Another candidate files against Lindsey Graham

[Matt Collins]

http://thesouthcarolinaconservative.com/2013/11/11/breaking-game-changing-challenger-enters-primary-race-against-lindsey-graham/

[Mr.NoSmile]

This was going on for awhile, but looks like he finally announced. Again, priority is just keeping Graham from getting another term and forcing a runoff. So hopefully the four focus on Graham, rather than each other.

[DamianTV]

That asshat needs to go. He is an absolute threat to this Country, our Constitution and Freedom.

[Icymudpuppy]

This was going on for awhile, but looks like he finally announced. Again, priority is just keeping Graham from getting another term and forcing a runoff. So hopefully the four focus on Graham, rather than each other.

I sure hope they do run concerted efforts to take down Graham. Anybody know if any of these other rans are egomaniacal enough to attack one another?

[Mr.NoSmile]

I sure hope they do run concerted efforts to take down Graham. Anybody know if any of these other rans are egomaniacal enough to attack one another?

It really doesn't look like it, no. At most, on their individual Facebook pages, Cash, Bright and Mace just talk about their own values, which is fine, and groups they've met with. If anything, the only attacking I've seen them do is on Graham himself- never each other.

[HOLLYWOOD]

There's a bigger problem... the SCGOP. They are 110% establishment NEOCON regime... gotta get past them, they'll protect Graham. I'm curious to see where all the money comes in for the Graham campaign. Former SCGOP chairman Chad Connelly did everything to promote; Bachman, Newt, Frothy Santorum, Romney, and Rick Perry. Chad ran fundraisers and pre announcements of candidate visits to the Palmetto state... all but one, Ron Paul. The SCGOP blackout of Ron was the doing of Chad Connelly and his subordinates. Now, Connelly os going to be working the RNC in Washington DC. think about that...


Washington (CNN) -- When the chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party abruptly resigned two weeks ago to take a new job in Washington, GOP activists appointed Matt Moore, the party's former executive director, to replace their leader.


http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2013/06/08/3527486/sc-gop-chairman-resigns-to-take.htmlS.C. GOP chairman, Chad Connelly resigns to take job with Republican National Committee

COLUMBIA | The chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party resigned Saturday morning to take a job with the Republican National Committee, according to the party's executive director

Chad Connelly, who was reelected to a second two-year term last month, resigned during a meeting of the party's executive committee. It's unclear what job Connelly is taking at the RNC. Alex Stroman, the state party's executive director, said that job should be announced next week. Stroman said Connelly could not take the job and continue serving as state chairman.

State party leaders appeared poised to elected former state party executive director Matt Moore to replace Connelly. Moore resigned as executive director in January to become the state director for U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, who was appointed by Gov. Nikki Haley to replace Jim DeMint, who resigned to take the top job at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative policy group based in Washington, D.C.
The resignation comes as a surprise, especially after Connelly was just reelected during last month's state party convention in Columbia. A small but vocal group of delegates had tried to defeat Connelly, blaming him for hundreds of paperwork errors that lead to more than 200 candidates being removed from last year's primary elections — most of them Republicans and all of them challengers.
The resulting lawsuits taxed the party's finances, saddling it with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of debt. The Democratic Party was able to avoid that debt because its chairman at the time, Dick Harpootlian, is an attorney who handled the cases for free.
As a result of the errors, the state legislature last week passed a law requiring all candidates to file for office with either state or county election officials instead of local party officials. State party officials opposed that bill, but the Republican controlled General Assembly passed it anyway.
While the election lawsuit was a black eye, Connelly also was able to keep South Carolina's spot on the presidential primary calendar as the first Republican primary of the southern states, fighting off aggressive challenges by Florida which tried to move up its primary in an attempt to siphon off the prestige and campaign dollars that comes with early presidential contests.
And Connelly oversaw the election of two Republican congressmen, including former Gov. Mark Sanford, who defeated a fierce challenge from Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch in a high profile special election earlier this year.
Connelly was greeted at Saturday's executive committee meeting with a standing ovation, according to Stroman, the party's executive director.
The new director will have to lead the party's election efforts next year, when South Carolina voters will elect a governor and two U.S. Senators.

