Trent Lott: Senate Minority Whip
Tags: trent lott, senate, gop, republicans, blogosphere, conservatives, cannibals
Well, I see the blogosphere has, as usual, whipped itself into a frenzy over Trent Lott being voted Senate Minority Whip.
Well, I respectfully dissent.
I’ll repeat what I said in a comment earlier today. I still think what he said about Strom Thurmond was grossly misinterpreted and the blogosphere was hungry for a scalp. I’m virulently anti-racist, and I think that Lott was unfairly trashed by a lot of people, and that he caved to pressure when he shouldn’t have. Sure, what he said was clumsy, and he should have known the media would call him (as the Republican Majority Leader) a racist for saying anything honoring Thurmond’s very long service on the Hill. (Nevermind the fact that Democrats–Grand Kleagle Byrd, anyone?–always get a pass.) But “clumsy” doesn’t equal “racist.”
I’m also not of the mindset that many on the right are, about his saying “I’ve had it with Porkbusters” (or whatever the comment was like that). Bloggers who haven’t been to the Gulf Coast since Katrina simply do not understand the devastation from Katrina that still needs federal aid, or that Mississippi hasn’t been a black hole of wasted money (as has happened some in Louisiana, although they certainly need help there too). It may be “pork” to people typing away in Washington or New York or Boston or LA, but it sure as f’n hell isn’t “pork” to the thousands of people who lost everything. Trent Lott does what his constituents need him to do, not what a bunch of friggin’ bloggers want. I think that’s a good thing in this case. I don’t blame him for figuratively flipping a bird to the blogosphere after bloggers lynched him, anyway.
Dick Morris, who knows Senator Lott well, laid out why Lott is a better choice than Lamar Alexander, and I agree with him:
Lott is a Lyndon Johnson/Richard Russell kind of character who knows how to use the Senate to get things done and enjoys twisting the Democrats into a pretzel.
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Lott’s opponent for minority whip, just got to the Senate four years ago after a disastrous run for president. He would make a fine Mr. Outside, but to give him the task of running the vote counts and making the trains run on time is to minimize the importance of this vital function. Lott has been in the Senate 18 years and knows how to implement the wishes of the Republican conference and McConnell, the minority leader.
So, as usual, I’m one of the very few bloggers who isn’t vexed by it. To tell you the truth, I think it’s kinda sweet, considering how they have ruthlessly smeared him for the last couple of years.
Honestly, it’s starting to look like a lot of bloggers are suffering from P.E.S.T. and are lashing out about everything without actually thinking. I have yet to see even one conservative blogger who spent the last couple of years shrieking about “bad Republicans” own up to any responsibility they have for contributing to the GOP losses in the election. I’m not saying it’s all their fault, but those bloggers who eat their own damn sure had a hand in it. I keep hearing, “Didn’t the GOP learn anything?” but I also have to ask, “Didn’t the conservative bloggers learn anything?” As far as I’m concerned…well, you know my thoughts about the political wisdom of most bloggers. I think my seven year-old daughter has better sense than most of ‘em.
F.E.T.E.™
P.S. Don’t even get me started about the bald-faced stupidity displayed by bloggers about the selection of Mel Martinez for the RNC.
tommy says:
If you’re completely happy with the direction of your party I think there’s a really good chance you’re in the minority, and probably by a substantial margin. Maybe I’m biased or jaded or something, since it seems like I’m frequently in disagreement with those claiming to be the base of the party.
I could be wrong, but I always kinda thought the base of the party were the people that generally vote for Republicans, regardless of the reason.
Lott’s selection doesn’t inspire me, but it doesn’t really depress me either. But then I can’t think of anyone they could have elected that would have caused a moment of elation.
Martin says:
Well, we’re not quite on the same page, unusually!!
I think Trent Lott is clearly a master at Senate maneuvering, and is obviously respected in the Senate ranks. But the Senate has shown itself to be incapable of holding the spending line, and the perception of resurrecting a bygone face to the front bench is of looking backwards not forwards.
The mitigating factor is that McConnell is now da boss man, and he’s solid as a farking rock.
Lott’s heart is in the right place, but he’s yesterday, and I want us to look to tomorrow - Pence, Shadegg, Coburn et al. A legit’ conservative legislative team, paired up with an electable Presidential candidate in 2008.
And Lott is damaged goods. Wrongly, but damaged nonetheless. You’re right that it’s minor, but it sends a signal. The wrong one in my humble opinion.
Thankfully their side is busy making Jack Murtha into a mouthpiece, and he helps us not them.
But don’t go all Polipundit on me!!
Stop The ACLU says:
Trent Lott Wins Back Leadership Slot
Via AP
Sen. Trent Lott, ousted from the Senate’s leadership job four years ago because of remarks considered racially insensitive, won election to the No. 2 post Wednesday.
Lott returned to the center of power by getting the position of vote- c…
Beth says:
HA! I’ll never go Polipundit! (He’s a lunatic!)
I really don’t think it’ll send a signal, so to speak. I mean, who could name who is/was the Senate (Republican) Majority Whip? Or the Democratic Minority Whip? I mean WITHOUT LOOKING for the answer, of course. It’s a job that requires the ability to twist arms within the Senate, not twist arms in the public. I think everyone inside the Beltway knows he can get the job done.
Now, I’d be happier if it were someone else, sure. But between him and Lamar Alexander? It’s a no-brainer. (That’s not a slag on Alexander; I just don’t think he’s the right guy for THAT job.) Presumably, nobody else wanted to go for it.
Beth says:
Tommy-
Well, if you ask me, that is the base. If you ask the single-issue/cannibal/”teach them a lesson” crowd, they’ll disagree. I think that crowd is farking stupider than a bag of hammers, and I’m still VERY angry at them. And they got what they wanted–a Republican loss–and they’re still bitching.
Most absurdly of all, these nattering nabobs of negativity and pessimism have the outrageous chutzpah to invoke the name of Reagan! It’s unfarkingbelievable, and he must be rolling in his grave. Reagan was nothing, nothing like these negative pessimists, always acting like they’re entitled to getting their way.
Like I said above, Fuck ‘Em, The End. (F.E.T.E.)
Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator says:
Trent Lott stages comeback, wins No. 2 GOP post
Sen. Trent Lott, ousted from the top Senate Republican leadership job four years ago because of rema
rightwingprof says:
It makes no difference if Lott is a racist, or if the reaction was inappropriate. And Byrd is not relevant to the issue nor whether he gets a pass, since he’s a Democrat. The only issue, since this is politics and hinges on votes, is perception. Intent is irrelevant. (Then there’s the whole issue of sheer stupidity, which that statement about Thurmond was — stupidity, but that’s another topic.)
Jonah Goldberg is right on this one. Lott is not an acceptable face for the party. If anything, Lott is the very worst face for the party.
raz0r says:
I can accept Lott as Senate minority whip, but Martinez as House minority leader is pushin’ it. I at least expect a serious attempt to find somone qualified for the job. Lott at least has credentials for the job.