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.

[EternalVigilance]

Loss of the Senate again?

Yeah.

How many 'Leaders' could manage to lose control twice...when elections aren't even being held either time?

[koax]

hedgecock broadcast this on his radio show as an explanation for lott's behavior during the impeachment, and there never was a retraction asked for.

hedgecock is the former mayor of san diego, a long-standing republican, and a fill-in for rush limbaugh.

is that a "larry flynt wannabe", as you say?

[beGlad]

Beat me to it!

[per loin]

CNBC also reporting it, says an above post.

[holdonnow]

Zell Miller was a top staffer to Lestor Maddox (sp?) from 1967-71. My speculation is that if Miller switches parties, or votes for the Republican leader, they unleash attacks on him too. I believe this is why he won't switch.

[Captainpaintball]

This proves he is a POS. Even in disgrace, he STILL will seems unable to do anything to help the Republican party, and therefore, the country.

Would a REAL leader do this????????

[Texasforever]

Maybe you shouldn't speak to them?

I am not afraid to be labled "racists" by the real thing.

[Yaelle]

I'm with you. This kills me but the Pom Pom has GOT to go.

[Mo1]

three or four of the Senators viewed this as "blackmail,"

Well .. it is

[John W]

Absolutely right.Whats amazing is how many folks have fallen for this thinly veiled attempt at a Senate coup.He may be an sob,but,hes our sob.The opposition stands up for theirs-when they've done much worse.Us,we have to attempt to curry favor with the dems and their slimey media elite buddies.That always works,doesn't it?

[southernnorthcarolina]

Oh, poor Trent. Here's a Band-Aid for your (self-inflicted) boo-boo:

(:::[ ]:::)

Rank stupidity, utter fecklessness, complete cluelessness, and now a little temper tantrum. Pitiful.

[lainie]

I don't want to fight about it, and I don't necessarily disagree, but the point is Lott was insanely stupid enough to say what he said -- in this p.c. climate, and while democraps are looking under every rock for ANYTHING on which to park their liberal media. It's a colossal blunder and absolutely all of this could have been avoided.

At first I couldn't believe the story had such legs and now I can't believe republicans aren't cutting their losses. That he'd stoop to blackmail just says it all to me.

[SevenDaysInMay]

If Lott so threatened, he should be replaced with extreme prejudice. Aside from the fact that he is an idiot, he is an idiot clymer. Big time. That is his shame, FBI files or not.

[jmax]

You're wrong, sink. Back to 51-49 because Manchurian Candidate McCain would go Independent.

[doug from upland]

re: gay affair

====================

I wrote the story on FreeRepublic at the time. There were two RATS following Lott at every appearance, just to serve as a reminder.

[thedilg]

"He acts like somebody has his FBI file and controls him or something"

I speculated on the same point recently. I underline speculated. I wonder if anyone has definitive info?

Godspeed, The Dilg

[dalebert]

And I have just been waiting for the Democrats to bring up Lotts dirty little secret.It would be nice if Lott would be loyal to someone besides himself and step down from the leadership. Being a Senator is a pretty good job. Wonder if little Tommy is lots running buddy? Who knows? Maybe Lott and Jeffords are an item.

[okie01]

"Actually, he's a man with leverage. He'll be leader until somebody can figure out an alternative."

And, eventually, Lott will lose. Because he is what he is. Not a racist, but a not-so-bright, self-absorbed twerp who has become a victim of the Peter Principle.

The question is how much damage will he do to the party before his continued presence becomes too big a burden to bear?

[kristinn]

Newt resigned because he was going to be outed for his years-long affair with House staffer Callista Bialek during the House impeachment proceeedings. Newt betrayed his wife and us. He did the right thing by getting out.

Livingston resigned to set an example of responsibility to Bill Clinton and the Democrats. He earned my undying respect for that.

If this report is correct, Lott deserves nothing but contempt.

[dts32041]

Finally develop some backbone, to bad it was four years ago.

When has a republician throwing himself on his sword gotten the party anything?