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.

[FR_addict]

If this is true, he should be forced to leave the Majority Leader position pronto. What a jerk.

[SwatTeam]

Listen, My name is not the subject here. I know from reading your posts that your are anti-Bush, anti-law enforcement, anti everything. You make an assumption based on your own prejudices and ignorance. My name is a play on words that has nothing whatsoever to do with law enforcement which you have obviously assumed. So you can take your name and cram it where the sun don't shine because it is obviously part of your character, that of a sneaky, lowdown scoundrel that is so consumed with hatred and self disgust that you no longer even resemble a human geing.

[FR_addict]

Lott is one of hte reasons why people don't know what the Republican party stands for. I'd rather have a Democrat than someone who would blackmail the Senate.

[Jhoffa_]

So, for all of you who want Lott to go, you'd better think long and hard about it. Because if he goes, all the advances we made in November aren't worth crap.

They don't care.

They are so short sighted as to put all their eggs in one basket on this one.

People here need to get over impeachment. Justice wasn't done and the House Managers were shamed, but it may have worked out to our benefit in the long run.

A couple of months head start and the legitimacy that goes along with running as an incumbent President would have likely put uncle algo over the top.

[cynicom]

This is a political war not a self righteous sanctimonious feel good time as Bush believes. Bush better learn to deal with what is reality, what is here today, not some moral indignation that he spouts on national tv.

Bush personally will pay for his imprudent talk and the party cetainly will be harmed, short and long term. The dems have opened the first salvo for the 04 election and they won big time.

[Bluntpoint]

"Bush personally will pay for his imprudent talk "

The imprudent one is now blackmailing his colleagues.

[ApesForEvolution]

"So, for all of you who want Lott to go, you'd better think long and hard about it. Because if he goes, all the advances we made in November aren't worth crap."

Hey Ms Intense!

IMO, the Lott already insured that when he, yet again, yearned for the 'opportuntities lost in 1948' of the then Dixiecrat 'Thurmond the segragationist' just a week ago.
Unfortunately, it appears the RATS have enough ammo on the 90s CCC-card-toting (that the Lott lied about), Dixiecrat-mentored, politically tone-deaf Limpa-Lott (notice I didn't mention his segragationist activities of college from 40 years ago).

Now, there will be communist, RAT-festering legislation posing as being civil rights sensitive that no one will dare vote against, including Bush.

Lott was, is and always will be, now moreso than ever, a major liability as a leader of the party. He singlehandedly has taken the sting of out the RATS loss for them, as only he knows how to do.

[rintense]

Then you'd have Democrats back in control of the Senate. Are you that provincial to think that blackmail isn't a daily occurrence in DC? Certainly it is wrong. But it is the nature of the beast.

[rintense]

Funny how one dumbass comment can knock down the house of cards, huh?

But after seeing Sharpton last night on H&C, I am convinced this isn't about a racist comment, especially since this is a party who believed and forgave Clinton and fought against impeachment. Make no mistake. This is about power. The Dems lost it and want it back. So either the Dems get their wish and Lott resigns the Seante- and they ultimately win, or the Republicans stand and fight against this obvious power play.

[Bluntpoint]

My stupid cat sh@t in my bathtub last night. I am not so impressed with cats.

When I throw food on the floor for my great hunter, I have to grab him by the head and push his nose into it for him to find it.

Lately, the coyotes have been weaning my cat population. I have a new found respect for coyotes.

[ApesForEvolution]

Don't blame Bush because the Lott is too friggin' dense to understand that he is not allowed, as leader, to talk like a moron in front of cameras. The Lott could have said a hundred nice things about Strom and about Mississippi if he really felt the urge, but he said what he said and it was absolutely stupid, especially with all of the Lott's particular segrationist dynamics. The Lott did this, he's the one that lobbed a grenade at Bush.

[rintense]

I agree. I want to know who the hell is advising the President on this, and when did they get so short-sighted? Cripe!

[ApesForEvolution]

"Then you'd have Democrats back in control of the Senate"

Have you forgotten? It's no different when the Lott is leading the Senate. It will only be much worse now. Especially since he put Bush on the spot, the week he was reaching out to minorities. The Lott is a good ole boy, self centered dipsquit that bends over for RATS and RINOs.

[rintense]

I disagree. With Lott leading and Republicans in the majority, we'd more than likely pass bills that would never even make it to the floor. Case and point: another economic stimulus package including tax cuts. We've already heard Dems say they'd fight it tooth and nail. Right now, they can kick and scream all they want. But if we lose the majority, well, you can look forward to two more years of Dem bullshit.

[Torie]

I was just jiving.

[ApesForEvolution]

"Make no mistake. This is about power."

I understand completely. The Lott just gave it back to them, de facto. Don't kid yourself. He stays and the next GOP Senate will not resemble anything conservative. I would call Lott's bluff, which Bush and the other true leadership in the GOP Senate will do if it hasn't yet. One of the Lott's staffers said yesterday that he would never hand his seat to a RAT governor in Mississippi. He will not end up as Leader but will remain in the Senate. It's too predictable now. Lott can threaten all he wants, but he has nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. No one but the Senate will have him at this point. Racist-smeared, GOP wimps with no pull anymore aren't that attractive as lobbyists and the Lott has no more appeal to Mississippians, other than RATS, after handing the Senate to RATS. Won't happen.

[rintense]

One thing is for sure. Lott is the one who has GWB by the jimmies.

[ApesForEvolution]

Without the votes to bring cloture, they will go ON and ON about the racist characteristics of all legislation and appointments that they don't like, for a national stage, again, and with a charge against the Lott that he opened up and can't close.

[Leclair10]

Lack of character the guy took the party on his back to the majority a month ago in a weak economy to boot and Lott does this to him. After all that he has done for this party and the results he got reaching out to hispanics particularly and seeing those results show up for his brother or Rick Perry in Texas, too. If I where George I'd definately stay away from sharp objects when I'm in the same room with him. Lack of character? I'd say who wouldn't even bring impeachment to trial a lack of character or his goofy power sharing idea. Man if it wasn't for George this party would have sunk into oblivion in the last two years.