Think Progress

President Bush’s name gets no applause at South Carolina GOP convention.

At the South Carolina state GOP convention today, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) “used his remarks to embrace President Bush, just hours before he was to meet Bush at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.” But when Graham first mentioned Bush’s name, the GOP crowd stayed silent, refusing to applaud the President:

At his first mention of Bush’s visit, Graham paused, waiting for applause. When it didn’t come, it took a slight nod from Graham to prompt a round of applause.

“President Bush is my friend,” he continued, “and I’m not going to run away from the friend.”

Graham credited Bush with preventing additional attacks on the U.S. since 9/11, cutting taxes three times and successfully nominating Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“History is going to judge him a lot better than everybody thinks,” Graham predicted.

Graham, who is facing a primary challenge in the state, has tried hard to tie himself to Bush, even featuring the unpopular president in a TV ad. (HT: Jonathan Martin)




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77 Responses to “President Bush’s name gets no applause at South Carolina GOP convention.”

  1. woodguy Says:

    The last rat clings to the sinking ship. Practice your dog paddle, Huckleberry, the tide has turned.


  2. Paul W Says:

    Hilarious, Bush is such a screwup his own party can't stand him. How he once was heralded as the second coming of Christ, be careful of what you wish for.

    http://progressiveworldreview.com


  3. Oval12345678 aka James K. Sayre Says:

    And let's hear another round of applause for our worthless lying, election-stealing, constitution-destroying war criminal President...


  4. Musk Says:

    “History is going to judge him a lot better than everybody thinks,” Graham predicted.

    LOL . . . thats the only hope they have left. These guys are crashing and burning big time.


  5. moondancer Says:

    Sad pathetic bachelor. Hmmm wonder why he never married??


  6. TheToonGuy Says:

    Graham credited Bush with preventing additional attacks on the U.S. since 9/11

    Sure, and I've prevented additional meteors from colliding with the Earth.


  7. Nevar Says:

    "Graham, who is facing a primary challenge in the state, etc.":

    "Witherspoon has sought to portray Graham as a liberal who is soft on illegal immigration."

    "Outside the meeting hall, his supporters planted signs reading, "Lindsey is too Liberal for South Carolina."

    (Yikesee!!)


  8. joe cantwell Says:

    Nevar, that's a really funny party they've got down there!


  9. obsessed Says:

    Bomb bomb bombing McCain back to the Stone Age. Do your part. Here are my contributions:

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/...

    and:

    http://www.mydd.com/story/2008...

    and at my own site, tapping into the Cuban music fan base:

    http://www.timba.com/artists/n...

    Help click McCain into oblivion!


  10. Nevar Says:

    It would be a funny party if it wasn't real.........


  11. Nevar Says:

    I've been to parties like that before.........


  12. Ms_Joanne Says:

    When I was in Clemson, SC last week, there were ENORMOUS signs for some local guy; one sign with his name and the other one, at least three times bigger than his name that said Conservative Republican.

    It scared me. :)


  13. pete Says:

    I think Bushites of all stripes should get used to greetings composed of silence, glares, and the occasional gob of spit.


  14. KYJurisDoctor Says:

    I'm NOT applauding him, either!


  15. Wayne Says:

    TheToonGuy Says:
    Graham credited Bush with preventing additional attacks on the U.S. since 9/11

    Sure, and I’ve prevented additional meteors from colliding with the Earth.

    Hey, I've played that game. heh.
    And that game had more substance than the drivel that spills out of these BushBot's mouths.
    Absolutely Un-f-kin-believable.
    I'm feeling a Lewis Black type rant trying to creep in about now......


  16. Briseadh na Faire Says:

    Guido the Loving OBGYN Says:

    They’re obsessed with this so-called history. And there is absolutely no rational reason for it.

    He who controls the present controls the past. They believe Winston Smith will write thier history.


  17. sc mom Says:

    i'd rather have Limpy Graham as my senator (the dems running for his seat are pretty much unKnown) than Witherspoon -- a racist!

    The Council of Conservative Citizens, an organization built by supporters of the segregationist White Citizens Councils, the John Birch Society and activists in the presidential campaigns of then-Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace, has developed strong political ties to the Republican Party in the South as well as to the fading conservative wing of the southern Democratic Party. .... In South Carolina, Republican National Committeeman Buddy Witherspoon is a member of the group. ...

