Is Graham the new McCain?

That Lindsey Graham is at it again.

What is the boy thinking, tearing through Washington like a RINO (Republican in Name Only) in a china shop, breaking our budget with his outrageous spending habits?

Now he's trying to secure funding -- through earmarks, of all things -- to keep Charleston Harbor dredged and competitive with other East Coast ports.

He acts like it's his job to represent South Carolina's interests or something.

Graham should know by now that the most vocal people around here only want politicians like Sen. Jim DeMint and soon-to-be 1st District Congressman Tim Scott, who will vote against all earmarks. Even if it means hurting the local economy, costing local jobs and state revenue (and even if our federal tax dollars just pay to dredge somebody else's harbor).

It's more important, you see, to have principles.

And there goes Lindsey Graham, once again messing up South Carolina's chances to be the most principled poorhouse in the United States.

Deep thoughts

The issue here is pretty simple. Federal law requires the Army Corps of Engineers to keep the harbor's shipping channel maintained at a low-tide depth of 45 feet.

But with the new generation of container ships coming, Charleston may need a deeper channel to keep our business from sailing on past to Savannah or Jacksonville.

That's the point of the $400,000 study Graham is trying to save (Reps. Jim Clyburn and John Spratt added the money to the House version of the budget).

The study will basically determine the harbor's future. The Corps needs to find out what would be a feasible depth to maintain, what environmental issues might arise during such a job, and how much disposal capacity for dredge material we have. Then costs versus benefits will be weighed. The consequences for Charleston, and the state, are huge.

But some people apparently think it's more important to make a point.

A shot in the foot

To some degree, Jim DeMint is right -- a lot of earmarks are nothing more than wasteful spending (although one state's idea of waste is another's means of survival). It is not the greatest system, but it is the one we have in place now.

If he and his followers want to change the system (a noble goal) they should find another way to do it -- preferably one that doesn't ruin the great state of South Carolina in the process.

Refusing to take stimulus money does nothing but give other states more of our money (that means you, governor). Refusing earmarks just means there's more money for other states to steal (that means you, senator).

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And Scott's idea that he would get money for harbor dredging through stand-alone legislation is either hopelessly naive or pandering to the uninformed. Good luck with that.

So Lindsey Graham -- a bit of a media ham, to be sure -- is becoming the new John McCain (which is good, because the old one is kind of worn out) and the far right hates him for it.

Which is funny, since Graham says he is simply standing on principle and following his Constitutional oath -- just like DeMint and Scott.