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I have never, ever, branded Lott as a racist, and you know it. I have been quite careful with my remarks, and spent some effort in doing so. I don't believe Lott is a racist. I have posted that belief at least a couple of times. I think he is a genial accomodationist, and not a race hater or baiter. I think he has a nostalgic view about the old south, and fails to appreciate how truly evil Jim Crow was, and thus has a tin ear to the gravity of the content of his comments, and the compelling need to have dealt with it immediately in clear language of the kind I could have written for him in about 3 minutes.

Having a Democratic Senate was actually kind of cool. I may soon be nostalgic for it. I wouldn't mind running another campaign against the Tom Daschle do-nothing Senate. There may be nothing but long term gains in this for us. Here's what happens if Lott resigns and Chafee switches:

1) There is a much better environment for Republicans in 2004. And even if there isn't, we probably pickup the 1 seat we would need assuming Bush wins reelection.

2) There is a special election for Lott's seat. Lott is probably going to retire in 2006 anyway. So the only real effect is to trade an open seat contest in 2006 for an open seat contest 3 months from now.

3) Chafee switches now instead of later. And we lose a seat that right now looks like the least likely seat to still be in GOP hands after the 2006 elections. And the Dems have to defend that seat in 2006 instead of us.