A case study in the rise of authoritarianism. Sen. Lindsey Graham is a central player in the Republican party’s capitulation to Donald Trump. We can watch the GOP's turn to authoritarianism by reviewing Graham's many public statements.
This is a long read about how Graham went from a never-Trump into an all-in MAGA nut. It is a fascinating long read.
This guy should NOT be on TV anymore. He sold out democracy and our core values for neofascism when he tried to disenfranchise all democrats in Georgia.
Not sure a long article if needed. Trump became the Republican party, and they all had a choice: continue to have a spine and call out this lying grifter for what he is (while also endangering their political career) or capitulate to Trump, become a jellyfish, and keep your job. Lady G. made his choice.
Didn't Graham change his tune after a round of golf with Trump? Not that I'd expect Graham to have a different position anyways but it has the overt appearance of some coercion thrown in there, assuming the timeline matches (never checked it myself). Probably pretty easy for Trump to do with Russian intelligence and popup book on why it's in his best interest to use intelligence for a change.
I’m not kidding when I say I watched some cspan hearing where Lindsay angrily grilled some government agent on whether Russia had dirt on any politicians. Lindsay looked panicked and agitated.
Lindsey Graham is all about Lindsey Graham, always has been.
He attached himself to John McCain when he wielding influence and power, then to Trump once he became President.
If more of the establishment believed Trump was going to win in 2016, Graham would never have been a Never Trumper, he'd have grabbed Trumps coattails from the beginning.
Lindsey Graham doesn't face whichever way the wind blows. He faces where it's always at his back.
I read the whole thing and I hated every minute of it. It makes me sick to my stomach how Trump has gotten away with so much obvious illegal, unethical, and immoral stuff.
And to watch Lindsey Graham's spine melt into the noodle it is... It's disgusting. Imagine if he actually held his ground and continued to call him out. Imagine if he spent half of the effort he did apologizing for Trump, trying to create a group of like minded Republican leaders that could hold him to account.
And even after all of that bullshit, Jan 6th happens and he doesn't vote to convict.
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I also highly recommend https://theauthoritarians.org/ if you want to understand this entire movement towards authoritarianism. Graham is a textbook example of a spineless sycophant who will take on whatever beliefs are necessary to cozy up to an authoritarian leader.