Rumors are swirling about an alleged threat from Trent Lott to resign from the Senate altogether if Bush pushed him out. The Washington Post picks up on stories now circulating in Washington and beyond:
Yet, in a sign of the Lott camp’s concerns, some allies are quietly suggesting to GOP senators that Lott might resign from the Senate if he is forced out as leader, a move that could jeopardize the party’s one-seat majority. Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove (D) presumably would appoint a Democrat to replace Lott, they note. That would leave the Senate evenly split, enabling Democrats to regain the majority if they could persuade a moderate Republican to switch parties. A source close to Lott dismissed the scenario, saying, “it would be a cold day before Trent Lott gives his seat to a Democrat governor.”
Wasn’t there an ice-storm recently across much of the South?
NOW, THE NEW YORK POST: “Yesterday, Lott came out a fourth time. Finally, he said segregation was ‘wrong and immoral’ and a ‘stain on the nation’s soul.’
The average person would have thought to say that the first time he apologized.
Could it be that it took Lott so long because he’s never been forced to truly confront the horror of the Jim Crow laws of his youth? Could it be, in other words, that, in his heart of hearts, he actually believes what he said?” – from their editorial calling on Trent Lott to resign as SML.
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR CONSERVATIVES: Ignore Will Saletan’s silly over-reach. (Don’t ignore Josh Chafetz’s fisking of it though.) The lesson of this past week is how the heart of modern conservatism has moved on. The Washington Post tells it straight today:
The critique from the right is far more threatening to Lott’s political future than the attacks of Democrats and liberals, which in many respects serve to reinforce support for Lott within the GOP.
“This Lott story has continued primarily because of criticism from conservatives,” said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster based in Atlanta. “If the only people raising doubts were Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, this story would have died of its own weight several days ago. It’s the anguish from conservatives that has kept the story going. That tells me there are a lot of conservatives and conservative Republicans who truly want the party to be inclusive and truly want to reach out.”
Yep. Which is why this story could still end up as a major victory for the Republican Party. It’s up to you, Senators. Your reputation is now at stake too.
The Dish 