Lott cause Republicans to lose control of the Senate?
December 17, 2002 10:50 AM Subscribe
If Trent Lott is voted out it's likely he won't get a committee seat. He may then resign from the Senate altogether allowing the Democratic Govenor of Mississippi to appoint a new Senator. Not only that but, "White House officials have told Republicans that Bush is willing to accept the consequences if Lott quits" This information is all buried in the last few paragraphs of the article.
This post was deleted for the following reason:
I post this without trying to get into a political debate but for me a suprising potential outcome of all the broo-ha-ha. I guess I'm most suprised by fact that this article suggests that the White House seems ok with potentially losing the Senate majority.
posted by aaronscool at 10:53 AM on December 17, 2002
posted by aaronscool at 10:53 AM on December 17, 2002
the White House seems ok with potentially losing the Senate majority.
Except they won't. 50/50 means the White House is the tiebreaker, and the GOP leadership remains.
Small price to pay for getting rid of a giant stain on the party.
posted by PrinceValium at 10:56 AM on December 17, 2002
Except they won't. 50/50 means the White House is the tiebreaker, and the GOP leadership remains.
Small price to pay for getting rid of a giant stain on the party.
posted by PrinceValium at 10:56 AM on December 17, 2002
I don't think Lott would resign or threaten to resign unless he doesn't want to be part of the republican party in the future. I don't think the republicans would appreciate this kind of scare tactics.
posted by rlivings at 11:01 AM on December 17, 2002
posted by rlivings at 11:01 AM on December 17, 2002
If Trent stays on, what a great asset to the 2004 Democratic campaign. Its a shame there is no current candidate to stand behind. Why the fuck doesn't Feingold run?
posted by four panels at 11:09 AM on December 17, 2002
posted by four panels at 11:09 AM on December 17, 2002
I'm with you, fourpanels. Russ Feingold would make a great president. I would campaign like crazy for him if he ran.
posted by ajblust at 11:14 AM on December 17, 2002
posted by ajblust at 11:14 AM on December 17, 2002
At first I was surprised by all the hoopla surrounding Lott's boneheaded comments... but it's gradually sank in that this SNAFU really has legs and it's not only because of the efforts of the sketchy NAACP or the democrats.
Progressive republicans have realized that Lott's foul up can be a positive turning point for their party. By making Lott the sacrificial lamb (black sheep really) they will be making a very visual concession to African Americans that the GOP will not tolerate racism.
The alternative is to keep Lott and both endorse his views by proxy (silence is assent) and give the democrats ammo for years to come.
The real looser (and justly so) is Strom – who was on his way out as a befuddled old geezer who people couldn’t help but love. Lott’s screw up cast light on both Strom’s tainted legacy and the racial shortcomings of the GOP.
posted by wfrgms at 11:18 AM on December 17, 2002
Progressive republicans have realized that Lott's foul up can be a positive turning point for their party. By making Lott the sacrificial lamb (black sheep really) they will be making a very visual concession to African Americans that the GOP will not tolerate racism.
The alternative is to keep Lott and both endorse his views by proxy (silence is assent) and give the democrats ammo for years to come.
The real looser (and justly so) is Strom – who was on his way out as a befuddled old geezer who people couldn’t help but love. Lott’s screw up cast light on both Strom’s tainted legacy and the racial shortcomings of the GOP.
posted by wfrgms at 11:18 AM on December 17, 2002
I've said it before and I'll say it again.
New Democrats and moderate Republicans in the House and Senate need to start a third party. For congressional caucusing purposes they would align themselves with either Dems or GOP based on the particular issue. But the true strength of this party would be as presidential contenders. Consider a party whose Senate leaders are:
McCain
Lieberman
Edwards
Bayh
Snowe
Jeffords
Collins
Breaux
Chafee
Dole
Practically a gene pool swimming with popularity among the middle of the road electorate.
Don't get me wrong, I hope the Democrats win. But I also hope they win with a leftist message, not anything equivocal. When people ally themselves with wholly opposite interests for political gain, there are not enough political parties.
posted by PrinceValium at 11:19 AM on December 17, 2002
New Democrats and moderate Republicans in the House and Senate need to start a third party. For congressional caucusing purposes they would align themselves with either Dems or GOP based on the particular issue. But the true strength of this party would be as presidential contenders. Consider a party whose Senate leaders are:
McCain
Lieberman
Edwards
Bayh
Snowe
Jeffords
Collins
Breaux
Chafee
Dole
Practically a gene pool swimming with popularity among the middle of the road electorate.
