Mississippians prefer Republicans in statewide races, and at the moment, the heavy favorite to succeed Lott is Rep. Charles W. "Chip" Pickering Jr., a five-term GOP House member.

Remember Judge Pickering, Chip's dad?  You know, the one who tried to get the cross-burner's sentence reduced?  The one that Dumbya gave a recess appointment?  Well, they don't call Chip "Chip" for nothing.

Hey, I don't like most of Gene Taylor's positions, either, but given the likely alternative -Chip Pickering -  Taylor is a flaming liberal.  Taylor is the most conservative Dem in the House, but he's still  more liberal than the most liberal Republican in the House.  And his strategy of being the most conservative Dem is, quite likely, the ONLY WINNING STRATEGY FOR A DEM in his House district OR in Lott's Senate seat.  

I would personally rather elect someone who is MUCH more liberal than Taylor, but Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton types don't poll very well down here.  So I guess we might have to settle for at least a slight move to the left by replacing Lott with Taylor.

So, somebody go ahead and tell me that because I am a realist and I know my own state very well, that I am selling out, but IT IS MISSISSIPPI AND IT AINT GONNA CHANGE ENOUGH BETWEEN NOW AND THEN TO ELECT A PRO-CHOICE CANDIDATE.  I'm tellin ya, it just won't happen down here.

Now, that will not prevent me from supporting one of the more liberal candidates in the primary (James Graves is good, if he runs, and so is Mike Espy), and I will do my best to get someone else to represent the Dems in this race if Lott retires.  However, I would gladly vote for Taylor over Pickering, it's not even close.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead