Russert: Lott Way Short of Votes to be Re-Elected Leader

The Today Show

[governsleastgovernsbest]

The general sense of the news this morning is that it's over for Lott. There seems to be a consensus that there is no way he will be re-elected SML. At this point it's simply a matter of orchestrating his departure.

My guess is that Lott will "do the right thing", to quote Spike Lee of all people, and leave with grace within the next few days.

[Hacksaw]

I was in the "Lott should stay" crowd, because this is nothing more than punishing him for thought crime.

However, in his groveling over this, he has indicated that he will go left over race related issues, most notably affirmative action - so maybe he should step down. I hate to give the left a victory, especially over something as disgustingly political as this, but if he is going to abandon a conservative platform to stay in power, perhaps he needs to step aside.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I understand the reluctance, but the biggest victory for the left would be to leave Lott in place.

I could support standing behind a leader who had been unfairly smeared, even if leaving him in power could hurt the party politically in the short run. But here, Lott brought this on himself. He really has done little to earn our support.

[2timothy3.16]

So, what do you think about the new more apologetic Trent Lott?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Interesting - new software permitting individuals to create their own polls?

I voted for "time for Trent to act like a man." Is it possible to correct typo in "sensative"?

[doodad]

I thought Lott was already reelected back in Nov. when the commitee seats and such were decided.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

That did seem to have been the story earlier; not sure why it now seems there will be another election. I'll try to research and report back.

[mewzilla]

He was. But Lott can step down. He can also be dumped, which is what the Jan 6 meeting is about.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I believe I have the answer. Have a look at the excerpts below. It seems clear that while Lott was elected SML, if five Senators request a new meeting, they have the power to do so and force a new election.

"I'm not prepared to throw him overboard," said Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania on CNN. Specter said that Nickles should have assembled a group of four others who agreed that a new vote was needed before calling for it. Under the rules, five senators are needed to call for action to force the Republican conference to meet.

Santorum, the chairman of the caucus, said on the NBC program "Meet the Press" that he would not himself make the motion for a new election.

[dawn53]

I agree.

If he doesn't step down as SML, he will spend the next two years capitulating to the left, so as not to appear to be "racist."

Time for a change.

I get the impression that the Dems are almost handing the Republicans what they want, but were afraid to ask for, a new SML.

[Godel]

I agree, for me the choice is clear. Last night on BET, Trent Lott endorsed government mandated racial discrimination against the most oppressed group in this nation. This man is a sick vile racist coward and has no business leading the Republican party. At this point im so disgusted by this disgusting individual that I don't care if he resigns, he has no right to lead the GOP after advocating such immoral policies. He is either a vile sick racist, or a liar, get him the hell out of here.

[doodad]

OK that makes sense. I just wondered what the parliamentary procedure was since it is becoming obvious that he will not step down.

[TLBSHOW]

The WH is a lot of the problem the president is no conservative or loyal to his people.

[Guillermo]

I can see Lott playing hardball (only against Republicans, never Democrats) over this. He's gonna say "Either you re-elect me SML or I'm gonna resign and a Democrat's gonna take my place".

[StopThePress]

>The WH is a lot of the problem the president is no conservative or loyal to his people.<

WRONG!

Bush has every right to claim a big part of why Lott got the SML position BACK. The shrub campaigned HARD to get what we have today. This is more than just "giving the left a victory" - this is about the future of the GOP and taking the race card away from the rats.

[TLBSHOW]

You are? LOL

[TLBSHOW]

Till you stand with Lott the party isn't going to take nothing from the rats.

[islander-11]

Dawn, I think you are exactly right when you said that the Republicans wanted to oust Lott LONG before any of this PC nonsense came about. His repeated capitulation to Dash-hole and the other lefties was a capital crime.

[TLBSHOW]

more B r e a k i n g - N e w s just in: The 'Blacks-Only, Whites-And-Jews-Stay-Out!' Congressional Black Caucus says apologies from Lott aren't enough and called on Bush to extradite the Mississippi Republican to the Hague where he faces fresh indictment on several counts for verbal hate crimes)

by JohnHuang2

[Cincinatus]

If Lottt waits till Jan. 6, the special election would not be held till next November.

According to Jonah Goldberg at NRO's "The Corner", this is not true:

If Lott resigns from the Senate entirely, the seat doesn't necessarily go Democratic, even though the Governor is a Dem. According to Mississippi law , there has to be a general election within 90 days of the vacancy so long as there's more than 1 year left in the term. So, yes, it's possible the governor could appoint a Dem who could win a special election, but it's not as though Mississippi has become a demonstrably Democratic state over the last few years. And it's not as if Mississippi voters will be psyched to elect a Dem. Odd that we haven't heard thos mentioned much.

The relevant law is HERE.