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.

[Sabertooth]

It is indeed strange but I see a miscommunication that has developed the has contributed to the problem. That is that some see the opposition to Lott resigning is support of Lott. I have NEVER seen Lott defended around here. In my case it is not Lott is the continual success of Borking republicans. There must come a point when the GOP has to, just once, say no. There will never be a "good" time to do it but it has to happen or it makes NO difference who is in the Majority Leadership because the terror of the "racism" charge is so ingrained in center-right republicans they will face the same thing Lott is facing. That is not speculation that is living history.

Lott could have surved his stupefyingly inept comments about Thurmond's Dixiecrat candidacy had he been able to muster a timely and sincere apology, something along the lines of, "My comments were stupid, thoughtless, and wrong. My words did not express what is in my heart, and the fault for that is mine alone. I have no excuse or explanation, I am simply and utterly sorry for every hurt that I have caused, etc."

This would now be all but over. Instead, he waited four days to spin something weak and evasive, and that gave this story legs. I hardly blame the Democrats for pressing advantage no one but Trent Lott has given them.

We aren't going to stop the Borking by sticking with Trent.

What the GOP can be legitimately criticized is for not kicking Robert Byrd's teeth in when they had the chance, or taking down Cruz Bustamante (CA Lt. Gov) for using the n-word to describe blacks at a political function last year, ad infinitum, including Lott's deal with Daschle not to let the House Managers make their case against Clinton.

We have no guts and no killer instinct. Trent Lott has been at that craven vanguard for years. In so many ways, he's brought this on himself, and our party.

Now, the big chicken's chickens have come home.

[Texasforever]

Why dont you admit that Lott did wrong. He admitted it himself.

Because he did nothing wrong.

[ApesForEvolution]

I resemble those remarks....I need to fast forward to the 'burning edge' of this thread...LOL!

[chnsmok]

Heard it too. From Rush's website...Twenty years ago, Lott himself told Karen Tumulty about this whole thing, but she didn't think it was relevant back then. Now, suddenly it's breaking news. Hmmm.

[marajade]

Honestly, I don't have a dog in this hunt... But if the Dems can gather on the steps of the WH after Clinton was impeached and tell us that he was the best President this Country ever had nothing Trent could say could even compare to that...

[Texas Mom]

You're children must be quite bright. Good genes.

All I'm saying, is be careful what you wish for. You might get it and it won't be so great.

[Dave S]

Surely you jest, what did GW have to do with this anyway?

Because he did not stand up and say the claim was bogus

Thats funny. Lott this afternoon agreed with the President's characterization of his words. Why should Bush stand up for Lott when Lott sat around for four days with his finger up his ass instead of nipping this thing in the bud. You simply can not face the fact that Lott is responsible for this. He made the stupid comments and then he failed to manage the fallout. The man is an arrogant fool, not a leader.

[Kay Soze]

Why doesn't character matter with respect to Trent Lott?

[Dan Day]

As a non college grad I never really understood the attraction to belonging to a fraternity...

I went to college, and *I* never understood it either.

[EternalVigilance]

And per usual, you changed the subject, again.....

I changed the subject? We have been here talking all evening about the mess Trent Lott is making of our party, and you come in here and start talking about STUPID tinfoil hat inventions of malicious minds, and I'm changing the subject?

You guys can get really weird at times.

[ApesForEvolution]

The big picture eludes the VACANT LOTT defenders. Lott even said as much yesterday...

[jwalsh07]

Hey, I was being serious. I'm unabashedly on your side.

OK I withdraw the compliment. :-]

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

"Zell Miller was a top staffer to Lester Maddox . . . "

So why is it okay for DIMS to have a racist past (or even present), i.e. Sin-ater Byrd of the KKK (did he really ever resign?): Al Gore Sr & Jr were both racists when it was posh to be racist in the south (and their blacks were mistreated by them on trips between TN and DC); Harry @$$ Truman was no integrator (and he won in '48) - it was the Republicans that made the Civil Rights Act of 1964 a reality with DIM's trying hard to prevent it's passage.

As for Lott, his comment was racist only in the minds of the racists (the Jackson-Sharpton REV it up boys et al) and the political opportunist DIM's and other Leftist Sympathizers and US haters in our midst.

Now, friends on the right, get over your dislike for Lott, or get used to the next too many years of that short $h!T from SD running the Senate and making it difficult for a Dubya re-election in 2004. (And then watch Jumpin' Jim GLOAT!)

[what's up]

And why is it I should weep?

[Zack Nguyen]

I confess I am enjoying this more than I have enjoyed anything in politics in a while. What we have hear, fellas, is a Wild West standoff. Both players (Bush and Lott) are, for once, preparing to use their power to the utmost. Too bad it takes infighting for them to actually apply pressure and squeeze.

[Mr. Mojo]

Lott said: "It was a mistake of the mouth, not of the mind."

Clinton then said, upon hearing Lott's excuse: "Damn, why didn't I think of that!

[ApesForEvolution]

Again, well stated. You don't need cheerleaders, but your logic is sound.

[Texas Mom]

Hey, I was being serious. I'm unabashedly on your side. OK I withdraw the compliment. :-]

Sorry if I said something to offend. I really didn't mean to. I was just continuing along the same train of the thought as my first post..

[marajade]

I guess neither heard the proverb: out of the heart the mouth speaks...

[habs4ever]

So you will continue to post the heresay, and brag , too. I guess it would be unfair to call you a dishonest toad, who supports a failed, grifting huckster and makes his mission to accuse Bush supporters of all sorts of awful things.You're a stand up guy.