Lott Faces Continuing Resentment From Conservatives

Washington Post ^ | 12/14/2002 | Thomas B. Edsall and Dan Balz

[Bonaparte]

"So help me understand here. An all black Fraternity is cool..."

The rules of engagement have changed. Since politics is the art of the possible, not the art of the ideal, political parties ignore this reality at their peril. George Bush recognizes that the year is 2002 (the era of reverse racism). Trent Lott acts as though it's still 1948 (the era of institutionalized discrimination against people of color). The problem is simple -- party leadership must be on the same page. If the President is actively pursuing a program of minority inclusion, it makes no sense at all to have a Senate majority leader who pushes these same people away with ill-considered comments in praise of old segregationist candidacies. As much as you or I might like the idea of a color-blind society, the fact is that we don't have one. We have to start from where we are, not from where we might wish we were.

[VRWC_minion]

-do you really think he'll simply stay on as a Senator?

If Bush wants him to, yes. Bush can make it so that no one lobby firm even thinks of hiring the guy if he leaves and can offer him a nice appoitment if he stays. Bush can also give him the cover of "being asked to stay amd work for the president" line.

All in all Bush can make this work however he wants.

[Wait4Truth]

And I'm extremely disappointed in PresBush. His remarks about Sen. Lott, made him out to be a practicing racist. Bush sounded like a liberal, not a conservative.

C'mon, Reagan Man! President Bush said Lott's comments were offensive and wrong. Are you telling me that you don't agree with that? The President called him on his remarks. He showed leadership for his party and stated that his party did not agree. I support the President 100%. And Lott's phoned in apologies days after the incident showed me that Lott is not a leader. He didn't even want to face people and he didn't think it was worth his time to show up in person. He never even decided to apologize in person until the President smacked him. My support goes to President Bush, not Lott.

[wardaddy]

Max....I can't tell if all the FReeper caterwauling is over well intentioned (but naive) offended racial insensitivity indignation or a simple dislike of Lott (which I share in copious quantities).

Any Senate leader I can think of would resign their seat if they are forced to resign their leadership because many in their own party deem them unfit because of a few stupid comments.

However...much like FR....many conservatives are taking this opportunity to skewer Lott and it hasn't a thing to do with racial "healing". I think it's unwise and I don't like capitulating.

This whole episode has taught me once again that our side are awful politicos when compared with our foes and if we don't nut up and learn to play hardball with the left in the coming years and the drastically shifting demographics....we and our nation as we know it....are doomed.

Do you really think the Dems would browbeat each other over something this trite at the expense of a balance of power?

Hardly.....I don't know who had Bush's ear on this one or if he thought it up himself but he ought not be pissing on Lott's boots right now. Of course Dubya...whom I generally admire immensely also thinks he's gonna turn 10-20 million wetbacks into good registered Pubbies in the near future. He's a bit of an optimist I guess...lol

[EternalVigilance]

Let's point out the foibles of the Left in all this. But let's also recognize what Lott has done for what it is and urge him to do the right thing and step down from his leadership position.

It's not political correctness to do so. It's just the right thing to do.

Unlike liberals, we actually have standards. It's time we upheld them.

Very, very well said.

[VRWC_minion]

Do you really think the Dems would browbeat each other over something this trite at the expense of a balance of power

One reason why I'm not a Rat. Look, Bush has too much invested to let Lott step down from the Senate or to remain ML. I don't know how Bush will get there but I'm certain before the judges come up for vote, Lott will be removed from leadership and be a strong team player.

[wardaddy]

I doubt that.....anyhow Lott's family is very very wealthy. He doesn't need the money.

Aside from that, I don't feel like giving in to the PC Gods....I'm sick of them. They are ruining us. The PC aftermath of the "era of the oppressive white man" is every bit as cancerous as the original illness.

I've had enough.

[Wait4Truth]

He's a bit of an optimist I guess...lol

Maybe that's how he managed to win re-election in Texas with a 69% landslide. He got almost 30% of blacks and 50% of Latinos. Not bad, huh?

[VRWC_minion]

Lott has a huge ego. He makes Gore look humble. He is going to want to stay important. Bush can see to it that he is either a nothing or he gets a great visible appointment.

The ego got him into the problem and it will be what Bush uses to solve it. In addition, Lott is a whore looking for a trick. He will be easy.

[wardaddy]

The USA ain't Texas....though I wish it was...lol

[maxwell]

Good points. I have to say, I couldn't give a flying f*** what Lott did or did not say whilst sipping bubbly-bubbly at a birthday bash, so I guess I'm one of the "WELL THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE LAST STRAW!" screamers...

