Trent Lott's Debacle - Now, Bush Must Act

December 14th, 2002 | Sabertooth

[Sabertooth]

Once again, in his own indelible words, the Republicans' Senate Majority Leader-elect:

"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 followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either."

~Trent Lott - December, 2002

When Strom Thurmond ran for President, he was a segregationist Dixiecrat spurred into revolt against the Democrats by Hubert Humphrey's Civil Rights plank in the '48 Democratic Party platform. Mississippi was one of four segregationist Southern States that voted for Thurmond. Segregation was the purpose and limited appeal of the Dixiecrats. It was the banner under which they marched.

The plainest sense of Lott's words are that he approves of the above.

Even though I don't believe that's what Lott meant, nor that he's a racist, that fact is inescapable. It takes backpedaling and damage control to escape the plain meaning of what Lott said and explain what's really in his heart. It's disingenuous to suggest otherwise.

The only way to for Trent Lott to address Thurmond's '48 campaign would have been to chart how far the retiring senior Senator from South Carolina has traveled in the last 54 years, and to use him as a metaphor to further illustrate how far the South and America have come. Had he done this, Lott could have simultaneously honored the Centenarian Senator and reiterated that Republicans, like the South and like America, have learned the errors of racism and segregation, and have long since embarked on a better path.

That Lott could not grasp this after decades in Washington is striking, particularly since this isn't the first time he's failed to navigate this reef. Speaking after a Thurmond speech for Ronald Reagan in 1980, then-Congressman Lott told the crowd: ""You know, if we had elected this man 30 years ago, we wouldn't be in the mess we are today."

Now, the Democrats are all over the opportunity Lott has injudiciously provided to them. That it seems unfair is irrelevant. He left himself open for the sucker punch and got pounded. He's only made matters worse with his tepid series of apologies: too little, too Lott. He is finished as a Senate Majority Leader of even mediocre effectiveness. It's time to cut our losses.

President Bush needs to invite Lott to the ranch in Crawford, and offer him a more artful and diplomatic rendering of the following:

"Senator, with your ill-advised remarks you've brought turmoil and embarrassment on yourself, the party, and the country. You've served all well in the past and I thank you for that service from the bottom of my heart. Unfortunately, the events of the past few weeks call for a reassessment of the nature of your future service. The horses have left the barn, but there does remain an open path for you, a path that is both honorable and humbling: step aside as Majority Leader and continue to serve in the Senate.

I understand the sacrifice my request places on you, and sympathize with it's burden, but our nation and our agenda are in peril.

I need you, and I'm asking you as you President to do this for the good of America."

[EternalVigilance]

Okay, now you've succeeded in ousting Lott, what's next? Back to power sharing and maybe with another jumper say hello to ML Daschle

That's simply not true. If we have a new ML, that doesn't change the numbers in the Senate one iota.

The only way the numbers change is if Lott is stupid enough to become the biggest traitor since Benedict Arnold.

[EternalVigilance]

"I'm saying Mr. Lott should step aside"-Peggy Noonan

Obviously, I agree with Peggy.

[deport]

That's what he is according to most 'kick him outs' on this board... STUPID.... thus why do you think he'd hang around and be thought of as the stupid ignorant racist from Mississippi just so you can feel good about seeing him disposed from his role? He'd be a damn fool to hand around, jmo, but then I dont' have the insight that most seem to have on this board about how things work.

Thus if I'm right and you are wrong then what are you going to do about power sharing or ML Daschle? It's a damn good possiblility at this stage.

[TLBSHOW]

LEFT WING RATTY RAT WEB SITE FACT....

[Torie]

Face it, you don't have a clue whether Lott is using that club or not, and neither does anyone else. There are contradictory articles on it all over the place. Awareness of ignorance is the first step to knowledge. Write that down.

[TLBSHOW]

Get over it. It's nothing. Lott is not a bigot. Let the Democrats stew over it until hell freezes over for all I care.

59 posted on 12/11/2002 9:46 PM EST by Jim Robinson

Mostly you have the "party of personal destruction," led by the socialist black caucus stirring the cauldron.

Aided and abetted, of course, by assorted Lott haters of the right (of which I admit to being one, but do not join in this lynching). This is a public hate crime in process.

