61 votes

Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after ‘brief and sudden illness’

28 comments

  1. [3]
    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link
    Notable that major obituaries, NYT for example, are erasing his participation in the attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Feels like that's a relevant thing to include, and its absence must be...

    Notable that major obituaries, NYT for example, are erasing his participation in the attempt to overturn the 2020 election.

    Feels like that's a relevant thing to include, and its absence must be intentional

    54 votes
    1. thearctic
      Link Parent
      I don't know why NYT feels the need to do those sorts of things. I feel like they think they are some sort of "unifying" institution for the country. They're not and shouldn't try to be. They...

      I don't know why NYT feels the need to do those sorts of things. I feel like they think they are some sort of "unifying" institution for the country. They're not and shouldn't try to be. They should also appreciate the extent to which many of these people stay in power not as a function of democratic will but from moneyed interest.

      14 votes
    2. skybrian
      Link Parent
      In case anyone is wondering, it’s covered in Wikipedia. Search on “Reaction to 2020 presidential election results.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsey_Graham

      In case anyone is wondering, it’s covered in Wikipedia. Search on “Reaction to 2020 presidential election results.”

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsey_Graham

      10 votes
  2. [4]
    AnthonyB
    (edited )
    Link
    Somewhere, someone who placed a Kalshi bet on Mitch McConnell dying before any other member of Congress is freaking the fuck out. Edit: He lives! After weeks, the old man finally came out of his...

    Somewhere, someone who placed a Kalshi bet on Mitch McConnell dying before any other member of Congress is freaking the fuck out.

    Edit: He lives! After weeks, the old man finally came out of his shell. Still a bad beat, but this hypothetical better can take solace in the fact that the great terrarium in the sky is still short one turtle.

    47 votes
    1. [3]
      teaearlgraycold
      Link Parent
      We're going to get video proof from his death last week because of a bet that needs to be proven.

      We're going to get video proof from his death last week because of a bet that needs to be proven.

      18 votes
      1. [2]
        thearctic
        Link Parent
        Black Mirror needs to make an episode on this

        Black Mirror needs to make an episode on this

        8 votes
        1. Fiachra
          Link Parent
          The book Catch-22 does something similar in both directions. There's The Dead Man in Yossarian's Tent who is actually killed in war but considered alive on paper due to an admin error, so one bed...

          The book Catch-22 does something similar in both directions. There's The Dead Man in Yossarian's Tent who is actually killed in war but considered alive on paper due to an admin error, so one bed and locker must be kept vacant for him. Then later there's a soldier who is declared KIA despite being alive, who winds up living on the outskirts of the base like a wild animal because the quartermaster won't issue him rations, and when he succeeds in contacting his wife everyone assures her he's an opportunistic impersonator. Very funny book.

          1 vote
  3. Tukajo
    Link
    A man who's legacy is doing tremendous harm to his country and countrymen, and an enabler to Trump and his ilk.

    A man who's legacy is doing tremendous harm to his country and countrymen, and an enabler to Trump and his ilk.

    36 votes
  4. [3]
    zipf_slaw
    Link
    "I've never wished a man dead, but there are some obituaries I've read with pleasure." -a famous person

    "I've never wished a man dead, but there are some obituaries I've read with pleasure."

    -a famous person

    32 votes
    1. vord
      Link Parent
      Clarance Darrow is the earliest known (though often incorrectly attributed to Mark Twain):

      Clarance Darrow is the earliest known (though often incorrectly attributed to Mark Twain):

      I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.

      8 votes
    2. updawg
      Link Parent
      Sharing because you called more attention to the originator by making the attribution vague: it seems no famous person actually said that, but Clarence Darrow did popularize the idea that it's...

      Sharing because you called more attention to the originator by making the attribution vague: it seems no famous person actually said that, but Clarence Darrow did popularize the idea that it's expressing, though his version kinda implies that he actually would have liked to have killed some people if he could bring himself to do it.

      https://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/05/05/darrow-obituary/

      6 votes
  5. [4]
    patience_limited
    Link
    As the vitriolic writer Christopher Hitchens once said of a different loudly religious hypocrite, "You could give him an enema and bury what's left in a matchbox". I don't want to belittle the...

    As the vitriolic writer Christopher Hitchens once said of a different loudly religious hypocrite, "You could give him an enema and bury what's left in a matchbox". I don't want to belittle the grief of Graham's family, but can't say most Americans will miss him.

    Also, cue the conspiracy theorists. Graham was the loudest public advocate for assassinating Iranian leaders and cheerleader for the Iran war. He dropped dead a day after returning from a trip to Ukraine to give license for manufacturing Patriot missiles.

