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.

[ApesForEvolution]

"And you do that by ruthlessly sntaching the issue out of their hands, but you'd prefer to let Lott inflict the death of a thousand cuts"

Somewhere, an elephant is slowly bleeding to death...

[EternalVigilance]

I think Pres. Bush is bright and capable... and I think that will be enough...

I do too. That's why I think this will all result in new Senate Leadership shortly, and a nice cushy chairmanship for our friend Trent.

[what's up]

On the contrary, I think the Senators will see him holding up under undeserved fire and will respect him more.

This fuss is mostly due to a slow pre-Christmas news cycle.

[okie01]

"What is the name of the book?"

It must have been Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate

Woodward took some heat for having collected this information during the impeachment proceedings and saving it for his book, rather than reporting it for the legitimate news that it was.

But I suspect Woodward knew that, if he had reported it, Bubba would be in even bigger trouble than he was.

Of course, with Woodward, one has to question whether he got his information from a live staffer or a dead one...

[marajade]

Lott's been loyal to Bush and Bush rewards it... We'll see..

[Wingsofgold]

ummm, good to know that was your point. Sure didn't seem that way at the time.

[habs4ever]

Could you be more specific as to how you judge Lott's capabilities? If he's dumb, please demonstrate how and why.A gaffe doesn't make one a moron.I bet even you have said some dumb things in your lifetime and been thankful that your apologies were accepted.

[ClancyJ]

Very good post. I agree. Wonder why people are so willing to give up their rights of free speech to the PC police while they rant and rave that the Homeland Security Department will take away their rights?

Very good points and so very true. Scary isn't it?

[lavrenti]

This scandal is so...Zen. Wherever you go, there you are.

Anyhow, didn't Lott look so fierce today—protecting his own worthless hide?

Just goes to show why he needs to exit the ME post. But if people want to defend him on the basis of him becoming the latest "victim", then go right ahead.

I just love the Hillary fingerprints excuse, the FBI files excuse, the RINO excuse, the Bill Kristol as Fu Manchu excuse, the Jesse Jackson excuse, the Tom Daschle's evil plan excuse, blah, blah, blah. It's as if Willis Carto just took over the minds of half of FR posters.

The Lott-defenders are looking for the wrong fight—and a losing one—here. This debacle is based on a remark that many Americans find, not just offensive, but an reminder of their worst fears. It was a stupid statement, which was rightfully interpreted as an endorsement of institutionalized racism and state-sponsored terror, which Jim Crow was, damnit.

Yeah, so the neo-cons, Drudge, the race hustlers, the media and now the cretin wing of the Democrats are bleating the bleat to dump this dude. To a large extent, I do not blame them a bit.

Well, wherever you go, there you are.

[Darlin']

FOFLOL. Funny isn't it how some folks consider themselves an authority on the south, civil rights and southerners. Makes me wonder where they get their information.

[fooman]

Three words:

Freedom of Association

[DAnconia55]

You forgot "terroist". I am really getting an education on a lot of FR republicans.

You're certainly free to leave.

[Senator Pardek]

Buncha carpetbaggers...

Lol... "carpetbaggers". You're as "southern" as I am - actually, I'm more. Folks from the Midwest are from a different planet.

[sinkspur]

Even most of the Lott defenders here quite readily admit he is not too bright or capable. Do you disagree with that?"

Lott's bright enough not to quit under pressure. He's gonna hang, and, if he goes, he'll go by his own schedule.

You despise Lott, but he keeps getting elected by his fellow Senators.

Lots of folks despised Bob Dole as a leader, but he kept getting elected.

You float in a world of wishful thinking, envisioning what you think it would be like if Sam Brownback led the Senate.

He's too new to have forged the relationships needed to get things done. But, hey, push him in there and let him get eaten alive.

Free Republic has turned into such a haven of sanctimony. You freaks know better than 50 Republican Senators!

O.....K....! They ain't listen' to ya!

[marajade]

"Yeah, so the neo-cons, Drudge, the race hustlers, the media and now the cretin wing of the Democrats are bleating the bleat to dump this dude. To a large extent, I do not blame them a bit."

I don't either... but it didn't bother them having an ex KKK clansman as Senate pro-temp though did it?

[Dave S]

Why don't you stop throwing the race card around faster than Vegas dealer.

Why dont you admit that Lott did wrong. He admitted it himself. Somehow you cant get to that point. Wonder why?

[chnsmok]

Thanks. Sounds interesting. Don't trust Woodward much.

[EternalVigilance]

Yeah, we're just out to get poor Trent, me and my cabal...shoot, we orchestrated it all...made him fight for segregation in college...got him to say those words at the party...got him to wait days to address things instead of dealing with it promptly...got the President to blast him....shoot, we even forced him to blackmail his colleagues...so stay on your toes...we're really powerful.

;-)

[jwalsh07]

Check out these gutless wonders.

Excerpted from the Washington Post:

"In the call, put together by Sen. Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho), some members rallied around Lott but a number expressed concerns about the controversy's possible impact on the legislative agenda and the 2004 elections, one participant said. Several GOP senators warned of a brewing political war with Democrats, who they predicted would continue to call for Lott's resignation for political reasons. "

[okie01]

"What did he say? Give me the quote or your best recollection."

Limbaugh played a sound bite -- yesterday, I believe it was -- of some reporterette spouting the litany of Lott's supposed "racist" actions. In the process, she reported the fraternity story -- saying she knew it was true because Lott himself had told her about it when he came to Washington in the eighties. And, she reported, he also admitted to her that he was wrong to have done so.

Some detail may be in error, but that's the gist of it.