[cynicom]

RobbyS.... We are talking POLITICS here, what Lott said and what Bush said. Not what transpired long ago. The subject is politics. I am not the judge of anyones actions or their character. We are discussing the POLITICS of this affair.

[RobbyS]

And I am saying that Lott is not a good political leader. Just look at how he handled this mess. He gave the impression that he had to figure out why what he said was wrong. This is a blunder as great as Bush's concealing of that drunken driving episode. That almost cost Bush the election. It was not that Bush IS a drunk but that to a large chunk of the electorate he seemed to be a liar--like you know who. Appearances are everything and we are going into the session appearing to be led by a "good old boy" from Mississipi. How does this ring, not only with the blacks but with the white medwesterners, for instance? A good politcian does not hand his arm to his enemy so that his enemy can beat him over the head with it. The simplest way to put this behind us is to put Lott on the backbench.