I don't know specifically what people wanted him to do. From 1994-2000, he had a Democrat President and at most 47-48 reliably conservative GOP members in his caucus. The GOP does not rely on central party fundraising as do Democrats, so there are few sledgehammers with which a GOP Senate Majority leader can force his will on the Chafees, Jeffords, Specters, Snowes, Collins and Roths who make up the GOP Senatorial caucus.
It didn't matter WHO was Senate Majority leader durng that period, they would have needed 60 votes to override a Clinton veto or to end a stealth Senate Dem filibuster on a politically popular bill that would have been impossible for Clinton to veto. Those were real, profound shackles on his power.
Nothing is going to change should Talent beat Carnahan, except that NOW there will be a President to SIGN a 54-46 bill that has conservative principles. But, no truly conservative bill will get through to Bush, because the GOP - even if EVERY Senate race goes their way - will have no more than 54 Senate members next session and that is short of invoking cloture to end assured Democrat fillibusters.
That's the way the Senate works. The Dems are in lockstep because they all depend on Terry McAulliffe to feed them the union, lawyer and pro-government PAC money that goes through the DNC. Arlen Specter and Lincoln Chafee can raise copious money on their own ... GOP constituents HAVE money to donate, unlike the aged, poor and stupid that make up the Democrat constituency.
Lott is a conservative. If he had 60 conservative votes, the world would be a very different place. He did a good job forestalling Clinton's schemes. He took his Constitutionally-mandated Senate review and confirmation duties seriously regarding Clinton's judicial and executive appointments, however. I don't bust on him for that. Leahy and Daschele are engaging in gross misconduct.
Bullsh*t!
'Vacant' Lott is a weasel, the consummate politician, and a disgrace to the state of Mississippi!
Just because you might not be able to win doesn't mean you can't at least try, and at the very least show the voters where you stand, and where your opponents stand.
Otherwise, how is anyone to know there is any ideological difference between Trent Lott and The Chappaquidick Kid?
Oh, wait a minute - bad example!
There IS no difference!
One BIG thing he could do: At least PRETEND to have a brass set when he's on TV. As it is, I turn him off when he comes on. His mealy mouthed weak kneed talk makes me shout at the screen, something I don't do even when Dems come on.
Conservative? I don't think so, but time will allow your view to be tested, I expect we will do fairly well come November.
That's because many of the "RINO" screamers around here won't be happy until there are 99 Liberal and Conservative DemocRATs in the Senate and only Pat Buchanan, representing the Racist Party on the other side of the isle.
I know it's hard to believe but typical Americans like some Conservative and some Liberal ideas...