Customer Reviews

Herding Cats: A Life in Politics

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I find it ridiculous that the previous review posted simply ranted about their hatred for Lott rather than examine the book. Amazon is not a political blog and can do without those types of comments.

As for Lott's book, readers should take it for what it is - a memoir of personal insights into his career in politics. And for that purpose the book works. If Lott chooses to speak about the loss of leadership, then let him. This isn't a news article, this is a personal account. Revewis of the book have taken issue with Lott playing the blame game and focussed only on that portion. So what? Let him tell his side regardless, and enjoy the book as personal insight into the situations discussed.

Basically, if you enjoy politics, regardless of your politcs, you will enjoy this book.

Trent Lott's auto-biography comes at a curious point. He's not retired from politics, so why this book at this point? Lott was the Republican's majority leader untill he ran into a massive wall following insensitive remarks at Senator Thurmond's 100th birthday party. A good portion of the book is devoted to that.

"Herding Cats" (312 pages) has some interesting moments, in particular in the early part of the book, where Lott retells the early part of his life. Lott was a student at Ole Miss in 1962 when the university broke segregation and the first black student enrolled. Lott offers some interesting insights on what the atmosphere on campus was like. I wish the book was more like that. Unfortunatly, too much of the book is devoted to a retelling of Lott's recollections of meetings on the Hill as a House Representative and later as a Senator. "I caucused with so-and-so, which lead to the adoption of such-and-such bill", I am paraphrasing, obviously.

As to the infamous Thurmond incident, Lott keeps to his often-stated explanation that "I was just paying an old friend a compliment". Reading his book, I am convinced that Lott is a decent man, and not a racist or one who is pining back to the days of segregation. That said, "Hearding Cats" simply does not make for compelling reading, but for certain passages.

Trent Lott made the mistake of saying something nice at an old man's birthday. Yeah, he probably shouldn't have said it, but gee whiz, it shouldn't have cost him his leadership position. I think that the President and the leader waiting in the wings just jumped on Senator Lott because they wanted a change. His poorly-considered comments were just an excuse. I am a democrat, but I like and respect Mr. Lott. I think he is a fair-minded individual who led his party with distinction, and I wish he were back bringing his brand of Southern charm and cordiality to leadership. He's written a fascinating book here, one about being stabbed in the back by his own party, and about working across the aisle with a sense of fairness. I also love that title!

I picked this book because of my interest (to say the least) in politics and political tactics. This truly reads as a 'how to' book with great insight to the thinking of one of the most successful Senate Majority Leaders. At times I could recognize the self-aggrandizement typical of politicians, but I still finished appreciating his work much more than expected. If you are interested in politics, especially conservative politics, you will find the book fascinating. I couldn't put it down!

This book seems to me to cover about three subjects:

First there is the nominal story of Mr. Lott's years in congress. They were certainly interesting times and he relates the stories very well.

Second there is the story of how legislation gets passed. There are a hundred senators, all with the main focus of their lives being how to get reelected. Each has a craving to say something, anything, that will keep their face on television and the front pages of newspapers back home. All of them are independent, just like cats, and getting them moving towards the goal of passing any legislation has to be a lot like Hearding Cats.

The third subject is the spectacular rise in the Republican party in recent years. When Barry Goldwater ran for president, he didn't stand a chance. I can well remember a TV comentator rhetorically asking why anyone of a minority race, anyone living in a city, any working person would vote Republican. They don't ask that question any more. The Republicans have done a supurb job of putting together a coalition that gets them into office, while the Democrats are running around in circles claiming that Bush stole the election.

Regardless of your views on the Republican vs. Democrat situation, here is a story from the inside of the Senate talking about life as it really is.

After several attempts by professional Cat Wranglers and Herders to describe
their profession, Mr. Lott finally gives us a fantastic How To guide. Each Chapter brings attention to the difficult process of maintaining a proper herd of felines.

Probably the slowest part of book is his philisophical take on Cat intellect and , surprise, Cat Pride. Not a scientist, Mr. Lott attempts to connect ancient cat worship to meow mix television commericals.

