ABC News Reporting Lott Says He Has Votes to Remain Leader, Will Not Step Down

ABC NEWS Radio Report ^ | December 17, 2002 | Doug Limerick

[ewing]

No text yet, just a radio report at the end of Rush's show.

Must be worried about the Russert report this morning that he is 'Far' from the 26 votes needed for a Senate Caucus victory.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Look, I'm no huge fan of TL. He oftimes has been a milquetoast, pushover for liberals. And look at what his "moderation" has gotten him: a full fledged public crucifixion for essentially getting carried away at a party. He didn't get drunk and drive a girl off a bridge...that'd be forgiveable.

I wish the Republican caucus had the b***s to say they want a strong leader who'll stand UP to the Democrat Party apparatus--if he were removed for that reason, I'd support it.

But a racist he's not...I cannot support a removal for a bogus reason like that. Of course, he could now be removed for 'political' purposes, and that would be understandable. But the caucus, imho, should've come forward before and said, "Look, he's been elected leader precisely because he isn't the man the press is painting him to be. For others to paint him as a racist is to label all of us racist, and we clearly are not racist."

Just mho. RD

[Recovering_Democrat]

Frist does not want to become majority leader (he allegedly has presidential ambitions for '08, and does not think the leadership would advance those ambitions...

Hmmm. He'd be a good president, wouldn't he? A doctor for Prez. Maybe by then Jeb! will be in the Senate--and ogling a 2016 run...

[Austin Willard Wright]

If the pubbies want to make such as statement, all well and good. Then....they can remove Lott for the obvious crime of political stupidity.

[Nita Nuprez]

Don't remind me!

Hey, at least I'm not pointing out Trent's lack of testicular fortitude by posting that gross picture of the squirrel with humongo balls.

[SerpentDove]

>> but I don't like seeing anyone offered up to the
multiculturalists by their own party<<

Maybe you didn't notice, but it his Trent Lott who keeps dousing himself with gasoline and lighting matches.

[Bogie]

I'll second that.

[TexKat]

The Christian Defense Coalition has now called for Lott's resignation.

[SerpentDove]

"Trent, you are NOT going to dump this garbage on us."

That's great! We oughta fill up his email boxes and inundate his office with calls doing just that!

Hmmmm....I really want to do that. I wonder what his number is?

1-800-SELLOUT?

[Elenya]

Lott is dangerous to the future viability of the conservative agenda and has to go asap.

Ditto!

He must go. And the sooner the better!

IMO, even if he decides to leave the Senate to teach the GOP a lesson, it can't be worse than having him stay as the ML pandering to the Rats and being used and abused by them.

I hope he'll stay in the Senate, but if he decides to leave, it'll still be better than to keep him as the ML.

[My2Cents]

I cant help but think this guy is either the dumbest man on Earth, or ignorant beyond all possiblity.

I think he's one of the selfish men on earth. He's trying to hang on to power for the sake of power, not for the sake of the GOP or the nation. At this point, it's "all about Trent."

[Reactionary]

It's all transparent, I'm afraid. Let us consider...

After the election, in which democrats lost the South, Pelosi makes a statement that republicans are extremists and that she's a moderate. Daschle soon covers the same talking points, and he says that the republicans will "move back the clock on civil rights" among other things.

Next, we have more democrats joining the chorus, talking about civil rights issues in regards to the war on terror, the status of the poor, etc.

And then? Trent Lott makes some informal comments than can be construed as somehow supporting segregation. Trent Lott lays the golden egg! The democrats now have an issue by which to gain access to the media and to push their "solution" to the new "extremist republican agenda." The media follows suit. Lott becomes the issue. Republicans become the issue. No longer are their questions concerning the democrats' policies (which would be natural given the fact that they lost an off-year election). Suddenly, the democrats are able, using a few sentences taken out of context, to deligitimize the new republican majority even before it's begun. Suddenly,the strategy gains traction.

And this is not a planned media event? Anyone who thinks this is about Lott and his stupid comments needs to consider a bit of recent political history, I think.

[ewing]

Is that the same Christian Coalition of Ralph Reed?

[My2Cents]

He just said that Lott can be turned...

...to the dark side. (No racial slur intended.)

[TexKat]

Is that the same Christian Coalition of Ralph Reed?

Appears to be one and the same.

[Terry Mross]

The GOP is screwed now. If he stays, well, you know what happens. If he leaves Jesse and company will say, "This man poured his soul for redemption and his own racist party kicked him out.

[Yaelle]

And what is Trent thinking about now, as the presses and media go wild over having him step down? Is he sitting at home declaring that NOTHING will get him to take the higher road and resign from the leadership post? Why is he putting himself and his grasp of power above the good of the nation and party? How dare he?

[OldFriend]

Gingrich quit after a dismal showing in a midterm election. Further he knew his extra marital affair was going to be made public.

Could we leave the revisionist history to the dems.

[OldFriend]

Notice all the outcry by the media...............NOT

[OldFriend]

To say nothing of all the mindreading going on right here in freerepublic!

[Mr. K]

I understand, but they will pick the SMALLEST molehill and make it into a huge mountain for ANY leader. Especially if it works this time.

I want Lott to be gone, but not this way...