STATE OF THE PARTY [Jim Robbins] Another thing to consider with respect to Trent Lott is that if he goes down over something as inconsequential as an off-the-cuff remark, it will be a big win for the Dems. Regardless of all the reasons conservatives may have for wanting to replace the senator, using this event as the catalyst only shows the other team how easy it is to bring down Republican leaders. Note that Clinton did many worse things, but he survived because the Dems closed ranks, plain and simple. The GOP is hardly strong enough electorally to indulge infighting on this scale.

--The Corner

I think Robbins is wrong here. Kicking Lott out doesn't show that we're weak, it shows that we're strong and principled. Republicans aren't afraid to get rid of their Senate leader on the grounds of idiocy because they know that their ranks are deep enough to fill in for him. This isn't the Dems forcing him out here, it the Republicans and I think it shows backbone and that Republicans won't stand for crap like what Clinton put the Dems through.

Republicans shouldn't aspire to be able to close ranks and blindly support somebody who's wrong. They should aspire to stand on principles, and getting rid of Lott as Majority Leader is a perfect example of that. Robbins seems to be arguing here that if Clinton had been a Republican then Republicans should have closed ranks and supported his purjury and THAT is what the Republicans can't afford to indulge in.