McConnell, the longest serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, said in a floor speech that his “current term in the Senate will be my last.”
“Regardless of the political storms that may wash over this chamber … I assure our colleagues that I will depart with great hope for the endurance of the Senate as an institution,” he said.
A large cohort of ambitious Kentucky Republicans has long been angling to succeed the 83-year-old former Senate GOP leader, who has held his seat since 1985.
One silver lining is that the Turtle was incredibly good at what he did - good at being an obstructionist opposition leader, and good at being a fascist enabler when in the majority.
While his replacement is probably going to be at least as awful a politician, I find it unlikely that he’s going to be as competent and effective.
I hate Mitch with every inch of my body but only a fool would deny his ability
They’ll probably choose someone older than McConnell to replace him
I think once you get past carbon dating limitations, it’s hard to judge who is older than whom.
Rest assured, it will be someone so. much. worse. The new guy will want to make a name for themselves, as both KY senators have done (Rand Paul is the other one). The pool of prospective candidates is…grim looking. There are no moderate Republicans in Kentucky, except the Governor and he’s a Democrat.
You’re right, although wouldn’t it be a plot twist if next election gets a Democrat in that spot. Granted, it’d be something like Joe Manchin but it the GOP only gives insufferable options, you never know.
Andy would be the only competitive candidate to put against whatever creature the GOP summons to do Russia’s bidding.
I never thought I’d be more fearful than grateful for Mitch McConnell’s exit from politics.
he and GINGRICH did alot of damage to us politics. Gingrich is the one that started the whole"never work with the other side until they cave into your demands"
I think it’s far more good than bad. He helped create a monster that he could never control. His monster was always going to be a monster with or without him. So at least with him going there’s a chance there will be one less skillful madman near the levers of power.
The problem is that on certain specific issues he was occasionally the voice of something resembling reason among Republicans. I highly doubt that his replacement will be anything but a pure MAGA nut job.
mitch could whip the senate into line if he wanted to , much like pelosi did with the house. mitch apparently held senators election funds in his superpac, i think thats why.
His “occasional voice” was often the opposite of how he voted. He said that J6 was impeachable, then voted against it, saying “He’s been voted out, so it doesnt matter.” He was voted back in, which a conviction wouod have prevented, so it very much mattered.
This of course was a convient excuse to sound reasonable and act maliciously. Almost any “principled” stance of his is countered by his actions.
I mean they did elect Beshear, so there is hope.
political explosion
I mean, they had to know this was coming.
The guy is elderly and was having medical issues.
I’m sure that several prominent politicians have been putting together teams to run campaigns but the GOP candidates probably mostly wanted to avoid any official announcements or major actions until Mitch made it official. Now the gate is open and the race is on.
