How does someone go from racking balls in a pool hall to being a U.S. Senator?

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1535846-3,00.html

The Republican Leading the Rebellion Against Bush

Sunday, Sept. 17, 2006

Graham, 51, so confounds political labeling that his fellow apostate McCain, 70, has dubbed him "my illegitimate son." Like McCain, the presumed front runner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, Graham has a voting record that defies the headlines he creates. From the time he introduced his first piece of legislation in the South Carolina General Assembly, a bill barring gays and lesbians from serving in the state's National Guard, Graham has hewed to the right on social issues. He got a 96% rating from the American Conservative Union last year, and a zero from NARAL Pro-Choice America. As a House member, Graham caught the nation's attention playing corn-pone puritan as a House manager in Bill Clinton's impeachment trial. "Where I come from," Graham memorably drawled during the trial in the Senate chamber, as he described a phone call the President made to Monica Lewinsky, "you call somebody at 2:30 in the morning, you're up to no good."

<snip>Making his own way is nothing new for Graham. He grew up in the rooms behind the Sanitary Cafe, a pool hall, bar and liquor store that his parents owned in Central, S.C. Graham's father, known as Dude, tended bar for the millworker clientele; the future Senator racked balls and answered phones.

[sharp_stick]

1. I don't know

but I didn't realize the average South Carolinian was too stupid to figure out how to rack their own balls.

If there's a menial and moronic task to be done I can think of no one better for the job than Lindsay Graham, he's my man for menial and moronic every time.

[asjr]

3. He doesn't know how to rack his own balls, much less

anyone else's.

[Uncle Joe]

2. It depends on whose balls was he racking?

If Strom Thurmond shot pool and Graham was racking Thurmond's balls, this could've carried Lindsey's career a long way.

Thanks for the thread, NNN0LHI

[notadmblnd]

4. that's what I was thinking.

[cali]

5. isn't your thread title a lbit misleading?

It's not like he went from the pool hall straight to Congress. Didn't he go to college and then law school? He served in the JAG corps and then was elected to the SC House, then the Congress and then the Senate. Seems like a pretty standard political trajectory.

[GoCubsGo]

14. Thank you.

Yes, he did go to law school and AFAIK, he still serves in the JAG corps via the Naval Reserves. That being said, he's still a putz, and a huge embarrassment to the state, although slightly less embarrassing than the imbeciles who keep re-electing him.

[WilliamPitt]

6. I think it's great that someone with so menial a job

can rise to high office. We could use more of that.

[Uncle Joe]

7. Except his parents owned the business so this wouldn't be a "menial job" in the truest sense

of the word.

It was the family business.

Making his own way is nothing new for Graham. He grew up in the rooms behind the Sanitary Cafe, a pool hall, bar and liquor store that his parents owned in Central, S.C. Graham's father, known as Dude, tended bar for the millworker clientele; the future Senator racked balls and answered phones.

[WilliamPitt]

9. I reacted to the OP title

Insert 'Janitor' or 'Maid' in the sentence. Just making a point.

[Uncle Joe]

11. And it was a good point,

I agree with the sentiment.

[Skittles]

12. OMG

do you think he blubbers the way Boner does when referring to his past?

[ret5hd]

8. Them rpublicans been rackin' my balls since i been born...

I just thought thats what they DID!

[krispos42]

10. Is Jeff Gannon running for Senator?

[lpbk2713]

13. This is what happens ...

when you use the Magic Eight Ball to plot your future.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

15. How did a guy go from being a street con man and scam artist to being a con man and scam artist

in the U.S. Congress like Darrel Issa?

[cali]

18. now that's an interesting question.

[onenote]

16. I suppose you could also ask how does someone go from being a carpenter to being a US Senator

which is what Bernie Sanders did. Not trying to equate Sanders and Graham -- no comparison there obviously. Just pointing out that this OP is particularly silly.

[dems_rightnow]

17. Most people's first job was "U.S. Senator"

Sure, some people started a bit lower.

[longship]

19. If rumors are correct, he's no "Dude"

Won't say another word.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

21. Say another word...

please enlighten us.

[Luminous Animal]

23. If you are insinuating that he is gay. News flash... gay men are still dudes.

[HopeHoops]

20. I'm thinking Senator Blutarsky here.

[cthulu2016]

22. By racking balls in an establishment his family owns.