[Jhoffa_]

And George W. Bush, who jumped on Lott and all but labelled him a racist..

Dubya about had to come down hard on Lott in public.

Lott wasn't saying much, the whole incident and what he meant exactly was ambiguous. Everyone was uncertain and it was only a matter of time before someone put Dubya on the spot about it anyway.

I get the impression he came down hard on him in private also, and that's kind of troubling. (At the urging of Rove, perhaps?)

I think you're right about the cowardly, "Canonized Conservatives" though.

I couldn't believe my eyes when the nicest, most compassionate, understanding & all around most decent comment I heard about his mistake was from Tom Daschle.

I didn't care why Daschle said what he did, I was just amazed that he said it while the supposed "conservatives" were all readying Lott's noose.

[Poohbah]

I get the impression he came down hard on him in private also, and that's kind of troubling.

What's really troubling is that Lott didn't take the hint and clean up his mess.

[OldFashionedAmerican]

I didn't care why Daschle said what he did, I was just amazed that he said it while the supposed "conservatives" were all readying Lott's noose.

See my earlier posts. When the going gets tough, the Right runs for cover and can not stick by their elected man, but when a Lefty breaks the law, they have no problem backing him. How pitiful for us. I agree that Lott did a terrible job, but by pushing him out for THIS so called reason sends a bad message: 'Accuse a Conservative, and he'll find himself without any friends, and we (Liberals) can throw him out whenever we want to!"

[esopman]

Daschle is the consummate political snake. His sole interest is the accretion of power for self and party. The continuance of Lott as ML would be a wonderful drum for him to beat for the benefit of the classical Democrat core constituencies. Lott's resignation silenced the drum. Not that Daschle won't try the same with Frist, but this was a needed step.

My contempt for Lott derives from his treatment of Henry Hyde in forwarding the Clinton impeachment to Lott for the Senate trial. In short: Lott was profoundly compromised as well as blinded by many years inside the beltway. His resignation is a net positive--with the major caveat--if the Republicans play the change to garner the support of the malleable middle of the electorate. Us diehard conservatives and our counterpart witless liberals are already set in our ways.

Dear Lord, I weary of the mess in Washington.

Keep your powder dry, close at hand and abundant. Blessings on Freepers Everywhere.