MS-Sen: Trent Lott To Resign

Just when the Mississippi GOP thought it was safe when Thad Cochran decided to run again, this happens.

If he resigns before the end of the year, there will be a special election in the spring, if he resigns after the first of the year, the special election with coincide with the general election in November, which means Mississippi, like Wyoming, will elect two Senators at once. He's expected to leave before the end of year when coincidently new ethics rules passed by the Democratic-controlled Congress that would ban members of Congress from lobbying on the Hill for two year after they leave office.

An open seat would give the Democrats a chance to win a Mississippi Senate seat for the first time since 1982. Former Attorney General Mike Moore, Current Attorney General Jim Hood and Former Governor Ronnie Musgrove are both potential Democratic candidates for the seat. GOP Governor Haley Barbour will appoint a caretaker for the seat who may or may not run for reelection in 2008. They include GOP Congressmen Roger Wicker and Chip Pickering. Pickering has stated he was retiring from his Congressional seat next year.

Lott: We Need Progress Soon

Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Mississippi) warned the Bush Administration today they have until the Fall to show signs of progress in Iraq before Republicans begin to turn.

My money is on the following result;

Petreaus comes back from Iraq in September, tells Congress "Progress is being made slowly, we need more time" even though nothing has changed in reality and the Republicans once again go on their "Let's give it more time, you want us to win dont you?" bandwagon and get creamed in 2008.

Somehow, I cannot fathom the GOP breaking from their prophet in the White House until he's back in Crawford...permanently.