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Trent Lott's Debacle - Now, Bush Must Act
December 14th, 2002 | Sabertooth

Posted on 12/14/2002 10:47:02 AM PST by 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."



TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: deadhorsealert; footinmouth
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To: Sabertooth
No, Bush has said what he thinks. It is up to the GOP caucus to decide what to do about Lott (Bush might chat privately with some senators one on one who wish to seek his counsel perhaps). If they decide to dump him as ML, then Bush can invite Lott to the ranch to attempt to deflect him from carrying out his blackmail, and resign from the Senate, if in fact that is what Lott is doing, and he persists, about which we hear conflicting stories. For Bush to publically dictate who should be ML is indecorous, insensitive to the structure of the separation of powers, and might backfire over the long term.
21 posted on 12/14/2002 11:04:55 AM PST by Torie
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To: Sabertooth
He is finished as a Senate Majority Leader of even mediocre effectiveness. It's time to cut our losses.

You got that right. Twice!

America's Fifth Column ... watch Steve Emerson/PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
New Link: Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)

Who is Steve Emerson?

22 posted on 12/14/2002 11:05:07 AM PST by JCG
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To: sinkspur
Why did he bring up Segregation to begin with, with his '48 comments? Because he is stupid, that's why.
23 posted on 12/14/2002 11:05:29 AM PST by tomahawk
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To: sinkspur
To be honest, it really doesn't matter whether or not Lott is a racist, though, I suspect he is, with good reason, given the Bob Jones amicus brief, the 1980 rally, and his recent comment. How else could they be taken? I challange you to give a reasonable explanation of how the nation would be better off if a segregationist had been elected in 1948.

But that really doesn't matter. Let's assume for a minute that Lott meant something completely innocent. He then was incredibly foolish in saying something that could so easily be interpreted so contraversially. He then compounded that error with an underwhelming apology.

Basically, Lott is either a racist jerk, or an idiot suffering from diarrhea of the mouth. Either way, he is not qualified to be Senate Majority leader of our party.

24 posted on 12/14/2002 11:05:59 AM PST by jude24
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To: Sabertooth
The inescapable fact is not that Lott is a racist, it's that on the very face his breathtakingly ill-considered remarks, the plainest sense was that he was paying homage to Strom Thrumond's segregationist campaign of 1948.

Actually, he wasn't. He was paying homage to Strom Thurmond. If he had said "and I think your segregation platform was just dandy," then you'd have a point.

But, you read into Lott's statement what you wanted to read into it.

25 posted on 12/14/2002 11:06:11 AM PST by sinkspur
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To: Sabertooth
This whole issue is a farce
26 posted on 12/14/2002 11:06:17 AM PST by scottinoc
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To: BuddhaBoy
I didn't think Lott was a racist until yesterday. He would not say that what he thought 40 years ago was wrong, and he ducked the question on his fraternity activities. He is leaving whether he wants to or not. Be patient.

Ah for cripes sake. What horseshit.

27 posted on 12/14/2002 11:06:22 AM PST by jwalsh07
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To: jude24
He is a stupid dufus. Not a racist. But a stupid dufus that makes you wonder if he is a racist.
28 posted on 12/14/2002 11:07:02 AM PST by tomahawk
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To: sinkspur
phoney = phony.

I have nothing to be embarrassed about, and I make no bones about the fact that I want Lott removed because of Impeachment. It is not petty, but I’ll give you vindictive. So what? And about cajones, I just hope yours can hang on when you are disappointed with Lott’s removal. If I am wrong about tomorrow, I’ll admit it. We will see. But he is out either way, and you know it.

29 posted on 12/14/2002 11:07:03 AM PST by BuddhaBoy
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To: jude24
To be honest, it really doesn't matter whether or not Lott is a racist, though, I suspect he is, with good reason, given the Bob Jones amicus brief, the 1980 rally, and his recent comment.

The Adam Clymer is right and President Reagan is a racist as well because his administration also filed an amicus brief in that case.

Of course, that won't matter one bit to you, eh?

30 posted on 12/14/2002 11:08:10 AM PST by jwalsh07
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To: tomahawk; Sabertooth
We want him out because he is a stupid dufus.

This poster says what you wanted to say, Sabertooth, but running Lott off for stupidity isn't as high and mighty as damning him for "racist" remarks.

How utterly petty!

31 posted on 12/14/2002 11:08:53 AM PST by sinkspur
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To: Sabertooth
as Rush said attack the rats and throw back their racist words.........


Harry S. Truman, Democrat


In 1911 Truman wrote to his future wife, Bess: "I think one man is just as good as another so long as he's honest and decent and not a ****** or a Chinaman. Uncle Will says that the Lord made a white man from dust, a ****** from mud, then He threw up what was left and it came down a Chinaman."
Truman continued: "I am strongly of the opinion Negroes ought to be in Africa, yellow men in Asia and white men in Europe and America."

http://reformed-theology.org/jbs/html/bipartisan_bigotry.htm


32 posted on 12/14/2002 11:09:53 AM PST by TLBSHOW
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To: Sabertooth
Now, the Democrats are all over the opportunity Lott has injudiciously provided to them.

Yourself included it seems.
But hey, it's your vanity.

33 posted on 12/14/2002 11:10:00 AM PST by PRND21
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To: sinkspur
Sink, I'm surprised that you are still claiming that this is about racism. It's about monumental stupidity and a mindnumbing lack of political skill on the part of the leader of the majority in the senate. If he was half a man he'd see this for himself and nobody would have to ask him to do what is right.

I am no longer calling for his ouster but not because I believe he should remain. I'm backing off because I believe that this country needs to be united while we are facing grave dangers. However! Once this is resolved, we need to keep him from ever being put in front of a camera as a representative of the republican party unless we surgically remove his tongue. We simply can't afford any more of his political ineptness.

34 posted on 12/14/2002 11:10:41 AM PST by McGavin999
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To: tomahawk
Why did he bring up Segregation to begin with, with his '48 comments?

He didn't bring it up.

You're bringing it up, along with all those whose racial-trip wires are set low to the ground.

35 posted on 12/14/2002 11:10:44 AM PST by sinkspur
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To: BuddhaBoy
Boy...

This is about politics. The only people cheering for this mess are the democrats, the media and people that claim to be indignant conservative/republicans. I have a sneaking suspicion you and your cohorts were never conservative, not even legitimate republicans.

36 posted on 12/14/2002 11:11:05 AM PST by cynicom
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To: Sabertooth
Well said.

Unfortunately the big baby is threatening to resign from the Senate if he can't be the Majority Leader.
Incredible.

37 posted on 12/14/2002 11:11:27 AM PST by Jorge
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To: Sabertooth
They are coming for Tancredo also Sabertooth

You really should think twice about feeding the wolves.

38 posted on 12/14/2002 11:11:42 AM PST by jwalsh07
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To: Sabertooth
If Al Sharptons base is energized and want him to run for President is this good or bad for Republicans ?
39 posted on 12/14/2002 11:11:49 AM PST by John Lenin
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To: TLBSHOW
Dont waste facts on those that are morally superior.
40 posted on 12/14/2002 11:12:11 AM PST by cynicom
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