Posted on 12/15/2002 6:33:57 AM PST by rightwing2
Fox News just reported that ABC reported that Nickles has called for a new Senate leadership challenge to Trent Lott!
The RATs would love an opportunity to gain another seat.....and then hope to convince Chaffe, McCain or Snow to 'Jump like Jim'.
I luv ya too, my dear, but we'll have to disagree, because I think Bush hung Lott out to dry. Or should I say Rove hung Lott out to dry. Bush stated his belief in Lott, and now he's showing that to not be true.
If "Anti" minority and civil right's means an end to institutional racism like affirmative action and preferences then GOOD. I hope he IS ON AN "anti-" jihad.
I wonder if that's true?
Is dubya stealthing something conservative here and Lott's comments botched it up? Or is Rove running scared and hiding under the bed because someone, somewhere might call Republicans "racist"
(like it's an entirely new and unique accusation or something..)
You sound like a fool.
President Bush did stand up against baseless attempts by the left to call all of us racist. He did it in the remarks to which you so object. As to your next assertion that the president called Christians bigots---you are engaging in gross hyperbole and it is getting beyond tiresome--it is disgusting.
So the battle lines have been drawn. Let the blood begin to flow..... lets see who can get the most cuts in..... 1,000 cuts?In a statement posted on his Web site,
Sen. Don Nickles, R-Oklahoma, said that he accepted Lott's apology for remarks apparently praising Sen. Strom Thurmond's 1948 segregationist presidential campaign.But Nickles added that the issue "is bigger than any single senator now."
"I am concerned that Sen. Lott has been weakened to the point that may jeopardize his ability to enact our agenda and speak to all Americans," the statement said. "There are several outstanding senators who are more than capable of effective leadership, and I hope we have an opportunity to choose."
.........
However, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky defended Lott on Sunday and urged the party to "accept this apology and move on."
"Sen. Lott was elected to a two-year term, and he's said he's not going to resign, and in my view he shouldn't," McConnell told "Fox News Sunday." "We need to stay together and pursue the president's agenda."
Rep. J.C. Watts, the outgoing Oklahoma representative who is the sole black Republican in Congress, told NBC's "Meet the Press" that he was prepared to accept the apology and move on, but he added there was "no defense" for what Lott said.
As for whether the Mississippian should remain at the helm of the Senate, Watts said only "that remains to be seen." ........
McConnell, who will succeed Nickles as GOP whip in the new Congress, disagreed.
"None of us senators make the image of the Republican Party," McConnell said. "President George W. Bush does that, and he's been a very inclusive president."
McConnell acknowledged the matter was "a crisis," but he insisted the party's goal should be to focus on Bush's agenda and not on the "big mistake" of the Senate GOP leader.
"If we descend into a lot of internal bickering, I don't see how we can advance the president's agenda, and to me that's the most important thing we can be doing," he said.
McConnell shot down the idea of censure -- which several leaders, including those in the Congressional Black Caucus, have called for -- threatening that the GOP would dredge up remarks by Democrats for censure if that happens.
Some of those comments, McConnell said, "are much worse than what Sen. Lott said."
"I just don't think that's a constructive use of the time of the Senate," McConnell said. "If we're going to get into the business of censuring members for racially sensitive comments, it's not going to be limited to Sen. Lott."
LOL!
Well, that pretty much ended any move for censure I think.
Just about everyone in the world who knows how this was handled agrees that Lott moved the election up to forestall a challenge. The election is rarely held a week after the election, contrary to your contention. You should read more of the stories concerning this tactic by Lott.
I must say that I am sorely disappointed in a lot of people on this forum. We all reviled the Democrats for supporting their people regardless of their actions. While I don't believe Lott is a racist, the statement he hade was politically stupid, and has harmed not only him but all conservative issues, candidates and nominees.
Do I want to lose the Senate majority? No. Am I looking for ideological purity? No. Do I think this is fair? No. But if Lott stays as ML, we will have two years of no progress on any conservative issues. He will be so busy trying to rehabilitate himself with the Dems, he will become even more accommodating - and will still allow the entire Republican party to be painted as racist, simply by remaining ML. If he throws a tantrum and resigns the Senate, that would be bad, but what does it say about him to make that kind of threat, and what does it say about us that we would cave to such tactics?
This is a letter I sent to Senator Lott this morning:
Senator Lott,
Although I am not a resident of Mississippi, as a lifelong Republican I feel that your position as Senate Majority Leader makes me a constituent of yours. As such, I felt it necessary to contact you regarding the current political fire-storm in which you find yourself.
Let me say at the outset that I do not believe for a minute that you are racist. Coming from Texas originally, I know how certain expressions and turns of phrase can insinuate themselves into a person's conversation. However unfair this attack may seem, even after your repeated apologies, the fact is that your ability to be an effective leader has been severely damaged. My hope is that your dedication to our country and to the common conservative principles that we share will outweigh any desire for personal position or power.
It is obvious that the Democrats are salivating over the prospects resulting from this incident. On one hand, if you remain as Majority Leader, you become a lightning rod, a reason to oppose every piece of legislation and nominee conservatives hope to advance. On the other hand, a statement has been attributed to you, that if forced to step down from leadership that you would resign your Senate seat, thus throwing the Senate back to a 50-50 tie, awaiting only a defection by Lincoln Chaffee or some other liberal Republican to return control to the Democrats. This would fulfill the Democrats desires as well, and would damage the nation and the conservative cause. I believe and hope that you are a man of stronger convictions than that.
It has become obvious that you have lost the confidence of the people you hope to lead, both within the Senate and without. My hope would be that you would meet with the Senate Leadership team and help to select a strong replacement for yourself. Rather than put the party through a divisive ordeal, take the initiative yourself. Put the party, your state, and the country first in your considerations. Arrange a committee chairmanship for yourself that would allow you to help the people of your state, and then step down and support a candidate for Majority Leader who can advance the political agenda that we all support - smaller government, pro-life, lower taxes, conservative judges.
There are many who expect that, if forced out as Majority Leader, you will become petty and vindictive. I believe you are a better man than that. What has happened is not fair, but it is real, and you must admit that you struck the match that started this fire-storm. I hope that you will accept that responsibility with grace and dignity, and will take the steps that are in the best interest of the country.
I will pray for you, that God grants you grace, wisdom and peace.
Best Regards,
The DemonRATs' best scenario right now if that Cave-A-Lott leaves the Senate entirely; the moment that would happen, their leaper leaps (not waiting for the DemonRAT governor of Mississippi to appoint a RAT) and hands an illegitimate "majority" to Daschle.
A VERY close second is if Lott survives as majority "leader". Lott's the only Republican stupid enough to power-"share" again, and that would keep things gridlocked until McCain launches his 2004 Screw Bush campaign and makes Daschle illegitmate "majority" leader.
The ONLY way that ANYTHING might, just might get done before that happens (it WILL happen, no matter what; it's only a question of when and whether anything would get done before that point) is if a Pubbie with enough spine to rule with a majority of VP were to become leader.
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