[teletech]

Take your pick: Tommy Daschle given the period between 2002-2004 to remind everyone what a horse's ass he is, or the Dems getting a lock on the majority from 2004-2010.

So which one do you want?

I want the Senate to remain in Republican hands. Don't you?

[Poohbah]

I want the Senate to remain in Republican hands. Don't you?

Yes, I do.

There's this little problem: Lott couldn't keep his mouth shut. Now, here are the choices before us:

1. Jettison Lott as Majority Leader, and make it clear that if he DOES resign from the Senate itself, he can expect some very unpleasant consequences. Risk: he may say to hell with it, and we may have Daschle as Majority Leader to 2004--and we give him another two years to convince the American public that he's stupid AND crazy.
2. Leave Lott in place as de jure Majority Leader, and Tommy Daschle is the de facto majority leader until 2004, whereupon he becomes the de jure Majority Leader, Pelosi becomes Speaker of the House, and John Kerry is elected President.
3. Lott resigns from the Senate. We have Daschle as Majority Leader to 2004--and we give him another two years to convince the American public that he's stupid AND crazy.

OK, two out of three scenarios have the Senate in Democrat hands. Only if there is sustained pressure on Lott to step aside and stay in the Senate do we avoid the problem you noted.