Turning a Corner?-Lott Supporters Now Say They Are 'Approaching' 26 GOP Votes for Lott

National Review Magazine ^ | December 19, 2002 | Byorn York

[ewing]

Sources on Capitol Hill say that Incoming Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi has collected assurances from more than 20 Republican Senators that they will support him in a new election to determine whether Lott will remain as Senate Majority Leader.

'We have got well over 20 and are approaching 26,' says one Lott supporter.

Twenty Six votes ( out of 51 total GOP members) are required for Lott to keep his job.

[scalia_#1]

It just basically proves that this isn't at all about racism (as I've said from the get go). This is about politics.

So we conservatives who were offended and outraged by Lott's remarks, and who are equally offended and outraged by his subsequent pandering, are just playing politics?

[TLBSHOW]

BTTT

[ewing]

It ain't over till it's over TLB.

To quote Yogi the famous philisopher..and Babs Mikulski hasn't even started warming her pipes yet!

[sonofatpatcher2]

Wow, Nickels needs every last vote now..

Sure does, since Trent turned his new leaf:

[boomop1]

You got that right Jesse retired, term limits is the only way, I gag when I see c-span covering the pompous bastards.

[TLBSHOW]

YOUR PLAYING INTO THE RATS HANDS!

time to send racism back to the stone age!

[rs79bm]

Not good news for the Democrats. They've tried to destroy him and seems like Lott's support is only growing.

[TLBSHOW]

I know we have rats here at FR to finish off too...

[Coop]

The Dems are going to play the race card BIG TIME in 2004 with Lott as their ACE!!!

With all due respect, so what? I could say the exact same thing about every recent election with a simple name change.

[ewing]

I wanted to get rid of the Senate in 1998 after impeachment.

Nighthorse Campbell is just about the only decent one of the bunch.

[P-Marlowe]

I note they are approaching 26 votes for Lott. The question is -- from which direction are they approaching.

It would appear that they are approaching it from originally having 50 and pretty soon they will only have 26. So, they are really approaching 24, but they haven't lost the other 2 ---- yet.

Just give Lott another TV interview or two before January 6. That's all it will take to convince them. Two more press releases or two more TV appearances and Lott's supporters will be rapidly approaching 19.

[Austin Willard Wright]

Wrong! This is very good news for the Democrats, especially the Black Caucus which only supports a "censure" of Lott not removal from ML. The Democrats *want* Lott to stay as a wounded ML. After all, they certainly like his endorsement of affirmative action "across the board."

[aristeides]

An article in our daily bugle said to expect Senators to continue to PUBLICLY support Notta Lott right up until the exact instant when they vote AGAINST him.

Why would they do that unless they think he has a real chance of winning?

[lonestar]

If it ended in a 25-25 tie vote would Cheney have to break the tie?

[aristeides]

If Lott stays, we can all say bye, bye to the newly won GOP Congressional majority come 2004 and maybe the Presidency cause the GOP will be potrayed as a "racist" party with a "racist" leader. What a pity.

Aren't you assuming Lott stays leader until Nov. 2004?

[DC Ripper]

If we keep this F-UP "I LOVE affirmative action and can't wait to pass race-based legislation to make it up to you" backstabber as our Poster Boy, we don't deserve to be the majority party anyway.

[aristeides]

Once Lott gets close to 26, that means there's a lot of pressure on the others to join what looks like it's going to be the winning side.

[ewing]

My prediction is that Lott will now call on Nickels to cancel the January 6 caucus meeting if he can lock down a solid 26. (possibly Monday afternoon or before)

[grania]

If Lott stays, we can all say bye, bye to the newly won GOP Congressional majority come 2004 and maybe the Presidency cause the GOP will be potrayed as a "racist" party with a "racist" leader

And if Lott goes, the GOP will be portrayed as the party which dumped a leader once he developed a greater understanding of race-related concerns.

Face it. Senator Lott never said anything racist. You're crucifying him on what you thought he meant. I'm beginning to respect Senator Lott. He isn't going down easy!

Are there any posters from Mississippi out there? I'm wondering how this is being perceived there.

[tomahawk]

I won't be contributing to the GOP Senatorial Committee if a Stupid Dufus (Lott) remains Majority Leader. Nor will a lot of other long-time contributors. This is a test for the GOP Senate, are you a Stupid Party or what? This is damaing to Pres. Bush, upon whom our national security depends.