marginalia

Trent Lott, US Senate Majority Leader,
until 20 December 2002

Strom Thurmond,1948:

I wanna tell you, ladies and gentlemen, that there’s not enough troops in the army to force the southern people to break down segregation and admit the nigger race into our theatres, into our swimming pools, into our homes, and into our churches. [Applause]

listen (mp3 / 164k), stromwatch.com, thanks

Trent Lott
5 December 2002

I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president [in 1948], we voted for him. We’re proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn’t have had all these problems over all these years, either. [Applause]

listen (mp3 / 105k), stromwatch.com

Talking Point Memo
Josh Marshall, 6 December 2002

Thurmond ran as the presidential candidate on the “States-Rights Democrat” or “Dixiecrat” ticket—a candidacy that was based exclusively and explicitly upon the preservation of legalized segregation and opposition to voting rights and civil rights for blacks.

There’s a sort of agreement in Washington these days—with Thurmond’s retirement and hundredth birthday—to sort of forget about all that unpleasantness.

But look at what Trent Lott said about that candidacy yesterday . . .

Lott Steps Down as Majority Leader
CNN.com, 20 December 2002

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Bloggers Catch What Washington Post Missed
Oliver Burkeman, Guardian, 21 December 2002

Blogs Make the Headlines
Noah Shachtman, Wired News, 23 December 2002

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The Radiator of Rhetoric Trent Lott, 25 September 2003

The President has asked for $87 billion to help complete our mission in Iraq and Afghanistan. After much analysis and some frank, probing questions to the Administration, I’m supporting it. . . .

[We cannot] expect nations like France to provide real leadership. They will not, and cannot, fight terrorists effectively. Nations from around the world should contribute to stabilizing Iraq, Afghanistan and any other locale now fertile ground for democracy—places where we can deny terrorism a base camp. However, America must lead. I watched a television interview recently with a lady from England, and reporters asked her why Europeans do not feel good about Americans right now. She replied, “It’s because you are leaders. The world expects you to do the job, and they are jealous of you when you do that job.” (more)

The Bravest State
Trent Lott, 23 October 2003

[The] part-time personnel of our [Mississippi] Guard and Reserve and those of our full-time armed forces are the reason I voted in favor of President Bush’s request for $87 billion for America’s mission in Afghanistan and Iraq. . . .

I don’t want to see our troops stay in Iraq or Afghanistan as long as they’ve been in the Balkans, and neither does President Bush. However, most Americans understand that fighting terrorists and establishing democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan is America’s most important task right now . . . . (more)

lott.senate.gov
Lott on the Issues
If you can possibly imagine what to say, contact Senator Lott

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Hiroshima?
George W. Bush
18 February, 2002, Tokyo

My trip to Asia begins here in Japan for an important reason. It begins here because for a century and a half now, America and Japan have formed one of the great and enduring alliances of modern times. From that alliance has come an era of peace in the Pacific.

The 2004 Presidential (Mis)Speak Calendar is available for purchase.