Graham says year pivotal
By Robert Behre
Hours after being sworn in to his second term Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham predicted this year would be pivotal in the course of the nation and the world.
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said he supports the stimulus package.
"It's a year where things are going to get better or worse," he said, citing the stalemate in Afghanistan, the fragile progress in Iraq, the need to contain Iran's nuclear ambitions and the current fighting in Gaza.
"I'm excited about my second term. I'm going to try to use it wisely. Be involved. Take risks. Find solutions to problems that have been neglected for decades, like immigration, and see if we can find a way to bring this country together," he said.
Graham plans to join Vice President-elect Joe Biden and a few other senators soon for a fact-finding trip to southwest Asia.
Their specific itinerary has not been released for security reasons.
"I will probably do a lot of listening," Graham said. "It came at his invitation right after the election. ... I'm looking forward to the trip, and I think it's going to be a big deal, quite frankly."
On the home front, Graham said he liked the $300 billion tax cuts proposed in the stimulus package because it would help encourage small businesses to create new jobs. He also favors stimulating the economy by directing federal money to rebuilding the nation's infrastructure.
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Republican Graham officially joins Senate, published 01/08/03
"It is not lost upon me that we're dealing with borrowed money," he said. "I hate to be in this spot, but I don't believe the private sector has enough resources now to jump start the economy."
Graham also said he hoped to find a solution to Social Security's financial problems that ultimately could save up to $5 trillion in the nation's future debt obligations.
He noted when he was born in 1955, there were 16 taxpayers for every person receiving a Social Security check. "Today there's three," he said. "In 20 years, there will be two. I think now is the time for Congress to act with a new administration to find a solution to Social Security to create long-term solvency."
Graham said he hasn't studied Illinois law enough to know whether Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid should allow Roland Burris to be sworn in as that state's new senator. Burris was appointed by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who stands accused of trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's open Senate seat.
"Just when you think you've seen everything, there's always something new to puzzle over," Graham said. "I'm just enjoying Senator Reid dealing with this."
Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
KidYendor (anonymous) says...
It must be nice to be able to get free trips to fact-find in southwest Asia. Lindsey can find lots of facts here in the U.S. and save us money by staying here. Here's a fact for Lindsey, tell those people out in southwest Asia if they can't get along to blow each other up while we begin offshore drilling.
January 7, 2009 at 2:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cpanther515 (anonymous) says...
Yes, Lindsey stay home and work on the illegal immigration problem. That does not mean giving them amenesty!
There are plenty of problems in SC and the US for you to address! What does southwest Asia have to offer besides a taxpayer paid vacation for you and you cronies?
January 7, 2009 at 12:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
annmarie (anonymous) says...
It is very sad to see a man who acted like Tonto to his Kemo Sabe McCain to act as though he has any credibility on the immigration issue.
McCain had it all wrong and Lindsay must think the same.
Remittances to Mexico have contributed a great deal to our econominc downturn. Amnesty will contribute to the death of the culture and to more economic deterioration.
The only solution which will earn McCain and Graham a place in history is fair trade, not free trade, limited legal immigration which is beneficial to the sending and receiving countries as a whole, not just to corporate interests.
I could go on and on, but will save energy to oppose this non-thinker in the political process.
January 7, 2009 at 12:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KidYendor (anonymous) says...
Thank you PR and CP515. Lindsey and his new friend Biden ought to get their staff and secretaries to fact-find at much less expense on the web and write up some reports for them so they'll know what is going on instead of flying all over the world like rock stars. Lindsey said he looks forward to the trip. Hey Lindsey, why don't you bring Biden on a fact-finding trip here in SC to see our closed down businesses and plants and meet with the unemployed and the laid off and show him all the illegals walking around.
January 7, 2009 at 12:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mkris (anonymous) says...
Did anone notice the brown stain around Lindsey's nose and mouth? He must have extracted it from McCain's but long enough to yap this crap.
January 7, 2009 at 1:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Whopper (anonymous) says...
God speed Lindsey. Don't mind the rhetoric from the all-knowing posters. They have all the answers to fix everything.
January 7, 2009 at 1:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AFWally (anonymous) says...
SHAMNESTY = Graham
He is a legend in his own mind
I've got some words for ya limpy, but Id' rather say them to your face, 'bout 1 inch away with plenty of volume.
January 7, 2009 at 2:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KidYendor (anonymous) says...
Yes the answers are.
