Boy, you all want power. God, I hope you never get it. I hope the American people can see through this sham. – Lindsey Graham to Democrat Senators – September 27, 2018
During Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing, Lindsey Graham gave a voice to what many were thinking.
Some were astonished that it was Graham who put words to the building cold anger at Democrat tactics. Because it was, well, Lindsey Graham. The thing is, I’ve been following Graham for some time now. And he’s been acting and behaving differently, more like his younger self. Graham seems a man recently unleashed. Given the passing of John McCain, this may be more than metaphorical.
Over the last year, Graham has become one of the louder voices pushing against the Trump-Russia Collusion Narrative.
I first noticed Graham’s shift during July 27, 2017, testimony by Bill Browder in relation to the Magnitsky Act. And I noted it again in December 2017:
An unlikely source has been at the forefront of discoveries surrounding the DNC’s Russia-Trump Narrative. Senator Lindsey Graham.
Yeah. I know… But it’s true nevertheless.
And Senator Graham just confirmed what many of us have been saying for some time.
The Trump Dossier, created by Fusion GPS, was used by the DOJ/FBI to obtain a FISA Warrant to spy on the Trump Campaign.
But much of what he’s said and done has gone mostly unnoticed. Until yesterday:
For those surprised at @LindseyGrahamSC bear in mind he was early on calling out Russia’s funding of Fusion GPS.
At the time I found it difficult to acknowledge his contributions, but acknowledge I did.
What he just did in the Kavanaugh Hearing was both needed and outstanding. https://t.co/ivVDUJ6CwN
— Jeff @ themarketswork (@themarketswork) September 27, 2018
Graham brought righteous anger to the Kavanaugh Hearings.
If you haven’t watched this segment, you should. If you have, you’ll want to watch it again. While reading the transcript, be aware that Graham switches from addressing Democrats to addressing Judge Kavanaugh in rapid fashion so the video helps in providing proper context. Video below. Transcript follows.
GRASSLEY: Senator Graham asked for the floor. But before he does, it seems to me that if you want to know something, you’ve got the witness right here to — to ask him. And secondly, if you want an FBI report, you can ask for it yourself. I’ve asked for FBI reports in the past, in the 38 years I’ve been in the Senate.
Senator Graham.
GRAHAM: Are you aware that at 9:23 on the night of July the 9th, the day you were nominated to the Supreme Court by President Trump, Senator Schumer said 23-minutes after your nomination, “I will oppose Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination with everything I have, I have (sic) a bipartisan — and I hope a bipartisan majority will do the same. The stakes are simply too high for anything less.” Well, if you weren’t aware of it, you are now.
Did you meet with Senator Dianne Feinstein on August 20th?
KAVANAUGH: I did meet with Senator Feinstein…
GRAHAM: Did you know that her staff had already recommended a lawyer to Dr. Ford?
KAVANAUGH: … I did not know that.
GRAHAM: Did you know that her and her staff had this — allegations for over 20 days?
KAVANAUGH: I did not know that at the time.
GRAHAM: If you wanted a FBI investigation, you could have come to us. What you want to do is destroy this guy’s life, hold this seat open and hope you win in 2020. You’ve said that, not me.
[Judge Kavanaugh] You’ve got nothing to apologize for.
When you see Sotomayor and Kagan, tell them that Lindsey said hello because I voted for them. I would never do to them what you’ve done to this guy. This is the most unethical sham since I’ve been in politics. And if you really wanted to know the truth, you sure as hell wouldn’t have done what you’ve done to this guy.
Are you a gang rapist?
KAVANAUGH: No.
GRAHAM: I cannot imagine what you and your family have gone through.
Boy, you all want power. God, I hope you never get it. I hope the American people can see through this sham. That you knew about it and you held it. You had no intention of protecting Dr. Ford; none.
She’s as much of a victim as you are.
God, I hate to say it because these have been my friends. But let me tell you, when it comes to this, you’re looking for a fair process? You came to the wrong town at the wrong time, my friend. Do you consider this a job interview?
KAVANAUGH: If (ph) the advice and consent role is like a job interview.
GRAHAM: Do you consider that you’ve been through a job interview?
KAVANAUGH: I’ve been through a process of advice and consent under the Constitution, which…
GRAHAM: Would you say you’ve been through hell?
KAVANAUGH: I — I’ve been through hell and then some.
GRAHAM: This is not a job interview.
KAVANAUGH: Yes.
GRAHAM: This is hell.
KAVANAUGH: This — this…
GRAHAM: This is going to destroy the ability of good people to come forward because of this crap. Your high school yearbook — you have interacted with professional women all your life, not one accusation.
You’re supposed to be Bill Cosby when you’re a junior and senior in high school. And all of a sudden, you got over it. It’s been my understanding that if you drug women and rape them for two years in high school, you probably don’t stop.
Here’s my understanding, if you lived a good life people would recognize it, like the American Bar Association has, the gold standard. His integrity is absolutely unquestioned. He is the very circumspect in his personal conduct, harbors no biases or prejudices. He’s entirely ethical, is a really decent person. He is warm, friendly, unassuming. He’s the nicest person — the ABA.
The one thing I can tell you should be proud of — Ashley, you should be proud of this — that you raised a daughter who had the good character to pray for Dr. Ford.
To my Republican colleagues, if you vote no, you’re legitimizing the most despicable thing I have seen in my time in politics. You want this seat? I hope you never get it.
I hope you’re on the Supreme Court, that’s exactly where you should be. And I hope that the American people will see through this charade. And I wish you well. And I intend to vote for you and I hope everybody who’s fair-minded will.
Lindsey Graham, I applaud you sir. Thank you for providing a needed voice at precisely the proper moment.
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