Posted on 12/18/2002 12:13:11 AM PST by kattracks
As NewsMax pundit John LeBoutillier has noted, Mississippi's Democrat governor would name a replacement if Trent Lott quits the Senate to retaliate for President Bush's lack of support. If this indeed happens, a disgraced black Clinton Democrat is being touted to fill Lott's seat.
Ousted former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy (Clintonesque motto: indicted but not convicted!) would be the best choice to replace Lott, said Rickey Cole, Democrat chairman of Mississippi.
"If I had to pick, it would be Secretary Espy, hands down," Cole said. "He has Washington experience, and he's proven that he can build biracial coalitions. It would immediately begin the healing process."
Oh, Espy has Washington experience, all right. But his return wouldn't be a "healing process" for Bill Clinton, what with all that unpleasant business involving Tyson Foods.
Other possible replacements if Lott trots home to Pascagoula: state Attorney General Mike Moore, recently defeated U.S. Rep. Ronnie Shows and Rep. Chip Pickering, the Republican who beat Shows last month, the Biloxi Sun Herald reported today.
"If Lott resigns, state law would require Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, a Democrat, to appoint a replacement. A special election would be held within 90 days if the senator left this year. If he resigned in 2003, though, the election for the seat would coincide with next year's Nov. 4 balloting for statewide offices.
"Assuming Musgrove would appoint another Democrat, either scenario would temporarily alter the partisan balance of the U.S. Senate, which Republicans now control by a two-seat margin," the Sun Herald noted.
And then watch the Dems coax a liberal Republican such as Sen. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island into pulling a Jeffords to give them control again.
The Cheese Stands Alone
Lott is on his own now. His fellow GOP senators are turning against him. The Associated Press today reported "indications from White House advisers that President Bush won't try to save Lott's job."
Bush today worked with House Speaker Dennis Hastert, but without Lott, on planning the 2003 congressional agenda.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer insisted that Lott, at home in Mississippi, was not excluded for any political reason. "For us to talk with anybody from the Senate, they need to be in Washington," Fleischer said.
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Bush Administration
Clinton Scandals
DNC
George W. Bush
RNC
(Espy should be beatable in November.)
Chafee would be wise to stay with the Majority Party, not play Lottesque games.
Lott has been elected. He can't be unelected unless Lott agrees to be unelected.
It does not matter. The only way Lott can be not be Majority leader next year is if he resigns. He has said he will stay and fight and not resign.
Lott was elected 3 weeks ago. There is no provision to undo an election for Majority leader anymore than Gore could demand a new election after losing 2000. They counted the votes and Lott won a unanimous decision.
The election has been held. Lott won. He as to resign to not be MAJORITY LEADER. He last night refused to do that. It is over.
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