Greased Skids

National Review Online ^ | December 16, 2002 | David Frum

[Sideshow Bob]

Greased Skids

With Don Nickle’s call for a new election for Senate Majority Leader, Lott’s fate at last became inescapable. There will be a new election – and Lott will lose. In a last desperate maneuver, Lott is reported this weekend to have asked the White House for an endorsement from Colin Powell. Good luck! Colin Powell only barely brought himself to endorse George W. Bush in 2000, and Bush was offering him Secretary of State. Instead of getting something from the White House, Lott had to give – a guarantee that he would stay in the Senate even if defeated, thus preventing Mississippi’s Democratic governor from replacing him with a fellow-Democrat and tipping the Senate back to 50-50. Tough guy that Karl Rove.

This Lott business has been painful and dangerous for the Republican party. Yet Republicans have nevertheless insisted almost unanimously on accepting that pain and danger in order to hold their leaders to a moral standard. If Democrats felt the same way, the impeachment of Bill Clinton would have had a very different ending - and Al Gore would very likely be president today rather than a disgruntled author bitterly tabulating his sales. Honesty after all is still the best policy.

[Sideshow Bob]

Each day - and in every way - I thank God that George W. Bush was elected President (and that's quite a statement coming from me - ask the Bushies on this forum how opposed I was to Dubyah's coronation/nomination).

With Rove engineering Lott's removal as leader, the GOP might actually pass some much needed conservative legislation and approve some much needed conservative judges this year.

[Mark Felton]

The question is "Who gave Nickles the encouragement to ask for a new vote?"

Nickles would never do this without support from the Whitehouse AND many other Senators.

[steveegg]

Look out; you're about to be called a Bush-bot despite your history.

Let me guess; you're listening to Charlie Sykes right now.

[ohioWfan]

Glenn Beck the other day called President Bush's strong condemnation of Lott's stupid comments (and stupidity) 'the kiss of death' for Lott.

Methinks he's right. The skids are indeed greased, BET appearance notwithstanding.

[My2Cents]

If Lott hangs, it's because he provided the rope. Only a fool sinking in quick sand feels the need to apologize every other day.

[Sideshow Bob]

Let me guess; you're listening to Charlie Sykes right now.

Actually, I turned the radio off to take a phone call and forgot to turn it back on. Is Charlie talking about this?

[Sideshow Bob]

Each day - and in every way - I thank God that George W. Bush was elected President (and that's quite a statement coming from me - ask the Bushies on this forum how opposed I was to Dubyah's coronation/nomination).

PING
Would you care to validate this assertion?

[steveegg]

He was (and he had the take of "it's time for Lott to leave the leadershp"). Now, he's got the Algore crash and burn on.