1. Cut government size, spending and growth.
2. Protect our borders.
3. End the welfare state.
4. Avoid foreign intervention and adventurism in the name of shoring up the industrial war complex.
5. End the income tax and use sales tax/fair tax revenue.
6. Begin offshore drilling.
7. Stop bailouts.
8. Protect the Constitution and use it to speak out against unconstitutional government proposals, agencies, and acts.
9. Stop printing money backed by thin air.
10. Pay off the deficit.
11. Enact fair trade laws and stop sending jobs overseas.
12. Realize that minimum wage laws assist in closing businesses.
I'll think up more good Lindsey answers later , thank you.
January 7, 2009 at 2:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LadyM (anonymous) says...
Mr Grahamnesty, if you want to bring this country together, start standing up for American citizens instead of your favorite group, LaRaza. We will not forget that you called us bigots for wanting our immigration laws enforced. You may have been re-elected this time, but remember one thing, we're watching you and you won't get another chance to do what is right for America and not Mexico!!!!!
January 7, 2009 at 5:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SteveV (anonymous) says...
I hope Graham realizes that Americans still overwhelmingly reject "comprehensive immigration reform" a/k/a amnesty. As the recent Rasmussen poll showed, Americans prefer immigration enforcement over legalization by a wide margin. It would be incredibly insensitive of Graham and McCain to push amnesty again and stab American workers in the back. Now moreso than ever with over 10 million Americans out of work, and 533,000 losing their jobs in November alone!! The only reform needed is to finally enforce our existing immigration laws, as was promised in 1986!
January 7, 2009 at 9:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bot_feeder (anonymous) says...
"Find solutions to problems that have been neglected for decades, like immigration"
Here's a solution, Mr. Grahamnesty: Enforce the law!
I can't believe you guys re-elected this clown. The three stooges- McCain, Martinez, and Graham, are all still in the Senate.
Graham now has another 6 years to stink up the place and doesn't have to worry about being accountable to the people.
But dream on, Mr. Grahamnesty. The Democrats are not stupid enough to flood the country with millions more foreign workers at a time that the unemployment rate is rising alarmingly.
I can well believe that US Senators are stupid enough to do that, since they are the dregs of American society and have single-digit IQs, and their job is to serve the wealthy, especially those who exploit sweatshop workers for a fast buck.
Not so the House of Representatives. They have to actually care about the best interests of the country and its people, or they are out the door.
Too bad Graham is not out the door.
January 8, 2009 at 12:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bot_feeder (anonymous) says...
Now it is time for the real leaders in the Republican Party, like Senator Sessions, to step up and take over from the phonies like McCain, Graham, and Bush that have hijacked the party for the last 8 years.
January 8, 2009 at 12:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bot_feeder (anonymous) says...
Steve said:
"I hope Graham realizes that Americans still overwhelmingly reject "comprehensive immigration reform" a/k/a amnesty. "
I don't think he does, Steve. I think he is utterly clueless. To bad people as stupid as Graham are able to get into the US Senate.
As I have always said, if you took 100 drug addicts off the street and dressed them up in suits and put them in the US Senate, you would get a whole lot better leadership than you have now up there.
January 8, 2009 at 12:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
NumbersSCcom (anonymous) says...
Poetic justice would be:
1. Lindsey Graham being raped, mugged, beaten, etc. by a gang of illegal alien criminals he has allowed into this country with his loose borders.
2. Lindsey Graham being shot at by a terrorist while on one of his "crack finding" missions overseas.
3. Lindsey Graham crossing the street and being run over by a drunk illegal alien who shouldn't have been here to begin with.
4. Lindsey Graham breaking down with Tuberculosis (TB) contracted from one of his illegal alien friends.
5. Lindsey Graham losing millions in the Madoff scandal.
6. Lindsey Graham's butty John McCain losing the race for President. (We can check this one off.)
7. Lindsey Graham's family members losing jobs that are outsourced overseas or taken by cheap labor being imported under the H1-B visa program.
8. Lindsey Graham losing his Senate seat after illegal aliens overwhelmingly vote for the Democrat opponent.
9. Lindsey Graham being tried and hanged as a traitor for unconstitutionally attempting to pass amnesty against the wishes of the vast majority of U.S. citizens.
10. Lindsey Graham getting radiation sickness from a nuclear device easily brought over the unsecured Mexican border by some of the many terrorists who regularly come in that way.
I only mention all these because these are the risks and crimes that everyday Americans face or have been suffering from due to Graham's traitorous activities in the U.S. Senate.
January 8, 2009 at 1:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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