(image via memphisflyer)
By all accounts, Senator Trent Lott is a chastened man, broken, bitchsmacked, woozy-kneed, and -- thusly -- permanently affixed to the task of erasing his shameful legacy with regards to African-Americans (For further refrence, see: Time Magazine: Trent's Segregationist Days). After losing the Senate Majority leadership position, he spent much time in his native Mississippi, doing the work of his African-American constituents in particular. African-Americans are, if anything, politically savvy enough about our interests to know that a chastened Lott in the Senate leadership with something to prove is better than another Southern, conservative Republican member in the slot with no electoral accountings to African-Americans whatsoever.
And the pro-Lott sentiment extends beyond African-Americans. Lott was, if extraordinarily clumsy in his speeches to aging, drooling, senile Dixicrats, a very effective Senate leader. After the breathtaking incompetence of Bill Frist -- all resume, zero legislative skills -- Republicans are nostalgic after the days when Lott ran the shop. From TheHill:
"Six months after his improbable return to the Senate Republican leadership, Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.) has raised about $1.5 million for his leadership political action committee (PAC), more than 12 times the sum raised by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
"Lott has also raised far more than Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and the highest-ranking Republican and Democratic leaders in the House.
"But it is Lott’s outdistancing of McConnell that will catch the eye of Senate observers watching their behind-the-scenes rivalry. Although officially neutral in last year’s leadership race, McConnell is widely thought to have backed Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) rather than Lott to become whip.
"Lott’s victory capped a remarkable comeback."
Corsair Prediction: Trent Lott will be Minority leader within 2 years. Whether or not we like him (We don't), he will use his powers to erase some of his shameful past.
1 comment:
Interesting analysis. I didn't even realize he had become whip, and I consider myself a pretty serious ameture Washington Watcher
Though admittedly in the last two years I haven't followed the minutia as closely as I used to. Politics has finally gotten to me a bit to where I can't take it in as much. Actually though, I'm not sure if it's politics, or the shittiness of the "news".
Anyway, if you're predicting him majority leader, then are you saying it's a lock that the Republicans are going to win back the senate in 08?
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