LAT: Senators Broke Bread Before Impasse Broken(begun by Nelson,Neb; Lott)

[DeepModem Mom]

Interesting that this deal some see as a move against Frist started with Lott --


Senators Broke Bread Before Impasse Was Broken
Friendly chitchat between Nelson and Lott put the wheels in motion for a rigorous, painstaking deal that averted a showdown.

By Mary Curtius, Times Staff Writer


WASHINGTON — An informal dinner conversation in March between two senators — one a Southern Republican, the other a Midwestern Democrat — was the impetus for the deal that averted a Senate showdown over judicial nominees.

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) had invited Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) to his Capitol Hill home. And as they chatted about the Republican threat to end judicial filibusters by changing Senate rules, the two found they agreed that such a move would cause grave harm to the institution....

***

Their partnership, however, came to an abrupt end after the Hill, a newspaper that focuses on Congress, reported their efforts early this month. Outraged conservatives jammed Lott's office switchboard, protesting his involvement....

***

His communications director, Susan Irby, said Tuesday that the senator did so not because of what she described as "threats," sometimes made in "foul, foul language," that he would never be reelected, but because Lott disagreed with the compromise that was taking shape....

***

As he was seeking a deal, the Democrat turned for help to a core group of senators from both parties who, like him, were either serving or recently had served on one of the chamber's least partisan panels — the Armed Services Committee....


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-tictoc25may25,0,3808366.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[WI_DEM]

1. Lott feels betrayed by the Bushies

he feels that he was thrown to the wolves over his Strom Thurmond comments which led to his leaving the Senate Leadership.

[MADem]

2. Not at all surprising to me

Lott did not get to be LEADER by being a fool. He may be an asshole and a bigot, but not a fool. He bided his time, he sat back in his big office (that he got to keep), with his big staff (that he got to keep), kept his head down and rode to and fro in his car with his driver (that he got to keep) and....waited. Until the time was right.

No fool, that Trent Lott. That's why he has such longevity. He has his perpective on issues, but he sees the playing field clearly, and when he plays, he plays to win.

Vindictive? Maybe. But who can blame him? He got disrespected and discarded because he wouldn't play lockstep with the White House, not because he made idiotic, racist comments at a dinner for Strom Thurmond. He knows it, and they know it. They replaced him with a toady that carries water for Rove.

And if this Gang of 14 business ends well, he'll refer to that little article and note that he was the granddaddy of many of the ideas...if it ends badly, he will note that he backed away from it.

Win-win for Trent. No fool!

[DeepModem Mom]

3. I think you're right -- very interesting post, MD. nt

[cally]

4. Anyone else think Lott may try to oust Frist

I think if Frist tries the nuclear option and loses then Lott will takeover. I think Frist is vulnerable if the 7 Reps stick together.

[peacetalksforall]

5. Isn't it all short term and long term views on everything, plus

some honor and a little foresight.

Short term ...CHENEY wants everything NOW. Cheney = PNAC, the cabal, the religious righteous. Only the short term works for them...the death of the Senate to stealing from Iraq to the second coming. Frist is ONLY the mouthpiece for Cheney and PNAC who tries to keep extremists in their Party happy and who has no honor or conscience.

Short term ...the protection of the Constitution.
Long term ...the protection of the Constitution.

Honor ....the protection of the Constitution.

Conscience ....the protection of the Constitution.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. Well said, hc. nt

[MisterP]

7. CCC and our Modern Moderate Saviors

Heil!