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.

[okie01]

"I just don't think right now is the time to fold'em."

I agree. As much as I want Lott out of the leadership, I'm willing to wait until the PC Panthers of the left are out of breath.

No point in giving them any pleasure.

How about Lott announcing in, say, June that he is stepping down? To spend more time with his family, to become a highly paid lobbyist, to become the Chancellor of Ol' Miss, it makes no difference.

This timing would set up a special election for the Senate seat as part of the regularly scheduled Mississippi general election in November, 2003.

If he is going to take his marbles and go home, he might as well be gracious about it. If Lott were to do this, then I would make a personal contribution toward throwing him a Birthday Bash.

[Poohbah]

entails some really negative consequences for himself.

Such as?

I'm sure there's a LOT of allegations of questionable fund-raising that will have to be cleared up once he leaves the Senate. Could take years of legal infighting to clean up.

[sneakypete]

He's our Democrat mole.

No,that would be Jorge "Bubba-2" Bush.

[chnsmok]

The Dems didn't even bother to go the Ford building.

[Mike Darancette]

Witness a circular firing squad - Republican style!!!!

[Torie]

It doesn't make sense, but Lott seems to have the mentality of a cornered animal, so while I cannot assume that the story is true, and have said that, I would not be surprised if it is true. We will soon get a better sense one way or the other. If it is true, then I think frankly he may well have forced the GOP caucus's hand. Lott almost seems to be acting almost as if he wants his political career to end. If this story is accurate, we are nearing the realm of Shakesperian tragedy here. If the bard were still with us, there is a play to be written.

[uncbob]

True, but a real trial with the truth brought out would have been kinda nice.

And the public outrage would have caused the dems to vote against Clinton

[tomahawk]

Not that you need any support, but I consider you one of the more prescient posters on FR when it comes to elections and political implications of news events.

[ApesForEvolution]

This is going to boil before it simmers again. Like it or not, the Lott gave the RATS an issue that they didn't have. They're were deader than a door nail after 11/5, they had a faint pulse when Landrieu won and now...they are feeling very, very STRONG again.

[dalebert]

Maybe I should have said Lotts fat mouth. He admitted it was a bad thing to say and that he was ashamed of it. I think he was drunk.

[No Income Tax]

The Democrats want to make Lott the issue for the next two years. With Lott out of the leadership circle, that issue goes away.

The issue goes away??? That's not how the democrats play ball. If they believe it will get votes, the democrats will use this issue in the 2004 campaign regardless of whether Lott stays or goes. The democrats are trying to attach the "bigot" or "racist" label to all republicans--not just Trent Lott.

The democrats can say and do anything they want with no consequences (e.g., Ted Kennedy, Robert Byrd, Bill Clinton, etc.). As soon as Kennedy and Byrd resign their seats, I will support Lott's resignation from the Senate.

[habs4ever]

A Dem Senate was cool? In a time of War? with morons like Daschle, Leahy and Biden being in power?

You have to be disruptor.

[P-Marlowe]

I didn't know that. Ok. Now it makes sense as to why Lott was such a limp-wristed wimp on impeachment and Power sharing.

[HoundsTooth_BP]

The only reason Bush could wage war was that because after 9-11 the entire nation was mad and ready for some revenge. 'Moral authority' had nothing to do with (moral authority changes depending on who you're talking to anyways).

I'd like to know how you are going to pass legislation, judges, and chair committees on 'moral authority' (besides which, where was this 'moral authority' during the Impeachment trial? Why did the Republicans let such a sham happen? If you're looking for high minded idealism it died long ago.)

Blackmail or not, it is going to work because we need him to retain control. If we lose the Senate and the Democrats sabatoge our agenda and blame us for the nations problems then we probably won't get a second shot at this in two years. Now is not the time to be taking some supposed 'moral highground' because it isn't going to accomplish anything.

[John Lenin]

Get off the Bill Kristol kick...this thing is so much bigger than Bill Kristol it's definitely not funny.

Did you forget that Kristol is a McLame supporter, if anybody shold go, its's Kristol !

[Miss Marple]

No, you are misunderstanding me. I blame Lott for the crummy statement and the ham-handed apologies that made things worse. I do not think Lott is a racist, but I do think he is , to put it kindly, not very quick at thinking on his feet.

My reference to Kristol is in relation to this particular story about the conference call. Kristol appeared on NPR talking about this. I want to know a SOURCE before I believe this story.

After all, the story is doing what is intended...it has everyone divided and riled up. Don't you want to know if it is TRUE?

[Petronski]

Fawk him. Call his bluff.

[RJCogburn]

Have you ever BEEN someplace outside of New England?

I grew up in the Arkansas Delta.

We white folks pick our own cotton down here.

Yeah, I know. I've done it. So has my dad and my uncles and my grandmother and grandfather, etc.

Uh-oh....sinkspur's busted!

[Senator Pardek]

Are you comfortable with a racist in the GOP caucus in the Senate?

No - which is precisely why I believe he should not resign his seat.

Is he an idiot for saying something a city council member of Backwoods, Miss. would never do?

Yes.

Do you want an idiot for Majority Leader?

[BenR2]

Proves the Democrats have hit a Grand Slam on this one.

They even have Rush Limbaugh and President Bush on their side.

Imagine Bush cheering as the Demonrats politically emasculate him!