WHO WILL LEAD THE SENATE?-GOP Leaders Discussing How/Who Calls for Lott to Step Aside

The American Spectator ^ | Dec. 11, 2002 | The Washington Prowler

[ewing]

Republicans on Capitol Hill and conservatives in Washington and around the country are discussing how best to call for Trent Lott's stepping aside as Senate Majority Leader.

According to a knowledgeable Senate source, GOP members of both houses are extremely concerned that Lott's comments have so derailed the momentum gained from the 2002 elections that it would be impossible come January to make numerous confirmations for the executive branch, begin planning a legislative agenda that includes accelerating the Bush tax cuts and pushing through a prescription drug plan for seniors.

Even more upsetting to Republicans is that realization that Lott's comments may make it virtually impossible to bring a number of potentially controversial judicial nominations to the Senate floor successfully.

[cpdiii]

Lott is not a racist he is stupid. The GOP should remove him for being a poor leader and abjectly stupid. There is a fine Senator in Oklahoma that is not stupid and would do a hell of a job.

[katana]

You are absolutely correct about Mr. De Wine and Mr. Voinovich. I'd nominate Sen. Bailey Huchison of Texas, Allen of Virginia, or Nickles of Oklahoma. Any of the three, including the lady, have more glandular gravitas than Trent Lott or our own pair of Buckeyes.

[GreatOne]

Strom winning in '48 would have been an unmitigated evil, giving a national mandate for Jim Crow (and I say this, like almost all South Carolinians, as a lover of the post-60s Strom). Only a complete political idiot or closet racist would dream otherwise. I'll give Trent the benefit of the doubt: he's an idiot.

Agree 100%, particularly that Lott is an idiot. He definitely should have qualified what he meant by "State's Rights". Abiding by that is not the same like saying, "Nazism was good, except for the killing of the Jew." There, the whole ideology was severely flawed. State's Rights, which is simply the following of the 10th Amendment, is a perfectly good thing to believe in, but can have an evil impact if taken to an extreme. The 14th Amendment trumped the 10th regarding segregation Jim Crow, anyway, so Strom's use of State's Rights as an excuse was a bastardized interpretation.

[ken5050]

Here's a thought.....Lott should say he has done nothing wrong, but in the interest of promoting racial harmony in the country, he will resign as US Senator if.....IF...( wait for it) Robert Byrd ALSO resigns his Senate seat......

[DodgeRam]

Your right in time it will die down, but unless he comes out with a hell of a media campaign to blunt this he will not be able be leader of the senate. If he does not become leader the republicans must insist that byrd also step down, or they will continue hounding the republicans about this. I know they will do it anyway, but we have to remove the target and fire back. He could say something like I'am resigning in order to further the goals of my party against an onslaught of unfair accusations, and I hope my actions will set an example for others in the senate.

[Caliban]

NOPE...Look for Orrin Hatch...he will be the MORAL Majority Leader...and will pave the way for his seat on the Supreme Court....

[ken5050]

I'm a big fan of Nichols but he isn't the most polished speaker, and that's a drawback....he doesn't convey the message well....not a criticism, just a statement of fact....the SML is a highly visible position.....my choice is Santorum....strong conservative ratings....100% pro-life...he's a poished speaker..and the fact that he comes from an industrialized northern swing state is a big plus.....shows that you can be right on the issues and still succeed

[John Lenin]

BIG overreaction from conservatives, it plays right into the hands of the RATS. You people are unbelieveable. This is why the GOP is so sad, they cut off their nose to spite their face.

[Credo]

Here's a link to another post I did on this thread.

I call this Clueless in Crawford.

Lott needed to go a long time ago. He should stay in the Senate as he has a rat Governor. He does need to step down as leader. My personal favorites to replace him are Santorum & Sessions.

As for Byrd, he's the Rats' problem. Let's get the Rat Governor out of WV and then Byrd.

[I'm ALL Right!]

Bump for Nickles!

[ken5050]

No link...sorry..BTW, does anyone know about the number of blacks on Lott's staff?....

[capitoltex]

Yep, Senator Hutchison was a UT cheerleader. Hook 'em!

She's second from the right on the bottom row:
http://www.cah.utexas.edu/exhibits/SixtiesExhibit/large/large3.html

[Tex-Con-Man]

From a political strategy point of view, Daschle is the only one who is handling this correctly so far. He accepts Lott's apology (makes himself look magnanimous), and he gets to keep a political hammer in his back pocket. I believe he is currently trying to get fellow Democrats to quiet down in order to keep Lott as Senate Leader. The last thing Daschle wants is a strong Republican leader in the Senate.
Thanks to numbskull Lott, the race-baiters already have the issue...what we do from here will determine whether they will still have it for '04.

[BuddhaBoy]

The problem with Hutchinson, is that she promised to never campaign against another woman, Democrat or Republican.

She is in a box. If she does, then she will be called a liar, for a stance she didnt have to take. If she doesnt, then she is ineffectual.

Santorum should be the leader.

[Mia T]

BTW, Sean Hannity misses the point when he attempts to justify retaining Lott by pointing to the double standard. i.e., clinton honoring the racist Fulbright and democrat leader Sen. KKK Byrd,

Those counterexamples are, in fact, irrelevant. The issue isn't the racial double standard. Indeed, the double standard is rooted in entrenched perception...and in politics, perception is reality.

The issue is whether Lott is a liability, not whether it is fair that he is a liability.

[rs79bm]

I'm shooting for Bill Frist. This guy has the intellect above and beyond any other member.

[BuddhaBoy]

The last thing Daschle wants is a strong Republican leader in the Senate.

That is a great point.

No one wants Trent Lott to stay more than Tom Daschle.

[carton253]

I agree with you... and by reading the reactions of the Republicans everywhere... now I know that Christians aren't they only ones who shoot their wounded.

[KLT]

The issue is whether Lott is a liability, not whether it is fair that he is a liability.

Agreed Mia....100%

Will never get over how Lott managed to lose the majority....and how "in the name of bipartisianship" he gave the RATS this and that...used to get me sick..

[ken5050]

your usual brilliant analysis........what, no graphics? (g)