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Graham torpedoes cap-and-trade bill rollout.

By: Moe Lane (Diary)  |  April 25th, 2010 at 11:30 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Because of the Democrats’ decision to make immigration a priority.

Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.) decision to walk away from Senate talks on climate change and energy legislation  – at least for now – has prompted the measure’s remaining architects to scuttle Monday’s planned unveiling of the bill.

[snip]

Graham is upset over Democratic plans to take up immigration legislation this year – he accuses Democratic leaders of pushing forward immigration “haphazardly” and calls it an election-year political gambit.

Of course, it’s an open question about how broken up Senate Democrats really are to not have to take up that particular piece of pandering to religious fanaticism just quite yet.  It will be also interesting to see how this will affect the immigration bill debate: considering that even John McCain is sounding like he’s had a Road to Damascus (or road to the Arizona primary) moment, it is going to be very weird if Graham ends up supporting the immigration bill.

OK, let’s unpack that for a little, because I already know some of the objections.  Yes, there is a nontrivial portion of the GOP that doesn’t trust either Senator McCain or Senator Graham at all, and a somewhat larger one that doesn’t trust them on immigration issues.  They also have valid reasons for that mistrust.  I merely suggest that those people consider: first, the truly alarming way that the security situation in Mexico has degenerated since the last time immigration was an active issue (some examples from the last day here and here); and second, the truly insulting way that Democrats rammed through a decidedly unpopular health care bill through Congress*. If they honestly take those two points under consideration, and still conclude that betrayal is likely… well, at least they honestly took those two points under consideration.  See Say Anything for a contrary take on this issue, in fact; I don’t agree with Rob on Graham’s motivations, but I see why he’s come to his conclusions.

Moe Lane

*The second may be the more important one: Senators are not used to being treated rudely by their members, and they especially do not appreciate being treated rudely at the orders of the Executive Branch.

Crossposted to Moe Lane.

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COMMENTS

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  • redneck_hippie

    that Graham was counting on his best friend’s support of C&T and said best friend told him it is a no-go? I had read that Obama wanted one more Republican besides Graham to support C&T before he would give the go-ahead on bringing the bill. The way I see it, there are two revelations on the road to Damascus. Immigration is one, Cap and Tax is the other.

  • throwback59

    or Grahamnesty, completely. However in cases like this I turn to my favorite political philospher who once said, “trust but verify.” I’m happy if they are on our side now, whatever the motivations, but I understand they are not really one of us.

  • partyof1

    needs to torpedo Graham. Politically speaking.

    Graham is a Romney Republican. Cap and Tax is a redline issue. No compromise.

  • RedBeard

    He always looks like he’s about to break down and bawl his eyes out.

    Maybe he’s upset that he won’t get to lead the charge for illegal alien coddling, since the Dems want to go ahead with it now. Must be terribly disappointing for Lindsey, trying to lead two different bubbleheaded crusades at once (Cap ‘n Tax and Illegals ‘r Us), and seeing all of the headlines being snatched away from him.

  • http://impudent.blognation.us/blog kyle8

    The reason he is so upset is because his lord and master Straight Talking John McCain has abandoned him on these issues, because he has to tack to the right to get reelected.

    Like a hangdog puppy he sits forlornly at his window waiting for his master’s return.

  • http://thesandsinstitute.org Vassar Bushmills

    …the line in the sand M’cain has been forced to take alongside Gov Brewer puts Graham in a hot seat.

  • philbo

    His objection is that this sudden lurch by the Dems positions the Republicans, all Republicans, as being the sole reason for their inability to deliver amnesty for La Raza. I predict that he will horse trade his way back into favor as will McCain if he survives the August 24 primary.

  • drfredc

    Once again, the RINOs show their NO CLUE understanding of politics.

    It’s not enough to “Just say NO!”. He needs to limit his statement to he’s in favor of MORE NUCLEAR ENERGY, there will be better ways of achieving that goal with a GOP CONGRESS and leave it at that. In fact, he doesn’t even need to say “NO”. Just that he’s in favor of more Nuclear Energy and the Obamacrat Cap and Trade isn’t the best path to that goal.