[Brian4Liberty]

Connor is a Lt. Colonel in the Army reserve (Airborne Ranger 23 years) who volunteered for a tour in Afghanistan where he was awarded the Bronze Star and served as the US Senior Advisor in Helmand Province.
...
A graduate of The Citadel and the University of South Carolina (USC) School of Law, Connor also serves as Director of the Army’s Command and General Staff College (ILE) in SC and is a member of the U.S. Counterterrorism Advisory Team. Along with partner W. Thomas Smith Jr., Connor founded National Defense Consultants LLC, a partnership providing clients with military analysis ranging from geostrategy to special operations; counterterrorism; ground, naval, and air combat; military leadership and military law. He is also a practicing attorney.

So we have a new, improved, Graham 2.0? MIC and neo-conservative approved?

[HOLLYWOOD]

So we have a new, improved, Graham 2.0? MIC and neo-conservative approved?Another Tom Cotton (NEOCON-AR)... Lindsey Graham Cracker was judge advocate in the RESERVE U.S. Air Force... pussy knew how to game the system, with the vote capturing military uniformed (well protected) occasional photo op to Iraq/Afghanistan. Two bit con artist just like McCain.

[Brian4Liberty]

Another Tom Cotton (NEOCON-AR)

Yep, it certainly seems so.

The conflict of interest couldn't be clearer. A National Security and Military contractor looked to go into office. This is like the revolving door between Goldman Sachs/JP Morgan-Chase and the Fed/Treasury.

[dillo]

grahm is a dixie democrat with strong authoritarian leanings, he is basically the worst of the worst

[Brian4Liberty]

Another take on this announcement:

http://www.fitsnews.com/2013/11/10/just-in-time-for-his-us-senate-announcement/

[HOLLYWOOD]

https://twitter.com/MattMooreSC
Tweets





https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/3773191432/2f1e67ce22b12416b6713442186de501_normal.jpeg Matt Moore ‏@MattMooreSC (https://twitter.com/MattMooreSC) 11 Nov (https://twitter.com/MattMooreSC/status/400080421058539520)
Thank you @DrRandPaul (https://twitter.com/DrRandPaul) for supporting @SCGOP (https://twitter.com/SCGOP) and our county parties in Charleston today. pic.twitter.com/iXb9gLhPuG (http://t.co/iXb9gLhPuG)

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5:59 PM - 11 Nov 13 · Details (https://twitter.com/MattMooreSC/status/400080421058539520)



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[Brian4Liberty]

There's a bigger problem... the SCGOP. They are 110% establishment NEOCON regime... gotta get past them, they'll protect Graham.

Forgot about the Citadel/SC establishment/MIC connection.

Someone once criticized Nancy Mace, saying that she couldn't be trusted because she was from the Citidel, and that most of the graduates were part of a SC establishment insiders club. Don't know how true that is, only heard it once.

[supermario21]

The Citadel is a great place. Rand spoke there today and Amash was there watching. Honestly the Charleston/Lowcountry folks like Sanford are our allies. Mulvaney is the 1 good upstate guy, but everyone outside the lowcountry is basically a neo/theocon.

[MichaelDavis]

To sum up the challengers:

Lee Bright: State Senator
Richard Cash: Evangelical
Bill Connor: 6th District GOP Chairman, Army Reserve LTC
Nancy Mace: Female, military background

[Bastiat's The Law]

To sum up the challengers:

Lee Bright: State Senator
Richard Cash: Evangelical
Bill Connor: 6th District GOP Chairman, Army Reserve LTC
Nancy Mace: Female, military background

Now do they all bash Graham or each other?

[Austrian Econ Disciple]

It's my understanding Bright is the best of the bunch, no? Honestly though, I just want Graham to lose. I'm tired of seeing the Goon anywhere near a pulpit.

[CPUd]

If no one gets +50%, is there a runoff?

[Mr.NoSmile]

Now do they all bash Graham or each other?

Graham. Go on any of their Facebook pages and aside from talking about their ideals and where they've spoken, the only person they attack is Graham. Well, Obama as well, but primarily Graham.

[acptulsa]

So, we have someone trying to split the anti-Graham vote up even more? Surprise, surprise. I wonder what the military industrial complex is paying 'candidates' to further split those votes? Sounds like running against any serious anti-Graham candidate that pops up is a lucrative occupation...