75 posted on 12/12/2002 7:04 PM EST by Jim Robinson

[MonroeDNA]

Lott is compromised, with his FBI file in a dem database. Bisexual stuff, while in college, as a male cheerleader.

You're crazy. That stuff would have been out six years ago, when he succeeded Dole as Majority Leader. This is "George W. Bush dancing naked on a bar" crap. It never happened.

Yes, his FBI file DID get sent to the white house, under Clinton. Yes, he WAS a male cheerleader at MS. Yes, he has acted like he is compromised ever since. Yes, there are stories about his being caught in bed with a man, in college.

Ask DougfromUpland.

[Endeavor]

Ditto

[habs4ever]

Saber, Bush did act.He settled it.If and when Lott needs to be pushed, for not getting the Bush legislative agenda through, say by June, then fine and dandy.He's shown conclusively his worth to the WH.Until that happens, this is harping.It's over, unless you want to keep stirring the pot.

This thread would have been more appropriate 5 days ago, but not now.Sorry :-)

[TLBSHOW]

When did you hear about it first? What news show what time. Please answer. Because I am right.

[EternalVigilance]

Thus if I'm right and you are wrong then what are you going to do about power sharing or ML Daschle? It's a damn good possiblility at this stage.

Well, if that is the way this pans out, it will certainly cement Lott's reputation as the biggest political fool of all time.

To answer your question, we'll go on, and try and choose leaders with more wisdom and fortitude in the future, I suppose.

But I assure you, the back-slapping shallow Trent Lott, who obviously wants people to like him above all else, will not enjoy the rest of his life knowing that every thinking Republican in the country hates him viscerally, and that he deserves it.

[Torie]

He would hang around because he would realize that his removal was due to him becoming a liability by virtue of his own hand (mouth), irrespective of his evolution to that status being fair or unfair, and that if he believes what he says he believes, and wants to accomplish, he is duty bound to remain however discomfited he is by his diminished role. That is what you or I would do in similar circumstances, and most folks of good character and spirit, with an interest in making the polity a better place. Thus, even if Lott has made the threat, I really can't believe he would carry it out.

[Endeavor]

Habs, with all due respect to the Canadiens (tip 'o the hat), you're wrong. Lott still remains as ML to be, and those of us who find this appalling, due to his comments of a week ago last Thursday, continue to call for his ouster as ML. - E

[TLBSHOW]

nah ratty rat democrats did its a internet rumour wake up

[HardStarboard]

>>>Lott grew some balls <<<

Lott had no seeds from which to grow any!! He's acting out of self-preservation only. New leadership was needed before he opened his mouth; now its mandatory!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Would you agree that if Lott had said something like that, there would now be no controversy?

The controversy has been raised by the Democrats and everyone else willing to play their game. In 1948 Thurmond wasn't the only one for Segregation. I'm sure the Democrats would've found some fault in whatever Lott might've said. I'm just tired of the PC that goes along statements like these.

[TLBSHOW]

more like smear and rumour all rolled into one by democrat left wing nut sites like du and others

[EternalVigilance]

I don't want to lynch him...I just don't want him leading the U.S. Senate, or being the face the electorate thinks of when they think 'Republican'.

I haven't changed my position on that in years...this debacle is just further proof of his ineptitude.

Even his defenders here admit the guy is stupid and doesn't further the conservative cause in the Senate...what does that say for him?

[f.Christian]

thanks!

[deport]

Why wouldn't it pan out..... He's STUPID...... it has been made very plain by many on this forum, the democrats, the CDC, NOW, media pundits, hell most all I'd guess.... Why should he be enlightened just to save the Republican party that has no use for him now? He maybe STUPID, but I'd bet he's not a complete fool. After all the Republican Senators did elected him to the Majority Leader position FIVE TIMES, so they must have seen something there or maybe they were just STUPID themselves.

If this goes down and it appears to have a good chance of it be ready to dance the democrat, CDC, NOW, jig for many moons to come. Everytime they see an opportunity to do so the racism, feminist, etc mantra will be hoisted. It's about power and control to them and they look like they have hit upon a winner to put them back on top.