Don't get me wrong, I hope the Democrats win. But I also hope they win with a leftist message, not anything equivocal. When people ally themselves with wholly opposite interests for political gain, there are not enough political parties.
posted by PrinceValium at 11:19 AM on December 17, 2002
Being from Mississippi, I just want to go back to bed and wish this never happened. Thanks, Trent, for making us look even worse than how the rest of the country normally views us.
posted by fijiwriter at 11:24 AM on December 17, 2002
posted by fijiwriter at 11:24 AM on December 17, 2002
Here is a funny column about Trett on BET last night.
I would like to see him demoted but staying on to see if he really has "seen the error of his ways" and "revisits his opinions" on certain racist organizations and supporting people like Judge Pickering. I don't believe it, but maybe he has.
Of course, Senator Nickles (his probable replacement as leader) isn't exactly someone who embraces civil rights either. He is just smart enough not to wear his pointy white hat in public.
posted by aacheson at 11:26 AM on December 17, 2002
I would like to see him demoted but staying on to see if he really has "seen the error of his ways" and "revisits his opinions" on certain racist organizations and supporting people like Judge Pickering. I don't believe it, but maybe he has.
Of course, Senator Nickles (his probable replacement as leader) isn't exactly someone who embraces civil rights either. He is just smart enough not to wear his pointy white hat in public.
posted by aacheson at 11:26 AM on December 17, 2002
Wfrgms, I don't love Strom at ALL. He's still a sexist, homophobic bastard who should have been kicked out of the Congress years ago. Even with the repudiation of his former views, he still looks down on women, treats them as simpletons, and is a bastard. Lots of people have no problem not loving him. He and all his racist, old, white, male cohorts are hopefully a dying breed and maybe in 50 years we will have more enlightened less white, male Congress. I, for one, am so glad to see him go.
posted by aacheson at 11:30 AM on December 17, 2002
posted by aacheson at 11:30 AM on December 17, 2002
I can't believe he dressed like that for his BET interview.
posted by goethean at 11:31 AM on December 17, 2002
posted by goethean at 11:31 AM on December 17, 2002
making us look even worse
He certainly took some of the heat from Georgia. ;-P
posted by mischief at 11:37 AM on December 17, 2002
He certainly took some of the heat from Georgia. ;-P
posted by mischief at 11:37 AM on December 17, 2002
I wouldn't put too much stock in what is probably simply normal posturing. Lott has said explicitly that he'll stay on. His "backers" are raising the possibility of his leaving the Senate altogether as a tactic to help him keep his ML status. The White House sent back the message that this tactic was not going to work.
I doubt whatever happens will affect outcomes much. Bush was never exactly a fan of Lott. And even should the Senate split 50/50, not only will Cheney have the deciding vote, but I doubt there will be too many 50/50 ties to break. A not insignificant number of Democrats won seats by adopting thinly veiled Republican positions - and there is a large, post-election divide in Democratic party right now about whether to turn hard left (i.e., the Pelosi faction), or to become even more centrist than they already are. While it's always foolish to make political predictions, I have a strange feeling that a lot of Bush legislation will pass the Senate 55/45, or 60/40, instead of 51/50.
posted by MidasMulligan at 11:42 AM on December 17, 2002
I doubt whatever happens will affect outcomes much. Bush was never exactly a fan of Lott. And even should the Senate split 50/50, not only will Cheney have the deciding vote, but I doubt there will be too many 50/50 ties to break. A not insignificant number of Democrats won seats by adopting thinly veiled Republican positions - and there is a large, post-election divide in Democratic party right now about whether to turn hard left (i.e., the Pelosi faction), or to become even more centrist than they already are. While it's always foolish to make political predictions, I have a strange feeling that a lot of Bush legislation will pass the Senate 55/45, or 60/40, instead of 51/50.
posted by MidasMulligan at 11:42 AM on December 17, 2002
goethean , now THAT would have been funny. (and won more converts than what he did do)
posted by HTuttle at 11:53 AM on December 17, 2002
posted by HTuttle at 11:53 AM on December 17, 2002
Since no one else seems to realize it, I'll go ahead and say it:
The best thing for the Democratic party, and left leaning people in general, is for Trent Lott to stay on board as Majority leader.