[SneakyFrenchSpy]

Sounds to me like that Connor guy wouldn't take much from the challengers, but he could give cover to the MIC vote to abandon Graham. This could open the door to a Bright / Mace showdown on the runoff and should be welcomed.

[Christian Liberty]

I don't know anything about Cash or the other guy, does anyone have any info?

Mace would certainly be better than Graham but how much so its hard to say. I kind of got the vibe she'd be more like Ted Cruz than Rand Paul, but I don't know that for sure.

Lee Bright actually flat out said that our own government was more of a threat than terrorists. Lee Bright is the one we should be going for.

[MichaelDavis]

"Connor has been a strong critic of Graham and the Obama administration, especially on matters of foreign policy, such as warning against the US supporting the deposing of Mubarak in Egypt in 2011 which led to the Muslim Brotherhood’s takeover of the country, as well as the more recent warning Connor offered against US support of Syrian “rebels” which he warned were heavily influenced by Al Qaeda, and a potential attack on Syria not being in interests of the US."


"Connor also told us that, if elected he would be a staunch ally of conservatives like Ted Cruz and Mike Lee. Connor adds that for far too long constitutional conservatives like Cruz, Lee, and DeMint have been maligned by the GOP establishment and that it’s time for a changing of the guard in the GOP, especially the US Senate."

[Brian4Liberty]

If no one gets +50%, is there a runoff?

Yes.


Now do they all bash Graham or each other?

This guy is new to the campaign. We shall see.

[Brian4Liberty]

An article by the new candidate in this race, Bill Connor:



Bill Connor: "Israel needs America's support - not four more years of Obama"
...
At a time when the Islamic World is screaming for the death of both America and Israel (and Israel is facing nuclear annihilation by Iran), it is shocking to watch the Obama Administration and Democratic Party to attempt to put a wedge between our nations. Before the Democrats push us further away from Israel, it may be time to review why Israel is our traditional ally and why we need a change in US leadership back in support of our friend.

Zionism, the nationalist ideology of a Jewish return to the lands of present day Israel, began in the late 19th century. At that time, present-day Israel was a backwater in the Ottoman Empire. The Zionist movement was a secular, nationalist endeavor, meant to give Jews a homeland and some respite from persecution. The Jews turned the desert backwater into a green and lush first world country.
...
Due to the Obama Administration’s support of the Muslim Brotherhood’s rise to power in Egypt, Israel now faces a grave threat at its southern border. For three decades after the Camp David Accords, bringing peace between Egypt and Israel, Israel has little concern over Egypt. Though Hosni Mubarak was not perfect, he kept the lid on Islamic radicalism, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood (The same force that murdered his predecessor, President Sadat). Mubarak and the Israelis understood the danger posed by allowing political power to the Brotherhood, and the reality that Brotherhood-backed Sharia Law would end Democracy.

Israel now faces the ultimate threat of nuclear annihilation from Iran. Iran has made clear it will “wipe Israel from the face of the Earth” if it obtains a nuclear weapon. Unfortunately, the Obama administration decided not to use forceful foreign policy in dealing with Iran. Worse, the US State Department has sent the coded message to Israel that we would oppose any attack by the Israelis against Iran.
...
More:
http://earlcapps.blogspot.com/2012/09/bill-connor-israel-needs-americas.html

[CPUd]

Yes.



This guy is new to the campaign. We shall see.


Then Graham will sit back and let them use up all their money trying to get to the runoff.

[TaftFan]

Lee Bright for Senate. He is a true believer.

Bright: "Lindsey Graham is a community organizer for the Muslim Brotherhood."

[jkob]

Anyone but Graham. The goal is to get him under 50%, hopefully the challengers only go after Lindsay and not each other

[Christian Liberty]

An article by the new candidate in this race, Bill Connor:

So how is this guy really any better than Graham? How is he helping?

Reminds me of Ted Cruz, actually. Good at fooling people, not much good for liberty.

[Tywysog Cymru]

So how is this guy really any better than Graham? How is he helping?

Reminds me of Ted Cruz, actually. Good at fooling people, not much good for liberty.

I'm not a fan of Cruz, but he's better than Graham.