    24 votes
    1. [3]
      Grumble4681
      Link Parent
      It would be interesting if it ended up not being a conspiracy but actuality. Wonder what would happen if Iran claimed credit for it? Presumably the administration would claim it as justification...

      Also, cue the conspiracy theorists. Graham was the loudest public advocate for assassinating Iranian leaders and cheerleader for the Iran war. He dropped dead a day after returning from a trip to Ukraine to give license for manufacturing Patriot missiles.

      It would be interesting if it ended up not being a conspiracy but actuality. Wonder what would happen if Iran claimed credit for it? Presumably the administration would claim it as justification for boots on the ground, or for blindly attacking all Iran civilian infrastructure.

      7 votes
      1. [2]
        patience_limited
        Link Parent
        I don't know of any poisons or non-obvious externally applied physical forces that can cause an aortic dissection (official cause of death, along with atherosclerosis), so that should take care of...

        I don't know of any poisons or non-obvious externally applied physical forces that can cause an aortic dissection (official cause of death, along with atherosclerosis), so that should take care of any possible conspiracy theories.

        1 vote
        1. nukeman
          Link Parent
          Nah the conspiros will just say doctors are lying.

          Nah the conspiros will just say doctors are lying.

          1 vote
  6. CptBluebear
    Link
    Lindsey found the only loophole how US senators can leave the Senate after two decades. I was about to say that at 71 his death would increase the average age, but that's not true. Only barely though.

    Lindsey found the only loophole how US senators can leave the Senate after two decades.

    I was about to say that at 71 his death would increase the average age, but that's not true. Only barely though.

    15 votes
  7. V17
    Link
    As a central European one thing I appreciated about him was his pro-Ukraine stance, which is unfortunately far from a given in a republican these days. This is a big topic for us, so I'm worried...

    As a central European one thing I appreciated about him was his pro-Ukraine stance, which is unfortunately far from a given in a republican these days. This is a big topic for us, so I'm worried about who's going to take his place.

    14 votes
  8. [2]
    thearctic
    Link
    In general, I think it's bad taste to gloat over someone's death, even someone you deeply disagree with. But Lindsay Graham was known to celebrate killing and murder, so I won't feel bad about it.

    In general, I think it's bad taste to gloat over someone's death, even someone you deeply disagree with. But Lindsay Graham was known to celebrate killing and murder, so I won't feel bad about it.

    13 votes
    1. DefinitelyNotAFae
      Link Parent
      Someone said this is a sign of the absolute lack of other consequences that people are facing. If we can't see them prosecuted or disgraced we can only see them dead. And if that's the only source...

      Someone said this is a sign of the absolute lack of other consequences that people are facing. If we can't see them prosecuted or disgraced we can only see them dead. And if that's the only source of any catharsis for their impunity then yeah, the positive emotions will outweigh the social norms that these same people also shattered.

      30 votes
  9. vord
    Link
    Whelp, I was going to save my cake for Mitch, but I guess I'll have some today too.

    Whelp, I was going to save my cake for Mitch, but I guess I'll have some today too.

    9 votes
  10. [3]
    Fiachra
    Link
    Somewhere out there is a democrat voter with a magic lamp who's saving their last wish for trump.

    Somewhere out there is a democrat voter with a magic lamp who's saving their last wish for trump.

    8 votes
    1. [2]
      phoenixrises
      Link Parent
      They say these things come in 3's....

      They say these things come in 3's....

      12 votes
  11. [3]
    Drewbahr
    Link
    I'm having a hard time feeling bad about this.

    I'm having a hard time feeling bad about this.

    41 votes
    1. [2]
      Gaywallet
      Link Parent
      People always say that we shouldn't celebrate someone passing, but when someone like this dies the world no longer has a significant figure who was involved in spreading hate and violence. I would...

      People always say that we shouldn't celebrate someone passing, but when someone like this dies the world no longer has a significant figure who was involved in spreading hate and violence. I would posit that the emotions of relief and jubilation are primarily directed at the outcome itself rather than the person. Were that person not objectively making the world worse, the people would not be cheering.

      There's a lot of reasons to feel good about this. Anyone arguing that you should feel bad is either ignorant or dismissive of the crimes against humanity this person frequently and consistently committed.

      20 votes
      1. DefinitelyNotAFae
        Link Parent
        Agreed, as I said below, if there are no other consequences for their behavior, the only source of catharsis is in the grave. It's not shocking we find it there.

        Agreed, as I said below, if there are no other consequences for their behavior, the only source of catharsis is in the grave. It's not shocking we find it there.

        7 votes
  12. paris
    Link
    Goodnight, ladybug.

    Goodnight, ladybug.

    4 votes
  13. Omnicrola
    Link
    Let the karmic dominos fall.

    Let the karmic dominos fall.

    3 votes