WHO WILL LEAD THE SENATE?-GOP Leaders Discussing How/Who Calls for Lott to Step Aside

The American Spectator ^ | Dec. 11, 2002 | The Washington Prowler

[ewing]

Republicans on Capitol Hill and conservatives in Washington and around the country are discussing how best to call for Trent Lott's stepping aside as Senate Majority Leader.

According to a knowledgeable Senate source, GOP members of both houses are extremely concerned that Lott's comments have so derailed the momentum gained from the 2002 elections that it would be impossible come January to make numerous confirmations for the executive branch, begin planning a legislative agenda that includes accelerating the Bush tax cuts and pushing through a prescription drug plan for seniors.

Even more upsetting to Republicans is that realization that Lott's comments may make it virtually impossible to bring a number of potentially controversial judicial nominations to the Senate floor successfully.

[ken5050]

You're correct.....the GOP caucus votes, and it's a seret ballot, BTW....

[ken5050]

You're correct.....the GOP caucus votes, and it's a seret ballot, BTW....

[RFP]

...And when the Dems try to resurrect this, we can say, "You will note he is no longer the Republican leader in the Senate. But the Democrats still have a former KKK recruiter in their ranks holding a high position." Save Byrd's KKK past for later.

Hutch, THAT is THE MOST BRILLIANT piece of strategery I have ever heard. BRAVO! WV PINGS )))))))

[Capt. Tom]

I thought they were but I didn't want to be rude to the people. You gotta be a Senator before you can be Senate Leader.

Maybe not. It depends what the senate by-laws say. I can't find a copy to see if the post is just restricted to sitting senators. Obviously appointing a non senator to the post would n't make the person a senator ,but there might be a loophole there that would not preclude the post going to a non senator.

Can anyone find the senates qualifications for the position? - Tom

[1Old Pro]

I've heard Rick Santorum as well, he's very telegenic.

He should be considered. It's certainly time to pass the torch. Frist, Brownback, et al. I think any of them would be superior to power sharing Lott.

[fuzzthatwuz]

"It says that the GOP was gutless in confronting Lott's gutlessness. In some ways, we deserve this."

Good point. The 108th Congress is not yet in session and the minority has scored the first political victory. We can assume that those "missing" FBI files are being dusted off and will come to bear on the next Republican considered for Lott's replacement. I have never been in favor of Lott, but to be chased out of office because of the demands by race baiters championing an obvious thoughtless and stupid remark is sickening! The Democrats prefer to censure for verbal stupidity rather than criminal enterprise; Their silence was evidenced during the Clinton administration.

[billbears]

Okay thanks for the update. I hadn't seen that. Someone at work provided a link to the CofCC website and had me worried there

[pittsburgh gop guy]

Rick Santorum is the future of the GOP Senate!

[vannrox]

.





There is no question that the Democrats have taken a "rabid attack Pit-Bull" approach towards Lott. This is only the beginning. Under the new Democrat Minority Leadership, we can expect all kinds of vociferous attacks on the Republicans.

Pulling Lott away from the Majority Leadership would actually do exactly what the Democrat Minority Leadership wants. Right? They want him to step down. Republicans cower and agree. He steps down. Then what?

Right. The Democrats become more embolden and more brazen.

No matter what the Republicans do with Lott will result in the Democrats making an issue of it.

As a matter of fact, for all of you who have been asleap for the last few months, be advised that the Democrats will ATTACK each and every Republican for everything that they can think of. Real or imagined. Expect it.

OK? So that's what is going on... now what?

Keep the high road? YES. Exactly. Continue going on with business as usual, except that republicans need to be LACONIC and avoid media attention unless they want it. The media is a tool of the democrats and they will try to set up Republicans. Don't let that happen.

Now, about Senator Lott....

Forget his remarks. IF it wasn't him and that remark, the Democrats would of found another person to blame. So get on with it. Let them clamor. They thought that Felony lying in the Oval Office was OK, so now they are complaining about an obscure reference made during a Birthday celebration as being a cause to censure. Who in their right mind believes all this "crap"? Just partison players. That's who. Joe blow on the street could care less.

Now, my address to Senator Lott...

OK, you have a shot fired by the Democrats accross your bow. You are going to be vilified by the Democrats just like Newt Gingrich was. Are you ready for it? Do you have the stomach for it?