It's a worthwhile read for any potential Cat herder.

I enjoyed reading this book even though Lott's politics has always been repugnant to me. But it is amazing how much more reasonable and wise he is than the nuts who drive the Republican Party in Congress today. Lott was able to work with Bill Clinton and with Tom Daschle and he knew that the impeachment process agains Clinton would fail, and that the House managers of the impeachment process were driven by hatred of Clinton, not by concern for the country. The book ends in 2005 and so does not tell why Lott resigned from the Senate in 2007--apparently because he was not leader any more and could make more money lobbying.

Thinking about the oil spill from BP's rig site, it is of interest that Lott on page 294 of his 2005 book says: "Our only choice is to drill for our own oil and gas on a massive scale. Environmentalist snarl over...drilling rigs. But the rigs are usually drilling for natural gas--not oil. There is little danger to the environment. One of these rigs sits in the Gulf of Mexico, off the same shore I look out on from my Pascagoula home. A reporter once asked me, "How would you like to have an oil rig off the coast of your house?' I said, 'Fine."

Senator Trent Lott has been provided our nation with great service and leadership. This perfectly titled book is a well written memoir that recounts key events from his working class roots through his selfless return to the Senate after the frenzied Strom Thurmond affair. The book has the right size and pace for the story it tells. One of the justifications of a book treatment of a subject is whether or not the book gives you insight into a topic that is not available through news reports. This book delivers those insights and details. I came away feeling I understood Senator Lott much better even when I disagree with his actions or views.

Lott grew up in a working class family whose parents' marriage was strained. His father held many jobs with varying degrees of failure and then drank too much to deaden the pain. Still, Lott did well in school, went to Ole Miss and got his law degree. He was did very well socially and got a well connected job in a good firm that led to him working on the staff of a prominent Mississippi Congressman, William Colmer.

Eventually, he was elected to the US House of Representatives and rose to becoming minority whip. When the opportunity came, he ran for the Senate and was elected to that chamber in 1988. His tales of his work there and his rise through those ranks to becoming minority leader and the majority leader are all very interesting.

As Lott discusses his political genuine accomplishments and dealings with others in government, it is clear that he is a man of energy, quality, purpose, and one who has great faith in government. He is surely in his proper element in Congress.

During his time as Majority Leader he worked very closely with President Clinton. They, along with the House, were able to pass a great deal of legislation including Welfare Reform. This close working partnership was fostered by their common political adviser, Dick Morris. Unfortunately, this was also during the 1996 Presidential campaign and had a deleterious effect on the Dole campaign. I do not know if this was decisive, but Lott admits that the Dole campaign was well aware of the problem this legislative festival had for them. The Senator expresses some trouble with this divided loyalty, but claims larger considerations.

Senator Lott also worked very hard to try and get a tobacco settlement. It would have been a huge bill and as Lott describes it, what he was working for would have been much better than the awful settlement done by the various states. Lott admits that he likes to make law, and, for me, this bill is a perfect example of why this is more of a vice than a virtue. The only reason such public action against the tobacco industry is possible is because adult smoking has dropped from nearly 60% when I was a child to under 25% today. They are a political minority and since smoking is continually diminishing and becoming increasingly a socially unacceptable practice, why is this huge lawsuit necessary? Certain lawyers petitioned for over a BILLION dollars in fees. I do not know what they were paid, but it seems insane to me. This was much more about the states trying to get money to balance their budgets so they can keep the money spigot flowing.

The real damage of this approach is discovered only later. Others use these same precedents to sue other industries on ever more specious charges, but the companies have to settle because the public and the courts are already acculturated to taking the money to fund the states and reward those who brought the suits. This is a Pandora's Box that should never have been opened.

However, the way Trent Lott was treated for a few casual remarks for Strom Thurmond's 100th (!!!) birthday party is just inexcusable. No one believes Lott is a racist. Admittedly the words were careless and Lott explains how they came about. I believe his explanation. However, Lott brought much of the misery on himself. He handled the early fires poorly and as they grew despite his multiple apologies he lost his bearing and hid out in Florida.

