I'm starting to think this is not a Republican or Democrat thing but perhaps is a terminal stage in democracy (seeing as this same things is going on in Europe and in Israel) where the established political structure becomes so addicted to feeding at the public trough that they cannot reform themselves. One symptom is the utter resistence to new blood (except perhaps one drop at a time - so that these too easily get corrupted.) The only thing that seems to change this is disaster - economic and/or military - and democracy does not alway survive.

Let's see what happens among the House Republicans, but I'm not optimistic.

Posted by civil truth at November 15, 2006 12:26 PM

Trent Lott selected as Senate Minority Whip, because if there's one thing that Trent Lott likes, it's whipping minorities.

Stolen from FARK. :)

Posted by e. nonee moose at November 15, 2006 12:38 PM

I guess the Democrat trouncing wasn't enough to satisfy their deep seated guilt and desire for destruction. They've now decided to complete the picture and commit public suicide.

Posted by Oyster at November 15, 2006 01:54 PM

This is just one more thing to make me fear our governments ultimate demise.

Posted by Michael at November 15, 2006 01:56 PM

Maybe Dadvocate was right and this is a 2 year period of graft before voters elect a self-proclaimed reformer in the mold of Jimmy Carter (God help us). I'm starting to get nostalgic for Ross Perot's third party candidacy.

Posted by DRJ at November 15, 2006 02:10 PM

Who would you have preferred, George? Just out of curiosity. Actually, it's not like there was a lot to pick from and after thinking about it too, I've figured that since the Dems are playing not just dirty pool but 'muck-raker pool', Lott has the experience to keep from getting bowled over and eaten alive by the Dems. So there's an upside too.

Posted by Oyster at November 15, 2006 04:01 PM

Oyster, the ones running prior to the election were Alexander, Santorum and Lott. Santorum lost his election leaving Lamar Alexander. I'm not fully convinced Alexander was the one, but he darn sure would have been a better choice than Senator Good Hair.

As a conservative, I'm going to work like heck to make sure that Republicans begin building tomorrows leaders today. Someone recently said that the Republicans and Democrats are getting ready to practice two years of dumb and dumber... I agree!!!

Posted by GM at November 15, 2006 04:07 PM

Between Murtha and Lott, our Dufflepuds in Washington seem to have succeeded in evoking a unison of response from the left and right blogospheres - an event that probably will not recur before the next transit of Mercury).

Posted by civil truth at November 15, 2006 04:18 PM

Yes, civil truth, it's nice that the divided country may be finding some common ground in our each being scammed by our party's leaders, with neither of us much worried who got screwed worse at the moment.

Trent f-in' Lott. I could just scream.

Posted by Assistant Village Idiot at November 15, 2006 05:40 PM

You know, it's a weird thing. As, at best, a small 'd'
democratic (and not nearly as liberal as my pals GM and Woody may think), I feel a real ambivalence about the Dems taking over Congress. Admittedly, I got a lot of enjoyment out of watching the GOP getting their fannies handed to them a week ago Tuesday, but do I see a real prospect for meaningful change right around the corner?

Nah. Not a chance. Much as we like to rant at each other. the two parties we have tend to have a lot more similarities than differences. Just my opinion.

Man, I'm starting to sound like a prozac addict at a 12 step convention...

Posted by jim hitchcock at November 15, 2006 06:32 PM

I understand. I'm not defending Lott. I'm just not convinced that Alexander is ready to fight the sharks. And the Dems have some long time, old and seasoned sharks. Rick Santorum I liked, but he can't even be considered right now.

Jim, a lot of us got a certain amount of pleasure at seeing the GOP get a thrashing, but reality was what kept me from voting against them. Imagine your ambivalence as a moderate and multiply that by, well, a lot and you'll see how many of us feel.

Posted by Oyster at November 15, 2006 07:33 PM

"Have the Republicans learned absolutely NOTHING since November 7th? "

Nope ... absolutely nothing. When I heard about Lott today, I went down and changed my voter registration from GOP to Independent. It doesn't matter who they run anymore. What a bunch of loosers! ... not that the Dems are any better. What this tells me is that the Repubs are all out for themselves ... not the country, not their constituents ... just themselves. Can anyone spell Libertarian or Constitutionalists?

Posted by Vulgorilla at November 15, 2006 07:53 PM

I just had to paraphrase the following from Coyote Blog regarding the Lott appointment:

After shooting themselves in the foot this last election, rather than putting down their gun, the Republicans have decided instead to aim higher.

Posted by civil truth at November 16, 2006 01:04 AM

I thought bringing back Trent Lott was pretty assinine from a strategic POV, also, but then again I have of late developed the opinion that 2 year(max) term limits in Congress would be a great idea: The longer these people remain in the "ruling class", the farther they migrate from the perceived realities of the voting public and the more absorbed they become in the isolated twilight world of the career politician.

Vulgorilla, depending upon what I see happening in the first several months of next year, I may run into you on Main Street in Independentville...

Civil Truth, I'm running out first thing when the stores open to buy a bulletproof cup, LOL.

Posted by Seth at November 16, 2006 05:57 AM