I'm with Trent
Senate Republicans will choose their leadership for the next Congressional session today, the first time the GOP will do so as the minority party in that body in twelve years. The primary contested position will be that of Minority Whip. Our own soon-to-be senior Senator Lamar Alexander believes that he has the votes to sew up the Whip spot without much of a problem. Ordinarily I wouldn’t have a problem with Lamar running for a leadership position. As far as GOP Senators go, we could probably do better, but Lamar is infinitely superior both as a Senator and as a leader to the man who has been his senior up to this point. On top of that, it is nice to see someone who is from your neck of the woods achieve a prominent leadership post such as Whip.
I am not supporting Lamar Alexander for the position of Minority Whip, however-I support his opponent Trent Lott.
I believe Lott was a far superior Republican Senate leader than his successor Bill Frist, who has utterly and abjectly failed his party as a leader, and Lott was railroaded by certain powers that be within the GOP who had wanted him removed as leader for a very long time. In public, the reason for Lott’s departure was because he paid a compliment to the Old Man at the Old Man’s 100th Birthday Party. Lott had said Mississippi had voted for the Old Man in 1948 and were still proud that they had voted for the Old Man. Many Democrats were at the gathering, and not a few applauded kindly and loudly when Lott made his remark. Robert Byrd was there, who greatly admired the Old Man, and so was Joe Biden, who out of decency left the Senate Chamber when the Old Man took ill to keep the votes even.
What Lott did not say about the Old Man was a fact that everyone at the celebration knew: The Old Man was a witness to the progression of the South in microcosm, since he had gone from running a presidential campaign based entirely on racial superiority in 1948 to being respected and even held in high esteem by many African-Americans in South Carolina and throughout the South. The Old Man did something right, because during his Senate career he received more Black votes than any Republican or conservative Senator in the country. So high was the Old Man’s percentage of the Black vote that he could not have remained in office without it. Lott felt the same way a lot of Southerners did about the Old Man: His life was far from perfect, but in the end he did a lot of good. Lott wanted to say nice things about the Old Man as the Old Man left the Senate.
Lott’s enemies within the Party saw blood in the water, and not only was the press attack relentless, but call from some so-called Republicans for his ouster grew ever louder-some of these folks had wanted Lott gone for ages, and now they had their opportunity. Because I believe the most effective Republican Senate Leader in my lifetime got railroaded, I support returning Trent Lott to a position of leadership.Labels: Federal politics
5 Comments:
Why are both parties selecting leadership before the new ones are sworn in?
It isn't as much a problem with the Senate Republicans as Corker is the only new one.
But if I am a new Democrat Congressman or Senator and I do not get to vote on my leadership, I am ticked, already.
Brian;
The new members DO get to vote in these leadership elections. This past week I received an e-mail from a member of Congressman-elect David Davis' staff. The e-mail pertained to some business that I won't discuss here at this time, but I gleaned that Davis and his incoming staff are all in Washington this week for "freshman orientation."
That is why leadership votes are held this week-the newbies are in town.
Dennis;
For the record, I do support fully the Council of Trent :)
Perhaps later this week I will post about it!
How about a primary challenger for Mr. Williams in 2008? I'm thinking Mike Faulk would be a perfect option. He's well qualified, conservative, grounded, an excellent speaker etc etc.
Clint;
We've been discussing Mike Faulk here for quite some time.
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