Mack Daddy and the Media Whore speak

Palmetto Morning has a smorgasbord of views from the men who draw paychecks to be South Carolina Senators but aren't:

NATIONAL LENS — TENSION — President Barack Obama’s decision to circumvent the Senate in filling 15 administration posts marked another step in the administration’s turn toward a more-combative approach toward congressional Republicans, provoking a volley of protests from GOP lawmakers. “It’s going to make problems worse,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) in an appearance Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “At the end of the day, they’re really pushing forward here rather than trying to bring this together.”

‘MOCKING AMERICANS’ — Republican Senator Jim DeMint accused President Barack Obama of “mocking Americans” who are opposed to the Democrats’ health care reform bill, and suggested that, as characterized in his recess appointments, circumventing Congress has become the president’s style.

NOT 2ND — Retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert Harding withdrew from consideration to become the head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Friday after two days of confirmation hearings in the US Senate.   In a statement, Harding attributed his withdrawal to scrutiny of his former company Harding Security Associations, which he sold to Six3 Systems Inc. of McLean, Va., last summer. Harding also potentially faced a hold from Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), who blocked the Obama administration’s first nominee to lead TSA.

AGREE — South Carolina’s U.S. senators, who don’t always agree with their party or with one another, embraced the GOP strategy Sunday in the wake of the Democrats delivering health-care reform to President Barack Obama without a single Republican vote in either house of Congress.

DISAGREE — South Carolina U.S. Sens. Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham both said Sunday that threats and profanity are not appropriate in political protests, but they differed on how much acrimony is acceptable.

‘JUST BEING HONEST’ — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday he was just being honest when, two days before the House Democrats approved health-care reform, he said it would “pretty much kill any chance of immigration reform passing the Senate this year.’ Graham said he would continue to work with Democrats on immigration and also hopes lawmakers can pass financial reform.

MORE FROM GRAHAM — Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said he is confident his party and Democrats can pass a financial regulationmeasure even after the fight over health- care legislation.