MyDD does a 2002 election wrapup:
What Louisiana shows is that the Democrats know how to beat Republicans– by going after them on specific (mostly farm-related) economic policies that the GOP consistently pushes, which run against the rural voters interests. This is the Bush economy that is heading into recession, and the Democrats should be under no pretense of thinking that Bush enjoys a mandate on economic policy (especially one that delivers for the multinationals against the US farmers interests). It also means that Landrieu is a new Democratic star for the Party– a southern, moderate, tested woman is probably just what they need on the 2004 ticket, and she just showed how to beat Bush.
Lean Left: where is George?
Where is George W. Bush in the firestorm around Trent Lott? Nowhere, as near as I can tell. He had Fleischer offer some weasly words of support, but has remained silent. He has yet to call for Lott’s resignation. He has yet to do anything but hide. The Democrats should not let him. By not calling for Lott’s resignation, Bush seems to be trying to have it both ways. He doesn’t want to appear to court the racists, but he certainly seems to want their votes.
Eschaton on principles:
I can’t throw my hat in with the crowd that thinks we should keep Lott around to use him for a punching bag. There are times when principle should come first, and this is one of them. It’s been outrageous from the beginning that he had his leadership position – his segregationist links are NOT new or newly discovered, no matter what some bloggers like to think. Hoping to keep him around to exploit the situation politically is a bit too cynical even for this cynic. A message should be sent that Such a Person Should Not Be Majority Leader. It’s up to the Republicans to do that, of course, but to hope for anything else is to hope for the continued legitimization of his views. It’s time for him to go. If that somehow helps Republicans, fine, because it will be the right thing to do and they should get credit for doing it (even if their motives aren’t pure – no one’s ever are in this business.)