old school, work together to solve our problems school of thought. Today, we have Party First, country be dam***.

brianB. As for the liberals being only ones thinking Graham is doing the right thing--what we appreciate most as the willingness to participate and vote on the person, the qualifications and not the politics. Democrat or republican, anyone who takes the high road deserves credit for doing so.

The extremist (Fascist wannabes) are up set because Senator Graham has moved toward the center. We all have seen evidence of government under the right wing extremists and it didn't work. Funny how they think that anyone toward the center is a Socialist or liberal. Most people are hovering around the center. Some lead more toward the right others more toward the left. Few people are 100% one side or the other on all issues. Most of us are more conservative on some issues more progressive on other issues. But the Libertarian, teabagger, right wing extremist Fascist wannabes all have the right to their opinions. After all that is what many of our ancestors, including progressives, liberals, centrists, Republicans, Democrats, Independants, and right wing extremists fought for. Of course the uberconservatives don't like Graham, he's too far to their left by not walking in lock step with their agenda. We tried that it failed and now we are trying something else. The party of no is being told no.

Jordy,

Kagan is less than qualified. Just like Obama is less than qualified. If she was interviewing for a private sector job, the interviewer would say... "next."

Taking the high road is ALWAYS doing the right thing. Not selecting someone based on political reasons. Graham thinks hes going to win the happiness of the liberals... what he doesn't realize is that liberals will still hate him because he has a "R" behind his name. Conservatives and republicans never win in the eyes of democrats.... NEVER!

Brian, I'm liberal and I don't hate Sen. Graham. In fact, I don't hate ANY Republicans or conservatives. Rash generalizations really don't stand up to scrutiny.

It's Jody and you are just flat wrong on both Elena Kagan and President Obama. From your comments, I say you know almost nothing about either person but you form your opinions on what you hear, not what you research for yourself. It is sad when someone's ideology allows no measure of acceptance of any other view.

Gail, rash generalizations get attention. I wouldn't expect a liberal to hate Graham today. Let him go against one of your pet ideology beliefs and you would most probably have a different opinion. I don't blame you.. it's simple human nature.

You are in the small minority of liberals that express opinions here. Most of them toss out hate speech like it's going out of style and in the same remarks state that conservatives and republicans are the worst sort of human beings alive.

Generalization is what I see. It's a rare liberal that will not use hate speech against a conservative.

Here's some ideology you can follow: the politicans are required to follow the same laws and regulations the rest of us are required too. If they mess up, they loose there job then and there!

Much in the same way that a conservative will not use hate speech against a liberal. There is little civility left in political discourse, and it certainly isn't exclusive to one ideology or the other.
I respect that you see all this nastiness for what it is, but your side's hands aren't clean either.

By your own definition everyone else is wrong and conservatives are right. When, in all the recorded history of Mankind has that ever been true? When has one group every said we are right! When everyone else telling them they are wrong? No, dear sir, Conservatives should not follow the current Repub movement. It is clearly guided by greed and arrogance. I would hope that those in the middle of BOTH parties take notice of these politicians and how they flip flopped when they didn't get their way.

I came across an interesting piece just now about how being presented with facts doesn't really change anyone's views, and it doesn't matter if you're conservative or liberal. It seems to be a human problem. It's short...check it out. Type the following in the search button at www.abcnews.com.

The Conversation: Why Facts Don't Matter

Gail - Very astute! We have reached a point where the facts don't matter anymore. This country is in real trouble... and no one's listening.

It scares the hell out of me to see what we've become. We have opinions and those seem to override what is in front of our eyes.

What's dangerous about this is where someone in power can take over completely and there's not enough support to stop it from happening because everyone is infighting. I KNOW this is a socialist/communist tactic and it's infected our country in the worst possible way.

Those that seem to be our friends in power are actually our worst enemies. It is horrendeous that the general population doesn't see this.

Good points, Brian. We seem to have become so defensive of our opinions and positions that we have lost our sense of the common good. To me, that is individualism run amock, when we can't set aside our opinions to walk a few steps in someone else's shoes. When each of us "gets over ourselves," then maybe we'll be able to see the truth of the state of our country a little more clearly.

