LOTT THREATENS TO QUIT THE SENATE IF FORCED FROM LEADERSHIP

Newsnight with Aaron Brown | 12/13/2002 | Jonathan Karl

[sinkspur]

Trent Lott, in a conference call with 27 GOP Senate Republicans today, said that he would leave the Senate if forced from the Leader position.

Jonathan Karl said three or four of the Senators viewed this as "blackmail," but that the majority still support Lott and want him to continue as Leader.

[GraniteStateConservative]

What part needs clarification? He is a bigot. He is using terror to control the Senate GOP caucus and keep his position.

[sneakypete]

CNBC is reporting the white house wants Lott out but that senators need to do it.

Of course they do. Anybody who thinks Bubba-2 doesn't stand ready to stab anybody in the back is living in a dream world. Hell,he's stabbing the whole damn country in the back every day by refusing to guard our borders,so what does he care about Lott?

[woofie]

just my $2 worth...

Inflation? ....Thanks

[habs4ever]

Ludicrous? Hardly.The reports are heresay right now, with no actual details,context, phrases uttered, etc and we have no idea who is angling for his job.

Being forced out over this is not the same as asking for a new vote, is it? where was that in the story ?When you have further details, let us know.

[Professional]

Lott's a bigoted terrorist.

Oh brother. GOP is in another fine Polish Firing Squad. Doing the right thing for the Dems sake is about as pointless as it gets. Lott is no racist. What a bunch of crap.

Main street Americans are seeing the new McCarthyism. Political correctness run amok. The Dems are simply shoving the average white person straight into the GOP. As if we had any ground to lose with black Americans. Conservative black Americans know EXACTLY what this is all about, Demorat race baiting.

[ArcLight]

What! If he said this, now I'm absolutely convinced he should resign or be ousted! What a nasty little rat! He's even a worse man than I thought!

[Torie]

Well no need to rush before crossing the Rubicon. If bouncing him in January is indicated given the pace of events, will then it should be done even if it costs the GOP a seat. But it is a huge price to be paid, and should only be done if it is clear that the longer term benefits outweigh the costs. That calculation need not be done now, before more of the dominos have fallen, or not fallen. But as I say, when it is convenient, Lott's political influence needs to ended in the GOP. He needs to become to the GOP what Traficant was to the Dems. I am simply suggesting patience and perserverance.

Come to think of it, given that the story has come out that Lott did blackmail the caucus, if it is true, he may have forced the caucus to dump him sooner rather than later. I didn't think of that angle. GOP senators don't want to be viewed or charged as blackmailees. Isn't it absolutely mad that Lott would do this blackmail on a conference call with 27 participants! If only he had read Caro's book on LBJ, he would know to do it one on one in private offices. The guy really is a loose cannon, and an idiot.

Let me repeat it once again, Lott is a jerk.

[holdonnow]

Surely you must be Maxime Waters. Did you complain when Thurmond was censuring that Reagan's judicial nominees as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, or when he voted to support Bush's war on terrorism and tax cuts? If you objected to the man, you had 48 years to complain about it. But instead, you're spraying your bullets in all directions, like wild-eyed liberal. You're not a wild-eyed liberal in drag, are you?

[teletech]

If folks aren't careful, we could end up with the Senate back in RAT hands.

[jwalsh07]

Chum for the sharks from the good ship LEFTIST.

[sinkspur]

Are you telling me that all Senate Pubbies have done, or will do, something as mind-blowingly stupid as what Lott did?

Don't be surprised at what the race pimps will dig up.

If Trent Lott's such a racist, why in hell did all of ths garbage from the past just come up now?

You're being played for a fool, Poohbah. I can't believe this stuff is being sucked down by intelligent people!

[tomahawk]

Exactly, Lott has been a terrible leader and now he's undermining the party in a major way. That's what the party gets for picking a kiss-ass moron as its leader. He must be removed, or he takes the party down.

[Frapster]

As someone else said, this is management 101. Lott is not blackmailing anyone - he's simply saying what he'll do. It's the people trying to fry him who are forcing the issue. This is NOT the way we want Lott to resign. To do so would leave a precedent hanging over this administration and Republicans in general.

[holdonnow]

I don't think you can teach anyone hear about history. I now officially certify you a wacko ... a kook ... a putz.

[Senator Pardek]

I hope they call his bluff. If he resigns from the Senate for getting kicked out of his post, it means he does not belong in the Senate. What man who puts himself above the future of this nation does?

Lott needs to learn a lesson from Newt.

[deport]

Trent Lott is to blame for this entire fiasco.

What about the other 50 or so Republican Senators that have elected Lott Senate Majority Leader for the 105th, 106th, 107th, and just last month to the 108th sessions ....... Do they have any blame in selecting such a nimcompoop.....

[alnick]

The opposition stands up for theirs-when they've done much worse.

Hellllooo? That's because they're liars and hypocrites and they have no integrity.

[holdonnow]

here

[Sabertooth]

I see, another graphics whiz. Have you ever tried to type words on your keyboard?

Only accidentally.

[Poohbah]

If folks aren't careful, we could end up with the Senate back in RAT hands.

Take your pick: Tommy Daschle given the period between 2002-2004 to remind everyone what a horse's ass he is, or the Dems getting a lock on the majority from 2004-2010.

So which one do you want?