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I meant to post this earlier (around 7:30pm PST), but got knocked off the computer.

FYI..........just because someone has a differing opinion regarding a particular issue from what you might hold, it does not make them a RAT, a DU'er or a disruptor. In other words....... Knock it off!

I'm sure you've been paying attention since this began. I won't speak for TLB, but I too have seen a tendency lately for one to knock off a bunch of one-liners to every post in a thread that one sees. It's as if one logs on, reads down a thread, and posts whatever word-association pops into one's head at the moment. That doesn't lead to reasoned debate, only derision.

Not being one to dwell on problems, but rather, to offer solutions, let me say that it appears that most posters here fall into these camps:

1) Those who feel that Lott didn't say what people are hearing. Lott was repeating a running gag between himself and a senile old man to make him smile, and political opportunists (who know the truth) are running with it for partisan gain. That Lott must stand up against this PC insanity, but that he's an ineffective Majority Leader and should be replaced, but on our terms, not Democrat agitators' terms. Count me in this group.

2) Those who feel that Lott is a closet racist with a past history of supporting segregationist positions and that this "gaffe" is just another example of a growing pattern of behavior. Keeping Lott in power proves that all Republicans are racists at heart, and Lott will be used as our "albatross," disqualifying us from taking any moral high-ground position on issues of race, taxes, education, or whatever might prove vulnerable.

3) Those who feel that Lott is an idiot and an ineffective leader with no backbone, and will sell out everyone just to be liked. No matter how specious the charge, it should be used as justification to toss him overboard for the betterment of the party, even if it leads to more flimsy attacks and escalates the "politics of personal destruction."

4) Those who feel that Lott made a "mistake," but that we are Republicans who are held to a higher standard and will not stoop to the gutter-level of Democrats. That we will call for Lott's resignation on principle even if it costs us the majority that was stolen from us two years ago. That even though we are at a pivotal cusp in American history with Republicans controlling the Executive branch, both chambers of Congress, and with many vacancies in the Judiciary and at least two retiring Supreme Court Justices, we will gladly give it up in order to preserve our dignity amongst proven liars, cheats, perjurers and racketeers from the other side of the Aisle.

I've been squarely in the first camp since this story broke. I think the debate here has been healthy, the opinions diverse, and the passion evident, but I think the "hit and run" posting tactics have been detracting from the discourse.

-PJ

The charge against Lott was never specious, even given the most innocent reasonable interpretation of his homage to the Dixiecrats.

I started out feeling a lot more charitable for him at the outset, but his apologies have ranged from dismissive to grovelling without ever sincerely grasping what this is all about.

Now, Trent Lott has got to go before he damages the party further.

Thanks for your note. Lott has to go from ML or the ship is sunk. Post haste. The first 6 months are the only 6 months that matter to get anything impacting done before the election cycle hits.