Gail - The tea party movement has been demonized by fringe groups. This is a group of citizens that believe our country is heading in the wrong direction. They want smaller government, less taxes and a return to our Constitution. What is not so well known is the fact that this movement consists of both democrats, republicans and independents! Its those on both the far left and the far right that are trying to make them look evil. Most tea party supporters are conservative in nature.. but not ultra conservative... or looney right.

Out of all the groups speaking now, they make the most sense... and I would catagorize them to be slightly right of center... but definitely in the center. What are your opinions and how were they formed?

If he was wise he wouldn't bother running for reelection. He's going to suffer the same fate as Bob Inglis here in the 4th distict. Trounced in the primary.... possibly by the same guy (Trey Gowdy), or perhaps Tim Scott. Graham sealed it today. Maybe he'll be smart and take a position in the next administration...or this one. He'll never get elected in this state again.

Brian, I respect any group of thoughtful, circumspect citizens who have the best interests of all Americans at heart. The Tea Party members whom I have seen on talk shows and shown at rallies with disrespectful signs probably, hopefully, do not represent the best of the Tea Party movement. I am not a fan of Sarah Palin or Michelle Bachmann or Glen Beck, so their association with the Tea Party gives me great pause.

I think that any time we undergo major change, quickly, there will be an equally major force that says, "Hey, wait a minute, we don't agree. We don't want to do this. This is going too far." I certainly respect that sentiment. It's natural. However, how that force presents itself and how it seeks to put the brakes on change makes all the difference.

The Tea Party seems to be sorting itself out right now. It's not pretty to watch. Perhaps something lasting, positive and contributory will emerge. Yes, I do agree the movement is to the right of center. As I have said here before, "By their fruits you shall know them." That, for me, is the bottom line for any person, or group.

CatDaddyK:"If he was wise he wouldn't bother running for reelection. He's going to suffer the same fate as Bob Inglis here in the 4th distict. Trounced in the primary.... possibly by the same guy (Trey Gowdy), or perhaps Tim Scott. Graham sealed it today. Maybe he'll be smart and take a position in the next administration...or this one. He'll never get elected in this state again."

I hope you're wrong, CDK, because Graham is the only politician SC has in action on the national stage that makes us look like rational humans, instead of angry chimpanzees.

When the last judges were being chosen many on the right were arguing that selecting a judge to be the next justice would lead to a group think mentality on the SCOTUS bench. Too many judges with the same background was howled.

Now we have a judicial nominee who has a more varied background than purely on a bench and there is pushback

Not sure I understand this. Graham is acting a lot like the artist formerly known as McCain (before he got conservative for the election).

PP,

Wow, can we say Homophobe?? They are only activist judges when they do something that you do not like. It was Never Kagan's job to defend DOMA, it was her job to tell the truth and to pass on what the Administration said. In her position she would have been the one to take a case to the SCOTUS on whatever side the Admin told her to, not necessarily what her own opinion was.

DOMA is a travesty of justice and sets up a specific discrimination into the laws of our Nation, and that is indefensible. Just because they happen to have different sexual preferences does not give anyone the right to discriminate them not should the law allow it. Seeing as how a great many people get married with no intent to have children, using the idea that it is only for bearing and raising children is ludicrous.

PP, your post is blatant homophobic discrimination of GLBTs and is just plain disgusting that you could think this way!

Patty,

I call Bullsh!t, all they are wanting is to have the same rights as anyone else and to be able to love who they want freely and to have the same rights accorded.

I will not say that there are not pedophiles amongst that portion of the populace any less, nor any more, than the rest of the populace. But the REAL people amongst them only want EQUAL rights, and they should not be denied because of what some extremists amongst them would attempt. Pedophiles are sick and twisted but they exist, amongst Catholic Priests even, so to castigate all of the GLBTs on that score is totally wrong and sick in itself. You are just clinging to straws for any reason at all to cover your homophobia and deny them Equal Rights under the law. Most of them would be horrified about pedophiles no less than yourself. Ancient Greece has nothing to do with it and you well know it.

These confirmation hearings are meaningless as the candidate will do or say all the right things to get confirmed because they know once seated it’s for life and they can then do anything they please. The hearings are nothing more than an exercise in deception.

"Anybody is better than Lawrence O'Donnell."

There, I'm as quotable as Lawrence O'Donnell and just as substantive.

