Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
I know I am not alone when I say that the Republican Party has been doing their damnedest to sabotage the economy and the jobs situation for political gain. If you’ve been paying attention, even in the slightest, it’s a pretty straightforward fact. Since the 2010 midterms, we’ve not seen one inch of movement on the Republican side to alleviate the jobless morass the country has fallen into. Instead, we’ve seen a reigniting of the culture wars, from opposition to marriage equality to the war on women, but jobs? Eh, not so much.
So it should come as no surprise that Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has called on government contractors to layoff personnel just before the election, in protest of the scheduled mandatory defense budget cuts slated for the first of the year, due to the 2011 Budget Control Act. From First Read (emphasis added):
“Politicians, you know, quite frankly respond to pressure,” Graham said about the cuts set to begin in 2013 under the so-called sequestration budget.
“I’m urging every defense industry that could be affected by sequestration to put your employees on notice before November,” he continued. “The more it becomes real to us as to what comes the nation’s way, the more likely we are to solve the problem.”
I cannot tell you how much that makes my blood boil. That entire statement is a slap in the face to every voter, every citizen, every worker, every employee, every employer, every taxpayer, in this country.
The more it becomes real to you?
Are you serious?
Apparently, while the rest of us have been slogging through the Second Great Depression, Graham has been living in some parallel world/ fantasy land, where everything is sunshine and teddy bears. But to call for politically-based layoffs, in my opinion, is grounds for immediate dismissal from the Senate, because that statement makes it crystal clear that Graham has no vested interest in the economic health of this country at best, and it’s cutting off your nose to spite your face at worst. Whatever people may feel about the bloated defense budget, calling for summary layoffs to make a political point is on the warmer side of treachery in my book.
Now, before somebody crawls up my ass about how “the left hates government contractors,” let me be clear on one thing: not every government contractor is a Blackwater or a Haliburton, and government contracts are not awarded to companies based solely in the business of war; hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of small businesses contract with the government on projects on a daily basis, from road repair and other infrastructure, to nursing home construction and laying cables for phone and internet access.
But here’s the other thing that just really gets under my skin:
“Politicians, you know, quite frankly respond to pressure.”
In other words, until you actually pressure us to do something, we’re just going to sit on our asses and twiddle our thumbs.
What are you? A bunch of five-year-olds in need of a flippin’ babysitter? You are elected officials (supposedly adults) voted into office to represent your constituents and govern the country. We pay your salary (and your posh government benefits to boot), we are your bosses, and we’re paying you to do your job.
That being said, as one of Lindsey Graham’s bosses, I think he should be fired…yesterday.
Show Your Progressive Side and Slap Some Stew on Your Bumper!
About Beth
Good luck in getting this guy fired. He’s a public eyesore as he is a boil on the back of someone’s ass.
He’ll never go away. ^_^
Something tells me Lindsay has seen a lot of men’s asses in his life. But I agree he is a boil on America’s butt.
Too many GOP psychos in high places. This country is doomed.
Well Old Fart… NOT if you get out and VOTE and take your friends along. DON’T just sit on your arssss and expect your world to get any better if you don’t try and help make it better. Your right about to many GOPers in high places … I intend to vote ALL DEMOCRAT this year. REMOVE THE REPUBLIECONS from all offices… Come join me in this effort. IF we all try, we can get rid of Mr. Graham for good.
That’s the spirit. Vote the TeaRepublicans out of the house and senate, so we can get American back on the right path. And keep them out for good!
Alright,Gerry!! I love that attitude. We all need to get as many as we can, out to vote. Make sure your Progressive friends and family are registered and have the proper I.D. with the proper address. We also need to watch the polls. We can’t let them pull another stunt like they did in 2000 and 2004. I personally don’t have many progressive contacts because I live in the rural south and most of them listen to Faux News, Rude Limbaugh and Sore Hannity but I will be drumming up as many Democratic votes as humanly possible! First time in a long time that I will be voting a straight ticket. Let the Republican politicians know that when pushed, we react as well.
What you are proposing , to “vote all democrat” is no better. It’s just being a mindless sheep of a different kind.
A much more effective use of your time is to go down the list of candidates and determine which one aligns the best with your beliefs. Stop advocating partisan politics.
