[Tall_Texan]

I think the ones being played for fools are the folks who want to keep Lott in power. The Democrats want to weaken Lott but they don't want him to leave. He's their new Newt Gingrich. They WANT his face on television so they can pull out the race card after everything he says. They want to run ads in 2004 as to why you should elect the Democrat for the Senate "so Trent Lott isn't running the Senate."

They know attacking Bush hasn't been working very well so they have to have a different boogeyman to scare folks into voting Democrat. Hastert is too bland and Cheney and Ashcroft are too removed from the day-to-day of politics. So the only logical meanie to beat up on is Trent Lott.

The LAST thing they want is for Trent Lott to go away. Who would they have around to demonize? Tom DeLay, second banana in the House? That's not a compelling target.

Other than the CBC, you'll notice the elected Dems have shut up about Lott after realizing their destruction machine was working too well. They only wanted to soften him up. He's too useful for them right where he is to see him quit.

The real question is why some Republicans feel inclined to keep this man in a position for which he is so obviously ill-suited. Can we possibly get somebody to take his place who won't drop his shorts every time the Democrats pout about something being unfair? Can we possibly get somebody in there who treats the Democrats the way the Democrats treat us? Sounds like McConnell's ready for the job. judging from his "censure" threat...

[ApesForEvolution]

"I want to say this...we voted for him...and we're proud of it...and if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all of these problems over these years..."

And then the rest of his ties to segregation and racists. It's not pretty, no matter how much lipstick you put on that pig.

[kcvl]

Let's just fall for the scare tactics again. NO WAY! That's what has kept them in power for so many years. It's time to stop it and stop it now.

[Sabertooth]

I think the ones being played for fools are the folks who want to keep Lott in power. The Democrats want to weaken Lott but they don't want him to leave. He's their new Newt Gingrich. They WANT his face on television so they can pull out the race card after everything he says. They want to run ads in 2004 as to why you should elect the Democrat for the Senate "so Trent Lott isn't running the Senate."

I know what you're saying, but I think reactions across the board, pro and con, are way beyond any Democrat manipulations.

I do agree that some of the Machiavellians on the other side wouldn't mind seeing Lott hang around, but I think most of the Republicans defending him are sincere, but reacting instinctively, rather than thinking it through.