With him at the helm, Republicans are forced to acknowledge the underlying bigotry that has - since the time of Lincoln - run throughout the party.
Should Lott resign, he'll be replaced by a conservative with nearly identical views (Nickels voted against MLK as well), but tighter lips. Whomever it should turn out to be, this leader will be able to claim that the Republicans have solved the problem of racism in the party without really changing anything.
Which is why conservatives clamor for his resignation while influential liberals have remained largely silent.
posted by aladfar at 11:55 AM on December 17, 2002
The best thing for the Democratic party, and left leaning people in general, is for Trent Lott to stay on board as Majority leader.
With him at the helm, Republicans are forced to acknowledge the underlying bigotry that has - since the time of Lincoln - run throughout the party.
Should Lott resign, he'll be replaced by a conservative with nearly identical views (Nickels voted against MLK as well), but tighter lips. Whomever it should turn out to be, this leader will be able to claim that the Republicans have solved the problem of racism in the party without really changing anything.
Which is why conservatives clamor for his resignation while influential liberals have remained largely silent.
posted by aladfar at 11:55 AM on December 17, 2002
Lott is toast as far as majority leader. It's his choice whether or not he resigns the Senate. That message comes from Rove.
The only question left is whether we will get a "haircut" story about Lott and find out how little his toupee cost.
posted by nofundy at 12:06 PM on December 17, 2002
The only question left is whether we will get a "haircut" story about Lott and find out how little his toupee cost.
posted by nofundy at 12:06 PM on December 17, 2002
For what it's worth, which may not be much, Strom IS beloved in his home state -- it's amazing how much stuff is named for him around here considering he's technically not dead yet: Lake Thurmond, Storm Thurmond Federal Building in downtown Columbia (the capital city), and if I weren't too lazy to Google I could find more.
He's been beloved by the (white) constituency of his state for generations, whatever his views.
posted by alumshubby at 12:10 PM on December 17, 2002
He's been beloved by the (white) constituency of his state for generations, whatever his views.
posted by alumshubby at 12:10 PM on December 17, 2002
With him at the helm, Republicans are forced to acknowledge the underlying bigotry that has - since the time of Lincoln - run throughout the party.
Odd statement. Little blurry on the ol' history there. More Democrats than Republicans voted against the Civil Rights Act. An alternative perspective (assuming that we've now officially entered the highly polarized world of gross generalizations and cheap soundbites) would be to say "With him at the helm, Democrats will be able to continue playing the race card, which hadn't been working too well in recent elections".
Somehow, when Lott speaks at a birthday party and makes an offhand comment about Helms, it leads to the loss of all moral credibility, and the self-satisfied allegation that the entire Republican party needs to acknowledfge it's "racism". But when someone like Jesse Jackson makes references to "Hymietown", not only doesn't it mean that Democracts are "racist", it doesn't even affect his stature as a left-wing "moral" leader. Hhhmmm.
posted by MidasMulligan at 12:12 PM on December 17, 2002
Odd statement. Little blurry on the ol' history there. More Democrats than Republicans voted against the Civil Rights Act. An alternative perspective (assuming that we've now officially entered the highly polarized world of gross generalizations and cheap soundbites) would be to say "With him at the helm, Democrats will be able to continue playing the race card, which hadn't been working too well in recent elections".
Somehow, when Lott speaks at a birthday party and makes an offhand comment about Helms, it leads to the loss of all moral credibility, and the self-satisfied allegation that the entire Republican party needs to acknowledfge it's "racism". But when someone like Jesse Jackson makes references to "Hymietown", not only doesn't it mean that Democracts are "racist", it doesn't even affect his stature as a left-wing "moral" leader. Hhhmmm.
posted by MidasMulligan at 12:12 PM on December 17, 2002
From what I've read, if Lott is booted the White House favorite to replace him won't be Nickles - whose record on civil-rights issues isn't too hot, either - but Bill Frist. I'm greatly torn by this - I'm a registered Democrat and proud of it, but on the other hand, Bill Frist went to my high school (Montgomery Bell Academy, in Nashville), his family practically owns the school, and it's kind of cool to see a Big Red boy done good.
posted by risenc at 12:16 PM on December 17, 2002
posted by risenc at 12:16 PM on December 17, 2002
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posted by hackly_fracture at 10:51 AM on December 17, 2002