There is no conspiracy afoot to keep Trent Lott as SML. The goal is the Senate Majority for the dims and I'm starting to think they are going to pull it off.
The Dems sold their soul to defend Slick from impeachment and throughout his entire eight years (it only seemed longer). And, during Clinton's tenure, the Dems lost both houses, governorships, state houses, and, eventually, the presidency itself. So they paid dearly for their blind support.