Republicans Block Bill to Aid Small Businesses
Republicans Block Unemployment Benefits Extension
Republicans Block Bank-Reform Bill
Republicans Block Campaign Disclosure Bill
Republicans Block Jobs Bill in Senate
GOP Blocks Transparency in Campaign Contributions
Republicans block bill ending tax breaks for US companies sending jobs offshore
Republicans Block Bill to Raise Oil Spill Liability Cap
Republicans Block Wall Street Reform Bill
GOP blocks Senate campaign-finance bill – again
Republicans Block Small Business Lending Bill
Republicans Block Repeal of Military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Policy
Senate Republicans Block Own Amendments on Health Care Bill
Republicans Block Energy Legislation…Yet Again
G.O.P. Blocks Debate on Financial Oversight Bill
Republicans Kill Measure That Created 240,000 Jobs
Senate Republicans block Dems’ effort to pass mine safety bill
GOP Pledges to Block Immigration Reform
Republicans Block Democrats’ Efforts to Hold BP Accountable
Senate Republicans Block Two Bills to Spur Renewable Energy Investment
House Republicans Block Medical Help for 9/11 Heroes
GOP blocks small business bill.
GOP Blocks Financial Reform As Millions Lose Homes
GOP Blocks Small Biz Bill
Senate Republicans Kill Renewable Energy and Job Creation Bill
Republicans Block US Senate Committees From Holding Hearings
Senate Republicans Promise To Oppose Tax Cuts If Wealthy Aren’t Included
Senate Republicans Kill Job-Creating Tax Cuts
GOP Blocks 20 Judicial Nominees
GOP Blocks Freeze on Credit Card Interest Rate Hikes
GOP Filibusters Cybersecurity Bill
Seriously, people. Go blue and stop this nonsense in November.
The time has come to crack down on all this immature game playing and start censuring politicians who believe that it is appropriate to manipulate and circumvent the system to further their own personal agendas. These threats have the potential to cripple the inner workings of multiple U.S. agencies, many of which are tied to national security, and as such should be investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and those responsible should be held accountable and prosecuted . This behavior is unacceptable and the government needs to start policing the politicians whose actions threaten the security of our country.
Graham should be charged with treason for trying to wreck the American economy with his DUFUS B/S.
I agree. Those statements are treason.
He should be recalled.
Typical Republican…can not win on the real issues, so just make one up to bully and subsequently BUY the election. The mid-class republican has yet to learn from the past. In 2010 the Republican candidates campaigned on JOBS JOBS JOBS. Not once have they brought a bill to the floor of congress to address job creation….They lied then and they continue to lie to their own party faithful.
Now you have this self indulgent idiot wanting big business government contractors who support the party to lay-off people instead of hiring. WAKE UP REPUBLICAN MIDDLE CLASS. Your leaderless leaders don’t care on penny about you or the rest of this nation.
This is the same idiot who announced that he had brought home five rugs for $5 from Iraq. Hardly any blood on them at all. He and John McCain like to play maverick together, and it probably gets pretty kinky when it’s just the two of them at Lindsey’s place. McCain shows him another war wound, and Lindsey gives him the rough JAG treatment, “where were you on the night of…” So now he’s completely taken the mask off, and he’s going McConnell one better. Not only is he ready to sabotage the economy, but he’s given them some specific tips on how to play the game, and who to play it against. If Republicans weren’t laying off state government workers all across the country, the economy would be doing much better. If they were willing to work on infrastructure BEFORE a bridge falls into a river somewhere, we might well be able to get this economy firing on all cylinders. They keep reminding us that America is broke. No, American government is broken, and they aren’t willing to fix it. Their showing us some tough love, otherwise known as Sadism. But a Sadist requires a Masochist, and we are not willingly playing that role for them. So he plays the game with his friend McCain. Which one’s on top? Anybody?
Well considering that the sequestration that the defense industry faces is the result of congressional actions, shouldn’t it be the job of congress to solve it? The GOP wants to fatten the wallets of defense contractors who only have their jobs because to the Government funding their businesses, though I thought according to the GOP “Government doesn’t create jobs” and cut the wallets of the real job creators in this country the Middle Class. When the Middle Class has the money to spend, they spend it causing a higher demand for products, resulting in businesses having to higher people to meet the demand. Without the demand there are no jobs. The GOP wants to destroy this country!!
I will be adding Lindsey to my list of traitors to America. Thxs! I am not sure why this isn’t a political ad to all Americans.
