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!

[Dog]

I heard the conference call did happen........but the blackmail story coming out of it is false.

To tell you all the truth I think we are all worying over nothing.

Lott knows that if he walks away and gives this to the RATS he will be finished.....TOTALLY.

And I think that has been explained to him by now..

He doesn't want need a very popular President pissed off at him..

[aristeides]

Have you read to the end of the thread that #429 links to? I think you may be surprised.

[marajade]

Ah... what was the differing part of the story?

[Dave S]

He has tried to apologize FOUR TIMES

And each had the sincereity of a Bill Clinton apology during his Monica problems. In his first two apologies, which he was too lazy to give himeself since he was on vacation, he blamed everyone but himself. How many of Clinton's non apologies did you accept?

[Wait4Truth]

Did I post that to you, deport? If I did, it wasn't meant for you. It was supposed to be to sinkspur. Anyway, I don't think the Republicans are caving. Lott's past is riddled with segregationist leanings and he has not done a good job of distancing himself from those leanings. He has done a terrible job during these past days and has dug his own hole, IMO. Regarding the President, I guess some will never be satisfied with him. God forbid he should ever compromise in order to get something done instead of getting nothing done. Staunch conservative 100% of the time? Perhaps not. But, effective leader? Absolutely.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Kidding, right?

[Torie]

After Lott feels that he has clarified what he meant to a sufficient number of the people then it is time to move on with the conservative agenda

That would have been nifty absent Lott's cirriculum vitae. If, say, Thad Cochran was ML, and had said what Lott said, then a simple statement that the words were inartful, and meant to refer to Thurmond the man, rather than his ideas prior to the time Thurmond abandoned them, would have been sufficient.

[mountainfolk]

Don Nickles has long been considered as a good candidate for majority leader of the senate. However this falls out, Trent Lott is not the only person to be diminished by this lynching. From everyday voters to those in political office, the white lie should be a thing of the past. For republicans in particular, watching their mouths will not be nearly so important as watching their backs. I sincerely hope that Senator Nickles has not said or done anything which could be construed as anti-indian. I expect the dirt digging is already in progress.

[habs4ever]

Lott wasn't present on that call, so he couldn't very well make an ultimatum, now could he ? It's "into-wishing" by some who are speculating out loud....

[Dave S]

Like I said, if the GOP self destructs, I'm voting independant along with 20 million other southern voters.

I thought you lived in California. When did that become part of the South?

[elfman2]

I think the price of keeping Senate control is too high. As others have said, dumping Lott is both the right thing to do and goes a long way toward furthering our efforts to thwart the race card.

Ignoring that in order to keep a Senate majority for who knows how long resembles the vise of political expediency over principle that’s so often maligned here. And when that majority is so narrow and under duress from Lott, McCain and who knows who else, it's crippled anyway.

Sure, we'll get to set the agenda and move things out of committee, but we'll also be held politically responsible for every piece of legislation that has been compromised and corrupted in order to pass the 60 vote hurdle. And we'll have the compromised and corrupted face of Lott to go with it.

No, the more I think about that, the worse it looks. Replace Lott now and manage the consequences!

[aristeides]

The Washington Post yesterday explicitly reported that Lott was not on the conference call.

[Torie]

I meant bogus in the sense that Lott was not a part of it, and thus a fortiori did not threaten anyone during it.

[habs4ever]

And chances he will, when he doesn't need him, or on issues he knows Jeffords will vote against.You are stating the obvious.

Try and use words like pander with more caution.

[Howlin]

I've seen and heard it in more than once place.

[Republic of Texas]

I'll go back and read it, but my original stance is that In My Opinion, Lott or a supporter of his, probably released the resignation story to force some support from the right. It is an effective hardball tactic, so why not float it, especially if it can't be proven back to him. I only wish he played this way AGAINST the Dems.

[aristeides]

The conference call happened, Lott was not on it.

[Howlin]

It's all pandering, IMO.

[Mr. Mojo]

Frist gets a "D" rating from Gun Owners of America.

Nickles gets a "B-", which is quite impressive considering how tough the GOA standards are.

Gun Owners of America Senate ratings

[governsleastgovernsbest]

It's true that Gingrich and Livingstone left the House, but they didn't do so under circumstances that jeopardized the GOP majority. And they did step down from their leadership positions.