Posted on 10/18/2002 2:58:41 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
Oct 18, 2002
Nickles Won't Challenge Lott for Senate GOP Leadership in Next Congress By Alan Fram Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - The No. 2 Senate Republican, Don Nickles of Oklahoma, will not challenge Senate GOP Leader Trent Lott for his job in the next Congress, aides to both men said on Friday. Nickles' decision apparently clears the way for Lott to retain the leadership job he has held since 1996, when Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., resigned to run for president. GOP aides said they were unaware of any other senator preparing to challenge Lott.
There have long been rumblings that Nickles, spearheading some of the more conservative Republican senators, might some day mount a challenge to the 61-year-old Mississippian. Lawmakers have described the two men as having a cool relationship, and Lott has sometimes been seen by conservatives as too willing to cut deals with Democrats.
Lott has defended compromise as essential to keeping the Senate from bogging down. And with the Nov. 5 congressional elections approaching, some Republicans have praised Lott for effectively painting Democrats as obstructionists to a GOP agenda that has included creating a Department of Homeland Security and winning approval of conservative federal judges nominated by President Bush.
Two GOP Senate aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Nickles, 53, made his decision after discerning he would probably lack the votes to topple Lott.
But Nickles chief of staff Eric Ueland denied that.
"After a lot of consultation with colleagues and careful consideration," Nickles hopes to become the next chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, assuming Republicans regain the Senate majority, said Ueland.
Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., is currently top Republican on the budget panel. Senate aides say he has made no final decision, but would likely switch to become chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee should Republicans win the majority.
Nickles told Lott of his decision Friday in a telephone call, Ueland said.
Democrats currently have a 50-49 Senate edge, plus a Democratic-leaning independent.
Nickles must step down as Senate GOP whip under rules Republican senators have adopted that limit the holder of the No. 2 job to six years. There is no limit on the top leadership job.
Senate Republicans are expected to vote for their leaders for the next Congress on Nov. 13. The 108th Congress will convene on Jan. 3.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is considered likely to succeed Nickles as whip.
AP-ES-10-18-02 1727EDT
This story can be found at: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGABHCAMG7D.html
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Not a chance. I'd guess that 95% of Republicans don't know anything about a possible challenge to Lott for the leadership position, and all of those who do are motivated to replace Daschle anyway.
Trent Lott is a good man with a solid voting record. He's just not the man the R's need to lead them in the Senate.
You have got to be kidding!
Unless one is a member of Free Republic, he would neither know nor care.
Well, he won't be a chairman but at least a co-chairman. Wouldn't want to piss off any Democrats.
Every other committee, and bills that are brought to the floor.
And, getting nominees out of the judicial committee is very important, don't you think?
Some people on this forum make the perfect the enemy of the good.
This might make some sense in principle, but in practice it hasn't worked for at least ten years. Lott gave the Dems all kinds of things, including judgeships and extra favors on committees, and they gave virtually nothing in return.
But since Daschle managed to put himself in charge, he hasn't compromised at all. He only knuckles under when he is absolutely forced to by public opinion, as happened with his opposition to the war against Iraq. On everything else, ssuch as taxes and judgeships, he gives NOTHING.
That pattern has been true all through the clinton and Bush years. The Republicans give, and the Dems take.
I'm not here by birth, but have endured the last fifteen years in Vicksburg. Trent Lott is not popular among a lot of us here. I wish he would just go away. Haley Barbour might be a good trade.
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