Uber-commenter David Bird brought the following Washington Post article to my attention. Bush yesterday offered a very strong and very well put statement on the Lott situation which is worth quoting at length:

Recent comments by Senator Lott do not reflect the spirit of our country. . . . He has apologized, and rightly so. Every day our nation was segregated was a day that America was unfaithful to our founding ideals. And the founding ideals of our nation and, in fact, the founding ideals of the political party I represent was, and remains today, the equal dignity and equal rights of every American."

This is well said. My only regret is that Bush stopped short of pulling Lott from the starting lineup. I understand that politically this is not something that would have been done during the speech, but would likely have been done with Mr. Rove and a set of brass knuckles behind closed doors, but the political winds suggest that this is not going to happen.