I agree with your rant, but would like to point out that it would take the loss of two GOP Senate seats for the munchkin from South Dakota to be in charge again. A 50-50 split leaves the Senate in GOP hands.
That said, I still believe the main issue is funding - I don't really think the Criminal Party believes it has a shot at control. The last time there was a 50-50 split - two-years ago - the Senate divided funding equally between the two parties. The normal split for the time when there is a non-even split is 67-33. The Criminal Party does not want this, they want 50-50 because, in their terms, they are "very close" to parity.
Enter a gift from Trent Lott. They have seized on this as a way to either: (1) leverage the Senate funding issue to their advantage (most likely), or (2) get Lott out of the Senate (best case - for them, but unlikely).
To advance the most likely scenario, they would very much like to have Lott remain as Majority Leader. Heck, he has been rather generous to them over the years:
** His refusal to hold a real trial on the Impeachment charges brought against UOx42.
** His refusal to allow the House Managers to present live witness testimony before the Senate in the Impeachment trial.
** His agreement to give the Criminal Party equal funding and parity in Committee assignments at the beginning of the 107th Congress.
** His refusal to challenge the seating of Mrs. Carnahan as the junior Senator from Missouri on Constitutional grounds.
** His agreement with the Criminal Party to allow them control of the Chamber until the new Congress - despite the fact the balance of power shifted once the new Senator from Missouri had his election certified.
** A general willingness to be accomdative on issues of importance to the Criminal Party, rather than an a visceral advocate of Republican ideals and goals (say what you want about Daschle, he at least provided that for the Criminal Party).
Keeping Lott as Majority Leader with this whole race-baiting thing hanging over his head would be a gift to the Criminal Party. He would be forced to give them parity on funds, and they would be able to leverage his position on a number of left-wing issues.
It is more than a little coincidence this flair up occurred while the two camps are hashing out the issue of how the Senate budget should be divied up. But I feel very comfortable in saying that if it wasn't Lott, someone else would have been targeted with some other issue.
The Criminal Party has gone to war over the funding issue because without the extra money that parity would grant them, their ability to challenge the President would be crippled.
The Republicans need to understand this and respond accordingly. The first step is to make sure this gambit does not succeed. To do that would require the GOP to take a few more nails by having the word leak out on Friday that Lott will remain as Majority Leader, and then sometime around January 5 have Lott announce he will realize the need to put the future of the Party first and step aside.
This will be too late for the Criminal Party to react. The news will be about two items: (1) Lott, again (but the public will likely be tired of that), and (2) how the GOP has started to reform itself (whether the media wants to use those words or spin something else, it'll come out).
IMO, I think this will rebound to the benefit of the GOP. Mostly because I believe the Criminal Party has taken this hand they have been dealt, and overplayed.
Lott got wind of Bush and Rove wanted him gone before the election. In the Special session 3 weeks ago Lott had the Republican Senate Caucus pass the new rules, and vote him in as Majority leader. When Lott screwed up by praising his mentor, Rove and Bush decided to attack based on last years rules. But the Lott rules are in effect and Bush and ROVE are Screwed
These rules do not provide for a revote for Majority Leader or any office. And any change of rules requires unanimous consent to be approved.
If Lott or any other senator votes for Lott, Lott remains majority leader. At the January meeting all LOtt opponents can do is propose a rule change.. Lott or more likely one of his supporters does teh Unanimouse consent thing and the issue is dropped.
All they Senators can do is hope that LOtt is not vindictive. Remember the other republicans would have to get 10 democrats to vote with them to overule Lott. That is not likely.
No one can think of a way that bush can take Lott down. And some senators like NICKLES have reason to worry.
Perhaps some of you can see why the Tator said this Bush/Rove ploy was the biggest political miscalculation of president in my memory.
I don't know if Bush or Rove have something else up their sleeve, but if they don't Bush is going to have to KISS A LOTT of MISSISSIPPI RUMP.