[Christian Liberty]

I'm not a fan of Cruz, but he's better than Graham.

Yes, I agree with that. Ted is at least fiscally conservative when it doesn't come to foreign wars. On foreign policy, however, he comes off just as hawkish as the rest of the GOP circus.

I don't know how this applies to Bill Connors. This isn't an issue I'd ever compromise on, though. If it came down to Graham and another warmongering, Iran-hating hawk, I wouldn't vote for either. There are plenty of issues I'd compromise on, but this isn't one of them.

[DamianTV]

That asshat needs to go. He is an absolute threat to this Country, our Constitution and Freedom.

I actually made quite a large mistake in saying this. The REAL threat are the people that sponsor Graham, and the countless others willing to take money to sacrifice everything our country stood for.

Be mindful of who is Sponsored, and by whom are the Sponsors.

[muzzled dogg]

Worthy of a candidates evaluation thread?

[The Proservative]

The biggest problem with whomever runs for office is there is no guarantee someone will hold true to the principles they embraced during an election, after they've been elected. Once elected, there is no immediate penalty for lying to voters other than waiting until his or her next term to vote them out, or in the state's that support them, recall elections.

[Tywysog Cymru]

Yes, I agree with that. Ted is at least fiscally conservative when it doesn't come to foreign wars. On foreign policy, however, he comes off just as hawkish as the rest of the GOP circus.

I don't know how this applies to Bill Connors. This isn't an issue I'd ever compromise on, though. If it came down to Graham and another warmongering, Iran-hating hawk, I wouldn't vote for either. There are plenty of issues I'd compromise on, but this isn't one of them.

I wouldn't directly support one hawk over another, but I would hope for the victory of the hawk with better fiscal views.

At least Ted Cruz was against the war in Syria. I think there is a small possibility that he may change in the future. I wouldn't mind him as a governor or something like that.

[mad cow]

The biggest problem with whomever runs for office is there is no guarantee someone will hold true to the principles they embraced during an election, after they've been elected. Once elected, there is no immediate penalty for lying to voters other than waiting until his or her next term to vote them out, or in the state's that support them, recall elections.

Lee Bright has a record and is my first choice.But at this point,anybody but Graham.

[Brian4Liberty]

So how is this guy really any better than Graham? How is he helping?

Reminds me of Ted Cruz, actually. Good at fooling people, not much good for liberty.

At the best end of the spectrum, this guy will be like Ted Cruz. Worse end, he's a MIC shill pushing for more spending, and a neo-conservative ally on foriegn policy.

If the media starts pushing Connor on the Sunday shows, then we'll know what is up. Watch for a Levin or Hannity endorsement.

[Christian Liberty]

I wouldn't directly support one hawk over another, but I would hope for the victory of the hawk with better fiscal views.

Sure. I even hoped Obama would beat Romney (For reasons I already explained to you back when we were on CFC.) Doesn't mean I'd vote for him or actually support him.

So yeah, I'd probably have a slight preference between two evils most of the time. But I have better things to worry about than which hawk wins out of two in most cases.




At least Ted Cruz was against the war in Syria. I think there is a small possibility that he may change in the future. I wouldn't mind him as a governor or something like that.

Ted Cruz wanted to go into Syria. Oh, he wanted to do it "Quick" but he still wanted to do it, and I'm sure he knew it would/could become another Iraq.

I'd take Dennis Kucinich over Cruz at this point, and I'm no fan of Kucinich.


At the best end of the spectrum, this guy will be like Ted Cruz. Worse end, he's a MIC shill pushing for more spending, and a neo-conservative ally on foriegn policy.

If the media starts pushing Connor on the Sunday shows, then we'll know what is up. Watch for a Levin or Hannity endorsement.

To be fair, Levin and Hannity seem to like Rand as well. Can't tell why.

[Tywysog Cymru]

Ted Cruz wanted to go into Syria. Oh, he wanted to do it "Quick" but he still wanted to do it, and I'm sure he knew it would/could become another Iraq.

I'd take Dennis Kucinich over Cruz at this point, and I'm no fan of Kucinich.


Oh, I thought he was actually against that particular intervention. I haven't really looked into Cruz that much.

[Brett85]

So we have a new, improved, Graham 2.0? MIC and neo-conservative approved?

You must have missed this:

"Connor has been a strong critic of Graham and the Obama administration, especially on matters of foreign policy, such as warning against the US supporting the deposing of Mubarak in Egypt in 2011 which led to the Muslim Brotherhood’s takeover of the country, as well as the more recent warning Connor offered against US support of Syrian “rebels” which he warned were heavily influenced by Al Qaeda, and a potential attack on Syria not being in interests of the US."

[Brett85]

Oh, I thought he was actually against that particular intervention. I haven't really looked into Cruz that much.

Cruz was opposed to a humanitarian intervention in Syria. He supported a separate intervention that would never happen, where our troops would go into Syria to destroy their WMD's.

[CaptLouAlbano]

Cruz was opposed to a humanitarian intervention in Syria. He supported a separate intervention that would never happen, where our troops would go into Syria to destroy their WMD's.

Correct, because Cruz, like Connor, is a Jacksonian. Graham, on the other hand, is a Wilsonian through and through.

[Brian4Liberty]

You must have missed this:

"Connor has been a strong critic of Graham and the Obama administration, especially on matters of foreign policy, such as warning against the US supporting the deposing of Mubarak in Egypt in 2011 which led to the Muslim Brotherhood’s takeover of the country, as well as the more recent warning Connor offered against US support of Syrian “rebels” which he warned were heavily influenced by Al Qaeda, and a potential attack on Syria not being in interests of the US."

You must have missed the past 6 years. Many neo-conservatives have changed their positions, and have criticized "policing the world" and some other actions. They all still want to bomb Iran. If you like, we can refer to the new breed as teo-conservatives.

[Brett85]

You must have missed the past 6 years. Many neo-conservatives have changed their positions, and have criticized "policing the world" and some other actions. They all still want to bomb Iran. If you like, we can refer to the new breed as teo-conservatives.

1) It's a good thing that Republicans are becoming more non interventionist on foreign policy, even though they're still far from perfect.
2) I don't see anywhere in this article where Connor advocated using military action against Iran.

[Brian4Liberty]

1) It's a good thing that Republicans are becoming more non interventionist on foreign policy, even though they're still far from perfect.
2) I don't see anywhere in this article where Connor advocated using military action against Iran.

Do you seriously think that he would vote against authorizing the use of US military force against Iran?


Israel now faces the ultimate threat of nuclear annihilation from Iran. Iran has made clear it will “wipe Israel from the face of the Earth” if it obtains a nuclear weapon. Unfortunately, the Obama administration decided not to use forceful foreign policy in dealing with Iran. Worse, the US State Department has sent the coded message to Israel that we would oppose any attack by the Israelis against Iran.
...
More:
http://earlcapps.blogspot.com/2012/09/bill-connor-israel-needs-americas.html

[Brett85]

Do you seriously think that he would vote against authorizing the use of US military force against Iran?

I was referring to the article. The article didn't say anything about his position on Iran. You can be a former member of the military and not be a war hawk. Just look at Adam Kokesh. But I didn't see the article you posted until now, so it's obvious that he's basically a typical Republican on foreign policy issues.

[Christian Liberty]

You can be a former member of the military and not be a war hawk.

I'd actually say statistically that's likely to be the case. Contrary to what neocon talking heads say, "our troops" are statistically not thrilled with overseas intervention, and many of them supported Ron Paul. My issue with this guy has nothing to do with the fact that he was in the military.

[Brian4Liberty]

I'd actually say statistically that's likely to be the case. Contrary to what neocon talking heads say, "our troops" are statistically not thrilled with overseas intervention, and many of them supported Ron Paul. My issue with this guy has nothing to do with the fact that he was in the military.

Agree. Simply being in the military is not a negative at all. Being on the MIC tit is an entirely different thing.


A graduate of The Citadel and the University of South Carolina (USC) School of Law, Connor also serves as Director of the Army’s Command and General Staff College (ILE) in SC and is a member of the U.S. Counterterrorism Advisory Team. Along with partner W. Thomas Smith Jr., Connor founded National Defense Consultants LLC, a partnership providing clients with military analysis ranging from geostrategy to special operations; counterterrorism; ground, naval, and air combat; military leadership and military law. He is also a practicing attorney.