    LINK


  18. Wayne A. Schneider Says:

    Graham credited Bush with preventing additional attacks on the U.S. since 9/11,

    How can we believe them when they won't let anyone see the evidence that a single thing they say about terrorism threats and plots is true?

    cutting taxes three times

    No civilization in the history of mankind has cut taxes during time of war. It was a thoroughly irresponsible thing to do, given the huge number of no-bid, cost-plus contracts the aministration was handing out, without any real chance of Congressional review. Not to mention, Bush may have violated the Constitutional clause granting the Congress the authority to "raise armies". His mercenary contracts may be a violation of that clause.

    and successfully nominating Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court.

    This could only be considered a "good thing" if you don't care about the Constitution of the United States standing for the protection of people over corporations, for the right of habeas corpus, or for limits on the power of the executive, especially during time fo war.


  19. Freedom Rebel Says:

    AT the 2008 graduating class of Furman University, 15 members of the faculty stood in silent protest today during the president's speech. They wore white T-shirts emblazoned with "We Object" to show their opposition to Bush's policies on the Iraq war, global warming and other issues.

    I love it. He isn't getting a warm reception anywhere. I want one of those t-shirts....


  20. Bluestocking Says:

    If Bush can no longer get a round of applause from members of his own party in the Southeast -- probably some of the reddest of all red states -- then it seems safe to say that the gilt has most definitely come off the gingerbread as far as the Bush administration is concerned!


  21. Wayne Says:

    sc mom Says:

    A lot of Republican Senators are/were members or supporters of the CCC. Almost all of the old Dixicrats were for sure.
    Nixon invited them in with open arms.
    Trent Lott's uncle ran a local chapter of the CCC and Lott gave a whole lot of speeches for their meetings, for example.

    Thats todays real Republican "base", hate mongers.


  22. representativepress Says:

    Bush does not strike me as a normal guy. I am worried what he might do. He probably thinks the country will rally behind him if he starts a new war. see video: Hedges: It's Insane to Attack Iran, Devastating Consequences


  23. sc mom Says:

    #22 Wayne

    as a relatively new resident to SC, i find this very disturbing.
    if by some miracle, Witherspoon wins the R primary, i will make sure more people know about Witherspoon's "past" association with the group.


  24. Rowan Berkeley Says:

    Guido the Loving OBGYN Says : They’re obsessed with this so-called history. And there is absolutely no rational reason for it. Very weird. My history books will read : Osama and Zawahri, Legends.

    A couple of days ago I saw a video made for al-Jazeera about the latest bogeyman, Baitullah Mehsud, the supposed planner of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto - that was so patently phony it was like a spoof. EVERYTHING about it stank, the extras, the voice-over, the sets - like a Ed Wood flick:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbJHl0XfNE4



  25. Trixie Says:

    So, hubby and I run a weekend bait shop (because the economy's so great, we can make it on our regular jobs). As I was cleaning out minnows today, the ones that were barely alive were saying "help me Trixie! Don't throw me out in the woods with the dead minnows". But alas, out they went. So my point (and I do have one) Bush, Cheney and Graham are half dead minnows. If we're able to throw them out in November, great. Somehow, I think the laws of throwing out half dead minnows are fixed.


  26. Nevar Says:

    I think Cheney is actually a chub.....


  27. Nevar Says:

    And Bush is obviously a sucker...


  28. SP Biloxi Says:

    "President Bush’s name gets no applause at South Carolina GOP convention."

    *cricket *cricket*

    Well, it looks like the Fruit Loops-in-chief is losing his touch with his base! Bummer...


  29. Marie Says:

    Soon they will be throwing rotten tomatoes when Bush's name is mentioned.
    That will be followed by the tar and feathers.
    Then he answers criminal charges in court..


  30. RUCerious Says:

    “History is going to judge him a lot better than everybody thinks,” Graham predicted.

    Now see, he got that wrong. Maybe Alvin Hysterry, who lives in a single wide trailer in RatPuke, SC, will judge him better, but historians for decades, if not centuries will rightly see his tenure as the worst eight years in America's existence.


  31. RUCerious Says:

    sc mom, no offense intended with my Ratpuke comment, I do believe there is also a Ratpuke in Kansas...


  32. MCMetal Says:

    moondancer Says:
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Sad pathetic bachelor. Hmmm wonder why he never married??

    May 31st, 2008 at 8:14 pm

    Because South Carolina prohibits gay marriages .......


