Trent Lott back home: Talks issues facing America | News

The turmoil in the Middle East was at the top of the list for Trent Lott. He feels the capture and subsequent death of Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi is a major breakthrough.  

"Well, I think it's positive for Libya, obviously and for the people of Libya, and I think it's positive for the Middle East and for the world." Lott said. "This has been a very cruel dictator for 42 years."

The war on terror remains a major concern for the retired senator. He agrees with the drawdown of U.S. troops. 

"I think it's time that we turn the situation over to Iraq and Afghanistan. It's still very dangerous. And I'm very dubious about what will happen when we leave," Lott said.

He's watching with keen interest the sometimes feisty battle for the GOP nomination for president. Lott admits he has a favorite. 

"I have been supportive of Governor Romney since last year." Lott said. "I looked at the field, the potential candidates. And I really thought that he was the best one to be our nominee and have the best opportunity to actually win. He can appeal to independents." 

The political battles between the two parties bothers him. 

"I have not seen it in my over 40 years of watching it pretty closely. As partisan as it is right now and with such little ability to come to an agreement," Lott added.

His criticism doesn't stop there.  

"The congress and the president have done nothing in three years to really get the housing market resuscitated and moving in the right direction," Lott said.

Lott also said he feels the anemic job market and the economy could be helped with one simple measure.  

"If we would open up the Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas exploration and the way it was even before the BP oil spill, that could create 100,000 jobs or more," Lott explained.

As for what the retired senator is doing these days, he spends a lot of time traveling between Jackson, where he now lives, and Washington D.C running his consulting business.

He's also no stranger to speaking engagements. In fact this coming week, he is speaking in three different cities. 

Lott said he is not sure if he'll ever move back to the Coast. A place he spent the majority of his life.

Copyright 2011 WLOX. All rights reserved.