Well, by now you know that Trent Lott has resigned his post as Majority Leader in the Senate and been replaced by Robert Frist. The entire Trent Lott debacle has been ridiculous, hilarious, sad, frustrating and hilarious again. Sometimes, just for kicks and information, you should go to racist websites and read their dribble. Their writers’ amazing ability to mix fact with fiction in order to turn potentials into hardcore white supremacists never ceases to amaze me. They just lie and lie and don’t even care who reads what they have to say. Of course, if they are ever short on facts, they will resort to scripture and talk about “God” and “Christianity” so that you will never have any real facts to rely on, only what they interpret from a Bible written thousands of years ago and translated hundreds of times, as well.

In any event, the most recent Trent Lott debacle placed him in a precarious position. I was almost finished with this article when he announced he would resign. He got played by the members of his own Republican Party. But we must all understand why. I don’t know what’s in his heart and, frankly, I don’t care. His voting record shows him to be a racist bastard, period. What he said before about supporting Strom Thurmond decades ago rang again this year. The difference, however, is that somebody was out to get him. Black folks, Puerto Ricans, Asians and poor Whites, don’t even be remotely fooled into thinking that Americans, in general, and the Republican Party, in particular, really care about our status and well-being to the extent that they would be so sensitive over Lott’s remarks. In the past, far too many people have said, implied and even done worse things to us than this. Time.com did a special series of articles on Trent Lott, the GOP and Race and the history of the Republican Party’s success catering to the white racists of the South in what Barry Goldwater called “Operation Dixiecrat” and what they currently call the “Southern Strategy.” That strategy was to appeal to white racists in the South who were angry at Brown v. Board (1954), the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the general thrust of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements so that they could find a new home in the Republican Party since they had already defected from the Democratic Party and formed their own “Dixiecrat” Party.  By doing this, Republicans won six of the last nine Presidential Elections. Now, with Trent Lott, he was only doing what the majority of them did on a regular basis. The difference is that they are now going after each other because they are the majority in Congress. Remember, it is because of their power play that they received the Player Hater of the Month Award for November, given by yours truly.

Trent Lott as Majority Leader meant that he was the largest spokesperson in the Senate for his party. And the Republican Party has an agenda but they know that the old school Klan outfits won’t work so they are trying to stress to their constituents that they must publicly avow segregation yet do all their Klan routines in private.  The country is getting more brown and appealing to racist, White men just won’t cut it anymore if they want to remain in power and make sure that White folks all across the United States remain in power positions. The “Council of Conservative Citizens” (CCC) is basically the upper class, slicker version of the KKK. But, see, the KKK ain’t down with that completely. They are the rowdy bunch so they want to wear the robes, burn the crosses and be “up front” about the issues (But you know, they have all mostly been cowards anyway, hiding behind the robes, so in reality, they shouldn’t be mad at Trent Lott or any other racist Republican for hiding or apologizing behind 21^st century rhetoric). Usually, the CCC folks are there to bail out the KKK folks when they get rowdy and start their wanton violence against “undesirables” in the country.

So why are they mad? Because of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. They considered that a huge blow to Southern Whites because they were able to repeal the first Civil Rights Bill during Reconstruction; and they were able to circumvent its immediate power by instituting “black codes” and terrorizing Black people who tried to vote or do such radical things as own their own businesses and control their own lives.

