Lott to Step Aside! CBS Radio Reporting it will happen later today....

[BUSHdude2000]

Just heard that CBS News Radio is about to announce this...

Admin Moderator added update:

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Lott Will Step Down
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2002


Sen. Trent Lott plans to resign as the Republican Senate leader, CBS News has learned.

CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent Bob Schieffer reports that Lott is now calling colleagues to tell them he intends to step down. Lott plans to have some kind of statement later today and will remain in the Senate.

Two weeks after lamenting that segregationist Strom Thurmond had lost his 1948 presidential bid, Lott faced mounting opposition to his remaining in the post he has held for six year.

Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee won public endorsements from four GOP colleagues in his emerging bid to supplant Lott. He is now poised to be the next leader.

Frist, a staunch ally of President Bush and the man who headed the GOP's successful effort to snatch control of the Senate in last month's elections, said Thursday he would "likely step forward" and challenge Lott. Virginia GOP Sens. John Warner and George Allen had said Frist was definitely a candidate.

In addition, candidacies were considered possible by Republican Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky or Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. Both men have been among Lott's staunchest supporters.

Warner, a 24-year Senate veteran and the incoming Armed Services Committee chairman, said, "This is bigger than friendship."

"This is ? a country at war, this is a president who is making very difficult decisions each day and he needs the support of his Republican colleagues united and led by strong leaders in both houses," Warner said.

Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., incoming Environment and Public Works Committee chairman, was also supporting Frist, said Inhofe spokesman Gary Hoitsma. And a Republican aide close to No. 2 Senate Republican Don Nickles of Oklahoma said Nickles, a longtime Lott rival, would probably support a race by Frist.

Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., on Friday said he had called Lott a day earlier and "asked him to make way for a new Senate Republican leader who is able to speak with a strong voice to Americans of all races." Bond then endorsed Frist.

Allen, who will head the Republican Senate campaign effort for 2004, said he believed Frist already had the support of about 10 GOP senators, including James Talent of Missouri and Mike Enzi of Wyoming. Enzi's spokesman said he would make no comment.

Signs of trouble for Lott have multiplied over the week. First, liberal Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chaffee became the first Republican to explicitly call for Lott's ouster.

Then, a CBS News/New York Times poll of members of the Republican National Committee ? the party's ruling body ? released Thursday found 45 percent of them thought Lott should go, while just 20 percent thought he should stay on as Senate leader.

The 51 GOP senators in the Congress convening Jan. 7 plan were to meet the previous day to decide who will lead them.

Many Republicans privately expected Lott to step down before that meeting.

Following Mr. Bush's criticism last week of Lott's Dec. 5 remarks, administration officials have sought to distance themselves from the leadership struggle.

Until now, Republican lawmakers, aides and lobbyists had said Frist was reluctant to seek the job. Besides being a political lightning rod for attacks by Democrats, the post would be extremely time-consuming, taking away from his pursuit of health issues and, perhaps, preparations for a White House run in 2008.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/12/10/politics/main532405.shtml

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

But will he remain in the Senate?

[camle]

finally! stick a fork in him - he's done.

[guitfiddlist]

Excellent!...(in best Burns' fashion)

[BUSHdude2000]

He WILL stay in the Senate.

[smith288]

What say you?

[Mr. Jeeves]

The emergence of Frist doomed him - he could have fought off Nickels or Santorum, but Frist is clearly Bush's guy.

[mhking]

I win the pool....I win the pool.....I win the pool....I win the pool.....

[Interesting Times]

The best outcome all around...

[smith288]

Eeeexcellent.

[BUSHdude2000]

CBS had a "guy on the scene". Lott has made the phone calls, press conference later today.

[dfwgator]

I was only a week late.

[goldstategop]

Wahoooooooooo!!! I'm glad its finally over. Let's hope he throws his support behind Bill Frist. We need to get America working again.

[mhking]

Stick a fork in 'im...he's done...

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[Austin Willard Wright]

Well...Frist is Bushes guy in one sense but he is more conservative than Lott on spending...so I'll take him.

[wimpycat]

Did you predict he'd step down before the weekend? Good for you!

Still and all, this whole thing is just sad all the way around.

[SerpentDove]

Not Soon enough.

(IMHO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I will consider this my Christmas present from Washington!!!

WOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Interesting Times]

I win the pool....I win the pool.....I win the pool....I win the pool.....

Congratulations!

Your personally autographed, hand-crafted Trent Lott pinata is on its way.

[mombonn]

Makes sense - who is going to be watching the news on the last shopping weekend before Christmas? Friday news drop, you know.

[laconic]

Somebody here (I forget who) predicted he would step down this Friday afternoon. Hats off to the new Nostradamus/Jeane Dixon!