The Problem with Lott Staying

David Frum points out on NRO today my main worry of what will happen if Lott stays in the Majority Leader position.

Can Lott be replaced? It’s hard to see how. No Republican Senator will challenge him for leadership when the Congress meets in January – the Senate just doesn’t work that way. Nor will Lott resign, unless the White House tells him he must, which is again extremely hard to envision. The likeliest result is that Lott will keep his job, but will do it in an even more half-hearted way than he did in 1995-2001. All those bold, unapologetic conservatives who believe that Republicans should rally around Lott and not yield the Democrats an inch should understand: The party will probably be able to save him – but only by selling you out.(emphasis original to article)

His prior leadership as Majority Leader, as Frum mentions, was anywhere near stellar. He often sold out or seriously watered down Republican agenda items and he can be held responsible for a lot of the problems in the Senate during the impeachment of Clinton.

However, Jonah Goldberg doesn't think the whole situation could be good news for the Democrats:

So this could be bad news for the Democrats, too. Trent Lott may represent some old baggage the GOP could do without. But so does the Congressional Black Caucus. With few exceptions, the CBC — and much of the civil-rights establishment, for that matter — are as ossified and embarrassing as Lott. I haven't been able to take Jackson seriously since he called D.C. statehood America's most pressing civil-rights issue. That's like saying the lack of gold doorknobs is the most pressing problem for public housing. In other words, it demonstrated to me that Jackson mints civil-rights crises for his personal benefit. He's a shyster and shakedown artist who only looks like an estimable statesman alongside Al Sharpton. Maxine Waters, Castroite thug that she is, might as well wear one black-leather glove to work.

Personally, I just think it's time for Lott to either step aside or be forced out. He's already been a drag on the party in the Senate and will only get worse after this instance.

Posted by Chris Short at December 12, 2002 01:13 PM