THE PARTY OF NO. THE PARTY OF DO WHATEVER IT TAKES. THE PARTY OF TOP PRIORITY TO
PREVENT THE RE-ELECTION OF OBAMA. THE PARTY OF I DON’T CARE IF AMERICANS HAVE
JOBS OR NOT. THE PARTY OF LET DETROIT GO BANKRUPT. THE PARTY OF OUTSOURCING IS A
GOOD THING. THE PARTY OF DOWN SIZING, THE PARTY OF OFF SHORING, THE PARTY OF
MURDER, TORTURE AND RAPE, THE PARTY OF CORPORATIONS OVER HUMANS, THE PARTY OF
HATE, THE PARTY OF RIDICULING AMERICANS, THE PARTY OF PERSONAL DESTRUCTION, THE
PARTY OF DESTROYING AMERICA, THE PARTY OF CLASS WARFARE.
“I’m urging every defense industry that could be affected by sequestration to put your employees on notice
before November,” Senator Lindsey Graham
“Over the last two years since President Obama has taken office, the federal government has added 200,000
new federal jobs,” Boehner said. “And if some of those jobs are lost in this, so be it.”
“Give us trillions in cuts in Medicare and Medicaid or we blow up the economy.” The message that House
Speaker John Boehner delivered to Wall Street yesterday, in discussing Republican demands as the price
for raising the debt ceiling.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-l-borosage/boehner-extortion-is-my-g_b_860073.html
Rick Santorum: ‘I don’t care what the unemployment rate is going to be” Doesn’t matter to me. My campaign
doesn’t hinge on unemployment rates and growth rates.”
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/03/19/1075893/-Rick-Santorum-I-don-t-care-what-the-unemployment-rat
e-is-going-to-be
“Our nation needs to stop doing for people what they can and should do for themselves. Self reliance means,
if anyone will not work, neither should he eat.”~Michele Bachmann, saying the unemployed should starve.
“Let Detroit go bankrupt.” ~Mitt Romney, advocating for the end of the American auto industry
“The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term President.”
~Mitch McConnell, admitting what the only priority Republicans have had since 2008
“All we have to do is replace Obama.” ~Grover Norquist
I can think of a better way to make it real for Graham. We ought to pass a constitutional amendment abolishing the United States Senate. It was modeled after the House of Lords and it basically just obstructs. We really only need one legislature to get things accomplished. Think if the huge sums of money the taxpayers will save by not having to pay senate salaries, healthcare or pensions. It’s a REAL way too reduce spending.
Omigod, it’s the Senate that has been saving us–at least to some extent–from the Republican-dominated House. So, please, just bite your tongue.
This is a let more nuanced than the article implies. According to AOL the remark was part of a committee debate on delaying sequestration by six months. the report says that despite the common stand against the sequestration, bipartisan consensus dissolved on contact with Graham’s second offered amendment, which would require federal contractors to issue notices of possible layoffs due to sequestration — something which the Labor Department has ruled, controversially, that the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act does not require. Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin argued such a provision fell outside the appropriators’ jurisdiction, belonging properly to the Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) committee, and added “it disturbs me how the WARN act is being used as a political football.” The amendment failed on a party line vote.
I am anxious that progressives don’t fall prey to the Republican near-policy of taking everything out of any context and I am seeing it far to often on blogs. Graham is trying to use a quirk in the law to rile up the workers who might be affected, but technically he is not calling for layoffs.
Graham’s amendment failed on a party-line vote. Whether Congress will know what it’s doing in six months, as Sen. Feinsten said, is a whole other issue.
Sorry – thought I had cleaned up that cut and paste – didn’t see all of the tags and stuff until too late.
What exactly has Obama done to help the US economy? Answer – NOTHING. Nothing except propose more taxes and more welfare. He’s a total Liberal and this is what happens when you implement stupid Liberal policies. Obama had 2 years of Democratic Senate and House to do WHATEVER HE WANTED. Stop pretending those 2 years didn’t happen. Obama is a dangerous president and he needs your total complicity to make it happen. Go ahead and bow down to Obama. I knew all of you OWS were fake and would eventually go for Obama anyway. I knew it and I called it.
Even before the house became “Republician” controlled, the “political” consensus was, “Don’t do anything the little negro says… so we can prove he’s a failure!”
Obama was setup to become president because there was nothing left to “preside” over… The country was on the brink of default, his jobs creation act of 2010 was shot down, and his tax plan to tax the 1% while saving the middle class was shot down…
And you expect people to believe the entire mess of this country is somehow “his” fault? Or did you just forget that Bush, in as little as eight years spent 10 Trillion Dollars (two wasted on War)!
This is one time I wish we were a dictatorship and not a democracy – letting the house vote on Bills that should help America move forward, are keeping us back!
