Dear Senator Graham,
We write to you with a mixture of disbelief and, frankly, a touch of regret. It's hard to fathom how far you've fallen from the man who once stood on principle, railed against the forces that threaten this country, and challenged the status quo. The Lindsey Graham of 2015, who called Donald Trump a "jackass" for criticizing Senator John McCain's war hero status, seems like a distant memory.
You were once someone who understood that integrity mattered. You saw what was wrong with the Trump phenomenon and had the courage to say so. In December 2015, you described Trump's call for a Muslim ban as that of a "race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot," stating, "He's not a Republican, he's not a conservative." You warned that nominating Trump would lead to disaster for the Republican Party, saying, "If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed...and we will deserve it." And yet, here we are, with you, one of the staunchest defenders of a man you once so vocally rejected. Your shift has been as jarring as a pendulum swinging violently from one extreme to the other, never stopping long enough to actually settle on a position. You were right about Trump once, Senator. So where did that man go?
You say one thing and then do another, and it's more than just disappointing—it's downright dangerous. In 2015, you predicted that nominating Trump would be a political catastrophe, yet now you cheerlead for him at every turn. You back his policies, praise his decisions, and, more importantly, protect him when his behavior continues to spiral. How can you reconcile that? You once warned us that Trump was a toxic influence. Now, you stand by him, as if you've forgotten the very reasons you condemned him in the first place.
We've seen you defend him after January 6, 2021, when the Capitol was stormed by an angry mob whipped into a frenzy by Trump's lies. Instead of holding him accountable, you danced around the issue, waffling from condemnation to careful justifications. You had the chance to be a moral leader that day, Senator. You had the chance to stand up for democracy and against the chaos that Trump incited. Instead, you offered vague platitudes and shifted the blame elsewhere. You should have been the voice of reason, but instead, you sounded like a man who feared losing favor with the one person who had turned this country upside down.
And let's talk about Ukraine. At one point, you were a vocal supporter, pushing for military aid and urging the United States to stand firm against Russian aggression. You even went so far as to call out those who would turn a blind eye to the crisis. But then, after a heated meeting between President Trump and President Zelenskyy, you performed a 180 degree turn. You've criticized Zelenskyy’s leadership, as though he's the one who needs to change in the face of an existential threat to his country. After years of backing Ukraine, where does that leave you now? A fickle ally, perhaps? Are you prepared to turn your back on democracy for the sake of short-term political gain?
We'll tell you this, Senator: we need leaders who don't flip-flop based on what's politically convenient. The American people deserve better than this political circus. You were once a voice of reason, someone who spoke truth to power. Now, you've become part of the very problem you once fought against.
So, here's the challenge: it's time for you to swing back, Lindsey. The pendulum has swung too far in one direction. You've danced around your true beliefs for too long, bending to the will of power brokers instead of doing what's right. There's a way out of this mess—a way for you to stop being a political weather vane and start standing up for principles that matter. You can be the leader we need, but it's up to you to find your way back to the values that once guided you.
The Lindsey Graham of 2015 wasn't afraid to speak truth to power. He didn't dance for votes or look for the easy path. He fought for the country, for the people, and for the integrity of American democracy. We need that man back.
If you have any shred of honor left, Senator, we challenge you to stop being a puppet to political convenience and start being the leader this nation desperately needs.
Sincerely,
Closer to the Edge
My husband came up with a hypothesis, and I completely agree with it: Donald Trump has a “Ray Donovan” working for him. Donald Trump employs this person to find the weaknesses and secrets of anyone who shows the slightest opposition to Trump. And this person, whoever they may be, is *extremely* good at their job. They have found the most hidden skeletons in the deepest of closets. They may use violence, or the threat of violence, to ensure that “loyalty” (or at least a public declaration of loyalty) is loud and demonstrable. Trump sets this person on any public figure in the US calling themselves a Republican or a Conservative (both politicians and non-politician, but prolific people).
I have to agree with my husband. It is the only way to explain how far the pendulum has swung for so many who used to be very vocal, and loudly so, in their opposition of Trump.
Those who used to oppose him had better toe the line. Or else.
This goes for Rubio too. But they can’t ever stand up for democracy again. Who would trust or believe them?