Yesterday, long-time Mississippi Senator Trent Lott resigned from the US senate. Now, don't get me wrong. Any government without Trent Lott is already better off. However, it bears mentioning exactly why Lott left government "service."
A recently enacted law prohibits Senators who become lobbyists from lobbying their former colleagues for two years after leaving office unless they file as a lobbyist prior to an election year. As tepid a protection law as this is, it means that Lott would have been out a considerable amount of cash -- he will be in great demand as a lobbyist after all -- had he remained in the Senate, not just until his current term expires, but past January 19 of next year.
As repugnant as DC politicians-turned-lobbyists are in general, Lott is even worse. You may remember that during his last run for the Senate, he ran on a Hurricane Katrina platform, telling the citizens of Mississippi that he was only running again to see them through this hard time. He didn't want to run, but he just had to help rebuild the state. Blah, blah, blah. In case you've missed it, the only things being rebuilt in Mississippi are casinos, new and expensive condos, and oil/shipping centers. The people themselves have been royally and truly screwed.
Goodbye Trent Lott... bought-and-paid-for politician, racist, and all-around prick. Don't let the door hit you in the ass.
27 November 2007
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