We should all keep in mind that the Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed by Lyndon B. Johnson, is just the first real step towards America becoming a better country and taking the strides to promote real equality. This is less than forty years ago, which is a very short time in political years, especially since Congressmen and women only get 4-6 years and Presidents get 4-8 years. Therefore, forty years is just a change in office 5-7 times, which means that with each election, they are hoping that “the South will rise again” and put America back upon its mythical pedestal (the one that was supposedly there during slavery and after the failure of Reconstruction). You need this history lesson because you need to understand that this is still very much war. And it is not a civil war, in fact, it is a most uncivil war designed to wrap the rest of us in chains and banish us to second class citizenship for the rest of our lives. This is why they love to keep conscious or political hip-hop down and to see hip hoppers doing stupid stuff and talking about bling blingin’. It’s a way to show that we were never ready for full citizenship and never will be, whether we have enough money, fame or majority access---we are to be considered buffoons and they should never forget it. We may know better but not enough of us are standing up and acting like it so during this brief distraction on Lott, we need to be reorganizing the troops. But we don’t have troops, we have Snoops doing “Girls Gone Wild” Videos with nothing but White women. He thinks he’s pimping them and he looks like a pimp doing it. Once again, if we know our history, we would know who was really getting pimped. Snoop (and others) are allowing themselves to be portrayed as the big, black brutes who are omnipresent to disrupt and corrupt the “family values” of white folks and white women in particular. These white men are hating white women right about now because of the success of the feminist movement, so they are trying to say "... this is what happens when you let your Nigras and your Wimmens out of control". Peep it, the Snoop videos is really a “call to arms” for White men. Wake up, Snoop. You just stopped smoking weed, now you need to wake up, fully.

So anyway, back to the racist websites and why the Lott issue is so funny in a way. Now that we recognize that we are in a war, what is happening is that we are witnessing an internal war that really has nothing to do with us, except for one more thing---we are about to go to war, America is trying to sell the myth of “freedom and democracy” to the rest of the world, Colin Powell is the front man Secretary of state and Condoleeza Rice is the brains behind the Bush brawn. Therefore, it is simply not fashionable to be racist at this time, especially when so much of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is built upon a discriminatory Zionist ideal that many Jewish people disagree with, anyway. They repeatedly say that Zionism is racism and that Zionism is not an inherent party of Judaism. And still others critics argue that the Zionists are closeted White supremacists using the cloak of Judaism to conceal their evil deeds against peoples of color in the Middle East region. No matter what the battles in the Middle East, the bottom line is that America has to put on the best face possible and the Republican Party must show its best possible side in order to win the support of global allies in the so-called “war on terrorism” and also for President Bush to be re-elected as President in 2004.  Oh and one last thing . . . Black people make up at least 40% of the US military.

This is prime time for us because these are the kinds of dynamics that helped the Civil Rights Movement flourish. You can best believe that if the eyes of the world were not upon the USA, then Bush and company would be helping to outwardly engage in the racist practices and passing racist, classist and sexist legislation to benefit the elite, white male minority in this country and across the world. During the Cold War, America could not successfully purport that it was the “city on a hill” and the bastion of freedom and democracy to the rest of the world while Black people were getting beaten and hosed down in the streets and having dogs ordered to attack them. More than anything, it was the pressure Black America put upon the feds that created civil rights legislative victories. It was also both King and X’s potential to go further with their agendas during the Vietnam War that they were both killed, whether one was nonviolent or not.

Right now, the Republicans are vying for greater power amongst themselves and since it is not “en vogue” to hate on Black people or support segregation, the Confederate flag or the racists of the South, individuals are digging up information on Trent Lott and anybody who opposes their ambition and sending them to the press. Senator Don Nickles from Oklahoma wants Lott’s spot so somebody on his team is helping to expose every racist word or phrase Lott uttered and every racist party he attended to make him look worse and “unfit” to be the Majority Leader of the Party. But Nickles is just as racist as Lott and his voting record is just as poor. Same with the newest elected Majority Leader, Robert Frist. They keep telling us that he goes to Africa in his spare time. That’s nice but the truth of the matter is we don’t know what he’s doing in Africa and White folks always get a kick out of going to foreign countries and offering their “assistance” because it satisfies the god/savior complex they have always had in this country. The NAACP gave Frist an “F” for his voting record and that is all that matters.  Don’t believe the hype, just sit back and record the information. They are all digging up information on each other and we should have our mouths shut and pencils ready.  Yes, we have always known they were a bunch of racist bastards; but isn’t it fun to see them doing our homework for us? Afterall, they lie so much and keep so much hidden that we appreciate the assistance!

