Don Nickles Calls for New Senate Leadership Election to Challenge Lott

Fox News | 12-15-02

[rightwing2]

Fox News just reported that ABC reported that Nickles has called for a new Senate leadership challenge to Trent Lott!

[rintense]

I hope that Bush, Rove and every other Republicans are 120% sure that Snow, Chaffee and McCain will stay put. Because if Lott leaves the Senate (which he has threatened to do if forced out), the hard fought victory in November will be all for naught.

[SBprone]

"This is a very craven move by Nickles, demonstrating how personally ambitious he is as a pol.He could have waited and done this quietly, worked on alliances with more moderate elements in the caucus,but he had to grab for it now when he lacked the fortitude to do it a few months back.Somehow his suuporters think this won't hurt the Bush agenda right off the bat?

Nickles is showing he isn't up to the job but doing it this way.He has no sense of tactics, or lotalty, and no one knows whether this guy has the ability at all to keep 51 divergent egos all in check.Freepers can rail all they want about getting a guy with "guts" and being conservative enough, but when a man with an ACU rating of 93 is deemed weak when his job is to manage the competing interests of so many Senators and advance the ball, just what the hell do they expect?

Freepers are ignoramusus about what the Majority Leader's job is all about.If they want high drama from their politics say so, but pragmatism is the most crucial element required by a leader of that body.Nickles fails on this score.

Nickles is showing he doesn't have the smarts to be an effective leader.There is a reason that he was never voted leader, and it's apparent for all to see now."


I had to quote your whole post because it all bears repeating.

Lott WILL lose his job, OK? We just don't know if it will happen in January of 03 or 07 or even later. When it does happen we won't know anything about it until it's a done deal. Public grandstanding by the likes of Nickles isn't how this game is played. Committments from other Senators are obtained in private and when it's over the nation is presented with a fait accompli.

[BuddhaBoy]

I think Frist would win if nominated, but he is a waste in that job. I think you are right about Chaffee. I also don’t think Nickles would have spoken up this morning if he wanted the job. Frist is very likely, but I would still wish for Rick Santorum.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Re: Post 200

Well said!

[Republic of Texas]

Lott's problem is that WITHOUT all the recent controversy, he is a WEAK and INEFFECTVE Majority Leader. If he had been strong in the past, Republicans would be lining up to support him.

[AmericaUnited]

How about we lose it all because people fall for the race-baiting EVERY TIME they use it?

The only way we would "lose it all" is if Lott resigned out of spite. If he did that, he is the biggest scumbag on the face of this earth and good riddance.

[TLBSHOW]

AAGC SUPPORTED TRENT SO OF COURSE THE REPUBLICANS SLAP EM IN THE FACE

[dennisw]

Thanks. I really do hope Trent Lott can stay where he is. If it's untenable do you have sympathy for him if he leaves the Senate in a huff ....Allowing a RAT takeover? Sure he can rake in the big bucks outside but does he want to be known for this in Washington DC (rest of nation doesn't care)

Just what Tommy Daschle is plotting is it not?

[rintense]

Yep.

Ironic though that so far, it seems each of my action points is coming true. Now let's hope Lott has been convinced behind the scenes to accept a committee chair.

[kcvl]

Grow up, boy.

The great middle, where elections are won, are watching this and finding that Republicans really won't tolerate the closet racism of which the democraps accuse us.

Sounds like you KNOW what you are talking about. Closet racist? The great middle where you have NO IDEA what you believe?

[cake_crumb]

"I think the maddest I got at Lott was when he tried to shore himself up by quoting Sen. Jeffords' support. Well, DUH!, Trent. Of course, Jeffords would love for you to stay majority leader so the Dims could take back the Senate in '04."

He didn't help himself with his press conference Friday, either. While he didn't go as far into the "I've done SOOOOO much for all of you" routine, he was starting to sound a little like Toricelli.

[kcvl]

I don't think Lott is really one-bit of a racist. I just say let's use this opportunity to dump him as leader because of past sins and current stupidity.

[Right_in_Virginia]

"But to resign now and imperil the GOP majority would be churlish and would only hurt Lott's own legacy."

Hurt Lott's "legacy"...as opposed to what? Being forced out because he's a racist?

[habs4ever]

Hey ,lots want to be POTUS, but have they shown abilities to lead others? Biden, Kennedy, Hatch,McCain,Gore,Specter...the list goes on and on.If your scenario is true, Nickles is ure getting a big headstart on 2008, isn't he? The elusive qualities it takes to be POTUS are revealed in character and temperment.The best ones are both wise and likeable, and are profoundly counterintuitive political operators.Reagan was like that, so is GWB.

I haven't seen anything so far from Nickles that makes me think he's got the same talents as GWB.

[TLBSHOW]

Black and white Democrats alike who continue to demand that he [Lott] step down are doing so only for political reasons. And Republicans who fail to support him are displaying cowardice. Lott should not step down; he should not offer any more apologies—this matter is done! We should judge people based on their hearts and actions, and unlike many of his detractors, Trent Lott has no history of being a racist.”

jesse lee peterson

[rintense]

I am extremely, EXTREMELY disappointed in President Bush, and now, I have to question who is calling the shots- him or Rove. And you all know how I feel about Rove.

[cyncooper]

Trent Lott owes nothing to anyone but to those who elected him.

He was elected to his Leadership position by his fellow Senators and it could be argued he let them down and if there is a remedy they wish to employ to remove that position from him they have the right to do it.

[Wordsmith]

If even 2 of the 3 you mentioned - Snow, Chaffee, and McCain - wanted to switch parties they could do so now and return the Senate to Democratic control, regardless of what happens to Lott.

[sinkspur]

Do you think Nickles is LESS of a conservative than Trent Lott?

It doesn't matter what I think. It matters what his fellow Senators think, and he is not as popular as Lott is among his fellow Senators. He's brash, shoots off his mouth, and pulls stunts like he just did.

Lott may go, but Nickles won't be his replacement. In fact, I think this little move today dooms him, for sure.

[KansasConservative]

What's the process now to have new elections for ML? I wonder if Nickles was sent out to start this last push to remove Lott? I believe Frist will win if he runs.