Dunking Graham Crackers

This is one of the more weird stories of the political season.  In fact, I think it's so weird that it's almost political malpractice. I don't know who convinced Sen.  Lindsey Graham (R-SC)  that this was a "good idea,"  But whoever it was, they should be grateful if all that happens is that they get demoted.  If it was Graham himself who came up with the crackerjack idea, that could explain why Quinnipiac Poll yesterday showed his U.S. Senate race with challenger Jaime Harrison tied 48-48%.

The background, if  you're not aware of it is that a couple of days ago, Graham put out an "outraged" video of him all a-flutter about how he had released years of his tax returns, but that Harrison had not released anything yet.  Now, I know  you're way ahead of me why this is so insanely stupid on the most basic level, but it really more nuts than that.

To begin with, it's not like Graham released his tax returns months ago and had been pressing his challenger for months, to no avail.  No, it had only been five days since he released his tax returns.  That wasn't a typo -- it had been a whole five days. And somehow Graham thought it would be a cool idea to make a major issue out of.  And not just get all worked up about it, but film it in what appears to be a gun shop, to (I guess) show how tough and serious he was.  Never mind that there was a weekend during this period, or that it was only five day -- not even a full week yet -- and people need time to get their records together.  

But the thing is, what's so additionally weird about trying to make a Big Issue about this is that it was pretty obvious that Jaime Harrison would be releasing his tax returns -- because, I mean, there was zero reason for him not to.  And further, Jaime Harrison is not some big multi-millionaire business with major deals he might want to hide.  He's the former chairman of the Democratic Party in South Carolina, and I think it's likely that his tax returns are so ordinary that it could even win him votes.

And all of that leads to what is the brain-dead obvious reason this was such a weird, bone-headed move by Lindsey Graham.  Because since it was so clear that Jaime Harrison would be releasing his tax returns, after he did so Graham would be stuck with having to answer not releasing his in tax returns in 4 years!!

Making it even more stupid is that even if Harrison didn't release his tax returns, not only would most people probably not care too much since Harrison wasn't a businessman with likely conflicts of interest, but also Graham would still have to explain his "outrage" at his opponent, going so far as even suggesting that he must have something to hide (oh, dear.  I mean, just oh, dear...), and why he didn't have the same reaction to Trump not releasing his tax returns -- with all manner of conflicts and possible deals in Russia -- that's he's not only actually been hiding for four years, but has gone to court to keep them from being released..  It's just an issue that under even the best-possible conditions.was a No Possible Win for a Republican 

But Lindsey Graham went there.  In a gun shop.  Over a matter of five days.  In full faux-outrage.  Because he's in a very tight race that is tied, and he's desperate.  And showed how desperate he was.  Which is never a good look at any time, but especially in a U.S. Senate race.  And  you're the incumbent sitting-senator.

And most notable of all is that Jaime Harrison in simple eloquence explained wonderfully and hilariously all these reasons why it was so weird of Lindsey Graham, using just five words.

Ignore that response first.  Instead look to the bottom and read Lindsey Graham's tweet first and watch the video he embedded.

And then check out Jaime Harrison's response the next day, above.