[Jorge]

Gary Bauer understates the problem. The Lott resignation will be the greatest encouragement possible, for the Left to Bork every Conservative Judicial nominee. Now that they have flexed their muscles and succeeded in making the Republicans act like a bunch of panic stricken delinquents, over a completely manufactured hue and cry, you can be absolutely certain that they will continue with the same tactics.

With all due respect, yours is among the most "panic stricken" response I've seen among republicans or conservatives anywhere.

Anybody who's paid attention knows that the DemonRat leftist liberals have been engaging in this exact same sort of smear tactic for years...and the idea that they've suddenly found this success against Lott that will encourage them to start using the tactic more is just plain silly.

The fact is Lott made statements that played right into the hands of the race-baiters, that didn't deserve to be defended. Even Lott knew that, and apologized repeatedly.
You obviously still haven't caught on to the reality, and are imagining all these paranoid scenarios about imaginary GOP racist gaffes manufactured by liberals...which we should all be worried about. LOL
This is ridiculous.

[TLBSHOW]

You miss the point. We could of put an end to them ever using racism again if the republicans would of stood up to them.

[Ohioan]

My analysis is hardly panicy. The reality is that the inside the beltway Republicans have played right into their enemies hands, when indeed the tactics being used against them have been used repeatedly. It is that fact alone, which makes the Republican response so absolutely stupid.

Actually, if you have read my essay Trent Lott Affair--Anatomy & Context of a Smear, you would know that I discuss how the Left has been perfecting their techniques for this sort of thing for a hundred years.

In not understanding how to respond in a manner that did not tend to play into the demagogue's hands, the Republicans in Washington have painted themselves into a disasterous corner. On the one hand, they have divided their base. On the other, they have shown their foes a tactical vulnerability.

It should also be kept in mind, that Strom Thurmond, more than anyone else on Capital Hill, has been associated with trying to get more Conservatives on the Federal Bench. That was the price he demanded for delivering the Southern support, which brought the Republican party back from a minority status. Humiliating Lott--admittedly a weak adversary in this--over a whimsical tribute to Thurmond, will have many aspects in the future fights over judicial nominees.

Recognizing a problem, is the first step towards dealing with it. The Republicans in Washington imagined a problem, where there was not one, and that is why we are now in trouble. I am looking for a way to repair the damage.

William Flax