Personally, your "strengh" in the Senate is nothing more than play-doh platudes. You have squandered away your strengths on empty Democrat Promises and have caused much of us Conservative faithful to wonder "What do the Democrats have on Lott? It must be something really bad to make him act this way..." You have failed as a strong leader.

Let me repeat myself.

Senator Trent Lott, you have failed as a LEADER.

Name the strong core Conservative values that you have fought for? Have you fought for them? What have you really done to put some teeth into the Presidents Policies? Well? I see nothing. Bone up. Get a backbone!!!

Get a backbone. Please

We have only two short...short...short...years until the Democrats will (and they will) regain seats in the Congress. Which might, and historically show, that they could really and seriously retake the house and senate. And this time under the leadership of a Rabid Communist. What's next? Hillery as President????

(Burrrr...Shiver!)

Yes. Now is the time to prevent this harsh reality from occurring. Now is the time to get some back bone. If the Democrats become successful in any political moving that they do, it will be ...and only be...because of the lack of actions by the Senate majority leadership. That's you... Senator Trent Lott.

The stakes are high.

A strong opposition to the Democrats could propel you to the Presidency. A weak reaction would send your life into the trash bin of history.

It's your choice.

CHOOSE.

Choose your destiny.









.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I don't care about his past. I don't care about Thurmond's past. I care about Lott's present-day support for a Dixiecrat presidential candidate. Maybe Lott has no idea that the Dixiecrats had segregation now and forever as their reason to be.

He didn't say he wishes Thurmond had run for president and won in 1996 or 1988. He said 1948. That's a problem-- one that Thurmond, himself, acknowledges.

[NormsRevenge]

"fairly conservative" would be a good description.. altho demRats would call her extremely conservative. Her voting record is just shy of Phil Gramms'. She has been a solid party person since elected in 1993 and a staunch Bush supporter. Im not sure about here cheerleading tho.. But she looks like she could have done well as a cheerleader.

[M. Peach]

If the Republicans are going to select the next leader with a secret ballot - then why are so many people here going nuts and saying that Daschle is going to take over?

[Steve_Seattle]

"He's a liability we can't afford."

I have wished that Lott be replaced as majority leader for a long time, but you don't seem to realize that for him to step down now, for this reason, is a no-win situation for the Republicans. If he resigns from the Senate, he will probably be replaced by a Dem and the Republicans will lose their Senate advantage. If he steps aside but keeps his seat, the Dems will still say that he taints the party and that the party is full of racists and racist-tolerators, which is exactly what they will say if he remains the majority leader. So there is no advantage to the Republicans for him to step aside. In my opinion, stepping aside would in fact be worse, because this would be interpreted by the Dems as saying, "Yes, I am a racist, and I have been a racist all along, and the racist Republicans made me their leader," whereas if he remains he can say "I was misunderstood, I am not a racist." And eventually this will go away.

[twyn1]

I don't think he should leave the senate

But don't you see ? it doesn't matter what you think--if Lott steps down over this "racist" incident - he will never be allowed to stay in the Senate -- the Dems. and compliant media will railroad him out so fast your head will spin. We must let this die down (the news isn't all over it this morning) and worry about replacing "no-balls" Trent as ML a little later

[GraniteStateConservative]

He said the same damn thing in 1980. Lott believes a segregationist should have been elected president in 1948. He has a right to feel that way. We have a right to suggest someone else represents our party in the Senate.

[Sideshow Bob]

Paging elder Majority Leader Bob Dole..your presence is required in Trent Lott's office.

***

Um, sorry.

Lott acts like Bob Dole has been with him the whole time - making unwise and unnecessary concessions, acting polite and subservient to the Democrat Senate leader and generally thwarting the GOP legislative agenda of the House.

If anything, the GOP needs to fumigate and sanitize the Senate majority leader's office to remove the stench and aura of Bob Dole.

[ken5050]

From what I've read....some fear that if Lott throws a hissy fit and resigns as senator....then the Dem govenor of Miss appoints a replacement....that makes the Senate 50-50..and maybe Chafee walks across the aisle.....hey, after the Jeffords switcheroo, even paranoids have enemies occasionally..

[Steve_Seattle]

"We must let this die down."

I agree, for the reasons stated in my previous post. For him to step down as leader would just work to the advantage of the Democrats.

[aristeides]

I don't think he should leave the senate, not even the democrats are asking that

After he loses the leadership, what do you think their next demand will be?