    This nonsense about the Obamacrat’s procedure and protocol in bringing up immigration bill being the reason he’s dropping Cap and Trade shows he’s a RINO with NO CLUE about how to use an opportunity to make a clear statement about what he (and the RINO GOP) stands for.

    Bubba’s don’t care about procedure and protocol. Bubbas need clear simple bumper sticker messages like Nuclear Power for Jobs instead of Cap and Tax for No Jobs…

  • acat

    This change also positions Repubs to make a lot of noise about how they want to do *real* reform, demonizing the Dems for wanting to do amnesty.

    Yes, it requires both McCain and Graham to do “Road to Damascus” routines. So what? It puts the Repubs in a position to appeal to legal immigrants (Is it fair to slip across the border and jump the queue?) and add in the Tea Parties (Amnesty would cost too much…) …

    I am not sure that forcing the Dem leadership to change their order of assault is a bad thing – especially since this is an election year. Any Dem who comes out strongly for amnesty can be tied around the neck of every other vulnerable Dem.

    I suppose, we could look at this as building the Dems a charm necklace of albatrosses. Porkulus, Health Care, Cap and Trade, and now Amnesty, At the rate they’re adding on albatross charms…

    Mew

  • http://erickbrockway.wordpress.com/ Erick Brockway

    When he does he’ll be “all in”, and Obamigration is just Grahamnesty with a new jacket, so what’s not for him to like?
    They have him times two.

  • http://impudent.blognation.us/blog kyle8

    Governor Romney

  • http://impudent.blognation.us/blog kyle8

    vomit. ”

    and to quote a few more scriptures.

    “Ye shall know them by their works”

    “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”

  • acat

    At least Romney seems to get that illegal immigration is a problem.

    Possibly because of all those pesky Canadians sneaking into Boston…?

    Mew

  • philbo

    But it only works IF the Republican leadership sees this opportunity as an opportunity. They clearly don’t see re-connecting with their big middle base as an opportunity worth sacrificing their Assistant Democrat creds.

  • acat

    All politicians make careers of looking for parades, then rushing over and trying to get to the front.

    Why wait? Start the letter writing and protest organizing now. Amnesty must be opposed, in spite of the politicians.

    I should also take this opportunity to point out that if the Tea Party (and anti-Amnesty) folk join the Republican party as committeemen (and women) then they can change the party leadership – and who knows, maybe we’ll get some actual leaders in there…. (nods at ColdWarrior and the Precinct Project)

    Mew

  • bballfan

    the cap and trade issues will be given to the EPA, so Obama will get what he wants. EPA already has huge powers. They think they can get Amnesty pasted through before November .

  • partyof1

    was for Amnesty before he was against it.

  • philbo

    2010 has to be about voting out the incumbents who created and defend this one-party system. If we vote out all incumbents, we end up with a Republican majority of mostly new faces in the Senate and all new faces in the House.

  • charliebravoNH

    On page 245 of his Book No Apology ,Romney says
    ” Cap -and -trade is an energy tax, disguised in the sheep’s clothing of market terminology. And it is an energy tax that would have little or no effect on global warming.”

    Since when was Romney for amnesty? The Massachusetts budget has been swamped with spending on services to illegal immigrants for years, mostly through court mandates.

  • charliebravoNH

    John McCain being boxed in on immigration because of immigration has left Graham out there all alone. The fact that Grahamnesty had some kind of deal to wait till next year on immigration is telling. Graham was waiting until McCain was safely re elected to the Senate to support immigration reform, assuming McCain will vote right along with him. If there ever a reason to support J.D Hayworth this is it.

  • Scope

    during the healthcare debate?

    http://hotair.com/archives/2010/03/11/graham-to-obama-if-you-use-reconciliation-on-health-care-itll-kill-amnesty/

    So, as if we didn’t already know, Grahmnasty is a PRINO, progressive republican in name only. Was he indicating that he wouldn’t support healthcare because it would obstruct the chances of getting Amnesty and Cap and Tax passed. Does that mean he would have supported Obamacare if his 2 pet projects had already passed?

    Hasn’t this freakin idiot already been reprimanded by his state GOP people for his support of Marxist policies more than once. As was asked somewhere before- How can a state send someone as terrific as DeMint to the Senate, and his exact opposite?