  33. MCMetal Says:

    “History is going to judge him a lot better than everybody thinks,” Graham predicted.

    Well , I think he's a completely useless piece of shit ; history and historians
    will leave out the "completely" part ........So I guess Graham cracker might be kind of right .


  34. Rowan Berkeley Says:

    Talking of phony looking videos, there is another Rev. Pfleger clip going around - I found it on a Clintonista site - and it is so over the top, I can only conclude this guy Pfleger is a provocateur who has been planted long ago, so that his worst excesses, and the enthusiastic audience reaction to them, could be used, as they are being used now, to kneecap Obama:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfWnY5PC0CQ


  35. GSD Says:

    Fresh from the closet of the Log Cabin, Senator Linseed Graham.

    "I'm not gonna run away from George Millstone Bush!"

    -GSD


  36. MapleStreet Says:

    # 19 - RE: Cutting Taxes

    Bush cut taxes like Enron had a profit.

    Even though the current tax rate changed, they are astronomically increasing our debt load - so we'll already start paying interest on this and at some point will need to pay down the principle amount. The result is a much larger tax burden.

    And don't get me started on who got the tax breaks and who is going to have to repay them.


  37. sc mom Says:

    #33 RUCerious

    LOL !


  38. Above the Clouds Says:

    He may be a real GOP a-hole . . . but Graham DID get a great deal on some rugs on a swing through Iraq last fall.


  39. LumpyDunky Says:

    Any Friend of Bush is NO friend of Mine. Maybe they are starting to get it, Dictator Bush is not even liked by his OWN sheeple! Pretty sad indeed.

    JJ
    Online Privacy when it Counts


  40. kassandrasduplex Says:

    “History is going to judge him a lot better than everybody thinks,” Graham predicted.

    And why not? History goes to those who write it, and the writers increasingly are paid hacks of the Neo-Con so-called "Right".
    Why do people argue that Bush stopped any attacks against American soil when his war has resulted in more than 4 thousand dead American troops and about 40 thousand maimed as well as a million of so dead INNOCENT Iraqis? Does that kind of bloodshed deserve honorable mention for stopping a theoretical attack against the Homeland?


  41. kasinca Says:

    There has been nothing conservative about the Bush Administration. It has been radical, it has been extreme, it has been unlawful, it has been criminal, it has been hateful, and it has been racist. None of those things is conservative. Giving tax breaks to the ultra wealthy while starting two wars in not fiscally conservative either.


  42. barfly Says:

    At his first mention of Bush’s visit, Graham paused, waiting for applause. When it didn’t come, it took a slight nod from Graham to prompt a round of applause.

    No flashing "applause" sign?

    I'm stunned.

    As Bush's subterrainian polling numbers continue to plumb the lower limits of lame-duck precedent (and as the temperature outside starts getting cooler) expect the peanut gallery at such affairs to be composed of rescue mission rejects, clutching crisp new twenty dollar bills and wearing ill-fitting, out-of-style formal attire, while swilling free cocktails like it's the last day before rehab.


  43. Bluestocking Says:

    No flashing “applause” sign?

    I’m stunned. -- Barfly

    **********************************************************

    No, it seems clear there were no flashing "Applause" signs -- and apparently no soldiers with rifles pointed at the audience either (or am I the only person who read your comment and was suddenly reminded of the movie "V For Vendetta"?)


  44. krazeeinjun Says:

    Hi fellow libs -- i'm slightly embarrassed to ask this, and god knows I know it's off topic, but I have a younger sister with children (she's 37) who has had heart problems all her life... she just recently had surgery at the Mayo Clinic to replace 3 of her heart valves with mechanical valves. To cut to the chase -- the hospitals and clinicians are now hounding her for many thousands of dollars which her company health insurance plan will not cover, and she's in jeopardy of losing her home and here livelihood.

    If anyone has any info on who my sister can contact for assistance, I would be most appreciative.

    Just saying . . . .


  45. foolme1ns Says:

    I hope that Lindsay Graham keeps holding on to the Titanic Bush so that he can go down with that ship, just like McCain.

    Bushes stupidity, stubborness, arrogance, and incompetence has left everything that he has touched in wreck and ruin, and now, batting 1000, that can also be said of America.

    So Lindsay, you hold on to Bush, with everything you've got, and go to hell with him.


