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TRENT LOTT is the key, here. I think Trent, if he did not spill those beans himself, arranged for some bean spilling to happen. This is a coordinated campaign, all right--by Trent Lott. Trent wants the LEADER mantle that was stolen, stripped from him, after the Strom thing, in order to install a compliant toady as Leader who would answer to the WH and not to the interests of the majority senators. The only guy who was EVER able to herd those cats, to make the Senate a "cohesive group," was Trent. He knew how to kiss ass, kick butt and twist arms, and they tossed him over the side because he would not cede his own authority or the advise and consent role of the Senate:
“It’s very hard to get the Senate to partner in the message,” said Rep. Jack Kingston (Ga.), vice chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and head of the House GOP “Theme Team.” “The Senate is not a cohesive group. Even within the Senate’s <55> majority senators, you can’t get them to coordinate.”
Kingston said the last time there was such a communications mix-up was before the August recess, when Frist announced his support for legislation expanding stem-cell research, something conservatives vigorously oppose, without consulting with the House. That announcement eclipsed the planned Republican message touting the passage of long-stalled energy and transportation legislation.
“I think sometimes the Frist press people get ahead of themselves,” Kingston said.
...The short news report immediately created a clamor among the Capitol Hill press corps for more information about the probe. The media demand prompted the Speaker’s office to release copies of the letter to the press between 12:30 and 1 p.m., before Hastert had a chance to read and approve the demand, said reporters who received copies of the letter. Hastert didn’t sign the letter until about 1:10 p.m....
I think, at this point, Trent does not care if he is the MAJORITY leader, or the MINORITY leader. He just wants the damn job back. He is a lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way kind of guy, and he wants to push those idiots who need to get out of the way aside, and do what needs doing himself. He is one of the few on the GOP side who maintains close, productive relationships with the other caucus. He is no fool, no bridge burner.
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