[aristeides]

President Bush had ordered aides to say nothing for or against Lott.

So why did Colin Powell make his statement last week, I wonder. I find it hard to believe he would have made that statement without White House clearance.

[okie01]

"Which way the White House goes on the University of Michigan court case and the Pickering nomination will provide two early clues of the Lott affair's impact."

Perhaps. But those two issues would be impacted irrespective of whether the White House chose to support Lott or not.

In fact, it would probably be politically more difficult to file an amicus brief in the Michigan case and re-nominate Pickering were Lott still the Majority Leader.