Your comments about the balance of power hit home though. I am going to be more circumspect when discussing this with my crackpot lib colleagues. Usually the conversation goes:

NUMBNUTS: "Isn't Trentie an absolute a$$! I'm like, excuse you, your sheet is showing!"
MAX: "Trent Lott is no more use to the GOP than pink slippers on a horned toad. I have been p!ssed at that man for a loooooong time."

--so, effectively, on two completely different tracks, like you said...

It's gonna be hard to sweep this one under the rug, though, as long as the Dems are pushing the "Republicans = racists" line... Well, according to THEIR definitions of the word, why yes, I AM a flaming bigot who smokes like a train and never recycles. And I don't even floss regularly. Yes, I suppose I AM going to hell for that.

[wardaddy]

That's not the drift I'm getting from home.....I hope I'm wrong....I'll eat my crow dutifully if I am.

However, I still resist caving to the PC crowd over every slight. No one else does. It may seem noble to you but it's percieved as weakness by our foes and it will bring no blacks to our side to speak of ....AND only further empower our foes.

Somebody Somewhere at Sometime is going to have to stand up to the Racial Guilt Monster lurking behind every frigging issue. Only Conservatives are brought to task over this.

It's nonsense and if feeling good about having good thoughts is more importantl to all of you guys than holding onto political power and crushing our foes then saddle up yer horse to the Bury Trent Wagon and enjoy the ride.

I'm not doing it.

Lord knows....I wish I was having to make this stand over someone besides that prissy assed compromiser but I'd rather see us move him out on our terms not theirs.

[VRWC_minion]

I'll stand up against the PC monster when they are wrong. In this case Lotts remarks are those of a racist.

I'll wait for another poster boy.

[kristinn]

I don't know who had Bush's ear on this one or if he thought it up himself but he ought not be pissing on Lott's boots right now.

Right now, it is Trent Lott who has pissed on Dubya's boots--all week--after Bush worked his ass off to get the majority back in the Senate. Lott is lucky Bush didn't completely repudiate him in public.

[Wait4Truth]

I'm not saying that the USA is Texas. What I'm saying is that President Bush has the ability to win minority votes - and he's not about to let Lott's ego and stupidity stand in the way.

[Wait4Truth]

I think President Bush is livid about this. Lott is lucky Bush didn't request that he resign his leadership post when he gave that speech the other day. I think what he was saying is, "Ok, I'll show some leadership here and save the Party. Now you guys do the right thing." I don't know how anybody can defend Lott. His initial total silence, then his phoned-in apologies...then he said he was "misinterpreted"...if anybody reads the exact quote, it was impossible to misinterpret it. He made his own bed. Period.

[Ohioan]

The saddest thing about this is just where was a strong Republican voice to stand up and say "this is silly and a waste of time. There are real problems to be solved not some imagined wrong doing. Our energies should be directed toward the problems, not playing out some sort of soap opera."

Right you are! And the saddest thing about that very sad thing, is that George Bush owes his Presidency to the two generation fight for strict construction on the Supreme Court, waged by Strom Thurmond. For those who have forgotten, it was Thurmond who made the price of Southern support for Nixon, an effort to begin to appoint Conservatives to the Federal Bench. But for Thurmond's persistence, we would still have a Supreme Court like the Warren Court, and they would never have stopped the Gore election steal in 2000.

Those horrified that Lott would express nostalgia for the strict constructionist candidacy in 1948, are sending a message loud and clear--that is certain. And it is a message that is going to make it harder than ever to keep the Court moving to the right. I am trying to remain temperate in my comments, so as not to further divide the Conservative base, but it is getting more difficult.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[wardaddy]

LOL....yes we are indeed providing I'm sure loads of entertainment to the DU toadies right now....but that's ok i guess.....and whoever said we were all goosesteppers?

I bet Dasshole is saying his prayers these nights...

What did they used to say on Monday Night Football back during the glory days of the 70s?

"How to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory".....thanks to Lotts's fcuk-up....here we are.

[wardaddy]

What is your defintion of a racist?

That slander word is tossed about this forum (and has been for years) more than any other word.

[The Iguana]

If Lott leaves as ML now totally humiliated....do you really think he'll simply stay on as a Senator?

If he puts the party's good ahead of himself - he would.

Curent rumors suggest Lott would be selfish instead.

As Jonathon Adler commented over at NR today: "After all, it's all about Lott."

Sad.