Lott Exit Spurs Republican Scrum

Leadership Contests Could Mark a Shift
Further to the Right

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB119608213529903858-HP1G76qkb9YHmMHOxsEo5LAQstA_20071227.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top

WASHINGTON -- The departure of Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott will cost Congress one of its premiere deal makers and opens the door to a further shift to the right by Senate Republicans.

Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl appears all but certain to get the whip post now held by Mr. Lott and would bring a more confrontational style to the No. 2 leadership job. Skirmishes were already taking shape yesterday between younger Senate conservatives and the Republicans' increasingly isolated moderate wing, which is trying to hold onto a place in the party leadership.

The turmoil comes at a critical stage for Congress. When lawmakers return next week, they face a wealth of unfinished work but also potential for year-end deals on everything from spending bills to child-health-care, farm and energy legislation. In another time, it would be a target-rich environment for a deal maker like Mr. Lott, but with his departure by the end of December, the ensuing leadership contests could lead to more confrontation.

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So, the Senate Republicans will eventually consist of John Kyl and about thirty rabid foaming-at-the-mouth McConnellites.

I can't wait. I really hope we gain at least ten seats next year.

but I managed to read the headline as "Lott Exit Spurs Republican Sperm"!

For the rest, *could* the Senate Republicans move any further right than they are already?

Sort of means the same thing, I guess.

As to a rightward shift, I think it will marginalize them. I'd rather deal with a much smaller minority of radical kooks with a larger Democratic majority.

right now that it the whole party is cartoonish and laughable.

Is it Joe Lieberman and that's it?

Everybody else is extreme right or just far right.

They will end up with a party filled with wacky extremists who are on the wrong side of every single issue. How pathetic is that?

What a pile of shit is that? This dude vote 90% Conservative...here's a shitstain that felt Nixon's crimes weren't worthy of impeachment (he voted against ALL the articles in the House Judiciary) and then FOR Clinton's. He's more at home with a Knuckledragger Imhoffe than with Bernie Sanders.

Just shows how our corporate media has swung so far right that it appears Lott as a moderate.

Methinks Helmethair doesn't really give a shit about his stinkin' sinkin' party...imagine going to work after being ousted for the Thurmond remarks and wondering who shoved the knife in his back. He's getting out before he has to. Methinks we'll be hearing from him again in the near future...in a courtroom.

The so-called "cooling off" period is one year before a member of Congress can take a lobbying job. It goes up to two years after the first of next year.

I'm sure he figures that making $1-2 million a year beats losing in a Democratically controlled Senate.

Unless, as some have speculated, he's the next Republican Senator to be known for his wide stance, if you know what I mean.

I was alluding to various investigations that are ongoing...Abramoff, Mitchell Wade, Ted Stevens...and how the timing seems curious considering the ramp up of some of the investigations.

Giving it time to soak in, I can see how HairHelmet has decided to bail for the bucks. In the year, he can hit the rubber chicken circuit and become at TV "anal-ist" to supplement his income and then infest K Street once the Repugnicans are reduced to full minority status.

Yep...he's getting out while the getting is good. He owes ZERO to a party that stuck it in his back over the Strom Thurmond thing and he sees the days of rewriting bills in the dead of night and sticking in earmarks like crazy are over. I'm willing to bet he already has a client list in his drawers :rofl:

Cheers.