Alan K. Henderson has a wrapup from the blogosphere.

[Update a couple minutes later]

I wonder if Lott is blackmailing other Senators and the Administration, by threatening to resign from the Senate entirely if forced to step down as leader? If he did so, the governor of Mississipi would appoint a Democrat to replace him, which would take the Republican majority back down to a...non-majority, with only Cheney's vote to maintain Republican control.

Which would set up Mr. Chafee to follow Jeffords' lead, and be the next turncoat. Though hopefully, he learned a lesson from Mr Jeffords' experience...

And there are always Sens Snowe and Collins, neither of whom are the most loyal to the Republican Party. They both must be loving this whole episode. Lott is a canny man, his blackmailing his fellow Republicans would not be a shock.

A "canny man" wouldn't have got into this mess in the first place. A "canny man" would have been building a base inside and outside the Senate so that tlak of him needing to resign wouldn't even start . (Think Daschle and how no one calls for him to resign despite his success last month.) A 'canny man" would haveeither killed outright the senate impeachment trial, or ast least have put one one that wasn't such a farce.

Lott has risen to his level of incompetence, and it shows. He doesn't have the smarts to concoct a scenario where he could blackmail his party as suggested, and survive. He's as risk adverse as any politician, too, if his leadership is any indication.What's he going to do after he resigns? It sure won't be in politics. Gov. of Miss? Back to the House? Gimme a break. Companies hire ex-politicians for big bucks for the contacts they bring, no other reason.Trent won't have any under this scenario. There's not even a principal to sacrafice for here, not that he's evern shown any hint of being the sacraficing type.

This is also another reason to punish Jeffords, as a warning/example of party discipline to other dimbulbs like Chaffee, the Maine Twins and McCain who might get the same 34 watt idea. Let them see how Democrats treat him no that they no longer need him. Will the guy get any committee assignments?