There is a certain irony that after a disappointing midterm election, while Newt Gingrich lost his speakership, Trent Lott will probably be re-elected today by a unanimous vote. While Lott's Senate tenure has certainly been less tumultuous than the Georgian's, inside the Senate his standing is anything but solid.
When Lott took over as the majority leader two and a half years ago, there's no doubt he had his work cut out for him. Congressional leadership is never easy, and in the Senate, where few members willingly acknowledge the need for anyone to be their leader, it is especially difficult. The old line that leading Senators is like trying to herd cats is not a complete exaggeration. And while Bob Dole's last two years as majority leader were somewhat inauspicious as his presidential campaign demanded more and more attention, the Kansan was still a very tough act to follow.
Still, Lott's critics argue that a stronger leader could have pushed important financial services and bankruptcy reform proposals through the Senate. Conservatives argue that one reason last month's elections proved to
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