Novak: If Trent Lott Retires, Democrat Moore Would Win His Seat...

[nickshepDEM]

Will a Trent Lott Retirement Hand Senate to Dems?

WASHINGTON -- Trent Lott within the next week plans to decide between seeking a fourth term in the U.S. Senate from Mississippi or retiring from public life.

That could determine whether Republicans keep control of the Senate in next year's elections. For the longer range, Lott's retirement and replacement could signal that Southern political realignment has peaked and now is receding.

Mississippi, one of the reddest of the red Republican states, has not even been on the game board of the Washington analysis forecasting the 2006 Senate outcome. But in Mississippi, prominent Republicans are worried sick. They believe Lott will probably retire. If so, they expect the new senator will be a Democrat, former State Attorney General Mike Moore. Republican politicians in Mississippi believe Rep. Chip Pickering, the likely Republican nominee if Lott does not run, cannot defeat Moore.

Mississippi Republicans are so anxious about a Lott-less election next year partly because Democrat Moore is a better known, more appealing figure in the state than Republican Pickering. The state's big African-American minority continues to increase, and politically potent trial lawyers will be unrestrained on behalf of Moore. Finally, the performance by the Republican-controlled national government in coping with Katrina is no asset for Republican candidates in Mississippi.

[rockymountaindem]

1. Dear Senator Lott:

It's been a long 18 years, and you've worked very, very hard. Don't you think it would be nice to ride off into the sunset, make lots of money from writing your memoirs, and leave the Washington ruckus behind? It think it would be real, real nice, don't you?

[raysr]

6. Especially since the BFEE

stabbed you in the back!

[Rowdyboy]

2. Make it so....

Please, make it so...

Mike Moore would be one helluva Democratic senator

[nickshepDEM]

4. I only know the bare minimum about Moore...

Is he your typical Southern Populist Democrat? You know, stands with Democrats on economic issues, but will vote with Republicans on issues such as abortion, gay marriage, and other cultural issues?

If so, thats fine w/ me. Its better than nothing. Rep. Gene Taylor falls into this category, but he is one of my favorite members of the house.

[sandnsea]

10. Uhm, take another look

Bankruptcy bill, tax cuts, budget cuts, it's our friendly blue dog Democrats voting for that crap more often than any DLC conspiracy. They've wised up a bit lately, and I'll take any "D" to help us get a majority, but I'd be floored if a southern Dem helped make any real changes in the long run.

[nickshepDEM]

12. I never said anything about the Blue Dog's.

I said your typical "southern populist democrat" and then I outlined what I meant by that term.

[sandnsea]

14. Yeah, exactly, and who would that be?

There aren't any, at least not any in DC.

[nickshepDEM]

15. Your right actually. After I thought about it and searched Vote Smart

I couldnt find a single politician who fits my description. Gene Taylor probably fits my description best because he votes w/ democrats majority of the time on economic issues, but even he voted for the Bankruptcy Bill.

[sandnsea]

17. And is a Blue Dog

I don't think we really have a handle on which Democrats are doing what and where they're from and why. Does no good to have a 50 state strategy if you still have a disconnect between what the different regions mean by "Democrat". People here are so foused on DLC that they completely miss the rest of the dynamics. Maybe it's intentional, who knows.

[Rowdyboy]

19. Here are a few basics about Moore.....

He initiated and lead the national lawsuit against big tobacco, from which all 50 states benefited economically.

He reopened the case of murdered civil rights leader Medgar Evers after 3 decades leading to the conviction of noted racist Byron dela Beckwith. Merlie Evers is a HUGE Mike Moore fan from what I've heard her say.

He reopened the case of the three civil rights workers murdered in Philadelphia, Mississippi after 3 decades. It was prosecuted to conviction under his successor, another Democrat.

He vigorously enforced the limited consumer protection laws available to Mississippians.

Will he support gay marriage? Not likely. Abortion rights? I'd say somewhat supportive.

He's the very best the nation could get from Mississippi and to the left of Gene Taylor. While I really like Taylor, if he runs we'll lose his congressional seat because there isn't another Democrat in Mississippi that could win it.

[msblueinredstate]

3. And Mike Moore

is a good man.Please Trent come home but then I worry about him running for Governor.

[nickshepDEM]

5. Check out post # 4. Tell me what you know about Moore.

[KingFlorez]

7. I'm hopeful for this seat

Trent Lott was heavily entrenched, if he's retiring the Republicans can't retain this seat. The blacks in the Delta region are strongly Democratic and will back Moore. 40% of the electorate voted for Kerry Democratic year, so Moore can count on those votes, plus some Republicans willing to vote for a Democrat like Moore. I really hope Lott retires, because the Dems need to pick up as many seats as possible.

[nickshepDEM]

8. I really hope your right. But...

Theres a good chance Moore will suffer the same fate as Brad Carson in OK '04. Coburn was a complete nutjob just like Pickering, but he successfully framed... "A vote for Carson is a vote Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, etc..."

[KingFlorez]

9. They could use that

But it might not work here, seeing as the main talking point would be about Katrina and how the citizens got no help from the government. Moore has also won statewide, Pickering has not. So Moore will be able to have a little more name ID, while Pickering will have to do a little more to raise his profile.

[NNadir]

11. Senator Lott needs some time to work on his porch.

I think he should do it, get to work on the porch. Afterall, George W. Bush promised to rebuild the Senator's porch, meaning that he will get no help whatsoever and will have to do it himself.

[MnFats]

13. also, Lott could become a multimillionaire as a lobbyist...

....or the BFEE could set him up with some consulting firm.....he carried enough water for them over the years...

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

16. It makes sense, as he is kind of in limbo, feeling abandoned by

the Pres, his own party.

And he needs to rebuild his house, so he can snub dub about sitting on his porch when it's rebuilt.

[AndyTiedye]

18. How Many Displaced NOLA People Will be Voting in Mississippi?