The Republican role model should be Strom Thurmond in the lame duck session. After Leaky Leahy had flat out lied to him about bringing Shedd to a vote, Strom simply pretended the man did not exist and did not respond to anything he had to say. The press attributed this lack of interaction to Sen. Thurmond's advanced age, rather than Leahy's advanced irrelevance...but they did report it, along with the reasons for their rift. Strom didn't have to trash Leahy, but the American people knew.
Lott doesn't worry me as much as Hatch. Hatch wants a supreme court nomination, and he thinks fetal stem cell research is ethical. I think Lott accomplished alot without giving away the store while Reps. were in the minority. His back room deals on impeachment have more to with character issues on the Republican side that the GOP did not want aired, rather than spinelessness. He comes across as a mild mannered boob, but the man is a hawk. Why do you think his colleagues in the senate voted him majority leader again?
As to Lott, I have ongoing doubts about him. He was going to postpone the Homeland Security Bill (which bill makes me itchy, I don't like it) until the new Congress, but George W. sank spur in his butt and took him over a five bar gate so to speak.
Orin Hatch may be legally qualified as a Supreme Court judge, but I think he is the intellectual brother of David Souter.
Regards,