I will admit to not having a fan club here, though.

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

WOW! I'm speechless! A Republican't who 'gets it'! lol

Any right winger with two neurons still firing in their brain is starting to realize that 'Just Say NO' is NOT going to win them back the majority!

The good news is... it too late as the American people are paying closer attention that ever!

They can spot pandering from a mile away - which will be proven when John McCain loses his primary!

I guess it was good that your man Obama voted against Alito and Roberts - Obama is a hack. Those on the left are hacks. Kagan is simply not qualified - she's spent all of 18 months in the court room. If Obama found Alito and Roberts - two people whose intellects are 10x that of Kagan weren't qualified, then why should any Republican vote for this absolute light weight? Graham will not be re-elected in 2014.

Feel better now Iman?

The fact that you believe Alito and the 'umpire' Roberts were 10x the intellects of Kagan really does say all I need to know about you and your right wing ideology!

America being the great place that it is allows you and others of similar thought to come here and make a@@es out of yourselves on a regular basis!

We progressives do appreciate the comic relief! ;0)

Lindsey Graham is moving to the middle now in preparation for a run at the White House in 2012 or 2016. Mark my words!

Skeeter: You may be right. He may plan to run.

Lindsey Graham is toast. A large majority of Americans feel this country is on the wrong track, and want a hard turn toward more conservative principles. The fact that Lindsey doesn't recognize or perhaps even refuses to acknowledge this, speaks volumes of his true nature. He may as well switch parties now because he doesn't represent the will of the majority.

Sorry...if you lived in AZ, you'd know that JD isn't going to unseat McCain...we're going to be stuck with him for 6 more years.

Skeeter-2034091

Lindsey Graham is moving to the middle now in preparation for a run at the White House in 2012 or 2016. Mark my words!

I hope so! We need some centrist options.

Lindsey 2012?

It is really amazing that the liberal democrats have their eyes closed shut. There are approximately 14% extreme liberals in this nation. The same amount of extreme conservatives. The liberals have a huge amount of gall thinking there won't be a changing of the guard this year.

If the liberals maintain their control, this country is toast. Take a look around you. The country is falling apart at the seams. If the shaking won't get you, the national debt will! We cannot sustain this unbridled spending with out severe ramifications. The democrats have had control over spending for 3 1/2 years now... the economy sucks.

Placing Kagan in the supreme court is bad for America. The only fortunate thing is she's replacing a liberal so the overall vote won't change. We couldn't expect a conservative replacement from the nations most liberal president ever. That simply won't happen, ever. Now as long as a conservative doesn't retire, at least it will remain status quo.

What is the big mystery is the enactment of the Presidential Assassination Program. What supreme court judge will be deemed an enemy of the state and eliminated? Wouldn't suprise me in the least if it wasn't the most conservative judge. If you think W was bad, at least he didn't implement an assassination program. Liberals you have unleashed the devil in the White House.

One cannot help but notice from your millions of posts that you must think that this country is better off since 2006 when the Democrats took complete control of the pursetrings, fiscal policies and direction this country would take. You must also believe that the most imcompetent and unqualified man that was ever elected president by people like you and the government/media complex is doing a fine job. To quote one of your Democratic Party Philosopher Kings-Hillary Clinton; "That would take the willful suspension of disbelief". Enjoy what the Dems and Obama and his band of incompetent boobs are doing, the electorate will see the error orf their ways and correct the situation, if we do not totally collapse as a nation under these naive, incompetent fools!!!

Brian a hard turn would take us over the edge as well. Graham is doing the right thing by moving to the center. An equal balance of views from both sides. And just because he didn't vote with his party on this issue doesn't mean he should switch parties. If more ppl would vote outside of party lines maybe this country would be on the right track, and that goes from Democratics and Republicans both. I don't care what letter is behind your name, if you have a great idea that will help this nation out, I'm supporting you.

Out of curiosity, if there's only 28 percent of the total population that is in EITHER extreme of the political spectrum, then why would we need to shift right? Shouldn't we be shifting "center" if we're going to really reflect the majority of Americans based on your figures?

Dee, A hard turn is exactly what we need. I could spend an hour typing out all the very recent progressive movements against this country. Most of them are done in very small bites. This president is the most liberal/progressive in history. He has practically made congress impedent. He has more self appointed Czars running programs unchecked by congress than any other before him. History is repeating itself, circa 1938 and the American public is oblivious to it.

