Posted on 12/11/2002 11:08:13 PM PST by kattracks
Democrats can't use this against Republicans in 2004 because they know the Republicans would use Byrd's real racist words against them if they dared try such a smear campaign.
The Speaker of the House is Denny Hastert, not Trent Lott.
Vacant Lott is senate Majority Leader.
It won't stick to the Democrats because 1) Byrd isn't the leader of the Senate Democrats and 2) it goes against type for Democrats to be racist. Yes, I know the old time segregationists were all Democrats. Doesn't matter. In the public perception, Democrats as racist goes against type, while Republicans as racist reinforces what a lot of people have been suspecting or even saying out loud. Bitch all you want; that's the way it is.
Democrats can't use this against Republicans in 2004 because they know the Republicans would use Byrd's real racist words against them if they dared try such a smear campaign.
Wanna bet?
Add Cal Thomas.....the chorus grows. I hope Lott's not getting booked for any of the Sunday shows. By then his views will matter only as historical perspective.
Face it. He isn't worth the effort to save and he really has nobody to blame but his own stupid self for saying what he did. He can't claim he was misquoted. The quote stands (unfortunately) on its own. It does not need to be rationalized or contextualized. The quote easily fits in the next NAACP get-out-the-vote ad all by itself.
Keeping Lott is like playing the $8-million shortstop that bats .212 because we "can't afford to release him". Never mind he's an embarrassment to the team. Never mind that he keeps making errors at critical junctures. Never mind that he strikes out whenever runners are on base. Too much has been invested.
It's time to cut our losses - plain and simple. Lott had some sympathy working his way when he got booed at the Wellstone funeral (the thanks these Democrats show for all he's done for them!) but he's just nuked that and then some.
Lott is Exhibit A of why Republicans are called "The Stupid Party" and his defenders don't even have the sense to see the gift they've been handed. Send this guy to the bench and give somebody else a turn at bat. Almost anyone in our dugout is a better choice.
You're right. That would never happen if Lott stays on as Majority leader. </ sarcasm>
If that's your best argument for keeping Lott, you don't have an argument. Trent Lott has made himself the Marge Schott of the Senate.
Notice the conservatives are coming out against Lott. I'm guessing that's because they're dreaming of a conservative Senate majority leader.
Well, consider this:--IF Lott steps down AND stays in the Senate---and a conservative Senate Majority Leader emerges....Chafee and Snowe will have their reason to bolt the party.
Conservatives should think this through before they take pen in hand.
Except that Lott is utterly incapable of fighting. Did he fight during impeachment? Did he fight Daschle's "power sharing" deal? Did he fight Jumpin' Jim? Did he fight Leahy's judicial logjam? Has he ever fought anything?
A 98-pound weakling has no business picking a bar fight—and when he does, he definitely has no business running to his 6' 4" buddy for backup. By the same token, a spineless appeaser like Trent Lott has no business making outrageous, easily twisted statements. If Lott were actually fighting back and defending himself, by going after Grand Fleagle Byrd for example, I might be willing to cut him a measure of slack (although I'd still think he's an idiot). But no, he wants to keep on looking moderate and conciliatory and calm and Senatorial, while letting real conservatives do all the heavy lifting. No dice—he dug this hole, he can either climb out of it himself or starve to death down there at the bottom.
Trent, you are the weakest link. Goodbye.
If he doesn't, we will have every stance we take on every social program racially demagogued-- and it will work (against us). It will drive up the black vote, and it will siphon off some percentage of the white vote.
Ignoring this and hoping it will go away and praying the damage won't be enough to cost us elections is simply foolhardy. It won't go away, and the damage will be more than enough.
Excellent point. MY fear is that he'll be so distraught over the harshness of the kerfluffle (Brit Hume's word) that he'll actually resign as a Senator; leaving the party in disarray AND neutralizing the wins of November 5. I think he should be encouraged in his request for redemption, but should also be kept within our fold for the sake of party unity. The Dems understand party unity, even if we don't.
Amen to that!
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