I’m so sick of the nepotism

I’m sick of the power of the smarmy failsons, the loyal wives, the anointed successors, and now of Lindsey Graham’s adoring baby sister.

Darline Graham Nordone accepting the appointment to the Senate (image source)

Yesterday, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham Nordone to complete her brother Lindsey Graham’s term in office in the Senate. McMaster noted that the rapid appointment comes after Donald Trump called for the appointment as a “fabulous tribute” to Graham.

This is another example of the rot at the heart of power in this country, a rot that crosses party lines and which sees our elected offices as the private property of long-term officeholders to be passed to their heirs or handed out to their underlings.

Is there not a single person more qualified to serve the people of South Carolina? Is there no concern for competence in public service or international affairs? The new Senator Graham Nordone is apparently a competent optometrist and has served on South Carolina’s Commission for the Blind, but this gives no experience to serve as one of the most powerful legislators in the country.

Reading the comments from powerful GOP figures, they claim their primary concerns were ‘honoring’ Graham’s memory and ensuring loyalty to Donald J Trump (something which Graham Nordone has already vowed). Governor McMaster’s speech nominating Darline “Little Sister” (his words) Graham Nordone did not once discuss the needs or interests of the people but instead celebrated Lindsey Graham — essentially a eulogy. Graham Nordone then responded with her own speech, saying that “I’ll be there for [Lindsey]” and gave her own eulogy, never once discussing how she’ll serve or represent the people but instead only that she’ll “support the President and carry on the efforts of my brother.”

This is not a symbolic position in charge of erecting a statue or setting up a scholarship fund — this is a person who very well might be the defining vote in choosing our next Supreme Court Justice, who will be necessary in the increasingly-important budget reconciliation process, and who will help confirm crucial appointed positions in bureaucracy and life-long judgeships.

Robert F Kennedy Jr and Eric Trump are just two incompetent failsons in a government where family name and personal loyalty to the president are the most important tools for success (image source)

But yet, if we listen to the GOP Senate leadership, all that matters a touching memorial. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, said: “Lindsey’s legacy will continue through Darline, and I look forward to welcoming her soon.” SC Senator Tim Scott echoed: “here is no one better who understands Lindsey’s love for family, our state, and our country.” That might be true, but how does that make someone a competent replacement in the Senate? There are a thousand beautiful ways to honor one’s lost sibling that don’t involve becoming one of the most powerful people in the country with a crucial role that you have no experience for.

Some might argue that a gesture like this does not matter as she will have no power — but we all know that’s not true. A US Senator, even for a few months, has the capacity to shape this country; if they didn’t then McMaster wouldn’t need to appoint anyone. But the truth is that the Senate held by the thinnest of margins — possibly even thinner now if Mitch McConnell is, in fact, dead and with Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) willing to break with MAGA after losing their primaries to Trump-backed opponents.

But it’s not just the GOP that has this problem, the Democratic leadership has long been enamored with family dynasties from Massachusetts to Arizona to Houston.

But, people are growing increasingly sick of it all. The recent primary victories in NYC and Colorado show us that American voters are tired of public offices being viewed as the property of their holders, patrimony to be passed down smoothly to heirs and protégés. We are tired of politicians who serve for decades and we are tired of political families. We are tired of hearing about Hunter Biden, Barron Trump, or RFK.

Darializa Avila Chevalier (left) & Claire Valdez won hard fought prmaries in NYC against establishmenbt Democrats. Valdez in particular won against the hand-picked successor of Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez who was livid that her nominee was not given a clear path to victory. She expressed a belief that the position belonged to her to choose (image source).

As much as her love for her brother is a convenient narrative, Sen. Graham Nordone would never have received her appointment if she was not believed to be loyal to Donald Trump. In her brother, the President had a loyal ally, but in her, he has a dependent satrap whose power was established dependent upon her support of him.

In this way, as in so many others, Donald Trump has further hollowed out the institutions of this country and connected to his person. In doing so, in the name of sisterly love, he further cheapens our government.

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For more of my writing on the resistance to authoritarianism check out “Diving Deep in Trump and Musk’s Personality Cults” or “Netflix’s The Eternaut: An Unflinching Allegory of Authoritarian Fear”