You wonder if the Pubs in SC are happy with Grahamnesty? If so, they they get a guy who acts like McCain and tries to be sooooo bi-partisan that he forgets who elected him. It wasn't Demlefties. I do hope that other more RINO than Lindsay have primary opponents just to shake up the Club in the Beltway. I don't want Pubs to lose seats but I do want likely BASE voters in Pub primaries to tell the existing characters exactly what the BASE wants not what the media , the Prez and the Left wants. Bush is now irrelevant except on the War and perhaps if a SCOTUS dies or leaves. Especially on immigration, the GOP must listen to the BASE not the Prez.

When we elected Graham to Senator Thurmond's seat in 2002, he was a reliably conservative Congressman (one of the House Impeachment Managers, perhaps the most effective one) from a conservative Upstate district. No one expected him to turn into John McCain's valet overnight, abandoning every conservative principle (except his pro-life stance, but no one here is holding their breath on that either at this point) he stood for.

It is exceedingly difficult to unseat an incumbent Senator in South Carolina. Even as we were the most Republican state in the union in the '80s and '90s, we kept reelecting Fritz Hollings, no matter how far left he strayed in DC, for example. Our Senators leave office voluntarily, or die trying.

Without a strong and well-financed challenger, it is virtually impossible to unseat Graham. Ravenel was the best chance, but even he would have been a long shot because of his age and relative lack of experience (great pedigree, though, the man has a future). After him, there is no one in sight with a snowball's chance on Myrtle Beach in August.

It's a shame, because Graham no longer represents the interests of South Carolina. He just does what McCain tells him to do.

We don't mind him washing McCain's car or helping the old feller get dressed in the morning, but the votes, the votes . . . those we cannot forgive.

I can't believe the good people of SC can't find a single person to run against him, if nothing but to make him constently defend his position on immigration. I hope the Republican nominee for president will come out against any of this, maybe even propose to build the wall regardless of whatever passes. I'm hoping the House will stop this bill if the Senate passes it.

I find it hard to fathom that a viable challenger to Grahamnesty can't emerge from a good conservative state like SC.

Is there any polling in SC on his favorable/unfavorable ratings? I know in Nebraska, last I read a couple of months ago, Chucky Hagel had higher approval with demos than he had with Republicans.

Besides his current water carrying for McCain's amnesty bill, he was part of the "Gang of Fourteen" and was involved with whole leniency on terrorist detainees legislation. Those things are enough to lose my interest.

I guess I have no right to complain. I don't live in SC, and I've got two of the most liberal Senators in the US here in CA, and to boot Babs Boxer is just stoopid.

It's just dispiriting to see what would be otherwise good conservative Senators going wobbly. Look at what Jon Kyl is doing. He's losing support in AZ in droves. I listen to Arizona's no. 1 talk station (KFYI) streaming on the computer and the calls in to the shows about Kyl come in almost every show that immigration is the subject. And right now, immigration is about the only subject.

Graham is unimaginably horrible for a Senator from a state like South Carolina. Just when you think he's done his worst, he manages to top himself with something even more appalling. I am disappointed to hear that Ravenel will not challenge this abomination in the GOP primary, though I'm not sure Beasley is the answer, either.

There are several other Republicans who could challenge Graham, Congressman Gresham Barrett, former Sec of State Jim Miles, former Attorney-General Charlie Condon, and Mike Campbell, son of the legendary late former Governor Carroll Campbell (Campbell ran and lost a heartbreakingly close runoff against incumbent Lt Gov Andre Bauer, who himself had some personal issues). Another name might be none other than fmr. U.S. Attorney Strom Thurmond, Jr. It might take him to take his daddy's seat back for the sane people of South Carolina.

Keep in mind many of the business/country club Republicans -- those who finance winning campaigns -- are supportive of immigration reform. Almost all Chambers of Commerce support this.

The two largest industries in South Carolina are Agriculture and Tourism.

Who do you think is picking the peaches, tomatoes and strawberries? Who is working at the chicken plants?

And who do you think is cleaning the hotel rooms in Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, and Charleston? Who do you think is cutting the grass and raking the sand traps at the golf courses?

Graham may have problems with those who listen to talk radio all day. But the real movers and shakers in South Carolina -- the ones with the $$$$$ -- don't have any problems with his position.

Of course, Senator Lindsey will be very lonely after the 2008 election. If the Democrats do not get 60 setats, they will surely get them in 2010. Then Lindsey will be totally irrelevent, totally incapable for bring home pork to South Carolina, and will soon be replaced with a Democrat afer 12 million hispanic become very faithful Democratic voters.

Exposer ~ Miles and Condon would both be good challengers, but after they lost their bids for governor along with Beasley, they more or less left politics. I mention Beasley only because as a former Governor, there are doors always open to him that are not to other. I like Mike Campbell, but he's not his father. He needs more experience, as does Strom, Jr. - although the latter might attract a LOT of votes on the name alone.

Dingo ~ Your point would have some validity if immigration were the only issue Graham is at war with SC conservatives over. His general lap-dogging to McCain, and especially his participation in the "Gang of 14" had most conservatives spitting on the ground whenever his name was mentioned before anyone knew what his immigration position was.

superdestroyer ~ Do those paint fumes you inhale make you see pretty colors, too?

all we need is a checkbook, folks. Ned Lamont finished third in a state senate race a decade ago and beat Lieberman in the primary over only one issue

Jim, your point about people not liking the Gang of 14 is well taken. But keep in mind that Graham played a very important and prominent role in confirming John Roberts and Sam Alito to the Supreme Court. Remember Alito's wife crying after his apology? More people remember that since those guys will be on the Supreme Court for years than the Gang of 14.

Ironman, only one problem with your scenario. The left wing took out Lieberman in a primary. They spent millions in the process. What did they end up getting? Absolutely nothing but egg on their face and Lieberman for another 6 years. Their "victory" in the primary rings pretty hollow now doesn't it?

They lost the battle here in CT, but they won the "war" since now every Dem is deathly afraid of offending the party's base on any main issue.

Liebermman is in the senate; but Mark Warner and Evan Bayh are not running for President; Hillary and Obama went anti-war, and Reid and Pelosi are embarassing the President every week.

I'd gladly put up with six year of Graham if we could extract the same level of fear from the RINO's running the Senate.

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I don't live in South Carolina, but count me in for sending as much money as I can to do a bit of payback for Ted Kennedy's best buddy, ole Lindsay.

Give me a viable alternative and I will do my best!