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.

[meema]

Your thoughts are running in the same direction that mine are, MM. This is exactly what dear billy kristol could be up to. {Shudder.}

[P-Marlowe]

The democrats would NEVER consider a spineless wimp like Lott to be their leader. Say what you want about the dems, but they know how to wield power.

Lott is a MINORITY LEADER. He will ALWAYS be a MINORITY leader. Even when we had the Majority, Lott managed to turn it into a MINORITY by letting Jeffords jump ship without paying a price. A real leader would have made Jefford's life miserable. Jeffords wasn't even shunned. Geez what's wrong with these wimpy pubs?

We need Lott as our Leader right now like we need David Duke.

[Swiss]

I can just image Bob Dole hearing about this and calling up Lott.

"Trent I hear you are threatening to resign, I did a lot for you over the years and if my wife don't get to be head of a committee because of you I will break your kneecaps"

One thing to remember if he did resign is that now that Strom and Helms is gone our Republican Senators is much better health than many of the Democrats. Byrd and Hollings is up there and old Ted Kennedy is going to die from fast living and booze one of these days. I predict the next Senator to die in office will be a Democrat so control might pass back to the Republicans even sooner than 2004.

[clintonh8r]

I can't believe everybody's so willing to swallow this story whole. Unsubstantiated, and reported by cnn and cnbc? Come on! Odds are it's a RAT plant, and that's what I'll believe until proven otherwise. I figure by Sunday night we should know where the GOP senators and Lott stand.

[tomahawk]

Good point. The timing isn't important. But it should be months at most, after this has died down some. But it won't die down completely, and Lott is now compromised.

[Frapster]

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!

I think Lott is being betrayed. Bush coming out and distancing himself from Lott is the first thing that Bush has done where I've been this disappointed with him. I don't disagree that Lott is a weak ML. But I firmly believe this is the WRONG time to be trying to remove him.

Unfortunately now the lines have been drawn in the sand. Whether he goes or stays I think we just lost a seat.

[Senator Pardek]

He refuses to take one for the team, let alone this nation.

No wonder the gay rumours persist...

[Poohbah]

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

Yes, I do.

There's this little problem: Lott couldn't keep his mouth shut. Now, here are the choices before us:

1. Jettison Lott as Majority Leader, and make it clear that if he DOES resign from the Senate itself, he can expect some very unpleasant consequences. Risk: he may say to hell with it, and we may have Daschle as Majority Leader to 2004--and we give him another two years to convince the American public that he's stupid AND crazy.
2. Leave Lott in place as de jure Majority Leader, and Tommy Daschle is the de facto majority leader until 2004, whereupon he becomes the de jure Majority Leader, Pelosi becomes Speaker of the House, and John Kerry is elected President.
3. Lott resigns from the Senate. We have Daschle as Majority Leader to 2004--and we give him another two years to convince the American public that he's stupid AND crazy.

OK, two out of three scenarios have the Senate in Democrat hands. Only if there is sustained pressure on Lott to step aside and stay in the Senate do we avoid the problem you noted.

[A Citizen Reporter]

It's about time for Bill Kristol to enter into the equation......he always does a nice job of dividing the Republicans and conservatives when he's really good at his game.

[P-Marlowe]

WE could counter blackmail Lott with the gay thing...

You know something I don't?

[tomahawk]

Couldn't say it any better than you did.

[Frapster]

I agree - Lott will not live this down any time soon. But at least in a few months the Republicans can do it on their terms and not on the Democrats.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Because he has been able to collect chits from them. They owe him. It was between Lott and Cochran in 1996 and Lott got his conservative base in the Senate behind him and won. Lott has a lot of power and he's used that power. Other senators respect that power and respond to it by deferring to him.

[John Lenin]

Control over the committee chairs is more important than a Senate that can go either way on any issue. I wish Freepers would hold their hatred of Lott in check and realize whats really at stake here.

[Captainpaintball]

Gee, the party is abandoning him and he owes it his loyalty,which you won't give him yourself?

I would give him, and any other, loyalty if they deserve it. He has shown on anumber of occasions that he doesn't deserve it. I supported him when he did the right thing, like his recent plan to militarize the US borders, and the call to investigate Chinese PLA investment.

What would you do if you are forced out over a bogus charge ? where is your pride and honour?

Pride is not always a positive,and the honorable thing to do in this case would be to give the leadership position to someone else, while still retaining one's seat--hopefully ending the media perpetuated firestorm. I would have never have put myself in this position... But, if forced to apologize for innocent, yet "controversial" remarks, I , as a leader, would fight back with a ferocity never before seen by a conservative, and hopefully my fellow Republicans would join me...I would counterattack--bringing up Byrd, Jackson, Sharpton, Carl Levin's remarks...I would go on every talk radio/TV political program...I would enlist my friends in the media to stand up against the obvious double-standard witch hunt taking place, and I wouldn't make it worse by apologizing or backtracking.

I see the day when someone will have the nerve to fight fire with fire. In this case, however, it would not be appropriate. He needs to relinquish his leadership, but not his seat. This does not need to be immediate--he can do this a month from now. He could still have power if he craves it that much. But after what he just pulled, he doesn't deserve it, IMO.

[HoundsTooth_BP]

We could simply keep Lott as the ML but have a Real Republican(tm) in the wings who is actually running most of the show. The important thing here is committees, judgeships, etc... Keep your eyes on the prizes people!

[TBall]

People do tend to believe what they want to believe.

[sinkspur]

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.

Cheney can't vote on the organization of the Senate. He just breaks ties on legislative votes.

If Lott leaves, his successor has to negotiate with Daschle.

[sneakypete]

And, eventually, Lott will lose.

He will be out by this time next week. The White House and the DNC are in back door negoitations with him right now, and the pay-off will be agreed to within a few days.

[EternalVigilance]

...two out of three scenarios have the Senate in Democrat hands. Only if there is sustained pressure on Lott to step aside and stay in the Senate do we avoid the problem you noted.

This can't be repeated too many times.