Wait. This Was All it Took to Get Rid of Trent Lott?
Trent Lott sent a small ripple through Washington yesterday by announcing that he will resign by the end of this year. Lott's resignation ends his 35-year career in the Senate, and comes a full five years before the end of his six-year term.
In a prepared statement, Lott explained that he decided to resign because:
". . . we went to First Baptist Jackson, and . . . Stan Buckley, just happened to preach on Ecclesiastes 3:1: 'There's a time for everything and everything -- a special time for everything under heaven': I believe that's the paraphrase, but he just seemed to be speaking to me."
Hello?
The actual quote is: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven." But hey, close enough, right? When a preacher utters a line that convinces you to end a 35-year career in public service, you can't expect to remember his exact words.
So here's a question: If you planned to tell the world that a Bible verse had persuaded you to end your 35-year Senate career, wouldn't you, in your press conference, BOTHER TO LEARN THE BIBLE VERSE?
So you could, you know, QUOTE IT CORRECTLY?
Trent Lott: "It was something about there being a time for things? A special time? Under heaven or something? Whatever. I heard that and thought, 'I'm gone.'"
The Ecclesiastes verse, by the way, is also a lyric in the Byrds' hit, "Turn, Turn, Turn." So, the fact that Lott couldn't remember it means that, apparently, he's never heard music before.
It's shocking that all it took to end Trent Lott's political career was to have someone read Ecclesiastes to him. Where was Preacher Buckley five years ago, when Lott refused to step down after making racist remarks at Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party? Would it have been too much for Mr. Buckley to go over to Lott's Senate office back then and recite a little Ecclesiastes, for the good of the country?
Turning to broader questions, does every Republican have this weakness? What a discovery. Never mind the debates, the television advertisements, the endorsements. Turns out that to make a powerful Republican give up politics you only need to read the right Bible verse.
It's just like the scene in Dracula, where they discover that vampires can be killed by a clove of garlic and a stake through the heart.
Perhaps we should begin a campaign to read the Bible to every Republican Congressperson and every member of the Administration. We could gather them all in an auditorium, and someone from the National Cathedral could come over, and start with Genesis, Chapter One, and work through to the end, until something in the Bible had convinced every Republican to resign.
Dick Cheney would hear, "But Lot's wife behind looked back, and she became a pillar of salt" (Genesis, 19:26) and he would say, "That's it for me. I'm done."
Condoleezza Rice would hear, "And I saw, and behold, a pale horse, and its rider's name was Death," (Revelations, 6:7) and she would say, "I just realized I belong in the private sector."
Alas, it won't happen. The press is already reporting that Lott is really resigning to avoid a two-year ban on lobbying by former senators, due to take effect at the end of the year.
In other words, the public already believes Lott really resigned to avoid limits on his future income as an expensive Capitol Hill lobbyist.
Yeah, right.
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A San Antonio-based gay male escort categorically denied Monday that outgoing GOP Sen. Trent Lott had ever procured his services, putting to bed one of the more stunning rumors to emerge following Lott's announcement earlier in the day that he was leaving Congress.
The charge was first published by the Washington DC blog Big Head DC, which claimed to have emails where the escort, Benjamin Nicholas, allegedly playing coy, declined to go on the record because "Trent is going through his fair share of scrutiny right now and I don't want to add to it."
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i don't suppose that this could have anything whatsoever to do with lott's sudden and precipitous decision to abandon ship ???
Yes. Or, he could have read what a blogger on an Israeli website wrote recently. He summarized what happened to those who wanted to give away parts of Israel, and so far they have all come to some bad end. As a part of the Republican Party which is now railroading, eh, roadmapping, Israel into oblivion, he may fear something must be coming to him. On the other hand, he can not run out God, for sure, nor can he hide out somewhere. As for Jesus, yes, he did have a few choice things to say about money changers, did he not? In any case, as a good Republican and a good Christian Trent Lott hears what he wants to hear where the Bible is concerned, and picks and choses what he can use, disgarding the rest. But Jesus never said, just go ahead and do whatever you want, I will forgive you, as long as you come to church on Sunday. Jesus even said, you may say, god, god, and I will say I never knew you. Oh, well. Let us all pray for the best for Trent Lott. But the enemies of Israel, may they get what they deserve.
I've got a great idea - let the repubs all resign to be lobbyists and then vote in even tougher restictions on former Senators and Congressmen and make them retroactive. LOLOLOL
why does no one give this guy the benefit of the doubt? MAYBE that verse meant to him its time to stop screwing the working class, making racial comments etc. maybe its the season for him to realize he has been carrying water for an idiot. of course i dont really believe this. im betting he will have a corner office at the lobbying firm of dewey, cheatum and howe before the afc championship game. i will also bet the there is already some thug waiting in the wings to take up the mantle of "leadership" that he is giving up.
Just because he's leaving politics doesn't mean he's going to stop misrepresenting what the Bible says.
The Romans had a special reward for BigHeads who shirked their duties, were cowards, thieves, or wore toupees. They were expected to whack themselves (with help, if necessary) and turn over their cash, property, and other assets to the state, later Emperor.
Couldn't we go for a Constitional Amendment?
I hadn't realized that Lott was only 1 year into his term. What a way to betray your constituents.
Pretty amusing Mr. Carman.
Seems that the truth is Lott has found he can *NO* longer loot our treasury from the inside, so he's going too from the outside.
Maybe Jesus is throwing the money changers out?
It's a Miracle! Turn, Turn, Turn.
It's a shame that Lott couldn't just tell us honestly why he's now resigning. After all these years, we're supposed to be that he now thinks his family is important and needs to spend more time with them. Or is it that he is cutting his losses now, when the Democrats are poised to regain everything, so he's decided he can finally cash in on his political life and make some money by being a lobbyist or writing a book. There's nothing illegal or unethical about that, so why not just say so?
I'm sure Lott's heard this scripture a million times before, so why now is it speaking to him? Why this impulse to mask one's true motivations by some pseudo-spiritual appeal? Isn't plain honesty a virtue? I would love to hear some Southerners such as Lott speak truthfully and honestly about themselves, but this is not what is valued in their subculture.
Lott is quitting 'cause he sees the dem onslaught coming. Good, wish about 99 other senators would get the hell out too. We need new blood all around. The senate is filled with career politicians whose primary goal is re election. Lott's been there, done that, so scram........
Oh yeh-it's the money. If it was something that happened in church that made him decide, it was the passing of the collection plate. Why waste 2 peak earning years?
I thought it was going to be 'thou shalt not steal'
Of course, 'thou shalt not bear false witness'
would probably clear the room, too...ROTF
BigheadDC is posting today that Hustler Magazine has some dirt on Lott involving his friendship with a gay escort. Don't know if it's true or not.
Lott is leaving the senate at this moment in history because to stay until January 1, 2008 or longer would mean that he would have to postpone his career as a lobbyist for corporate interests (and against those of the rest of us) for two whole years. If he leaves on New Years Eve, he can start his new job on January 2 (unless he wants to work New Years day.
Any other reasons he or Hastert might give are pure exploitive Rovian bullcrap.
One of the reasons Lott that might not have ever listened to "Turn, Turn, Turn" because Pete Seeger is the one who set that verse to music. It isn't just a prayer for world peace - - it's a prayer for world peace written by "a commie". ;)
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