Vacant Lott: The GOP and the Ghosts of Mississippi

National Review Online ^ | 12-10-02 | Robert A. George

[Carry_Okie]

The Republicans should kick out the leadership when they become ineffective, much the same way a large corporation would. Treasury Sec. O'Neill just got a pink slip. Maybe it's time for Lott to get one too. He doesn't do anything except cut bad deals.

It is unlikely that there will be a better opportunity to make the change. Dubya should leap on it and get it over quickly.

[A2J]

I think this latest incident with Lott can be exploited by Bush and Republicans, including Lott himself, to show to the nation that the Democrats are not the only "sensitive" party.

Lott should apologize, which he already has, and resign from being Majority Leader, paving the way for a more conservative and noncompliant Majority Leader.

This way, the Republicans score points as well as appoint a leader that will not compromise with Little Tommy the way Lott has done.

[section9]

You, and everyone else on this thread, are overlooking the fact the the GOP Senators voted for Lott and elected him to be their leader.

Do they know something you don't?

Yes. They knew how to lose Senate Seats and get rolled by Bill Clinton and Tom Daschle.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Aaron0617]

How is everyone's local news reporting this?

I heard this morning on my 'Newsradio' station that Trent Lott said :"That the country would've been better off when Thurmond ran in 1948 as a segregationist"

After that the reporter played a clip of a black congressional member who said: "I can't believe Trent Lott said that. He will hear about this in January"

As you know, idiot Trent Lott didn't say anything about segregation. I was wondering if anyone else noticed Trent's statement 'reworded'.

[Sideshow Bob]

After reading your response it appears to me that Reconstruction of the South is complete and being Politically correct seem to fit most of you folks.

***

Wha? Being politically correct has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the need to dump Lott.

Lott is exactly like his predecessor, the late Sen. Bob Dole, who - while being comatose - effectively killed the Contract with America, did absolutley nothing with majority control of the Senate and ran the worst presidential campaign of the 20th century.

Lott screwed up the Clinton impeachment.
Lott gave Daschle equal power despite holding the majority (50 plus VP Cheney).
Lott pushed Jeffords out the door, lost the majority and let Tom "Puff" Dasshole push him around for 18 months.

This race thing bothers some GOP African-Americans like this author. It doesn't really faze me. I don't think Lott is a racist. Maybe he is.

But if he's not a racist, then Lott's comments reveal him to be dumber and clumsier than most Republicans thought already.

Since we already know he is weak and ineffectual, adding dumb and clumsy to the list doesn't make him any more attractive as the leader of my party in the Senate.

Sinkspur asked why the GOP Senate members would keep Lott as leader. The answer is a weak, ineffectual, dumb and clumsy leader maximizes their individual power and influence.

HEY! HO! Lott's Gotta Go!!!

[Gritty]

Lott should go.

He should have gone after he gave Clinton a pass and p!ssed all over the House Impeachment Managers. The man is an embarrassment. Worse, he is a cowardly, invertebrate compromiser and ineffective as a leader. Somewhere in his background he also must have ample blackmail material.

It's a shame a stupid and PC insensitive remark is what might do it, and not the real reasons. But, any port in a storm.

Dump Lott and get somebody in there who will be effective!!

[berserker]

Lott's comments were done infront of CSPAN cameras, and he said, "I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had of followed our lead we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either." Pretty hard to reword. (The Washington Times did not print a full quote of Lott's remarks, however, in its coverage.)

[Sideshow Bob]

C'mon now, shout it out loudly...

HEY! HO! Lott's Gotta Go!!!

[Spunky]

Hey, ho, Lott's gotta go!!

When Daschel stands up for Trent Lott, then we sure as heck better know "Hey, ho, Lott's gotta go."

[Kakaze]

" I have personally favored his removal since he set up the House Impeachment Managers for failure and held a sham "trial" for the crimes of Bill Clinton. Right then he showed himself to be unworthy of any leadership position "

Damn Straight!

