White House Says Senator Trent Lott 'Should Not' Resign

CNN ^ | December, 12, 2002 | Wolf Blitzer

[ewing]

Wolf Blitzer said word has come down from the White House that Trent Lott should not resign as Senate Majority Leader and that his apologies are good enough.

Nothing on what the Republican National Committee might say tomorrow..

[zencycler]

I don't buy it. The only thing is they don't want it to look like Lott is resigning under pressure from the Democrats. I think a deal has been made. The president shows support now for Lott remaining as Senate leader now, everyone goes home and enjoys the holidays, and then a couple weeks into the next year, after the howling has turned to wimpers, Lott announces that he'll resign his post as majority leader for the good of the party.

I give him until Jan. 31st, the latest.

[dfwgator]

I haven't heard about any Democrats rushing to the microphones to condemn Senator Byrd for his past membership in the KKK.

That's because they're Democrats.

[BuddhaBoy]

Naw, Saturday.

During the college football games, unless Lott throws a tantrum like O'Neil did.

[CA Conservative]

I doubt this - Lott might be one to give in to blackmail, I doubt Bush would. I think this could be a way for Lott to save face. Even though he has the "full support" of the White House, he steps down as Majority Leader to benefit the party - something the WH is probably quietly urging him to do in the background.

Strategery, my friends....

[ewing]

That is all that Wolf Blitzer would say that the White House 'would not ask' for Lott to resign. (perhaps parsing the words to mean 'The Senate' in accordance with the CBS Radio report?)

But perhaps the RNC tomorrow asking Lott to resign from the Majority Leaders post would be a different matter..

[F16Fighter]

Can it be?? Is the chopper actually waiting for Lott this time?? Will the rope be tossed down? Will Lott have any dignity left even if he grabs the rope and is "saved"?

We can duly note the purposely mixed signals from the WH...

[dfwgator]

Are there any college games this weekend? But usually don't these things usually occur late Friday afternoon?

[ArcLight]

Big mistake. Let this guy go.

[bybybill]

You may noy be aware of this, but Lott didn`t win being ML in a poker game, instead, he has been elected by his fellow Republican Senators

[TomGuy]

If Lott does not step down as Majority Leader, every incumbent Republican up for re-election in 2004 (including GWB) will be faced with explaining the issue at every campaign stop and at every news conference.

The issue will not simply "go away." The sharks smell blood and are circling. Lott brought it on himself. Now, he needs to remove himself from majority leadership; thus, removing the issue.

[dfwgator]

Sorry, we are not talking about Clarence Thomas or Robert Bork here. This is a guy in a critical leadership whose leadership effectiveness has been greatly diminished from his ignorant mouth. It is not worth the political capital to defend him when there are much more capable members of the Senate who can serve as Majority Leader.

[ewing]

No college football Saturday except for small college playoffs.

[SwordofTruth]

The issue will not simply "go away."

Yes it will, watch and see.

[A CA Guy]

The liberals won't be given their chew toy, but I do think Lott should step down in the summer for two reasons.
#1 I think he is ineffective. Many others do also.
#2 We don't need him to be used against us. We have several toss-up races and we don't need a supposed bad guy to make hay out of.

That aside, I think conservatives ought to dig up the public dirt on all the liberal racists and let that fly in public everytime they want to mention Lott.

Maxine Waters alone is a treasure trove of comments. Conservatives say far less offensive things than Liberals IMO.
Liberals/Democrats have gone uncontested in this playing field, therfore it is still in the Democrat play book.
We need to rip it out.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

As Shakespear would say this is "Much to Do About Nothing".
The black caucus and the DNC would like to convince the country (the black voter) that Trent Lott is a bigot and racist, along with the whole republican party. Not SO! If Trent is too weak kneed for the Pubs then force him out, but not for this bit of nonsense. At no time can the Dems be allowed to call the shots for the Republican Party. The game is ours and they can go eat grapes. No more can they tell us how it will be played out. What the heck is the matter with you "Trent has to go because he said something stupid". All politicians say stupid things daily, over and over. Al Gore being the poster child of stupid. Senator Byrd is nothing but a stupid sayings walking. Get a grip.
We need to keep the party cohesive. Ronald Reagan said do not talk badly about another Republican. Get over the petty
stuff. Keep it together.

[ewing]

That's why I think Rove is sending the RNC to do the dirty work here, like Dick Cheney was sent to fire O'Neill.

The White House stays clean and doesn't have to play the bad guy.

[dfwgator]

No college football Saturday except for small college playoffs.

College football playoffs? What a concept!

[TontoKowalski]

I wonder if the Senate Republicans aren't secretly formulating a coup. Wouldn't Lott need to be elected as Republican Leader in the new Congress which convenes in January?

Saves some face (for the party, not for Lott) in that Lott wouldn't step down, he'd be defeated.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a Republican challenger rise in the next few days. YOO HOO! Senator Santorum, are you there?

[section9]

True. Trent has been a patriotic American in the past.

However, his utility to the Republican Party in the Senate has been questionable, at best.

After a decent interval, I suspect, Lott will step down.

Be Seeing You,

Chris