George Bush could end this Lott thing once and for all by sticking his neck out, publicly or within his party, and saying in no uncertain terms that Lott has to go.

But he won’t do that. As the New York Daily News put it today, Bush wants Lott to go, “but he doesn't want any White House fingerprints on the job.”

Gosh, it’s hard to believe this is the same guy who said this stuff to Bob Woodward not so long ago:

“First of all, a president has got to be the calcium in the backbone. If I weaken, the whole team weakens. If I'm doubtful, I can assure you there will be a lot of doubt....

"They tell me, we don't need to move too fast...I just don't buy that. Either you believe in freedom, and want to -- and worry about the human condition, or you don't....

“...there is a value system that cannot be compromised, and that is the values that we praise....These are values of freedom and the human condition and mothers loving their children.

"You can't talk your way to a solution to a problem.... [A] leader must combine the ability to listen to others, along with action."