A Postscript on Lindsey Graham and His Once Sensible Republican Party

by Mark M. Bello

Lindsey Graham’s sudden death made me stop and think—not just about Graham, but about what has happened to the Republican Party.

I wasn’t always reflexively anti-Republican. Quite the opposite, in fact. I once agreed with Republicans on taxes, limiting the size of government, fiscal responsibility, balanced budgets, a strong national defense, and other important issues. I generally believed both parties were trying to move America forward in different ways.

Then came Donald Trump.

Graham’s sudden death has me remembering what the South Carolina Senator said about Trump before there was any political advantage in supporting the man.

And he wasn’t alone in his stark criticism.

• Marco Rubio questioned Trump’s temperament and character.
• Ted Cruz warned Republicans about the dangers Trump posed, even after enduring deeply personal attacks against his Family.
• Chris Christie, Nikki Haley, and others voiced serious concerns about whether Donald Trump possessed the character and judgment to be president.

Their critiques were correct. People of strong character, possessing good leadership skills, would have and should have stuck to their guns.

But then Trump won.

One by one, his harshest Republican critics became his strongest defenders. Some accepted positions in his administration. Others became political allies. Some decided that staying in the Republican Party meant standing behind its new leader. Blow up the debt and the deficit? Who cares? Turn our backs on our allies? Why not? Ignore the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? Absolutely. Spurn Reagan-style free trade? Sure, tariffs are suddenly the way to go.

And that’s the part I have never understood.

I have a simple rule in life: When people speak, believe them the first time.

When someone tells me who they are and what they stand for—before ambition, party loyalty, or political survival enter the equation—I pay attention.

Lindsey Graham was sincere when he warned America about Donald Trump. So were Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Nikki Haley, and the rest.

History will judge whether they changed their minds because of the politicalcost of standing by their convictions. I’ve made my judgment on this issue—I’m sure you have, too. But not every Republican made that choice. The Bush family has largely refused to embrace Trumpism. So did Mitt Romney (although he waffled when he thought he might get a cabinet post). Organizations like The Lincoln Project have remained steadfast in their opposition, holding onto their traditional conservative principles.

We can respect that. We don’t have to agree politically to admire consistency and courage.

Donald Trump not only changed Republican Party policies but also what many of its leaders were willing to overlook. And that’s the real Legacy of Lindsey Graham.

He might have been a Republican hero had he remained steadfast. What he said about Donald Trump in 2015 and 2016 was true. It is even truer today, and the promise of America is suffering for it. When I reflect on Graham’s legacy now and in the future, what will always come to mind is this:

I believed him the first time.

Mark M. Bello is an attorney and award-winning author of the Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Series, ripped-from-the-headlines, realistic fiction that speaks truth to power and champions the rights of citizens in our justice system. These novels are dedicated to the social justice movement. They educate, spark discussion, and inspire readers to action. One of these was “Betrayal of Justice, a blistering novel about presidential misconduct and hypocrisy” For more information, please visit www.markmbello.com.

The post I Believed Lindsey (and the Rest) the First Time appeared first on Lean to the Left.

Bob Gatty Author, Podcaster, Blogger

For many years, Bob Gatty worked as a writer, editor, and communications consultant, based on the Washington, DC area with a focus on government and politics. He began at The Pittsburgh Courier, an African American weekly, covering crime and the courts. His salary was $55 per week before moving on to two local Pennsylvania dailies. At age 24, he began reporting for United Press International covering state politics in Pennsylvania and then New Jersey, where he was UPI’s state capitol bureau in Trenton.

Tempted by the allure of Washington, DC and big-time politics, at age 29 Bob became press secretary and chief of staff for two Congressmen – first Republican Edwin B. Forsythe, and then Democrat James J. Florio, who later became governor of New Jersey and until his recent death was a frequent podcast guest and co-host of Bob’s NFN Radio News podcast (now called Lean to the Left).

After seven years on Capitol Hill, Bob opened a communications business in Washington, first providing political media consulting to candidates and then freelance Washington coverage for business and trade magazines, plus creative communications services for trade and professional associations, including social media. This work involved articles and analyses of key governmental developments affecting businesses, such as the food and Health industries, retailing, and the environment.

His work as a communications consultant to trade and professional associations included launching and editing association publications, providing website content and social media assistance, and covering conferences and conventions.

Bob retired from G-Net Strategic Communications in 2016 and moved to Myrtle Beach, SC, where he launched his blog site, first called Not Fake News, now known as Lean to the Left.

Hijacked Nation
In August, 2020, Bob and co-author Chris Waldron, one of Lean to the Left's most loyal and prolific contributor, published "Hijacked Nation-Donald Trump's Attack on America's Greatness," a two-volume compilation of blogs regarding Trump's presidency and the consequences for our nation. A followup volume was published by Luna Global Media in September 2024. It is available at https://amzn.to/4ePrTF7 .

In all three volumes, blogs from Not Fake News and Lean to the Left create a virtual play-by-play of key actions of the Trump administration and Congress. For more information, please visit https://leantotheleft.net/books/, and visit Bob's Author's Page on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bob-Gatty/author/B08C7HWXZ5?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=4e603563-7251-4074-b54d-40800c4ce40a.

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https://www.youtube.com/@LeantotheLeft.