[SerpentDove]

>"I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had of followed our lead we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either." <<

One SIMPLE question Lott could answer:

What specific problems do you mean, Trent?

He had to have specific problems in mind. If the problems weren't racial problems, all he needs to do to clear himself is name what he was referring to. What he said, he said deliberately and forcefully, with conviction.

Why hasn't trent Lott yet explained: "What I meant to say was..."

[The Irishman]

any port in a storm.

Unfortunately, these attacks on Lott do not constitute a port but rather a reef. The South, which is essential to any conceivable Republican or conservative success scheme, has a large contingent of folks who have no truck with racism or segregation but who are unwilling to spit on the Confederate flag or their ancestors memory just to accomadate the politically correct demands of 2002 whether espoused by the left or the neo-cons. They will not see the sacking of Lott for this minor transgression as a friendly act. Sitting out the next election would doom GWB, or do you expect Jesse and Al to come over to his side if Lott is dumped. A cursory perusal of the election returns from Louisiana could be constructive for you on this score.

I am no fan of Lott, never have been, but oppose this witch hunt.

Regards.

[SerpentDove]

>>You are right about Trent's deficiencies. But to push Lott out the window now would be an affront to free speech and expression. He just said some silly things at a birthday party, that's all he did.<<

Trent Lott is Senate Majority Leader. Nobody is questioning his first amendment rights. But if you think Trent Lott is free to say anything he wants without consequences, especially things which reflect badly on the Republican Party, I respectfully disagree.

[Sideshow Bob]

He just said some silly things at a birthday party, that's all he did.

***

But as leader of the Senate GOP he doesn't have the luxury of saying silly things at a birthday party, on the floor of the Senate or anywhere else.

If you want to wear the mantle of leadership, you must also bear the responsibility of being circumspect in all of your actions and public expressions.

Yes, Lott has the free speech right to say whatever he pleases.

But as the leader of the GOP Senate he has a responsibility to NOT say silly things.

[Theodore R.]

Yes, even people in positions of high responsibility sometimes make foolish remarks that attract opposition. haunt them. When Democrats say "silly things," I haven't heard a clamor for their resignations. When EMK can run his car off a bridge and drown a woman with near impunity, why can't Trent say a "silly thing" at Strom's birthday party? If I were Trent, I would not step down over this. However, I do not think Trent has been an effective majority leader. My discontent grew within his first year on the job. But his effectiveness as leader is a separate issue from a "silly remark" at a birthday party.

[goldstategop]

I agree that Trent Lott needs to be shoved out of the door. That's been my feeling about "Gutless Wonder" for a long time now. Its just simply that it shouldn't be on the Democrats' terms. Sometime in February or March would be a good time for him to step down gracefully to make way for someone who wants to be more than just a "white majority" leader.

[SerpentDove]

>>When EMK can run his car off a bridge and drown a woman with near impunity, why can't Trent say a "silly thing" at Strom's birthday party? <<

Because we hold ourselves to a higher standard. What was "silly" about a statement that appears racist to many if not most who heard it, and was not meant as a joke?

(Or if it was, why was it not said in a lighthearted tone, and no one laughed?)

[Theodore R.]

If people aren't free to say an occasional foolish remark, they really do not have free speech, and the country is not free. Trent embarrassed himself. That should be punishment enough in this instance. Everyone says something foolish from time to time and regrets it.

[SerpentDove]

>>If people aren't free to say an occasional foolish remark, they really do not have free speech, and the country is not free. Trent embarrassed himself. That should be punishment enough in this instance. Everyone says something foolish from time to time and regrets it.<<

Nobody is questioning his first amandment rights.

But if you think the Senate Majority Leader has the right to make a speech with racist overtones (rightly or wrongly understood), and be free from criticism from those he claims to represent (namely, me and any other Republican)....I am forced to disagree.