The fact remains that Lamar has been a reliable conservative as a Senator. More reliable and more conservative than Fred Thompson was.
If not for Fred and a few others before he became a senator our felon governor may have never been brought down. Fred was a big disappointment in the senate hearings and the vote but so were some other so called sainted RINO's.
I believe now that he was told by GOP leadership to back off. Fred also had some issues himself it's been rumored. I think Bill and Hill could have brought down some career RINO's who were always more than eager to make certain no one got prosecuted. But remember this also. It was Alexander who was given what must have been advance notice as in days or weeks as to Fred's retirement before it came out. Before Fred officially uttered the words the White House and RNC as well as the media had crowned Alexander as his replacement.
Bryant would have made a much better senator but the RNC and Washington DC insiders controlling the GOP will never allow the day. Bryant would have likely stood against Bush when Bush was wrong and the GOP should have called him on it.
The GOP became ill in January 1989 but almost recovered in 1994 from it's sickness of Liberaism. The GOP or at least the Conservative GOP died in 1995 as it was choked to death from within the party. What is left is now for the most part is the party of Rockefeller and a few good Conservatives that the Rockie Groupies haven't managed to get booted out yet but give them time.
John Kennedy if he were alive today would be too conservative for the Rockies liking.
Fred Thompson I had infinitely more respect for than Lamar! Unfortunately, he made the horrendous mistake of allowing the 'Rats to control the agenda with regard to Chinagate when he ran Gov't Reform & Oversight. He realized too late exactly what was at stake, and it was one of the reasons he opted to exit the Senate when he did. Just like Dorothy, he saw behind the curtain.
I remember when CNN did a puff piece on one of America's greatest traitors, John Glenn, they went to Thompson to get some feel-good soundbite on his Senate & Committee colleague. Thompson told them they couldn't play on air what he thought about Glenn.