As we all know, Mississippi Republican and former US Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (he of great infamy for praising Strom Thurmond in 2002, thus losing his promotion) announced his resignation last month, officially leaving the Senate on December 26th. This was to ensure that Lott could "cash in" as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill immediately, rather than waiting for two years due to new lobbying restrictions on legislators. While Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood (a Democrat) has disagreed in a legal opinion with Republican Governor Haley Barbour as to when Lott should be replaced (either in a March special election or in November 2008), Barbour has gone ahead and decided on a replacement for Lott. His announcement is taking place just about now in Mississippi.
And the new US Senator is...
Congressman Roger Wicker.
Wicker, 56 is a conservative Republican from northern Mississippi, who was first elected in 1994 to replace long-time Democrat Jamie Whitten (who served for 53 years).
Wicker to be appointed
Republican Haley Barbour’s choice to succeed Sen. Trent Lott is Rep. Roger Wicker, a conservative congressman, congressional officials with knowledge of the selection process said Monday...
Wicker also was resigning from the U.S. House...
Wicker, a native of Pontotoc, graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1973 and got a law degree there in 1975. Wicker and his wife, Gayle, have three children.
Wicker served in the state Senate from 1987-94. He worked on welfare reform and helped push a bill through the 1994 session as chairman of the Senate Public Health Committee.
He opposes abortion and supports public education, having supported an increase in taxes to benefit the public schools while in the state Legislature. He supports tax cuts, however, as a means of stimulating economic growth. He also supports a balanced budget.
Wicker served on active duty in the Air Force and then served in the Air Force Reserve. He retired from the Air Force Reserve in 2004 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. At the conclusion of his active duty, he became counsel to then-U.S. Rep. Lott on the House Rules Committee in 1980...
In short, expect another reliable rubberstamp for the Bush Administration. Unless, that is Wicker's selection does not go through.
You see, Attorney General Hood is likely to take the issue of the special election to court. He believes (and is backed by Mississippi law) that the election must be held within 90 days of Lott's resignation; that is, in March 2008 at the latest. If that is the case, then the Democratic nominee's chances of winning the seat go up, considering that the Republican Presidential nominee is likely to carry the state in November. The likely Democratic nominee is former Governor Ronnie Musgrove, who led Wicker 48-34% in a recent Democratic poll (although Wicker is less well-known).
Expect the issue to end up in court soon. For now, say hello to Senator Roger Wicker...
(crickets chirping)