Voiceontheleft - a shift to the center is any shift towards the right, not the left. The entire leadership in the federal government is left right now. To have a presumed right wing person shift to the left, isn't a shift towards the center. I don't understand how your question fits. Not unless you think the leadership is too far right... and that would make you a far left liberal.

Brianb......I'm going come over there and break your crack pipe.

TunaMaster - Why? because yours is larger than mine? Simple ignorance is rampant in this country. Obama supporters trust him. Why do you trust him? He's a snake oil salesman. He hasn't spoken a bit of truth. Has he pulled out of Iraq? Has he stopped the war in Afghanistan? Has he closed Gitmo? Has he done anything he promised he would do during his campaign? The only thing he has kept true to is "change." He is changing this country into a socialist dictatorship.. and when the final blow comes, it is people like Obama supporters that will be looking around saying "WHA APPENED?!?!?!?"

Doesn't take drugs to realize what is going on... but drugs are most definitely blocking the liberals vision. All they see is Obama.. most worshipful Obama...

I rest my case......

Brian, I don't know where you live, but I don't want to live in a world where the right path is to take a hard right turn. I would rather live in the middle of the road and work with both sides to make a majority happy than just a few people who think they are right all the time. As for the most liberal/progressive President in history, I think you have to go back to class on that. As for who was the worse, its still probably held by Woodrow Wilson, who failed to get anything done after the first World War. He is also the reason why Progressive is such a bad word in todays politics. If you would look at the ideas of progressives they are actually good points. FDR was a progressive he just never came out and said it, and look what he got done in office.

Dee - what mindset do you think the founders of our nation had? The one thing that is prevelent today is the fact that the progressives believe in social justice. The founders believed in individual justice. Individual justice is all over our Constitution but today if you don't follow lockstep with social justice, you are out of line with the norm. This is the hard turn to the right we need. We need to eliminate social justice and restore individual. Social justice is a buzzword for socialism and communism. Look it up. This is why we need to turn to the right or we will lose our freedoms.

Tuna Master - you had no case to begin with. Only threats.

Elena Kagen is not only not qualified to be a Supreme Court Justice, she should not be appointed because of here extremist views.

She said she believes the U.S. Constitution should be viewed in the context of international law. Yeah, Let that sink in. She is implying that our law of the land is not sovereign in and of itself, and must look internationally to settle our domestic issues. This is VERY, VERY dangerous. This is how people lose a country! This is how sovereignty is undone.

Elections may have consequences, but that doesn't mean you roll over and play dead. The country still needs principled leaders. Graham is a RINO who has been soft on amnesty backers before this. He will be out on his fat a$$ next time around.

Brian, you hear the helecopters also.... I knew it was true

Brian, I don't think you can have individual justice in a nation of this size. Too many people have their own idea of what they want or don't want. If we had to seriously put individual rights on top of anything else laws would not be followed, taxes would go unpaid, because you know there will be certain people (i'm not saying everyone, but a good amount of people) out there that think their individual justice is that they don't have to follow that law or pay those taxes. Government is for the masses not the individual. You have to follow what a majority wants, and that is a more centralized government, not a hard right or a hard left.

It's funny how all these cons and repugs are saying "She's not qualified, she's not qualified, whaaa whaaaa." According to whom is she not qualified? Can you please list for me the qualifications to be a Supreme Court justice? Nowhere are there any qualifications listed for a Supreme Court justice other than to be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Over 40% of those appointed to the Supreme Court have had no prior judicial experience. William Rhenquist, the darling of the right when he was on the court, had no experience as a judge when he was appointed. The fact of the matter is that she is qualified. You cons, repugs, and Tea Baggers just haven't quit throwing your temper tantrum about having LOST the last election. Since we Democrat WON the last election we get to set the agenda. You LOST. Get over it.

Dee - Read the Constitution. You do not know what it says. It is your opinion that the country is too big. What applies to one person, applies to all people.

What is so troubling about your statement is that you seem to be willing to throw out the one document that is the basis for all our laws... the one document that makes the US different from any other country in the world. The one document that has provided for more advancement in the human race than any other before it or up to now. This is why I say you need to read it... become truly informed before you formulate a conclusion that it is a worthless set of documents.

