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.

[Theodore R.]

If Trent gets disgusted with his colleagues -- who may be as spineless as he is -- he might just resign the whole shebang and go back to Pascagoula to watch the ocean waves and enjoy his tax cuts. Then Governor Musgrove (who I assume will be challenged in 2003 by Haley Barbour, loser to John Stennis in 1982), can name a Democrat to fill the remaining four years of Trent's term. Then it will be 50 Republicans, 49 Democrats, and Farmer Jim.

[Theodore R.]

Yes, as long as the miscreant remains Democrat, he is safe. But if he switches parties -- G. Harrold Carswell, Thurmond -- he is always suspect in the eyes of the media and the "democracy." RCB represents the soul of the Democrat party for many elderly Americans. He is untouchable. He has more or less inherited the role once held by former Rep. Claude Pepper, D-FL.

[For the Unborn]

There is a big difference between Trent Lott as Majority Leader in the 1990s and Trent Lott as ML in 2002. The difference? One Man, President George W. Bush. The President will take charge of the legislative agenda not Trent Lott or anyone else.

[savedbygrace]

What are you talking about? Lott isn't going to resign from the Senate. He might be forced to step down as Majority Leader, but the pubbies will still have a 51-48-1 advantage.

[RobbyS]

Byrd is in his dotage. What is Lott's excuse? Futhermore Lott played right into their hands. Stupid. What enrages even moderate blacks is the belief that the Republican Party is run by men who are still segs in the heart of hearts. Now Lott has confirmed their prejudice.

[IronJack]

If the GOP "leaders" were so concerned about Lott, why did they just re-elect him to the Majority Leader's position? For the second time?

They had their chance to throw this bum out after the elections. Instead, they reanointed him to the seat and look what he's done for them.

[Don Munn]

Then to continue your case, 50-50 senate and Little Tommy goes and finds another Jumping Jim to cross the aisle.

[Texasforever]

I think you outed yourself as no Republican last night.

He is a fraud.

[San Jacinto]

David Horowitz is not one to underplay the hypocracy of the race pimps. Yet, Horowitz' conclusion is this:

"If he was oblivious to the implications of his outrageous remarks at Thurmond's party, that is reason enough for him to step down as Republican leader in the Senate. The stakes are simply too high to allow this kind of political stupidity (which is to put the best spin on it) to pass without consequence. It is bad for the Republican Party and for the country."

The longer Lott stays, the more this will fester.

[alphadog]

Kaye Bailey Hutchinson

RINO

[BenR2]

No, but he likes kissing their asses.

And I might suggest that you aren't worthy to change Senator Thurmond's dirty diapers.

[goldstategop]

I nominate Bill Frist. He should get the top job.

[let freedom sing]

Well-- what IF a white supremetists had won in '48? You think we'd all be wearing 'hoods, instead of living in 'hoods? The "Great Society" was a "Great Mistake," for Afro-Americans, women, children and other welfare-drugged minorities.

[185JHP]

Lott made deals to get the job in the first place. It's obvious. It wasn't his charisma, scintillating personality, or warrior ethos. He also was somehow compromised in the X42 wimpout. An empty husk, except for maybe some spite and a wisp of vindictiveness. He should be relieved from leadership and any good committees. An embarassment.

[SerpentDove]

REPUBLICAN SENATE MAJORITY LEADER:
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IS OK
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Has Party Backing

I hope everybody likes that soundbite. Because we can "explain" till we're blue in the face, but if we keep defending Lott, we're gonna be hearing it for a lonnnnnnnnnng time.

I say it's not worth losing the whole Republican agenda over him, no matter what other high-minded motives we might have.

Lott expresses regret for remarks; court filing from 1981 surfaces

Can any politician survive this?

From Associated Press (EXCERPT):

"Senate Republican leader Trent Lott tried to help Bob Jones University keep its federal tax-exempt status despite the school's policy prohibiting interracial dating two decades before his recent comments stirred a race controversy.

"Racial discrimination does not always violate public policy," Lott, then a congressman from Mississippi, wrote in a 1981 friend of the court brief that unsuccessfully urged the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the Internal Revenue Service from stripping the university's tax exemption.

IMHO, SD

[sneakypete]

Paging elder Majority Leader Bob Dole..your presence is required in Trent Lott's office

Bob Dolt was no better than Lott. He taught Lott everything he knows about surrendering when there is some danger you might win.

Lott might as well go ahead and plan on retiring. It's all over for him. No way in hell is Bubba-2 or the RNC going to stand up to the DNC or the Congressional Black Caucaus on this or anything else. Bubba-2 and the RNC are already making plans to replace him with someone the DNC has already approved. The 2002 election fight is over,the Republicans won,and they are busily arranging their surrender.

[Major Matt Mason]

If Trent gets disgusted with his colleagues -- who may be as spineless as he is -- he might just resign the whole shebang and go back to Pascagoula to watch the ocean waves and enjoy his tax cuts.

And if he stays on, there is a real possibility that senators like Chaffee, Snowe, Collins, and maybe even McCain, will use Trent's presence as Senate Majority Leader as an excuse to leave the Republican party. I think this is a much surer path to being the minority party once again.

I have absolutely no idea why anyone would stand by this guy, particularly conservatives. He has publicly proven himself to be an idiot, not a sin necessarily, but not a quality that you want in a leader. His utter cluelessness is an embarassment to himself, as well as to the rest of the Republican party, and his spineless "leadership" over the past few years makes one wonder what anyone saw in Trent's abilities.

I think Lott can be retained with promises of copious pork for MS, so he'll at least look good to his constituency. Keeping him in the leadership position seems like a sure-fire way to lose the President's hard-earned victories in this past election, however.

[jospehm20]

I agree. I think that this is a non event and the 'Rats are just doing their usual shrill politics of personal destruction thing. If they are really serious about ridding the Senate of racism, tell them to start the show by calling for KKK "Konscience of the Senate" Byrd to resign. If they do not do that than this is not about racism but about getting Lott to resign and letting the 'Rat governor of MS replace him with a 'Rat. Screw the 'Rats, they suck butt and I tire of their PC BS.

[FairOpinion]

Wphile: "I can't believe this story is still going. The double standard here is absolutely breathtaking. And the Republicans are scared? What a bunch of wimps. Why doesn't Lott just get up there and say, "hey, I didn't say anything about segregation and if you guys are trying to infer that, then you are the ones saying it, not me. You are making a mountain out of a molehill here. I was just trying to saying something nice to a 100 year old man. Sheesh." He won't and he'll step aside and the press and the true racists win again. Pathetic.
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My sentiments exactly.

[Huck]

And I might suggest that you aren't worthy to change Senator Thurmond's dirty diapers.

Thanks. I wouldn't expect to be.