If Obama were White, the House would’ve followed his policies and this country’s unemployment rate would be down, but No, rich people like you don’t think you should “have to pay” any more tax than what you already pay, make the little man fend for himself and “figure it out!”
Hey, I didn’t ask to “pay” for inflation, but its here, bills are double, and the cost of living keeps going UP, while salaries are being reduced, expecting people to do “more” with less.
The only “dangerous” thing is people spewing their hatred of a Black president, and distorting the political policies for those who need Gov’t help w/o jobs!
Do you honestly think American people want Emergency Unemployment and Foodstamps?
Think again!!!
If we were under Republican rule, there would be NO unemployment benefits and NO Foodstamps, and people would resort to stealing food to feed their families. Whether you have a job or not, utility bills keep coming, rent still needs to be paid, and food bought.
Only people with money and infinite resources can say what McCain said, “pick yourselves up and try harder!”
Guess what… If corporations bring those jobs back, then we can get back to work – and become the self-sufficient country we once were!!
Well since you would not post my previous comments just let me say that all i have read in the previous comments is a bunch of bs.
John – Just because you have something to say doesn’t mean that we have to hear it or publish it. Get your own blog and you can publish your own words to your heart’s content.
On 8/4/12 your favorite Chick-Fi-La protests and pics it is easy to see where you stand. You are evidently a bunch of …………………..oh well you know what i mean.
No, we don’t know what you mean. Why don’t you be brave enough and true to your convictions and say the word? You may have not noticed that you’re also commenting on an un-related post.
I think the word my mamma would use is c*cksucker, as in that Lindsey Graham is one big c*cksucker for thinking this is a good idea.
Your attempt at Progressive distortion gets an F. At least present a little challenge. There’s this pesky little fact called the WARN Act. The Sequestration failure triggers layoffs as of January 1, 2013. Now stay with me here, 60 days prior to Jan. 1. 2013 is November 1, 2012. Are you tracking? Here’s what it requires (in part):
U.S. Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration
Fact Sheet
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act
A Guide to Advance Notice of Closings and Layoffs
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) was enacted on August 4, 1988 and became effective on February 4, 1989.
General Provisions
WARN offers protection to workers, their families and communities by requiring employers to provide notice 60 days in advance of covered plant closings and covered mass layoffs. This notice must be provided to either affected workers or their representatives (e.g., a labor union); to the State dislocated worker unit; and to the appropriate unit of local government.
Employer Coverage
In general, employers are covered by WARN if they have 100 or more employees, not counting employees who have worked less than 6 months in the last 12 months and not counting employees who work an average of less than 20 hours a week. Private, for-profit employers and private, nonprofit employers are covered, as are public and quasi-public entities which operate in a commercial context and are separately organized from the regular government. Regular Federal, State, and local government entities which provide public services are not covered.
Employee Coverage
Employees entitled to notice under WARN include hourly and salaried workers, as well as managerial and supervisory employees. Business partners are not entitled to notice.
What Triggers Notice
Plant Closing: A covered employer must give notice if an employment site (or one or more facilities or operating units within an employment site) will be shut down, and the shutdown will result in an employment loss (as defined later) for 50 or more employees during any 30-day period. This does not count employees who have worked less than 6 months in the last 12 months or employees who work an average of less than 20 hours a week for that employer. These latter groups, however, are entitled to notice (discussed later).
Mass Layoff: A covered employer must give notice if there is to be a mass layoff which does not result from a plant closing, but which will result in an employment loss at the employment site during any 30-day period for 500 or more employees, or for 50-499 employees if they make up at least 33% of the employer’s active workforce. Again, this does not count employees who have worked less than 6 months in the last 12 months or employees who work an average of less than 20 hours a week for that employer. These latter groups, however, are entitled to notice (discussed later).
An employer also must give notice if the number of employment losses which occur during a 30-day period fails to meet the threshold requirements of a plant closing or mass layoff, but the number of employment losses for 2 or more groups of workers, each of which is less than the minimum number needed to trigger notice, reaches the threshold level, during any 90-day period, of either a plant closing or mass layoff. Job losses within any 90-day period will count together toward WARN threshold levels, unless the employer demonstrates that the employment losses during the 90-day period are the result of separate and distinct actions and causes.
http://www.doleta.gov/programs/factsht/warn.htm
By all means let’s send out those notices and start the layoffs, the sooner the better – and every one of them, to the extent possible, should be in Congressional districts where the voters have sent a deficit hawk like Sen. Graham to Congress. After all, THIS is precisely what they voted in favor of, but now want to cowardly back away from It’s about time people take responsibility for who they elect to high office and the positions those elected officials take and vote for. You want smaller government? You got it. You want fewer government employees (who you constantly claim don’t have real jobs)? They’re outta here! It would be an opportunity to see how the policies of fools like Graham play out in the real world and give the electorate a real-world basis for their vote instead of having to base it on campaign BS.