We are NOT a democracy. It is not mob rule. We live in a Republic. What you are telling me is that you do not know the history of our country and that you are listening to those that want to destroy us. It's the same progressive rethoric.

Vince - how about at least 10 years on the federal bench? Would that satisfy the experience level.. or are you comfortable with 18 months of limited judiciary experience?

Please, do the working world a favor and never become a hiring decision maker... It seems you would hire a plumber to become a brain surgeon.

Brian its just that a basis. What the founding fathers framed could not hold up today. there are things in this world that they have never seen that they never thought of. We have to read the Constitution and then take the frame work of it to apply it to our world today. If we were to go back to what they wrote, you probably would not have the ability to write your feelings on the blog because the government would not know what to do with the internet. They wouldn't understand how to make traffic laws, or how to make sure our airways are safe. Yes the Constitution is what sets us from the rest. But what also sets us from the rest is how hard we have worked to become a great nation is such a little amount of time.

And Brian, we do live in a democracy, by definition, a republic is a political unit governed by a charter, while a democracy is a government whose prevailing force is always that of the majority.

Dee - Now I understand your mindset. You simply don't understand the difference between a Republic and a Democracy. If we truly lived in a democracy, the health care bill would have never been made law. The majority of people were against it and yet, the president signed it. Our borders would be secure because the majority of people want them to be secure. We don't live in a democracy, period. Al Gore would have been president and I could name a hundred other things that would be changed because the majority wanted it. There is no prevailing force of the majority in this country today. The government rules the people... the people no longer rule the government... and this is a very dangerous thing... but I guess you don't mind....

Brian there are different types of democracy. Ours is called a representative democracy. that is were the voters elect people to reflect their interests in government and determine how issues are decided. The health care bill got passed because the people voted in the ones who voted for the health care bill. the borders aren't secured because of the people voted in by the citizens haven't voted on anything to enfornce laws or create new ones. There is a prevailing force in the country, and that force has its say on election days whether is was 1787 or 2008. And I do mind, what I mind is people like you who spread fear to gain people on your side. Instead of going after someone who thinks differently than you, why don't you put your evil powers to good use and come up with a plan to fix this country instead of demoralizing someone who is actually trying to do something. Instead of saying no to everything come up with an idea that might put the country back on track.

Dee - I'm spreading fear? How am I spreading fear? I am debating with you the type of government we have. I am expressing the facts that lie before us. We no longer have control. If we did, the government wouldn't be wasting so much money. The government wouldn't be so filled with corruption. We would be a whole lot better off if the people were actually paying attention. This isn't a question of right versus left.. it's a matter of right versus wrong.

What am I doing? I am speaking with everyone I can... to express the concern over how the federal government is encroaching on states rights and many other things. This government is trying everything it can to slow down private enterprise. It is taking over banking, mortgages, auto manufacturers and health care... all industries that have capitalism as the basis of operation. People are ignoring it. We won't have a debate on democracy vs republic if we go socialist. We will lose many of our freedoms and our economy will collapse because socialism is collectivism.

I am not your problem... even if you think I am the big bad guy because I see a lot wrong and speak out about it. If you find fear in that... then you need to be afraid.. not of me.. but of what is actually going on.

Hi Dee, I'm the Brian you were responding to in regard to the hard right turn. Under the ideal situation if there were no national debt, and no deficit, I could agree we'd want a centrist government, with elements on the fringes held in check by the majority in the middle. Unfortunately we are in debt for the next 2-4 generations, we have no choice but to slash the size and influence of the federal government, restore fiscal sanity, slowly phase out entitlements, & grow our economy through the private sector by fostering a business climate that encouragesexpansion. Brianb and I could almost be the same person, but I assure you we're not, though I agree with 95% of what he says.