    This jerk is acting with as much impunity against his constituients, and the Republican party, as the O is acting against the will of the American people. Since it has already been pretty much established that it would be near to impossible to remove a sitting Senator, can we the people start making some very loud noises against this traitor and imbecile. I’m surprised that someone hasn’t already started a petition, and collected thousands upon thousands of signatures to send to this bastage with a very strong message. Hopefully we will get enough strong conservatives in the Senate that they will sit him in the corner, turned to the wall, and wearing a dunce cap. He really needs a good strong dose of good old Alinsky redicule.

  • crassus

    Note that Graham does not criticize the immigriation legislation on content. He criticizes it because he know that it WILL NOT PASS. However, if it actually might pass, he would be pushing it till the bitter end. Graham doesn’t want to stick his neck out there for something that won’t pass. The Democrats are just doing this for political purposes. They know it won’t pass. It doesn’t have a chance. I agree though, that Graham is the only one on the Republican side in the senate who wants to do either of these things. Who else will join up w/ the democrats on immigration? I see no reason why the Maine twins would do it. Richard Lugar would be my best guess, but I think he’s focuse on the START treaty, which has flaws as it now stands. Look at which Republicans have left in recent years: Specter, Martinez, Hagel, Chafee, Craig, Domenici, J. Warner, Coleman, G. Smith. These were the main guys besides McCain, Graham and (often) the Utah senators. There isn’t much support for comprehensive amnesty anymore in the senate.
    Either way, Graham needs to go in 2014. My two personal favorites are Nikki Haley and J Gresham Barrett.

  • crassus

    has always taken a good stance on cap and trade. He has somewhat murky views on immigration. I kind of see him supporting de-facto amnesty, i.e. anchor baby citizenship, no border security, no enforcement. You can bet there would no serious efforts at stopping illegal immigration under Romney, he’d try to keep the issue under the table.

  • tngal

    McCains sudden tough on immigration stance is so full of holes its pathetic. Even moderate dems are saying they approve of better border enforcement. Some will even agree to fines for employers who hire illegals. Agreeing with those items doesn’t make one a conservative, Just a McSquishy.
    Its simple McCain..say this at your next fundraiser..

    “I was wrong on amnesty. We do not need amnesty. We need the laws we already have strongly enforced. Thanks and enjoy your bar-b-que. ”

    If you’re so bent on making new laws, make some that will deal with moms dropping anchor babies here.

    Also with all the races coming up, special and otherwise, NOW is the time for the candidates to spell out where they stand. It may be a moot point come November, but voters have a right to know their candidate’s mindset.

  • archer52

    The Republicans have a bad habit handing victory to people they have defeated. Arizona’s actions will rile up the Hispanics, and they do vote. Obama is going to push reform, pass a law, sign an executive order or do something to make him the Hispanic’s favorite politician. That could swing 2010 and even put in over the top in 2012.

    Nothing in politics happens by accident and there are always unintended consequences. I understand Arizona felt it had to act, but I’m betting it could cause trouble for a long time.

  • jenniferjmilleresq

    Trust me. Sen. Graham now has our full attention here in S.C. He slipped under the radar for most conservatives until after his reelection (which didn’t have much in the way of a primary challenger). Next time will be different, mark my words.

  • mbecker908

    opponent for his next primary?

  • jenniferjmilleresq

    I wish some conservative could articulate a common sense and yet detailed approach to immigration that addresses head-on all the real problems, political hot potatoes or not, and still clearly demonstrate that they want a coherent system of enforceable laws that are not inhumane. I know I’m going to take shots for this, but there has got to be a way to handle immigration effectively without deporting young mothers and putting their newborns into D.S.S. custody. A chicken plant here was raided by I.N.S. and local law enforcement last year and dozens of children were taken. They were U.S. citizens of course. I can hardly bear to listen to one of the talk radio shows here because immigration comes up a lot and the racism evident is sickening. The problem is no one is really articulating a total solution to further legal immigration. My sense is that many fear any immigration from Central or South America, whether legal or not. All we here is “amnesty.” We need an engine that is big enough and strong enough to process all these people legally, assuming we desire to have these workers here (including border controls). It’s NOT a winning issue for elections.