If you saw Lott’s interview on BET, it was absolutely hilarious. First, he cannot decide which lie he wants to tell. Basic Logic 101 will help us out here. Lott’s statement was that he wanted to tell us something about his state (of Mississippi) and that they voted for Strom in 1948 and had the rest of the country done so, “we” wouldn’t have had all these problems over the years. Yet when he was on BET, here is his answer to Ed Gordon’s question:

GORDON: Let me do that before you go on, and I promise you I'll let you get to that. But clear up a couple of things for me, if you will. First being, in the statement that you say was off the cuff--an off-the-cuff remark, you said ``We wouldn't have had all the problems that we've had over these years,'' and as you know it's been reported that 22 years ago you essentially said the same thing about Strom Thurmond. What problems specifically are you talking about when you say that?

LOTT: When I got to know Strom Thurmond--really know him, was in the--I guess, in the '80s--late '70s or '80s, I saw a senator that was committed in the fight against communism, that had fought Nazism, a senator that was for fiscal responsibility, you know, and one that also thought that law and order was very important, protecting people of all races against crime. That's what his focus was.

GORDON: But you also saw a senator that personified for years segregation.

LOTT: Yes, but let me tell you...

GORDON: Did you not, though?

LOTT: I did. I did.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, you cannot have it both ways. If you really meant that you were talking about other issues, then there is no need to apologize, all you need to do is clarify what you meant. Yet, here is what he said about his statement as well:

GORDON: Let me ask you, first, before we get into the comments and the like, do you see, as many have characterized it over the course of the last couple of days, as you being in a fight for your political future?

LOTT: Ed, I don't think that's really relevant. The important thing is to recognize the hurt that I caused and ask for forgiveness and find a way to turn this into a positive thing, and try to make amends for what I've said and for what others have said and done over the years. I'm looking for this to be not only an opportunity for redemption, but to do something about it. And I regret it. But I'm now trying to find a way to deal with the understandable hurt that I have caused. You can, you know, say it was innocent, but it was insensitive at the very least and repugnant, frankly.

Once again, what exactly is repugnant? Lott’s support for Thurmond’s military policies or the fact that he really was a racist bastard in 1948 and you regret that the rest of the country didn’t support him?

The Southern Strategy is exposed. See? When you know that reading is fundamental and you have a critical mind, all of this can be a lot of fun, even though none of it is a joke.

Okay, now the real fun is the website and the most recent news we’ve got on the presses. The website for the Council of Conservative Citizens is funny because they are so angry at Trent Lott because he “cowered” to Black folks on BET, because he continues to apologize, disavow his “racist past” and distinguish himself from the racists of the South. However, since they know he is and was their representative and they elected him precisely because he is a segregationist and a racist bastard, they are now disgusted with him. In an article entitled, “What Lott Did Wrong and What He Should Do Now,” they advise:

“Lott's first option is to pull himself back up to standing position and announce that no more apologies will be made, and that the Thurmond matter is closed. This scenario becomes less likely every day because Lott continues to flagellate himself with a tar brush. Next he will be singing "We Shall Overcome" at NAACP headquarters.”

Isn’t that too funny? I wonder if they would be accepted on Def Comedy Jam.

But they don’t stop there. I don’t know about you but I read a veiled threat with this one:

“Whatever direction Lott takes, he better keep in mind that Beltway liberals and black harpies did not elect him to office. The conservative white vote in Mississippi sent Lott to Washington, and that same vote can retire him.”

What exactly is a “black harpie?” I wish I had had the benefit of a good, segregated education in the racist South so that I could really understand what a harpie is. It sounds close to “darky” though so maybe that’s pretty close. Let me know when you find out. Anyway, this whole concept of “retiring” Lott could be referring to the fact that they really did vote him into office precisely for being a proud segregationist. However, my interpretation is that it could also mean something else. I often “retire” to my bed at night, you know . . .

