By deciding to stick with Lott over the weekend, and see how things played out, Senate Republicans have bought themselves the worst of both worlds—Lott will probably go, but in the most painful, drawn-out way possible. These guys, if they aren’t courageous or principled, at least are supposed to be good at politics, but they have played this exactly wrong politically. And, memo to Senate GOPers—It’s not very helpful to “defend” Lott by saying that this isn’t a problem specific to him, but to the Republican party generally.