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.

[Clara Lou]

I questioned your intelligence for your apparent belief that Lott should resign because of these false accusations.

Now you ask me what the accusations are.
No, I didn't ask you anything about "accusations." I asked you what "lie" you were speaking of. You said it. Now, what "lie"? Lott opened his mouth stupidly (more stupidly than usual, that is), and left himself wide open. Now, he has to pay the piper. His solution is to threaten to go home to mamma if he doesn't get his way. What a leader! /sarcasm

[Sabertooth]

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.....

Yes, but not for Lott's recent overachievements.
Who could have forseen his was the nincompoop of his generation?

[holdonnow]

Kristinn is a good man.

[WarrenC]

I can't believe this stuff is being sucked down by intelligent people!

And I can't believe that you believe, that the issue is whether Lott is a racist. He's not a racist. He is, rather, a complete idiot whose inability to use even a modicum of common sense has damaged his party terribly. This whole, absolutely unnecessary fiasco is the work of one Trent Lott. Nobody else.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Thurmond is a reformed bigot. I applaud his personal growth. I have no quarrel with Thurmond.

Lott hasn't grown. He's an unreconstructed bigot. Now he's also holding my party hostage.

[kristinn]

If he cared about his country and his party, Lott would show his gratitude to President Bush for working his ass off to get back the majority for the Republicans and step aside as Majority Leader-elect but stay in the Senate.

[sneakypete]

Those who cannot find it within themselves to come to his defense on this occasion and for this sorry ass attempt at a power grab, should be ashamed.

This is just the Republican Party under the Corporate Communists in the RNC and the White House doing what they do best,winning and then figuring out a way to surrender.

[meema]

You just took the words right out of my mouth, RM! It sounds very strange to me that honest-to-goodness Republicans would even encourage such an idea.
The he!! we've been going through since Jumpin' Jim Jeffords did that to us. With Lincoln Chaffee and John McVain waiting in the wings...
It's going to be hard as it is, with 51/49, to get Judges, Justices, and some of GW's plans passed.

I would really like to know if Karl's report is in any way accurate. It doesn't speak well for either side, if true. I had hoped that Senate power plays and threats to dive overboard could wait until summer.

I am against letting these black racists, leftwing media and ehemm {throat clears} rightwing commentators drive us like sheep to do Maxine's bidding!

As I have said before, I do NOT like, respect, or trust Lott. But this is not the time or the place to take care of this matter.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

dirty dem power grab that it is

Not just Dems. Hard to tell the difference anymore.

[A Citizen Reporter]

Oh, forgive me, you said..."recent".

[tomahawk]

Exactly, Lott is not a racist. He is stupid, and vain, and a kiss ass, a phony, and a bad leader, but most of all STUPID. And only a Stupid Party would keep a stupid man as its leader.

[Texasforever]

Look, I am really pissed at Bush and the GOP but I sure as hell do not want to be on the same wavelength as you on any matter. You are enjoying this too damn much.

[over3Owithabrain]

It's really ironic that the bulk of the people here have been complaining that Lott is too weak, that he doesn't have any backbone. Well, now that he's starting to demonstrate some backbone by asserting his intent to stay as Senate Majority Leader, they're eating him alive. Just like a bunch of jackals!

What I find ironic is people that don't know the difference between showing strength in defending a just cause and showing strength to save one's own sorry ass!

[teletech]

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?

I want the Senate to remain in Republican hands. Don't you?

[tomahawk]

If this report is true, he is holding it hostage. And for that, I would never forgive him.

[holdonnow]

Look, you're a frightening person. Chew on someone else's pant leg.

[P-Marlowe]

The "Power Sharing" deal was Lott's idea. A REAL leader wouldn't have allowed the Dems a single Committee Chair. Did the Dems return the favor after Benedict Jeffords jumped ship? NO. They have a REAL leader. Daschle might be a pig, but he's the leader of the pigs. And a ruthless one at that.

Lott has been a wimpy leader from the get-go. If he leaves the Senate, then the Pubs still have a 51/50 Majority with Cheney. And with a REAL Majority leader, the Dems will wish this issue never came up.

[pollywog]

I agree with with you completely , mysonsfuture.

[Senator Pardek]

And you think it is proper for him, even if he is "in the right", which I believe he is - to surrender the majority and jeopardize the confirmation of federal justices (God forbid a SC justice should die in the next two years), and legislation against PBA.

He should merely state "I disagree with my colleagues who have to deal with the reality of politics, but I will serve out my time - not as Majority Leader, but as a representative of the great people of Miss."

[Torie]

I can just see it now. Are you comfortable with a ML Senate Pubbie X who threatened to resign from the Senate, and possibly force your party in the minority, if he wasn't kept in power? Is that the kind of leader you want? Is it all about power? How often to you bend to blackmail and threats? If you think Lott's apology was satisfactory, just why do you think Lott felt the need to try to blackmail you in a conference call with 27 of your peers?

This story, if true, and I can't mentioning that qualifier, is now into the novelistic realm. It is simply less believeable than true fiction.