Don Nickles Calls for New Senate Leadership Election to Challenge Lott

Fox News | 12-15-02

[rightwing2]

Fox News just reported that ABC reported that Nickles has called for a new Senate leadership challenge to Trent Lott!

[McGavin999]

Unfortunately, his walk does not match his talk. It pains me to point out the following realities:

So, now you are out to destroy President Bush over Trent Lott? My eyes are really being opened over this whole fiasco.

[habs4ever]

You misunderstand the power realtionship, then.Lott can't snap his fingers and order people about.He's not a tyrant, and one vote can make a whole lot of difference.It doesn't mean you call on his all the time, but when necessary.It's dumb to burn bridges just because the glow and heat would warm your heart.You never know when you'll need him.Doesn't mean you trust him, though.

There's that old problem of pragmatism coming back to bite your ass.You can't run away from it.

[Wait4Truth]

Thank you McGavin. You hit the nail on the head.

[Torie]

Are you sure the blackmail story is true? Someone in Lott's office said it was not. Granted, the guy may have been freelancing, or maybe Lott is sending out conflicting signals. The conference call story turned out to be bogus.

[Republic of Texas]

I'm not suggesting that Lott attack Jeffords in public, just that he not pander to him. The SML does have influence over what legislation is considered, and does have the ability to shut Jeffords out. Which he SHOULD do. If it were the other way around, Lott would never see the light of day.

[TimPatriot]

If Senator Lott is so selfish as to resign his seat when asked to step down as Majority Leader, then he deserves the sh** storm he will endure for years that will follow. He's probably going to come to his senses, I'm sure its a real blow to his pride right now.

[habs4ever]

That idea was floated but never confirmed, and the WashPost repudiated the story being put out by MSNBC on this matter.It was a fabrication, and it didn't happen.

[Republic of Texas]

Sending out conflicting stories is a nice way to deflect attention from an obvious blackmail attempt.

[marajade]

"The conference call story turned out to be bogus."

It did? FNC's Tony Snow was quoting the incoming senator of SC asking someone during the call if this is what they want in that Lott is gone...

[aristeides]

If you read to the end of the thread you link to, you'll see that those reports are discredited -- or, at the least, called very much into doubt. Look for my posts on the thread.

[TLBSHOW]

He has the power to stand against baseless attempts by the left to call all of us racist. When he himself called Christians bigots and hateful that was what gave the left the ammo to come after us. Bush is the one that needs to stand up and slam the liberal racist democats. Instead he is silent.

[Republic of Texas]

The conference call DID happen, what was said there is a differing story.

[deport]

Are you sure the blackmail story is true? Someone in Lott's office said it was not.

Does it matter anymore whether it was true or not at this point. It's been picked up and scattered and repeated at every opportunity .... so Lott may just as well have said it as he'll be tarred with the smear for the rest of his life and beyond.

Was Lott even on the conference phone call to which it is attributed the said the statement?

[Scott from the Left Coast]

That may be.

Lott does have the ability here to change the discussion -- and maybe he's the only one who does.

If he voluntarily stepped down from the majority leader position, retaining his rightful Senate seat for at least the remainder of his current term, then he become the martyr.

The discussion then becomes: Did leftwing, Democrat race pimps wrongfully impugn Lott? Has race pimping gone too far? Have we entered the world of Orwellian thought crimes? Those become the questions in the press, because Lott would make the self-sacrifice for the greater good and place himself entirely above the mudslinging. He could even do it with an impassioned (Hah!) speech that he grew up in a different society (like Thurmond) and has grown and changed as he has walked through the world -- some such media mulch.

But he changes the issue with one act of self-sacrifice. Then a whole lot of people who saw him as a problem, see him anew as at least a martyr if not a hero.

It's all in his hands. It's the only good way out now.

[aristeides]

That report about the conference call only appeared on TV. It was flatly contradicted by the Washington Post yesterday morning, when it explicitly reported that Lott was not on the conference call.

[alnick]

Is there any evidence, other than media speculation that Lott has threatened to resign from the Senate if removed from his leadership position?

There is a headline at Drudge right now that says that Lott has said that he will NOT resign from the senate. The quote on Drudge's home page is, "'My term runs through 2006, I intend to serve it, whatever happens'..."

I have not read the article myself yet.

[Republic of Texas]

You can only hijack the willing.

[TLBSHOW]

that warning was a year ago!

[marajade]

I think you are confusing two separate issues: the charge that someone is a racist and that Bush is kneeling before religious idols... They don't have anything to do with the other...