  • IJB

    SC GOP voters, however, chose to ignore that person.

  • mbecker908
  • Adjoran

    Any sitting Senator, Graham included, has an established fundraising operation which has national reach. Senators in their second term or later have a reelect rate of over 95%, mainly for this reason.

    So we’ll need someone with their own deep pockets or the ability to raise and spend a couple million on the primary (at least). That leaves a very narrow bench in SC – the only guy with a reasonable chance might be Sanford, despite his own problems, but he hated Washington when he was a Congressman and probably could not be induced to run unless the Senate starts meeting in Argentina.

  • Adjoran

    Graham went out on a limb on cap-’n'-tax in order to spare McCain the negative memories on immigration, but Obama recognizes that cap-’n'-tax doesn’t add any Democratic votes, while immigration might, even if it is defeated.

    So he throws Graham under the bus. It’s getting pretty crowded down there.

  • SoulEspresso

    After all he “did for them,” the Latino vote in 2008 broke for Obama.

    It’s been months, but I remember a story from shortly after the election in which Hispanic lobbyists came into his office asking for help on a new amnesty bill, and he all but threw them out.

  • NoDoze

    both remind me of a weak little boy who gets beaten up by bullies every day. They know they should fight back, but they are afraid, so they try to appease the bullies by offering them their lunch money. Sad on the playground at school — much sadder when they are our political leaders.

  • eburke

    or prior to the August GOP primary…whichever comes first.

  • eburke

    Hmmm…didn’t Sen. Grahamnesty fall all over himself in indignation (the mock kind) stating that if the Dems shoved through HCR using reconciliation that there would be no movement on Crap & Tax or Amnesty this year because it would *really* piss him off?

    What a spineless, power-grubbing, media-whoring douchebag. If the SC GOP could find someone to primary this asshat, I’m sure I could summon up some money to get rid of this abomination in 2014.

  • NoDoze

    that has gotten us into this mess in the first place. If we wait until the “perfect” time to take action, that action never happens. So, the Hispanics don’t like it! Why would the illegal immigrants like it? But, you might be surprised at the number of law-abiding Hispanics who will support what Arizona is doing.

  • archer52

    No Doze points out there are good law abiding Hispanics will support it. I think he misses the point. They may support keeping illegals from getting their jobs, but being targeted by race will upset them.

    Hispanics are a proud people, sometimes a little foolishly, but still very proud of their race. They will react reflexively to this, only seeing the “targeting” as you would if someone targeted the Irish, or Italians or NRA members etc. It may not be the intent of the law, but it will be sold by the left as the intent of the law and those dastardly Republicans.

    Now if the law actually worked then the argument of taking the hit and doing the right thing is valid. But it will not work. It will be crushed out of the box by judges, lawsuits, injunctions and even some civil unrest.

    That said, this is a case of politicians kicking their responsibilities over to the police so they can blame the police or the courts later for it not working.

    Here is a post from my site. Take the time to go over and read the two or three about this subject.

    http://truthandcommonsense.com/2010/04/25/telling-the-story-of-blue-haired-club-footed-midgets-and-stopping-a-known-drug-dealers/

    In this post I cover what I would do to solve the problem once and for all and still have the labor we need (although it will be more expensive). In another post I explain that illegals are the boil, the symptom, of the greater disease, which is the love of the money.

    “So, what is the disease that keeps the boils popping up? Remember the rule- ?Chase the offender not the offense.? What is the offender here? Simple- money. The illegals come here to make money taking jobs we won?t take for the wages offered. It is a boon to them and a relief to us. The politicians see illegals as a way to insure their return to power in D.C. which of course makes them rich. Businesses want illegals to work for them because they cost less to employ. The government, especially the Social Security department, likes the idea of having seven and a half percent sent into their coffers under a fake social security number. If they didn?t, would they not immediately notify the employer?

    It is and always has been about the money.”

    Are you willing to close the hole for good? Politicians aren’t. They want to court the new “minority” vote for the 21st century.

    Good luck on this. Watch the polls shift over the summer.