I’m kind of sorry I started this– and according to this guy, it’s destined to be a Bush-Clinton race in 2016 anyway– but I suppose I should see it through to the bitter end.
So I’ll note that South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham is the latest candidate to enter the race for the Republican presidential nomination.
Graham is probably the most outspokenly hawkish of the presidential contenders, and has the backing of 2008 Republican candidate John McCain.
The South Carolina senator has routinely lambasted President Obama’s strategy abroad — along with the foreign policy views of potential GOP presidential rival Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). He has called for more forceful military strategies in Iraq and Syria and warned the Obama administration against trying to reach a nuclear deal with Iran.
He may have a point– especially on Syria– but his efforts to talk tough sometimes come across as over-the-top.
“Everything I learned about Iranians I learned working in the pool room…I met a lot of liars, and I know the Iranians are lying.” —May 22, 2015, speaking at a conference about his job in a pool hall as a young man
I’ve always been suspicious of Iranian pool hustlers myself.
“If I’m president of the United States and you’re thinking about joining Al Qaeda or ISIL, I’m not gonna call a judge. I’m gonna call a drone and we will kill you.” —May 16, 2015, speaking at Iowa’s Lincoln Dinner
I think that’s sort of what Obama is doing, although he tends to wait until you stop thinking about joining and actually do it.
“Al Qaeda, Al Nusra, Al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula…Everything that starts with ‘Al’ in the Middle East is bad news” —May 3, 2015, while delivering the keynote speech at an American-Israel Public Affairs Coalition event
I can only hope that Graham is aware that “Al” is the Arabic word for “The.”
Graham has been the subject of ridicule for his speaking voice, which has drawn snarky comparisons to Vivien Leigh in her roles as Scarlett O’Hara and Blanche DuBois.
Here’s Jon Stewart on The Daily Show:
Do our gay readers find this offensive?
