Why is Lindsey Graham being such a dickhead about Benghazi?

[yellowcanine]

John McCain I can understand. It has been clear for a long time that his judgment is severely compromised at times. Remember how he flailed around in the economic crisis of 2008 and there is of course Sarah Palin. But Lindsey at least portrays himself as a moderate. Clearly he is going to lose this fight - he has to know there is nothing there and he and McCain will not be able to stop the nomination of Susan Rice should Obama nominate her. Already there is evidence that some Republican senators think McCain and Graham are off the reservation on this issue. No one publicly supports the call for a special committee. And McCain shot himself in the foot big time by skipping the Benghazi closed door briefing in favor of a press conference. And then compounded it with a lame "scheduling conflict" explanation. A news conference involving two senators can be rescheduled more easily than a classified briefing involving many legislators and executive branch personnel.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. They're gonna play it for all it's worth, and more.

It gives Fox something to prattle about besides their humiliating defeat.

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. Can't you hear it?

MUST ... REMAIN ... RELEVANT ... MUST ... REMAIN ... ON ... TV!

[Texin]

15. Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!

Rachel was commenting about that on her show last night. These two, the remaindermen from the Tres Caballeros - Graham, McCain, Loserman - were consisently three of the most hawkish (mirroring the Cheney-Rumsfeld approach to foreign policy) for the last couple of decades. With Loserman gone, their positions and views have faded with others on the committees who will supersede their importance.

[pansypoo53219]

18. lieberfuckenputz. just so i can type that.

[geek tragedy]

3. He was a big time Clinton impeachment goon. He's looking to relive

his glory days.

[still_one]

4. because he is a republican, and this is the republican marching orders

[Dalai_1]

5. S C Military Bases

As I think about Graham's attitude it makes me think he wants to continue with
military action due to the presence of all the bases in his state..what peace
might mean to his state where the economy is largely supported by
these bases...the link below shows the bases in SC..other than this
the only thing I can think of is that he is a jerk and a bully...

http://militarybases.com/south-carolina/

[mzteaze]

6. Probably

because whomever McCain sold his soul to requires it & he called in a huge marker to get Graham as "support".

[yellowcanine]

8. McCain sold his soul to his bitterness about 2008.

He wanted to be President so badly he has completely lost perspective about it. How else does one explain kissing up to Bush and picking Sarah Palin?

[gravity]

7. Because its mavericky

[Cracklin Charlie]

9. Because John is Lindsey's crush.

They know there is nothing there. They're just posturing to attempt to appear strong, before their negotiations with the President on that "fiscal cliff" thingy. My theory.

[Faux pas]

10. They didn't get any

hanging chads to grasp onto, so straws will have to do. Butt sore loser whiny cry baby poopy heads.

[Dubster]

11. Spam deleted by gkhouston (MIR Team)

[Tom Ripley]

12. He is addicted to pitching hissy fits

[Andy Stanton]

13. Because he IS a dickhead

Granted Graham has been more open to negotiating with Democrats than many Rethugs. But when push comes to shove he's in their corner, something it would be wise not to forget.

[yellowcanine]

24. +1000

[Proud Liberal Dem]

14. He and McCain seem to be the GOP's "pointmen" on foreign policy matters

I do find it interesting to note that Lieberman, who used to be McCain's BFF on all things foreign policy related, is not part of this Benghazi "Watergate-style" select committee rollout- you know, to make things at least LOOK "bipartisan". It seems like the Republicans- and not even all of them at that- are the only ones whom seem to be focused like a laser beam on Benghazi.

[MiniMe]

16. I wonder what cabinet post Romney promised him

[jcgoldie]

17. He's up for reelection in 2014

He's playing to his redneck base in SC because he's worried about a teabag primary challenge.

[yellowcanine]

25. No doubt this is part of it.

[and-justice-for-all]

19. Those two are morons...

They skipped the meeting for air time; they should resign.

[karynnj]

20. I think he's up for re election - in 2014 in scary red SC

Likely a futile attempt not to be primaried.

[yellowcanine]

27. The chances of the tea party not targeting him is zero.

IMO. Unless the tea party suddenly gets religion after the implosion of their senate candidates in 2012.

[karynnj]

29. True, but he might be in denial

[Tom Ripley]

32. Oh, that means he is going to have to hire another fiancée again

talk about seasonal employment...

[ffr]

21. All elected Republicons are dick heads.

Thought everybody knew that.

[Jennicut]

22. He is on the tea party chopping block. That is the only reason.

Has to look ultra tough and very conservative or he is getting primaried. Actually, he will probably face a primary challenge anyway.

[MADem]

23. Maybe he's appeasing the wingnut faction in preparation for a reelection battle, and maybe

he's being blackmailed to get out in front of this or else. Or else, what? Perhaps someone has information about his personal/private life that might be embarrassing to him if revealed.

Or maybe both.

[arcane1]

26. Trying to lure more "angry white guys"? n/t

[TxBluebonnetDem]

28. Lindsey Graham has a re-election bid in state where the king of the Tea Party resides...

And that's not a joke..Jim Demint is from South Carolina and he is highly popular there. If Lindsey Graham even hints at being a reasonable human being, the tea baggers of SC will primary him in a heart beat. So he has to pound the drums of outraged anger and fly his patriotic flag big time in order to hold the nutters at bay.

Also...McCain and Graham are both Sunday morning talk show gasbags----Gotta remain relevant ya know...

[Filibuster Harry]

31. Little lying Lindsey has to show some balls -- he fears a primary or

maybe he was promised a cabinet position when Romney won. But he lost. His job was taken away.

[CBHagman]

33. It wasn't clear to me either.

I've seen Graham play good cop (Remember the Sotomayor confirmation hearings?), and the same is true of McCain (Huma Abedin). But they were both bellicose, and Graham was downright extreme, on the Benghazi matter. It all made quite a contrast with the way Saxby Chambliss was talking.

My only conjecture is about what was written above, that Graham is going to face a pretty ugly primary.

[Shilo]

34. When was he ever not?