  46. upside99 Says:

    “President Bush is my friend,” he continued, “and I’m not going to run away from the friend.”

    I guess Jeff Gannon is also your "friend", Linseed? Gotta love these loyal Bushies and their concept of "friends"!

    Heh Heh


  47. Freedom Rebel Says:

    #46 krazeeinjun Says:

    If anyone has any info on who my sister can contact for assistance, I would be most appreciative.

    Help From A Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) Agency

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    http://www.cccsstl.org/?referrer=google&credit+help&gclid=COyJ8NWO05MCFQVvFQodij7AkQ

    That is one option (cccs) krazeeinjun, but it will ruin her credit. That is something they usually fail to tell you. Or she can file bankrupcy. There are only two options. Bankrupcy ruins your credit also but, lenders know that you can not refile for 7 years. It is easier to start getting credit sooner with a Bankrupcy. But check out both options and see which will be more beneficial.

    I hope this helps, and I'm very sorry for your sister's medical bill nightmare. I wish your sister a speedy recovery.


  48. nofltwlt Says:

    Bush, his minnions, the GOP and the neocons have squandered the health, wealth and security of our nation. Now who would applaud that?

    If anyone would applaud it would be members of the clueless GOP but even they get it this time. The now know that they too are going down, down, down as a result of this administration. In other words, their health, wealth and security is being affected too.

    Lindsey Graham has facilitated our collective demise. I predict that he will be jettisoned as Americans jettison the GOP in the general election.


  49. celtic cynic Says:

    Maybe someday Dubya and Graham will be honored with a road named after them. We'll call it 'The Road To Npwhere"


  50. celtic cynic Says:

    or Nowhere - my bad


  51. WorkersOfTheWorldUnite Says:

    The tenured “sixty-somethings” standing in “protest” at the President’s Furman speech actually owe the Prez a debt of gratitude: but for the war in Iraq, these pathetic caricatures would not have had a chance to re-live their misbegotten youths! The "stand in silent protest" is a rather funny AARP version of the same 60’s protest, when these idiots chanted pro-Ho Chi Minh slogans while carrying Mao's “little red books” in protest against everything their parents' generation stood for.

    Here is the TRUTH about you so-called “progressives” and “liberals:” you are neither progressive nor liberal. You are, in fact, regressive and intolerant…just like the Bolsheviks you emulate. The fact is, you are simply a group of disaffected societal losers who have lived in an eight-year rage—occasioned by two electoral defeats at the hands of a man you have variously dubbed an “evil, dastardly war criminal” or an “imbecile.” If either appellation is true, then what does that say of YOUR party…the party that could not manage to advance a candidate to defeat such an alleged moron. Your pseudo-intellectual psychosis must be in full bloom!

    And please, stop pretending to be concerned about the plight of American military service members. You care not one whit about them or the people of Iraq. Virtually none of you on the “left” have EVER served a day in the military and you spit with disdain upon those who do. The war only provides you a convenient talking point and nothing more. I note that your “party” – the party that holds the majority of BOTH houses in Congress -- has NOT de-funded the war in Iraq nor has it brought the military home. Your party could have ended this war years ago, but didn’t. (Guess Ms. Pelosi, et al knows something that you don’t, huh?)

    Enjoy the last few months of the Bush presidency…because, come November, he will no longer serve as your foil! Your two cliché’ “candidates” (How you love to rant “women and minorities” at the drop of a chad) are destroying one another. High comedy at it's finest. And, just so’s you know, Obama will NOT be elected president…despite your “Can’t-wait-to-vote-for-a-black-man-to-prove-I’m-not-a-racist” efforts.

    So, to you on the left, I bid thee adieu with honest laughter. It must be so cozy in the confines of a tenured faculty position in Berkely, Boulder or Cambridge where you don’t have to work for a living….lost as you are in your hazy, cloudy THC-marred memories of when you were young. Sadly, I mourn you twenty-somethings whose skulls whose skulls have been filed with clap-trap mush from your Che’-loving faculty members…, but then, that's what happens when you live your lives in front of a computer screen.


  52. Nevar Says:

    WorkersOfTheWorldUnite Says:
    (etc.)

    Thank you for the rant. You may now go back to sharpening your sickle and hammering your meat.


  53. dbadass Says:

    WorkersOfTheWorldUnite Says:

    I whole lot of funny stuff. I do like the writing style though. I look forward to more of your zany compositions.


