I can just see it now. Are you comfortable with a ML Senate Pubbie X who threatened to resign from the Senate, and possibly force your party in the minority, if he wasn't kept in power? Is that the kind of leader you want? Is it all about power? How often to you bend to blackmail and threats? If you think Lott's apology was satisfactory, just why do you think Lott felt the need to try to blackmail you in a conference call with 27 of your peers?
This story, if true, and I can't mentioning that qualifier, is now into the novelistic realm. It is simply less believeable than true fiction.
This will be spun seven ways from Sunday.... It's a no winner at this point but the bottom line is you have to play the cards you are dealt at the time. I just don't think right now is the time to fold'em.