Great, detailed analysis, within the confined of a short commentary piece, about the reality of the Southern Republicans and their racist practices, including comments on how Ashcroft and also Bush have used these racial cards to shore up their elections in the South and throughout the country catering to racist idealogues. Here's a couple of highlights:

The simple fact is that the modern Republican Party has built a Southern power base by accommodating racists. Lott may become a sacrificial goat -- forced to give up his assumed position as the next Senate majority leader -- but that won't change the dirty little secret that fuels the GOP's Southern juggernaut: Whenever it is politically expedient, Republicans cozy up to segregationists, Confederate sympathizers, anti-immigrationists and other mossbacks who still resent the civil rights movement...

Lott is hardly the only prominent Republican who is comfortable consorting with bigots...

Given the Republican Party's rich tradition of cozying up to bigots, Lott's remarks are no surprise. And his GOP colleagues' denunciations are no comfort.