Anyway, Lott was stuck between a rock and a hard place and somewhere else. On the one hand, he was in trouble with his own Party and there really were members who were/are out to get him. On the other hand, President Bush didn’t lend a public helping hand when he could have done so, easily. But, just keep in mind that after Lott resigned and it was clear he would remain in the Senate, Bush called him “a good friend.” Dag, with friends like Bush, who needs enemies? I also read that he tried to get support from the good Black folks, Condoleeza Rice and Colin Powell, and they refused to support him. And, still, on the other hand, his Southern constituents who really did put him in office to be the racist bastard it is no longer fashionable to be, are now ashamed of him, calling him a wimp and hoping that he will become the prodigal son who will redeem himself by fully embracing his segregationist philosophies. It would have been interesting to see if Lott would have apologized again (and he probably would have) during the planned vote on January 6, 2003, when the Republicans were going to vote on whether or not to force him to resign. His apology would have had to have been convincing even though they were all disgusted with Lott’s appearance on BET, not because he apologized but because he renounced his previous votes and his platform. He went too far. But he would have had to try to demonstrate that he had changed.

Now, we heard that Lott resigned because he didn’t have the votes. But we didn’t hear a peep about what supposedly happened on December 13, 2002---*after* he had already appeared on BET.  On this day, as hilarious as it may seem, his own daughter attended a KKK rally!

Now, keep in mind that this is what Lott said about “change” and about his daughter. Ed Gordon brought up the fact that Lott had once led a campaign to keep his fraternity “all White” so Lott wanted to make it clear that he was a new man, a changed man and that his daughter recognized it:

GORDON: But there is relevance to the past.

LOTT: Oh, absolutely. But there is also change from the past and redemption, Ed. Who among us does not mature? You know, my daughter, a few years ago said, "Dad, you know, you've changed," to me. She said, "Well, you know, you used to be quicker to anger, you wouldn't spend as much time, you didn't talk as much about your faith. What happened?" She asked me what happened. And I said, "Well, as you get older you learn from mistakes. You begin to love people in a different sort of way. You understand that you cannot be..."

I don’t know what any aspect of him being a more loving, caring and available father to his all-White family has to do with “changing” his political views about segregation and keeping Black people out of his fraternity but hey, who said any of this has to make any logical sense?

Speaking of Trent's sweet, introspective daughter, she is alleged to have recently attended a KKK rally where she was interviewed by white supremacist, Richard Barrett, and offered some inspirational words about her father: (She is currently threatening to sue Barrett because she says she was not "at the rally" and that her words were misused and misrepresented the nature of her comments).

Richard Barrett: I'd like to thank Trent Lott's daughter for being here, today. And, thanks to Senator Lott, certainly, for his service to Mississippi and our country.

Tyler Lott Armstrong: My father is a wonderful man, who has always stood tall. The news-media has twisted his words. He has good character, he's a Christian man and a good man and has been a wonderful family man, with his children and all.”

You read it, I read it. Now, you tell me . . . what does Trent Lott being a good man of good Christian character and a wonderful family man have to do with him NOT being a white supremacist bastard? You guessed it, it doesn’t! This is the kind of hypocrisy you can only get when you enjoy reading, listening and writing. What bliss. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, Trent Lott appeared on BET but he is just playing a Jedi mind trick on the Black community. He can’t appear in person like he usually would, to the Council of Conservative Citizens’ dinners and rallies; but, if this were the movie, “Ghost,” Lott would be Patrick Swayze and his daughter would be Whoopi Goldberg kissing up to all of those Demi Moores (not to be confused with Demi-crats).

You may be asking who the hell Robert Barrett is, anyway, right? Well, he’s the guy who wrote “An Open Letter to Trent Lott”, basically telling people that Lott’s a wimp and that since he got his first Washington gig by a racist bastard (William Colmer), he should remember his roots and continue to be one. Barrett is embarrassed by Lott now. Peep the picture of them at Colmer’s party.

Best believe, Trent Lott wants his constituents to pay attention to his votes not his mouth. Don’t worry, Barrett, he’s been loyal in his votes, that’s why we know his apology was a bunch of lies. We paid attention, too! And Ed Gordon sure did. Let’s look at what Lott had to say about that:

Released: October 2002