In Trent Lott's resignation speech he said he's quitting THIS YEAR! Why?!?

[Up2Late]

What's he running from NOW that he needs to quit BEFORE next years election?

Something stinks here, what's the REAL reason?:shrug:

[flamin lib]

1. New law requiring a two year period before lobbying congress

kicks in Jan 1.

[ThomCat]

2. Right. He's a republican, so when all else fails, follow the money.

x(

[DemBones DemBones]

11. Don't you wonder why people who have tons of money

want more and more and more? If you have enough never to have to work another day, why not retire and enjoy life? Look at Cheney, for example. He's living on borrowed time with his bad heart, he put $30 million in Euros last year, but he keeps working to get more and more. He still owns Halliburton shares which he has helped increase in worth exponentially. Why doesn't he quit and go home (cough) to Wyoming? Kick back, have some fun. I don't get greed.

[ThomCat]

12. I don't understand that either.

If they can be that rich, and yet think they don't have nearly enough, then there is no way they can ever understand or empathize with people who have to survive on modest levels of income. :(

[Up2Late]

15. I think Cheney is working toward buying that remote Volcanic Island where he can build...

...his secret headquarters, complete with evil lab, so that he can live his dream of World Domination. Everyone needs a dream, I guess.

But seriously, most wealthy people truly don't understand the concept of "money does NOT buy happiness," mainly because they don't have to learn that concept right now. It's only the poor and under-employed (like me) who ever take the time to understand the concept.

[BonnieJW]

17. It isn't that they're greedy,

they're evil. They want the US to become a dictatorship and they want their cronies to keep getting the dictator positions.

[CottonBear]

3. Money, of course. n/t

[mohc]

4. New ethics rules

If Lott waits until next year to resign, he will have to wait 2 years before joining a lobbying firm. If he quits this year, he will be able to start immediately. Have to respect that kind of commitment to his real values (read: money)....

[Kucinich4America]

5. Speculation is that it has something to do with him becoming a lobbyist.

As of January 1, the rules change, and you have to wait two years before jumping from elected office to lobbyist. Old Shellac head doesn't want to wait that long, apparently, so he's bailing now, apparently with a lobbyist gig already lined up.

[MADem]

7. You are CORRECT!!! (I found a cite)

This was bugging me, too--I wasn't sure if it was elections (as I queried below) or illness, or what...

I think you got it right, though:

The US News Political Bulletin has learned that Lott will make the announcement today at noon. According to a knowledgeable source, Lott is resigning by the end of the year to avoid new ethics rules that double the amount of time a retired lawmaker must wait before lobbying former colleagues. The former Senate majority leader had contemplated retiring prior to his last election, and is said to be eager to begin his post-Senate career while he is still relatively young.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_071126.htm

[MADem]

6. It has to do with the ELECTIONS,(I thought--turns out I was wrong)

Post Seven above seems to be the valid reason...though the question below is still valid.

If he goes this year, I think they have an election.

If he WAITS, the Governor gets to appoint someone.

Anyone from MS who can verify or refute this???

[DemBones DemBones]

8. I think if he leaves before his term is up, the governor

appoints someone, which means another Republican, who can then run as the incumbent whenever Lott's term is up. I think that's true in any state.

Also, as they're saying upthread, Lott can hop right into lobbying if he leaves before Jan. 1. Otherwise he'd have to wait two whole years. (Poor baby.)

I think the law should be that they have to stay away from D.C. for six years before they can be lobbyists; that would cut down on the cronyism.

[MADem]

14. I was given to understand there was a timeframe cutoff--at some point, there'd be

an ELECTION within 90 days, past a certain point, an appointment to serve out the term.

That's the bit I am unclear on....

[Up2Late]

10. Yes, that's another part of this I'm wondering about too...

...but I think you (and just about everyone else who responded) are right, that it's the new ethics law he's avoiding.
Trent was never a big fan of ethical behavior.

[MADem]

13. At least he's making no bones about it! Give me a transparent, right wing racist any day

over someone who talks the talk and then, disappointingly, doesn't walk the walk.

At least you know what those discriminatory types are, and where they're coming from!

I'll actually MISS Trent in the Senate--he was always good for a smartass remark or a cutting line--it wasn't dull when he was about!

[Catherine Vincent]

9. Larry Flynt? nt

[frogmarch]

16. In an article I read about it,

Trent Lott mentioned how much harder it's been to get legislation passed since the Dems took over. He didn't cite that as a reason he's decided to leave, though.