The only reason people in the South ... and I'm in the South ... were Democrats back then is that the Republicans put them through Reconstruction after the Civil War. Those memories, as well as the memories of Herbert Hoover ... I worked in the Ford campaign in '76, and more than once when I mentioned that I was a Republican people started screeching "Hoover, Hoover, Hoover" at me ... have finally dissipated and the parties changed.
As to Trent Lott, I'd like to see him out as leader because he's been a horrible leader both in the majority and the minority. Political considerations, however, dictate that we try to keep him in the Senate at all costs.
As far as what somebody else might have done or said 30 years ago that was worse, give it a rest. He's the one who said the stupid comment in 2002, not George Wallace in 1965 (Wallace's son is a Republican now, BTW).
Did it show that he's a Seg? No. It shows that he had terminal brain constipation and wasn't thinking. He tried to say something nice about ol' Strom BUT HE DID NOT ENGAGE HIS BRAIN BEFORE OPENING HIS FOOL MOUTH!
I have been a conservative for 34 of my 44 years on this planet, but the one thing I hate about being a conservative is how my brethren on the right have the tendency to, when something like this happens, start screeching "Well he said this back then" and start screeching about unfairness and double standards.
Excuse the capitals, but ... WHY DO WE PERSIST IN, KNOWING FULL WELL THAT WE ARE NOT IN A FAIR FIGHT, STICKING OUR JAWS OUT AND SAYING "HIT ME" AND THEN WHINING ABOUT HOW UNFAIR IT ALL IS WHEN OUR ENEMIES ADMINISTER A LEFT HOOK?
I'm sorry but intelligence is not a requirement for election to the Senate nor election to the majority. Should of.. would of.. ought to... so freaking what? Lott need not answer to anyone but the citizens of Mississippi.