Free Republic

<p>What do Trent Lott and Bill Clinton have in common? Not enough for Lott to survive.</p> <p>Trent Lott and Bill Clinton were both born poor in the Deep South of the 1940s. Both crawled their way to the top of the national political heap with enormous grit and drive. Both are extremely stubborn men who instinctively refuse to bow to pressure and quit when controversy envelopes them. The difference is that Bill Clinton could be removed as president only by a two-thirds vote of the Senate--something his party's loyal support precluded. But Trent Lott's support within his party is melting away, and right now he is nowhere near the 26 votes from GOP Senate colleagues he needs to retain his job.</p>

<p>Amid the firestorm over his remarks embracing Strom Thurmond's 1948 segregationist presidential campaign, Trent Lott may not consider himself lucky. But he is. Back in October, he abruptly advanced the date of Republican leadership elections by several weeks in a bid to squelch competition for his job. The vote re-electing Mr. Lott was held only two weeks after the November elections. Smart move.</p>