Don Nickles Calls for New Senate Leadership Election to Challenge Lott

Fox News | 12-15-02

[rightwing2]

Fox News just reported that ABC reported that Nickles has called for a new Senate leadership challenge to Trent Lott!

[chance33_98]

[Don Carlos]

Rickles, Nickles, oh, which to choose!

[rightwing2]

Bill Kristol stated that Nickles only needs to circulate a letter signed by four other Senators in the Republican Conference to challenge Lott. All Fox News panelists agreed that Lott would not survive a challenge. Ari Fleisher stated taht if such an election were held, President Bush would not support Lott for re-election as Senate Majority Leader. Conservative Republican and current Senate Republican Asst Leader Don Nickles is the front-runner in such a race. McConnell defended Lott and is unlikely to challenge him although Nickles and Frist probably will.

[dogbyte12]

This actually is a gutsy move by Nickles. He either topples Lott, or goes lower on Trent's rolodex than John McCain. This is going to be the battle right here. Nickles vs Lott. McConnell is out, he has picked sided with Lott. Now, is when the real manuevering begins.

[MeekOneGOP]

LOL !! I'm always gettin' those two confused myself.....

[harpu]

A better choice than Lott, not for his Thurman remarks but rather for his total lack of majority leadership (when we had it).

[MeekOneGOP]

Don Nickles Calls for New Senate Leadership
Election to Challenge Lott

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[dogbyte12]

Lott is behind the scenes in desperation mode. Check this paragraph out from today's Washington Post.

In an indication of White House wariness about getting squarely behind Lott, sources said Lott sought statements of support last week from national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of State Colin L. Powell but was rebuffed. Both are African American. Some White House officials said it was clumsy of Lott to ask.

That should tell Lott something. Bush wasn't going to let him use his people for Lott's some of my best friends are black defense.

[rface]

So..... other than Nickels, who would we like to take Lott's place? Its hard for me to say .... Frist?

[chance33_98]

And he could make a joke and not be lambasted for it. Rickles would be perfect...

[11th Earl of Mar]

I hate the hypocricy of the left, who can coddle Robert "Sheets" Byrd, but attack Lott.


That being said.... Go Nichols!!!!

I would love this to blow up in the Dem's face by getting a REAL Republican Majority Leader.

[TomGuy]

About 2 weeks now....and the issue hasn't gone away. And it won't. Lott damaged himself. First, he has been undercutting his conservative base for years; now, they are not there to defend and support him. He's floating on his own--and he won't survive this. The RC will soon (days or hours) make the decision to replace Lott, because the RC sees the need to move on before much more political damage is done.

[rightwing2]

This actually is a gutsy move by Nickles. He either topples Lott, or goes lower on Trent's rolodex than John McCain. This is going to be the battle right here. Nickles vs Lott. McConnell is out, he has picked sided with Lott. Now, is when the real manuevering begins.

Very gutsy indeed and exactly the kind of bold conservative leadership we would want for our next Senate Majority Leader. Kristol said that Nickles will have no problem getting enough signatures to call the leadership election and that Lott would not survive so the only question now is will Lott be replaced by solid conservative Don Nickles or more moderate Bill Frist.

[rface]

maybe as a complicated strategy, we should nominate Sen. Byrd and see what kind of votes he gets.

[McGruff]

Here's the quotes that Fox News Sunday displayed:

Note that he said "I hope we have an opportunity to choose" not "He needs to go"

CNN Now calling this BREAKING NEWS.

[JZoback]

Lott has stated he would quit the Senate if pushed from Senate leader.

I say call his bluff. The love of power even if diminished is to great for him to quit like the loser he is

Lott ought to take his licks and go sit in the corner.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

On Fox News Sunday, they mentioned a statement put out by Lott's office in response to Nickle's announcement. They called Nickles call for new elections something like "blatant opportunism."

The gloves are off! May the better man (who in my mind would be pretty much any GOP Senator other than Lott) win!

[John Lenin]

Lott would not survive so the only question now is will Lott be replaced by solid conservative Don Nickles or more moderate Bill Frist.

The real question is will Lott stay or will he retire.

[rightwing2]

So..... other than Nickels, who would we like to take Lott's place? Its hard for me to say .... Frist?

#1 Senate conservative Kyl would be my dream candidate for Senate Majority Leader, but it ain't going to happen. Nickles is a solid conservative and I predict he is going to be the Senate Republican Leader when the Senate reconvenes on January 7th. I guarantee you he will be a far better Majority Leader than Lott has been--one that all Americans can be proud of. Frist is only in the running because Bush likes him. He's only spent two years in the leadership whereas Nickles has spent six and a half years as Assistant Senate Republican Leader alone.