Wonkette said it best:
Thank god we can return to blatant moral hypocrisy and antebellum racial attitudes without the facade of Western libertarianism or Midwestern tolerance.
Posted by phidipides at November 15, 2006 08:13 AMMacaca - Part Deux
Posted by Alex at November 15, 2006 09:12 AMFrom a political stand point, I think this is great news for the Democrats.
The Repubs picked James Eastland Jr. Good deal. That means they're going to be a minority party for a long time.
But as you pointed out Steve, Lott owes Bush NOTHING. The election disaster, Katrina, and oh yeah, that Senate majority leader thing. Not saying Lott didn't deserve it but that was cold blooded. Think Trent has forgotten? Basically the Repubs picked the guy who has arguably the biggest ax to grind against Shrub.
Lott when he's not making stupid remarks is a smoothie. He knows Bush is the lamest of ducks and supporting him blindly is hazardous to your political health. I think he's also taken a pulse and understands that Republicans at this moment hate the collective guts of Bush, Cheney, Rove, and Henny Penny.
Don't be surprised if Lott starts delivering votes to Harry Reid on a regular basis. This is his chance to pay Junior and Rove back in um, er spades?
Daryl | 11.15.06 - 4:03 pm | #
A (white) party cannot change its spots.
Posted by euzoius at November 15, 2006 02:39 PMThe GOP has just guarenteed that they will not get over 10% of the black vote in 2008. The party of Strom Thurmond blissfully parties on.
Posted by herbal tee at November 15, 2006 02:58 PMWithin the two senators picked for leadership roles are two of the best at utilizing all the senate rules. These two are very shrewd in practicing the art of legislation. Go ahead and laugh at them. Come back a year or two and talk to me. See what they accomplished in the time between.
Posted by peter at November 15, 2006 04:08 PMIdol worship for the "new" senate stars of the white authoritarian party. How surprising.
I guess we're lucky Team Conservative wasted its fabulous A squad when they had the majority.
Posted by euzoius at November 15, 2006 05:59 PMPeter, you are right that McConnell and Lott are knowledgeable about Senate rules, and are able at using them. So too are Sens. Byrd and Reid. The minority leaders can basically use the Senate rules to block the legislative actions of the majority Democrats. First, Lott will be in conflict about doing that if, in doing so, he helps the Bush White House who threw him under the bus four years ago. He has a long memory and resentments, and may not be inclined. Second, if they do, they can hasten the transformation of the Republican party to a Southern regional rather than a national party. If that's what they want to do, I hope they go right ahead. See you in 2008 and beyond.
Charles
Lott's not worried about the Whitehouse right now. He's more worried about America, about the senate. The WH will take care of itself. They're big boys over there. He's going to operate in the senate. Your racist rants are useless. He's done a wonderful job in rehabing his image. He's survived the four years, even the put down from the WH. He is the Senate Minority Whip. Dick Durbin's old job. Soon, he'll be sitting in Dick Durbin's 'new' job.
Posted by peter at November 15, 2006 06:59 PMThis one is easy. So easy the Democratic leadership will probably blow it.
They will either bend over backwards to welcome Lott "back" a la Lieberman, or they will just say nothing in order to avoid any charges that they are mean or shrill.
The way to handle this one is easy. Every time the subject of race comes up, you simply say that the Republicans elected a man who they themselves admit is a racist back into their leadership. We can't explain it, ask them. Or, "Look, even the Republicans admitted that Trent Lott was too racist. That's why they took him out. Now they've brought him back. Apparently, it's now okay to be racist in the Republican party."
Don't follow up or explain, don't belabor or explain, just use the Republicans own words and actions against them. Lott is already a permanent, unalterable enemy of all things Democratic. Slap him with the tag and move on.
Posted by James E. Powell at November 15, 2006 07:38 PMSo Mr. Powell, nobody can rehab themselves. Once a " " always a " "? Well we might as well execute all those in prison. I always thought people were put in prison to rehab themselves back into society. Some punative some to think about their wrongs and right the ship. Old thinking I guess, probably idealistic. So there's no redemptive qualities in man to repair themselves. He was once a "" he's always going to be a "". How Democratic is that? Look at Rep Murtha, a few years ago he was a blue dog Democrat, now look at him. A changed man, living proof you can change and be knighted by the netroots. Yet Trent Lott is just Trent Lott in the very same time.
Posted by peter at November 15, 2006 09:39 PM