Don Nickles Calls for New Senate Leadership Election to Challenge Lott

Fox News | 12-15-02

[itsahoot]

When has that little cockroach EVER done anything good for the Republican Party?

I agree with that assessment entirely.

Now could you apply that same logic to the Majority leader?

[ImphClinton]

Great post.

I really believe most of us here are out for the good of the Party. It is most unfortunate that we can not have more leaders with the instinct for politics that President Bush has.

I am very sad that Trent Lott does not understand the racial problem that 2002 America faces but it is obvious he does NOT.

First and Bush had better come up with a great plan that addresses the black problems or we will still be hurt as a party long after Lott resigns. It needs to help get Blacks out of poverty raising the minimum wage for those 20 and older might be a great start.

[TN4Liberty]

Re: Frist being a moderate... I agree he is a solid conservative, which is one reason I liked seeing the article refer to him as a "moderate." That term is normally used for liberal Republicans and any democrat to the right of Chairman Mao, but wouldn't it be wonderful to change the frame of reference for that label to something more conservative?

[steveegg]

Considering I have a strong anti-Lott bias, good points. I do, however, have a couple of comments.

First, the fact that the Left is focusing on the removal of Trent Lott means that they have one and only one RINO that will follow in the footsteps of Jeffords right now regardless of the status of Lott. While I strongly believe that is Lincoln Chafee, that person's identity is not vital right now.

Second, if McCain were serious about trying to ensure that President Bush is a one-termer, he's going to have to lay all of the groundwork sometime in 2003, including leaving the Republican Party. If the Senate is already at 50-50 for whatever reason, Senate Illegitimate "Majority" Leader Tom Daschle becomes our worst political nightmare again.

Given that, it is vital that until that point is reached (IMHO, that is inevitable and the only question is when it happens), the Senate Republicans actually do some leading. Trent Lott has proven time and again that he is incapable of providing that leadership. Picking a replacement with the express purpose of trying to keep all the RINOs in the fold is just as bad as keeping Lott as neither Lott nor any leader with that objective will avoid another bout of power-"sharing".

All of that having been said, while it is vital to remove Lott from his leadership role, it is just as vital that he remain Senator. Should he retire, the Democratic governor of Mississippi will appoint a Democrat to replace Lott. Within 24 hours of the resignation (it doesn't matter whether that appointee makes it to Washington), I fully expect the "mystery leaper" to leap and give Daschle his illegimate "majority".

[itsahoot]

So the truth finally comes out. You never had the Republicans best interest at heart.

Your kidding? With a screen name like John Lennon you had to guess his leanings?

[alnick]

I'm one of those and I believe they were both wrong...

No, if you think they are both wrong, then you're definitely not one of them. I'm talking about people who are defending Lott by refusing to admit that what he said was wrong. Whether or not you feel he should remain ML is more a matter of opinion than of fact.

[dogbyte12]

Lott's excuse for not being on tv, but handing out statements and telephone interviews was that he was vacationing in Boca Raton and they don't have a tv station there with a satellite uplink.

Ft. Lauderdale is 21.27 miles from Boca
West Palm Beach is 27.77 miles from Boca
Miami is 45.97 miles from Boca

Lott could not be bothered to be driven, under an hour from his vacation spot, to be on tv. That is what he is telling us. Hubris, hubris, hubris.

[EternalVigilance]

I agree that it was a trial balloon that didn't work, but I think there are enough liberals in business and the press that if Lott did resign, he would be comfortable, and lauded in the press for the rest of his life.

I disagree. They would treat him in retirement even worse than they treat Gingrich in retirement.

And of course, his name would forever be more a swear word amongst Republicans than even Jefford's is.

[deport]

Question... have you heard from PhiKapMom in the last few days? She hasn't posted on the forum since Dec 3rd and I'd like to hear her thoughts on Nickles, Watts assessments.

[crasher]

"Nickles is not going to be the next majority leader. I wouldn't waste a lot of time doing research on him."

Why are you so sure of that. For obvious reasons, he's who I would be rooting for. I think it will be Nickles, Frist, or McConnell. And I don't think Frist wants the job. All he has to do is keep his nose clean the next 6 years and he will be the Republican frontrunner in 2008, assuming Jeb and Cheney don't run. Becoming Majority Leader would be so risky.

[Dallas]

I just posted the link for ya.

I've never read the thread, and don't have an opinion.

[Republic of Texas]

Preachin' to the choir here.

[Charlie OK]

I would like to take this opportunity to take partial credit for this. ;^ ) I have sent two letters to Nickles in the past couple of months, one when we won the majority, and one just the other day, practically begging him to challenge Lott for the spot. Mission (hopefully) accomplished, I should say!!

You're Welcome!! ;^ )

[Republic of Texas]

Republicans tend to be more forgiving than Dems. Hell, Lott called Jeffords his "friend" the other day.

[marajade]

What he said was wrong and I pray he knows what he said was wrong but it shouldn't cost him the ML...

[sinkspur]

Now could you apply that same logic to the Majority leader?

No. If Lott decides to quit on his own, or he calls for a vote of confidence on his own then I'm fine with either of those.

I'm disappointed in what Wes Pruden has called, and I'm adopting, the "canonized conservatives" who are using their pique over impeachment to lock arms with the Maxine Waters and Elijah Cummings to essentially brand Lott a racist and run him out of town.

[Torie]

It needs to help get Blacks out of poverty raising the minimum wage for those 20 and older might be a great start.

Oh dear. A high minimum wage is anti black. It shuts those on the lowest rungs out of even more jobs, even if it only applies to those over 20. We have an income tax credit to boost incomes, which is how you deal with raising the income of hard working low paid full time workers, without destroying jobs or distorting the economy as much. Bush needs to just keep doing what he is doing, including pursuing faith based charities. He does not need to start thinking up ways to spend more money (which we don't have) on programs of questionable value (not that Bush is shy about spending money), or to move farther away than we are from a race neutral society.

[Torie]

Lott was in Key West actually.

[Torie]

Read my later revised and extended remarks. Thanks.

[EternalVigilance]

I agree with many things in your post, but we don't need some sort of so-called 'interim' leader like Dr. Frist.

We need strong new leadership that can consolidate our majority for the long haul...and lay the groundwork for increasing our majority in '04.

Time is too critical to be sidetracked into a strategy like that.

The Frist path is one that leads to a years-long dead end for the GOP...and I will continue to argue against it as forcefully as I can.