Brian-595389, I think a hard turn to the right though is not what is going to stablize this country. We can not go from one extreme to another. We need more people from the right and from the left take turns into the middle. We didn't get to this point in the economy just from the last 2 years. This has been in the works for probably more than 10 years, I'll even go out on a limb and say 30. Instead of puffing up one side or the other, I think people need to work together and not bash ideas from either side. I will not plug my ears and sing la la la at you just because you have a R or a D behind your name. I don't think going to the right will fix the problems of the national debt nor the deficit. My biggest problem is that I don't hear any plans coming for the hard right on what they plan do if they get control. All I hear is we need to fix our debt, and we need to fix the economy, and we need to create jobs. But how? You can waste your breath telling me all the problems, and the fact that they need to be fixed, I've been hearing them since I was 18. But tell me how are we going to fix it? And I have yet to have that question answered.

Pandering, yes indeed, you are right about one thing McCain is history another Rino going to the trash pile.

You people are delusional, ever exisitng poll show s the supporters of the Democratic Parasitical Party to be trailing and in most cases badkly.

Still here you are denying it and predicting conservatives can't win.

Every program of the democratic party is predicated on stealing money from the people who earn and using it for their own ends or handing it to a third party

Put another way you have to support thefTand parasiticalism, to support the democrats, i'll allow you draw your own conclusions , about the dems.

middlewes, again hun, your rantings might have a bigger effect if you used spell check and proof read everything. And also if you didn't resort to name calling, learn some respect.

We might know IF repubicans had actually asked those questions but instead they focused on the military at Harvard. That's what they spent the biggest share of their time discussing, the rest was just bits and pieces.

Darn good and relavent questions that should have been asked. AND, how and when, if ever, should international laws be interpeted/applied towards our constitutional rights.

Rob, are you a first year law student? Nothing more dangerous than a 1L.

The senior Republican on the committee, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., formally announced his opposition to Kagan’s nomination in a USA Today op-ed earlier Tuesday.

“Throughout her career, Ms. Kagan has placed her politics above the law," Sessions wrote. “She has never been a judge, never tried a case before a jury and has practiced law for only three years. She is the least experienced nominee in the last half-century.”

That says it quite clearly.

And Senator Sessions never puts politics above people? Really, shallow argument.

Gingerhead Momma

Thank god you didn't judge Hussein Obama by the company he keeps? Ayers, Wright, Resco, Jackson, Farrahkkan, Sharpton, whew!

Stoupy

I do not recall those folks hanging out in the WH for the last 19 months...Sorta takes the wind out of those lying sails!

Seems to me that you are a tad racist there as well, his name is Barack Hussein Obama, get over the fact that he is Black and had a Muslim father, did YOU name Yourself?? He had no control over what name he was given, and happens to be a devout Christian...unlike yourself!

I'll pray you are right!

As a South Carolina resident, it's very refreshing to have a Republican in office that isn't an embarrassment to the state and can actually think on their own without having to read the GOP "NO" charter everytime an issue comes up. Thank you, Mr. Graham. I didn't vote for you before, but over the last couple of years I see that you are breaking away from a straight party line attitude and actually using your mind as a way to make decisions. We need more people in Congress (from all parties) who think for themselves. Now, all that being said, I am considered a liberal by the fine people I live with in this state (I prefer moderate, but moderates don't really get to exist in this state) and it pained me dearly to say all those nice things about Graham, but he earned it so there you go. (I still don't agree with your energy policy, Lindsey...nuclear power has never turned a profit in the US so investing in that for our state will only make us poorer...but good job today!)

At least, Graham doesn't hike up the Appalachian Trail!

South Carolina: Land of the dumb, home of the dumber. (Sorry Brian, you sound like the smartest guy in the state.)

I think Lindsey Graham is a jerk after watching the impeachment hearings hoax against President Clinton, but even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Brain, NO - we need more people in Congress to follow what their constituants desire no matter what the party they belong to wants them to do.

When Lindsey Graham is a moderate conservative who is reasonable, polite and makes sense, it's clear the GOP has gone off the deep end.

Sen. Graham was very polite and respectful to Ms. Kagan during the hearings. He understands that elections do have consequences. Unless she is somehow completely unfit for the position, a President gets to select Justices. He's not going to pick one the hard right would approve of.

I'm going to have to give Sen. Graham a second look. He seems like a reasonable man.

Lol, I love South Carolina and (most) of the people in it, but we got a lot of stupid people here and I think it's important that we let our elected leaders "lead." If you went by what the constituants in this state want, we'd probably still have the rebel flag flying over the state house, instead of a much more obvious "shrine" in front of the state house. (sarcasm about the flag thing, you couldn't hear it in my voice)

Ah yes Montana where municipal authorities are trying to defend saying the closing prayer at the 4th of July bash, in Spanish

Perfect Pat!

