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.

[sneakypete]

. President Bush will also be hamstrung in his war on terror and iraq because we are moving into a Presidential election cycle

Exactly! Bubba-2 will have a excuse for failure. Can there be any doubt whey he wants Lott out?

[Torie]

Are you choosing to deflate this story as a seriel, one episode at a time? :)

[Dave S]

Lott is stupid, weak, and self-absorbed. Now the rest of the GOP is supposed to cave to his blackmail and fall in behind him?

Am I having a nightmare? In four years here I've almost never agreed with Sabertooth on anything and have almost never disagreed with Sinkspur. Now my world is turned upside down. Lott is an idiot and a poor excuse for a leader. Republican Senators must find the courage to give him the boot.

[John Lenin]

Like it matters, W got 9.98% of the black vote. And if Sharpton runs he is going to take more votes than W may or may not lose. Condi Rice is a black icon, the RATS treat the blacks like second class citizens tossing them aside anytime a leadership position comes up. Believe me this will blow over and if the GOP hits on black issues like vouchers and SSI reform he may even pick up a few votes.I see this whole thing as being positive because now Lott will be bending over backwards to court blacks. Forget about Clinton, it's past history, Bubba is a walking satire of himself, believe me FR succeeded in destroying Bubba. This is better to have him still thinking he is untouchable and running around losing elections for the dems. Think positive !

[Captainpaintball]

Are you the guy that called up Bob Grant yesterday? Somebody called his talk show and kept calling him "Chester" (his real name) and Bob got upset! A minute into the discussion, Bob finally said, "Why do you keep calling him "'Chester'?" "All you're doing is confusing people!" Pretty funny. Bob Grant is the MAN!!!

"Yourrrrr influence counts......EEEEEEEUUUUUUSSSSSEEE IT!!!

[Political Junkie Too]

I can't believe a lot of what I've read from longtime posters and conservatives over the last week.

That's a good thing. We've been going through a collective crisis of conscience. That's something you won't see on the other side. The comparison is striking.

-PJ

[okie01]

"60 votes to impeach was impossible."

Conviction in an impeachment trial requires a 2/3 majority, or 67 votes.

Accordingly, twelve 'Rats were needed to vote "Guilty". In his book, Bob Woodward claimed eight were leaning that way -- until they discovered the prosecution wouldn't be aggressive.

[ClancyJ]

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

So you prefer blackmail from the Dems rather than our own Lott?

We are seeing the desperate dems at work here. Don't you think they will pull this same stuff on another weak spot? We do need to make them see this race baiting is going to cost them more than it does us.

[over3Owithabrain]

I wonder where all the media polls are, you know, "should Lott stay as leader", etc. For once it might be interesting to see what they say and how the results are interpreted by the powers-that-be. I for one would welcome being called so I can tell them Lott must go.

[Darlin']

Thanks for the ping :) That is about what I expected. I think Lott is going to be surprised to find a more than a few cold shoulders.

[fooman]

i used to do the same thought ex, until I realized THAT THE STAKES GET HIGHER.

This is Y bush's DUI did not come out until like 2 days b4 the election and THATS Y we got into the mess with the supremes.

[Miss Marple]

I once again am trying to remind people that NOT EVERYTHING THEY READ AND HEAR IN THE MEDIA IS TRUE! REPORTERS MAKE THINGS UP! REPORTERS MISUNDERSTAND! REPORTERS ARE LIED TO BY SOURCES, PARTICULARLY UNNAMED SOURCES!!!

Sorry. I just had to get that creaming out of my system, and thought maybe caps would make someone actually read it. LOL!

I think I could call Aaron Brown tomorrow and plant a bogus story about Tom Delay. I bet I could get it on the air without anyone even verifying it.

[ApesForEvolution]

"Lott's not "gay." For heaven's sake, he's got grandchildren!"

I don't know if he is or isn't, but, either way, this is a *piss poor* defense. Malcolm Forbes had children...

If the Lott did things he is not proud of and wants it to stay out of the headlines, then he's open to extortion/black mail. That would explain some of his actions. I can see why he could be blackmailing us....he knows the game all too well.

[habs4ever]

It's a trial balloon put up job.Karl was fed a line and gladly reported what the Dems have planned.

The whole story was a gross embellishment or a fabrication.Lots of freepers sure wanted to chew on that bone.

[The Great Satan]

So you prefer blackmail from the Dems rather than our own Lott?

In a word, yes.

[Mo1]

A source close to Lott dismissed the scenario, saying, "it would be a cold day before Trent Lott gives his seat to a Democrat governor."

Well I sure hope this is true .. I may not like these attacks from the left .. but sure as heck don't like being blackmailed but the likes of Lott

[P-Marlowe]

I haven't run the numbers but it appears about 60-70% of freepers are ready to give Lott the boot. I think it is about the same as it was before this crisis.

[Miss Marple]

Ah, crasher, we see now that this is NOT Lott saying this, but rather our favorite unidentified supporters of Lott!

How convenient.

I bet it was McCain. In fact, I would bet cash money on it.

[ApesForEvolution]

won't should read will.