Posted on 11/26/2007 8:55:28 AM PST by freespirited
The news that Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) will resign his seat creates a vacancy that aspiring pols have been waiting for.
The rules of succession remain somewhat blurry, although the most likely outcome is that Gov. Barbour will appoint Lott's' replacement with a special election held next November to fill the four years on Lott's'term.
For Republicans, the most oft-mentioned names are Reps. Roger Wicker and Chip Pickering. Both once served as staffers for Lott and have deep ties in the state's Republican politics. Pickering is leaving his House seat at the end of this term.
On the Democratic side, all eyes will be on former state Attorney General Mike Moore. By far the most popular Democratic politician in the state, Moore was rumored to be interested in a 2008 race if Thad Cochran (R) had retired and could well be convinced now to run for Lott's seat.
If not Moore, it's'hard to see Democrats making a serious run at the seat. Mississippi is strong Republican country as George Bush won it with 59 percent of the vote in 2004...
Update: Under Mississippi election law, a 90 day special Senate election would be held if Lott formally resigns before the end of 2007.
But, that seems unlikely as a special election would put the seat in far more danger than if Barbour appointed a successor that would stand next November.
Since Lott has control over his formal resignation date, it seems likely he will wait until early January to make it official...
... an informed Republican source said Barbour's'choice is very likely to not be Chip Pickering... no other obvious alternative was offered.
As for the Democrats, former state AG Mike Moore is still the top pick but Rep. Gene Taylor and former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove are also mentioned.
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.washingtonpost.com ...
He resigned again?
And that very loud popping sound heard all over the country today was yet another huge GOLDEN PARACHUTE deploying.
Sweet deal (for everyone but us tax slaves).
Heh... we all know how dorky he looked wearing that cowboy hat at the Crawford ranch. Just thing what he'll look like wearing a huge sombrero.
The only lobbying clients that definitely won't be seeking Lott's services are the insurance companies that sell homeowners coverage.
Tuck is a former DEMOCRAT...
If Romney or Rudy get the Rep. nomination, Barbour would make a very good running mate.
Yes. So are a lot of people.
In the 1950s, in the wake of Brown vs. Topeka State Board of Education, the was a group called the White Citizens Council that worked to preserve segregation. It existed for about ten years. It achieved it avowed purpose for a number of years keeping Mississippi schools more segregated than many states.
Efforts have always been made to paint the Concerned Citizens Council in Mississippi as the direct successor to that group.
Seven years ago, Wicker, like almost all conservative politicians in Mississippi, spoke before a meeting that was sponsored by the Concerned Citizens Council.
Even Marxist blogs acknowledges that the two groups are not the same, albeit with a name change.
However, since the time of Trent Lott’s unfortunate wording of a toast to Strom, this is a charge of guilt by association that the leftist blogs have used while ignoring marxist ties of many of their own.
Prepare to hear about this group extensively no matter what Mississippi Governor Barber does in appointing a Republican to the temporary seat.
Barber, as owner of a top lobbyist firm himself, will have been very aware of Trent’s probable plan.
Lott was looking after his own interests, first, last, and always
There's more than a year left on Lott's unexpired term. I think he has a little more than 4 years left. There is a general congressional election next November. So that means he either waits until next January 1, or there has to be a special election within 3 months of his resignation. Legalese is always difficult, but that's how I read it.
I presume the new rules on delaying employment as a lobbyist come into effect on January 1, meaning that he'd have to wait another year or two before getting rich?
Olympia Snowe is welcome to leave the senate anytime she likes.
Don’t let the door hit’cha on the way out Trent.
Legalese is always difficult, but that’s how I read it.
Trent Lott is very bitter toward the party. I’m afraid you’re right. He was hoping to come back and put the people who let him be removed from the leadership back in their places, but that didn’t work out, so he’ll probably take pleasure in leaving them a mess to deal with.
Luckily Haley Barbour is wise enough to handle it, if anyone can. Let’s hope.
What do I win if I'm right?
You'll win a 1-year Jelly-Of-The-Month-Club membership, in recognition of Trent's gelatinous spine.
Lott quit years ago. He has just decided to stop taking the pay check.
I think that by leaving before the end of 2007 he can go to work as a lobbyist right away. If he left anytime in 2008 he would have to wait two years before he could lobby his former colleagues.
IOW, his opportunity to make the most of his service is slipping away. He may be in the pocket of Calderon, but he ain't no fool.
I thought they did catch him “between the stalls”.
So the solution is for Lott to resign Dec. 31st. That puts his precious lobbying status under the old 2007 law, but means the Gov. doesn’t have to issue his proclamation until 2008 (within 10 days, so up to Jan 9), giving him the appointment power.
Trent wants to be a lobbyist, you would think he would want to cultivate relations with the people he'll be hired to lobby - and causing the risk that MS will have a Democratic senator in '08 doesn't sound like a plan.If the law can be interpreted to allow Lott to resign in '07 and Barbour not have to call a special election before next November, that is the logical thing to do - the thing that Democrats certainly would do. Which hardly implies that they won't complain if the Republicans do it . . .
It’s not the date of the proclamation that counts, it’s from when the vacancy occurs. That seems pretty obvious from the reading. If the governor tried to use the proclamation date you can bet it will be challenged in court the very same day. Incumbency is too great an advantage to leave unchallenged.
If Lott does what is right by the Republican Party, he will stay on till January. Otherwise he’s a sell out. He should have got last year when he was up for reelection.
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