That's a tune I can dance to! ;0)

Feisty, I was going to sign it from you, but then I thought better of it. lol

We need to promote his new program.

I still chuckle when I think of the scenario of you & I cornering him in a bar after having a few... ;0)))

I'll do my part in getting out the word!

I still chuckle when I think of the scenario of you & I cornering him in a bar after having a few... ;0)))

As long as he's not broadcasting his program from Boston or the Chicago area, he's safe. But it is funny to think what we'd be like. I'm looked upon as "the quiet one" in my huge noisy outgoing family; when I'm drinking, not so much. A million questions I ask. Which means nothing, since I assume I have all the answers after a few anyway. And I'm sure you too. lol

I know, it will be good TV.

MSNBC might not make it until fall. Sinking faster than Hussein Obama's approval poll numbers

Stoupy,

Actually Faux has lost some 1/3 of their advertisers and about the same % of it's viewers as the amount of garbage and lies they have been stating have been proven to be just that...Folks want Honesty, and they are NOT getting it at Faux Neuz!

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham is a traitor just like Obama and his regime.

The Justice Department should charge Obama and his regime as Traitors.

I will not vote for any government incumbent candate. !!!!!!!!!!!!

The Natinal Meda like MSN, CBS should be held accountable for not reporting on Obama and his Regime.

Eugene....got a little "j merle" complex goin on there buddy?

Must suck to be so miserable. Just like we were for 8 years. Welcome to your country!

This seems like a reprise of the Sotomayor hearings. Graham came out in favor of her too and reminded people that ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. Like Sotomayor, Ms. Kagen will be confirmed despite the Grandstanding Old Putzs who will vote against her. After all the only vote they know, no matter what it is, is NO.

Why on just about every blob do we have to have people that call each other names. Just because you disagree with some one, you don't have to resort to name calling. I watch Beck once in a while and he has made some good points, in others I think he's a little twisted, but we all have our points of view! Please stay true to your beliefs and drop the name calling.

Don't worry about the Filibuster, the 2 Rino hags from Maine Collins and Snowe are with you as is Benedict Brown and Benedict Graham. They will put that Humpty Dumpty look a like on the Court but replacing one communist with another communist doesn't hurt. I expected nothing less from our Communist in Chief nor should have anybody else. Did you think he was going to nominate a conservative or a centrist, fat Kagan chance.

The dopes of nope"

How terribly clever!!

A democrat is the only known parasite, that feeds on its own species.

Eric, your childish use of name calling just shows the weakness of your comment. I guess you find to need to get attention. Grow up and offer something constructive.

I saw that on Countdown last night and intended to mention today. Greene may not be a polished candidate but he has real campaign issues and did a pretty good job with his speech getting some good rounds of applause.

Eric, last night I had the same thought you did about the democratic party sending some of their campaign experts down to SC to help out, provide some polish and work with him. "Better than DeMint" as Lawrence O said last night.

Amen to that Jody! I sure hope that you can get rid of that Racist Steve King who is a real disgrace to your state. I saw an interesting newspiece on Iowa being such a stand up state regarding proper race relations back in the past. Saw that Iowa gave George Washington Carver his degree when his racist red state wouldn't plus a few other interesting and enlightened tidbits.

That's never going to happen Greene is a Dead man walking. The Dems will not waste the time or money.

Eric, that's right. Iowa's universities were open to all. In 1869, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that segregation in local public schools was unconstitutional and not long after, allowed blacks to vote. Alexander Clark, who lived in my town, challenged the local school district on behalf of his daughter and he won; his son graduated from the U of I and he earned a degree there also. He later was appointed ambassador to Lyberia (sp). That's why it troubles me that the North IA Tea Party who put up those billboards and Steve King--they are an embarrassment. Even Branstad is playing to the extremists within the GOP, throwing how the "I want voters to decide gay marriage" chatter.

Better and better Eric, Jim Demented, who is your writer , Gary Coleman?

Lindsey Graham's "truth" therefore has to apply to both Roberts and Alito, the two immediately prior consequences of elections.