The most interesting and telling part of the book is Lott's expression of disappointment in the President, his staff, and certain Senators who should have supported him and, Lott feels, could have saved him from having to resign. I wonder if they all remember how Lott, with larger considerations in mind, threw Dole overboard, and felt justified with their own larger considerations. Washington politics are tough and Lott came out on the bad side of that.

However, I don't want to be too hard on him. Lott could have resigned the Senate as well and put the Republicans back in the 50/50 power sharing mode of 2000. That would have been horrible. Instead, Lott showed real maturity and stayed on. He worked with the new leadership and helped them as much as they would let him. Lott tells us how he would have done things differently, and I have to admit he does sound like a more skillful hand. But where was that skill and ability during the Thurmond crisis?

This is a good read if you are interested in contemporary politics. And you should be.

Overall this is actually a great book. The only downside is some topics are covered superficially without going into a lot of why's. This book tells daily lives in Washington as it really is. In Washington, there are a lot of give-and-take, partnerships and loyalties by convenience and even backstabbing. According to Bill Clinton, in Washington you could never look past next battle because if you do, you would certainly come out on short-end of the stick.

The loss of Senator Trent Lott's leadership is due to many reasons. It reflected an overall republican leadership morph and growth pains. The casual remarks on Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party was merely a pretense by the President and republican leadership to oust him. How Senator Trent Lott mishandled the situation was irrelevant. The real reason was obviously the President and the younger republican core simply wanted change -- they wanted a different man -- a man risen with them and picked by them. Senator Lott was old fixture to them and the President and the younger republican core owe Senator Lott little blind loyalty. In big picture, it's a paradigm shift. This republican leadership growth pain continues as of today. The republican leadership today seems less seasoned and less focused and take more things for granted. For example, they failed to be fiscally conservative and failed to stick to many of their campaign issue messages after the election.

Senator Lott truly showed courage to stick around for the state of Mississippi after he lost the senate leadership. He was gracious in accepting his defeat and he stood up for his people after defeat. People often don't understand how much is at stake for a smaller state when the state's senators or congressmen lose their congressional leadership. After Georgia's Sam Nunn retired and Paul Coverdell passed away and Newt Gingrich was gone, Georgia lost political clout and federal projects went elsewhere and even Lockheed Martin moved a lot of work away from Marietta, GA to Dallas, TX and now Pentagon is trying to close the Naval Air Base in Marietta altogether.

Senator Lott is a man of leadership, courage, integrity and loyalty to his constituents at home. And overall, this is a great book that offers a frank perspective of his life, successes and, at times, struggles in Washington.

It was a struggle finishing this book. Not because it was dry or poorly written. Quite the contrary, the book dealt with a fascinating topic: how someone in politics rises to levels of leadership within their party. So for that morsel the book earns its one star. What made the book so trying was Lott's perpetual defensive posturing. He rarely takes the blame for anything and is quick to play the victim. For example, Lott disingeneously tries to say that his accolade about Strom Thurmond's 1948 persidential run was just a slip of the tongue during an exurberant birthday celebration. It was a slip allright, a Freudian one. But this incident alone didn't topple Lott as Senate Majority Leader. In "Herding Cats" Senator Lott admits to what many had suspected; that he seceretly bargained with President Clinton at the expense of his supposed conservative values. Lott describes it as being pragmatic. Conservatives called it something very different.

Another example of Lott's apologia comes when he details what ocurred after President Clinton was impeached. Lott is quite blunt about his squashing any chance of the Senate conducting an impeachment trial. He rationalizes his actions by claiming that he took a mental vote and that he didn't see any chance of Clinton being impeached. So he took the prudent course in order that the Senate's reputation wouldn't be sullied by an odious trial. But Lott's excuse doesn't stand up. How could he know how each Senator would vote after witnesses were called to appear before the Senate and testify under oath? Was there a chance that more damaging evidence against Clinton would have surfaced and changed minds? We'll never know.

I've mentioned but two examples of Lott's attempt at redemption. There are many more scattered throughout the book. In the end all we get is a fallen warrior's catharsis.