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Decent Quality Since 1847

Quote of the Day

7/18/2013

5 Comments

 
“Cordray was being filibustered because we don’t like the law. That's not a reason to deny someone their appointment. We were wrong."

-- Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC), to the New York Times

I must acknowledge, it's a little uncomfortable criticizing someone who makes such an admirable admission.  And Lindsey Graham's admission is admirable.  For anyone to say he or she was wrong is noteworthy.  For a senator to do so, is remarkable. And for a Republican senator in today's environment of being lock-step unanimous in his party's five-year attempt to block President Barack Obama is jaw-dropping, to the point of almost unbelieveable. 

I wish more senators, indeed more public officials, would admit to being wrong and not have it seen as a sign of personal weakness. 

I just wish they'd doing before the fact when it would do some good.

To be very clear, I like that Sen. Graham said that Republicans were wrong.  And I doff my cap to him.  But unfortunately, I also have to note that this is the Peggy Noonan School of Pseudo-Fairness.  That's where you say something that seems so even-handed and fair-minded that you become seen in the public eye as the fair and and objective one, except that you make sure to say it when it's after the fact, and doesn't really mean all that much.

Ms. Noonan, for examples, sat on her pedestal and wrote an article criticizing George Bush, saying how his former supporters now "Grit their teeth" at him, and how she herself was "startled" and "disconcerted" by him.  This was a really swell article -- except that it was written during the last months of his presidency, after she had been defending him for almost eight years, as I wrote here, in "Peggy Noonan Feels Really Bad About George Bush."  Long after all Democrats had gotten so far past being startled by the president that their grit teeth had been worn to near-chalk.  Or there was the article when she slammed Sarah Palin, saying that the former vice-presidential candidate was "Bad for Republicans -- and the Republic."  That, too, was noble -- except for the reality that the former half-term governor had long-since lost the race, during which Peggy Noonan had been praising her in hopes of Ms. Palin becoming a heart-beat from the presidency, as I noted here, in "Peggy Noonan Regrets Sarah Palin.  A Nation Weeps."  If Peggy Noon had gotten her way...when it freaking mattered...this candidate who was "bad" for the Republic would have been elected.

And that's often what Lindsey Graham does.  He makes thoughtful, even-handed, graceful, objective comments about policy and political actions -- yet they far too-often come when it doesn't matter.  Wen it just makes him look good.  (To be fair, not always.  Sometimes Mr. Graham speaks up early.  But not usually.)

So, while his words sound good, actions really do speak louder.  And far too often, Lindsey Graham is just fine taking the wrong route when it counts, and saying otherwise afterwards.

I mean, honestly, did it just occur to Lindsey Graham -- after TWO YEARS blocking Richard Cordray -- that it was "wrong" to do so, just because you don't like the law??  Seriously?  Only after voting to approve him, only then it was a revelatory moment that this had been wrong for 730 days?  And what about all those other nominees who Republicans and Lindsey Graham had been blocking, and only now finally confirmed.  They weren't being blocked because the GOP didn't like some law.  They were being blocked because Republicans could.,  Because Barack Obama had nominated them.  Honestly, I think Lindsey Graham -- who's a very smart guy -- knew it was "wrong" all along.  He just didn't care.  And he didn't care to do anything about it.  Other than say, after it was all over with, that it was "wrong."

Swell.  Good for him.  Truly.  I'm glad he said it. It's a good thing.  Really.

I just hope the next time his actions really do speak louder than his words.
5 Comments
Gordon Kent
7/18/2013 01:43:23 am

I used to think well of Lindsay Graham. I thought he was one of the fair Republicans who had a mind of his own.

No longer.

I think he's little better than Mitch McConnell.

He's someone who actually does know better.

But, it appears as if he's so afraid of losing his seat that he's willing to knowingly do wrong.

He appears to fear what his fellow republicans think of him.

He appears to fear taking a stand.

Obviously he has a "boss" -- the people who donate to his campaigns and his voters.

We all do things to please our bosses.

But he has chosen a vocation of serving the public -- and he is only self-serving -- or at best serving a very privileged few.

He has become, over the years, one of my least favorite Republican senators simply because he does know better but is afraid to perform his duties properly.

Best

Gordon

(Love your blog, even if you are a Cubs fan!)

Reply
Robert Elisberg
7/18/2013 02:09:46 am

You're a little harsher on Lindsey Graham than I am -- though my criticism is clear. It's just that there are others though who make my skin crawl. In truth, I think most know better, he's just willing to let it come through more often. But he times it well for good effect.

Yes, I know how hard it must be to follow something by a Cubs fan, since we're so arrogant about all our success...

Reply
Gordon Kent
7/18/2013 04:42:00 am

That's not the reason... I'm a Pirates fan!

I've become tougher on Graham over the years because I've become accustomed to expecting his mea culpa -- so heart felt and so useless.

Robert Elisberg
7/18/2013 05:15:46 am

For what it's worth, this year I'm rooting for the Pirates.

And I completely understand your reason for being particularly tough on Graham. Hey, it's what led to this article...!

Reply
Gordon Kent
7/18/2013 07:14:19 am

And, I don't want you to take this wrong, but your blog is one of three I turn to every day (sometimes several times a day) to see what you have to say...

Reply



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    Author

    Robert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. 

    Elisberg is a two-time recipient of the Lucille Ball Award for comedy screenwriting. He's written for film, TV, the stage, and two best-selling novels, is a regular columnist for the Writers Guild of America and was for
    the Huffington Post.  Among his other writing, he has a long-time column on technology (which he sometimes understands), and co-wrote a book on world travel.  As a lyricist, he is a member of ASCAP, and has contributed to numerous publications.



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