This country has literally lost its mind!!!
What’s wrong with people? There’s no more common sense!
I worked for the last 25 years of my life and can’t get a job because of “outsourcing” So its my fault, when I majored in Computer Science, MIS, English Minor, re-write my resume, and suddenly I’m “over-qualified!”
That’s because there’s a bunch of good-sounding idiot dummies at the top that don’t have a clue. I’d like to see Congress on minimum wage and see how they manage to keep their homes, cars, and other essentials in tact.
Sorry to disappoint you, but middle America is smarter than you give them credit for, which is why they voted for Obama. Now I want to see if Capital Hill will get off their hands and enact his job creation plans – or, is it that they just don’t want to see a Black president succeed!
We The People -
Have the power to fire every politican that’s against us!
We want jobs – its the American Way – Made in the U.S.A.
If I were president, I’d “force” corporations to bring back 60% of ALL outsourced labor – call centers, Customer Service Reps, Manufacturing – you name it, and wouldn’t give a rat’s ass who doesn’t like it.
Wall St run amonk using Corp funds as their own piggy bank, then blaming transactions on failed trades, going out of business, mass layoffs….
Yes, American Corporations need to be “Controlled” because they’ve lost their minds and are dragging this country into the Ground.
CEO’s make 450% more than the average person – that’s just plain GREED, not free enterprise!!!
…oh, and the “Republican” trickle down theory Doesn’t Work! The Rich squander their money in tax shelters and other luxury items that nobody else can afford!
While I appreciate those who are throwing out the WARN Act, if you don’t believe this is a politically motivated move by Graham, then you haven’t been paying attention. First of all, let’s not forget that sequestration, the pending cuts, were brought on during the debt ceiling debacle by the Republicans, who have absolutely refused any increases in revenue thanks to their no tax blood oath to Grover Norquist, therefore requiring the pending cuts. So, not only are the Republicans more than a little responsible for the looming cuts, but they’re now using the mess of their own making as a means to freak contractors out.
Secondly, no one even knows yet how the sequestration issue is going to shake out, and this pre-strike fear-mongering by Graham is completely irresponsible. The Senate Appropriations Committee, correctly, voted against Graham’s amendment, because all it’s doing is whipping people up into a panic, which is exactly what it’s meant to do, when no one knows where the cuts will be made, or if they’ll be made at all.
Thirdly, as was pointed out by the Huffington Post: “Adding to the political recriminations is the possibility that major defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. would notify its 120,000 employees of possible cuts the Friday before the election, effectively giving it a say in the outcome of the presidential race and congressional contests.” That is the strategy Republicans are playing at here. They’re screwing around with peoples’ livelihoods in order to regain political power, plain and simple.
^what she said! (tee-hee)
Ummm, Lindsey. Just a little hint here.
If you want to point fingers, look in the mirror or look around the floor of the House and Senate. The people didn’t vote for this program, Congress did. If it was a bad idea, maybe you shouldn’t have passed it. If, on the other hand, you voted for it thinking you’d just ignore it or kick it down the road later, then you’re more stupid than people suspect…and the people suspect Congress is pretty darn stupid right now.
In short, if you’re trying to foist this impact off on others, you need to go, because it’s Congress who created this mess. Stand up and “be a man” for once and admit that you and the rest of Congress don’t have a clue…and don’t much care about the American people.
Come out of the closet you queen!! You’ll feel a lot better!!
God I hope we see the death of the Republican party in this life time…..
If the writer is going to falsely say that Graham wants layoffs before the election; he probably shouldn’t print Grahams quote that he only wants notifications before the election.
Scott – Your argument is as laughable as the idea that you read the article since you think a “he” is the author. Take the tinfoil hat off and think for yourself for once.
Graham benefits from the Defense industry and is one of its biggest bulldogs. He is advocating for the layoffs of workers to score political points. You can try and spin it any way you would like. Rational and thinking people (given the GOP stated plan to obstruct everything Obama does) know what Lindsey means.
Nice try (not).