Just saying "yes" all the time is mindless, too. I give you my state's senator, Patty Murray, as a case in point.

If he's running in '14, by then, the teabaggers will be a tempest in a (ahem) teapot! He'll be fine. I don't particularly care for him, but South Carolina has. We just need to get wingnuts back on their meds!

Dear Auntie

I believe you should use Auntie Marxist. Have you ever considered that your favorite book "The Communist Manifesto" maybe is a little to far to the left. Look, your comrade, President Obama is trying to do his best to make sure that he destroys the capitalist system and I am sorry to say that people like you and Senator Graham are making it very easy for him to do so. Well comrade Auntie, I hope you fail in your efforts to destroy this country.

Auntie, you sure stirred the wingnut hornet's nest! You're a Marxist because you date to challenge Teapot Dome. Hey guys, go ahead and vote against your own soulmates. We'll be very grateful when the Dems walk in as victors. And afloat, if anything will destroy this country, it's you and your peers who want to toss aside the democracy our forefathers strove and died for. Anybody with that much hatred for his fellow citizens that he deems the few steps toward humaneness adopted by the Democrats to be communism has nothing to sell.

afloatinasea, you're apparently marooned without your meds! Or, the saltwater and sun have caused you to see mirages! Either way, your observation lacked reason and clarity. Hopefully, you'll be rescued soon!

It will be weak Tea by 2012, little more than discolored water.

Gee, ya think!?? Calling a black lawyer "boy" shoulda been the kiss of death! Apparently, it was! 'Ol Jug Ear Jeff doesn't like Kagan? SURPRISE!! And who cares!!?

Sessions also apparently forgot the nomination of Harriet "Medusa" Meyers by good ole W. All she ever was, was Bush's personal attorney, no practical experience in the courts AT ALL, including anything as esteemed as a clerk for a Supreme Court justice.

Either this guy is very feeble minded to forget something so recent, or his "memory" is selective based on his partisan agenda at the moment. Either way, given this omission, his "opinion" is worthless. It's unfortunate that a major publication would print an op-ed written by someone who clearly is uninformed as to facts and reality. Then again, I don't expect that from those who put their partisanship before patriotism, like most Republicans do. Good thing he was rejected as a judge. I can't imagine someone who can't remember something that happened less than a decade ago has much grasp of what he "learned" in law school at this point.

Just a minor difference. Harriet Miers' name was withdrawn when REPUBLICANS put the pressure on.

I'd prefer the lifetime appointments than a career politician who constantly panders to the flavor of the week to earn political favor. And let's not forget the horse trading that goes on in the legislature. Would you want to expose our judiciary to the same sacrifice of principle, reason and morality?

At least judges with lifetime appointments can focus on doing their jobs rather than diminishing our standards of justice and delving into what passes for politics to gain favor with a bunch of uneducated half-wits who lack the patriotism and respect for our nation to study and understand exactly what our nation stands for (clue: it's not obsolete songs and pieces of cloth).

Bias is in the eye of the beholder and Supreme Court justices can be impeached.

if judges are so unbiased, then why are so many decisions made with a 5-4 vote ??? ----- also, when was the last time a justice was impeached ?? ----- considering some of the decisions that have been ruled on lately, in both the supreme court and other federal courts, i have very little faith in the average judges ability to remain impartial.

Jim, Awesome post. You hit the nail right on the head!

ronpal, Samuel Chase was impeached by the House in 1805 and acquitted by the Senate in March of that year. So it can be done.

Kagan will do a fine job as Associate Justice.

According to the Constitution, you know that document the Bushies said was obsolete and a GD piece of paper, Supreme Court Justices can be impeached.

Ronpal, sometimes I think the 5 are biased, sometimes I think the 4 are biased! Once again, it's the eye of the beholder. I don't think you want flesh and blood justices quite so much as you want robots!

Jim. Great post. I read an article by Sandra Day O'Connor a few years ago. It was an interesting piece. She talked about the dangers of electing judges because they must campaign and raise money for those campaigns which could influence their decisions. She felt strongly that judges should be life-time appointments with rules allowing for impeachment for good cause. She had other comments, too, about the Supreme Court. The last thing we need is a more polilticized Supreme Court with term limits and all that goes with it.