  54. dbadass Says:

    Why does I show up when I type A?


  55. GL2814 Says:

    After the last eight years, Mr. Bush, you deserve no applause.


  56. dbadass Says:

    WorkersOfTheWorldUnite seems to be suggesting the alledged domination of the educational establishment by leftists. This same arguments is thrown about re: the entertainment industry, labor unions, the media, etc by the right. The right also preaches the virtues of the marketplace. My question is a simple one yet it continues to go unanswered. If in fact these many areas are dominated by the left is it because: 1)the right is grossly outnumbered 2)the right is incapable of competing successfully in the market place. 3) the idea of leftist domination of these many areas is a nonsensical right wing talking point?

    Please be sure to use only a number 2 pencil and fill in the bubble completely. If you wish to change your answer be sure to erase completely.


  57. Brain From Planet Arous Says:

    badass Says:

    If in fact these many areas are dominated by the left is it because: 1)the right is grossly outnumbered 2)the right is incapable of competing successfully in the market place. 3) the idea of leftist domination of these many areas is a nonsensical right wing talking point?

    There is another way of looking at the left vs right debacle. Lets throw out left vs right, and substitute Power vs Slave, or in modern terms, Corporate vs The People. There is a subset of this. Logical vs Irrational. The Right has Logic. They say,in a logical manner, Corporate profits, bottom line, shareholders, first, and people second. This is rational toward corporate but irrational toward the People who must work as slaves. Unless they can manufacture robots to do the work.

    Now Leftists say it is logical to give strength to the people . It is irrational from a Corporate viewpoint. So essentially, it depends on whether you put People or Profits first.


  58. Brain From Planet Arous Says:

    WorkersOfTheWorldUnite

    It too think you are hilarious. I always like when Progressives come in and impersonate crazy NeoCons and Conservatives. You did a better job than that poster John Kerry did and his version of an insane lunatic. Keep up the goofy writing!!


  59. dbadass Says:

    Damn, did I miss John Kerry. He is sort of lame but I still enjoy him


  60. Shayne Says:

    WorkersOfTheWorldUnite

    Is this Daryll's labor persona?


  61. Nevar Says:

    Probably not, too many "quotation marks"...
    He certainly worked himself up into a tizzy all by himself however, very entertaining...


  62. dattexas Says:

    I'll give Bush credit for prventing more attacks when he's held responsible for allowing the 9/11 attack.


  63. Keith H. Says:

    “President Bush is my friend,” he continued, “and I’m not going to run away from the friend.”

    That makes one of you.
    Now back to the men's room with ya.


  64. flavorino Says:

    moondancer Says:

    Sad pathetic bachelor. Hmmm wonder why he never married??

    Gee, you don't think the Bush gang would use blackmail on the unmarried senator from South Carolina, do you?

    Could it be that all the odd statements coming out of this poofy gomer's mouth the last few months are due to his complete loss of any political sensibility and common sense?


  65. flavorino Says:

    Bush was going to bring in Bin Laden "dead or alive"...
    heckuva job you overpriviledged frat boy, sleazy, two bit, lying, conman.


  66. dbadass Says:

    I sort of forgot how stupid frat guys are


  67. Cal Malenky Says:

    If he continues to feel irrelevant, he'll start bombing Iran.


  68. Lynda Says:

    WorkersOfTheWorldUnite
    Hey it must have been a lot of hard work to write that much in one sitting! Almost like giving up golf in honor of the war dead, right?

    To the other readers:
    I agree that as the public begins to increase pressure on Bush and more truth is revealed to the public, the more agitated and unstable Bush will become.


  69. ctcadguy Says:

    Of course he prevented further attacks - sick bastards was behind those attacks.

    911=Inside Job


  70. GOPHater Says:

    Who would applaud a man who should be in prison awaiting execution for war crimes?


  71. ClassWarrior Says:

    Hey! Lighten up on dumbya. I used to compare him to Charlie Manson until Charlie's lawyer threatened to sue for defamation of character. I feel sorry for the poor ___________ (fill in the blank). Then you've got Cheney - the only good thing he's ever done - he is the only vice president since Aaron Burr to actually shoot a lawyer. There is something to be said for that, but I'm not sure what.

    Can anybody tell me why, why, why we aren't pushing our legislature to impeach these bastards? Sheesh!


  72. mircsevda Says:

    Thanks You







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