Mitch McConnell Is Going to Kill the United States Senate

[DonViejo]

And the truth is, he doesn’t care so long as he gets his judges.

Jim Manley

10.11.18 5:25 AM ET

After a series of gut-wrenching moments, intense and emotional exchanges, and by far the weirdest hearing I have ever seen on Capitol Hill, Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed as the newest justice of the Supreme Court.

Only that wasn’t the end of the matter. Kavanaugh then went to the White House to partake in a fake swearing-in ceremony that—because Donald Trump has to be Donald Trump—had all the hallmarks of a political rally.

Sitting in the front row at that ceremony, taking it all in, was Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), which was appropriate since all of this—the weird hearing, the subtle dismissal of victims of sexual assault, the secrecy around the nominee’s record—was his doing. He is the maestro of moving judicial nominees through the Senate, and Kavanaugh was a prime testament to McConnell’s ruthless, amoral, pursuit of that singular mission.

For those who have been in the trenches fighting against McConnell (and I’m one of them, having served as former Senate Majority leader Harry Reid’s top communications hand) his success is undeniable. Single-minded in his pursuit of political power, imaginative in his choice of tactics, and emotionless to his core, he practiced Obama’s “no drama” mantra years before it became associated with the 44th president. And because of it our judiciary will bear the imprint of his efforts decades after he leaves office. But, and this is very important, that won’t be McConnell’s sole or even his most important legacy. Indeed, when history is written on McConnell's tenure as Republican leader, there will be a more profound and unsettling conclusion: McConnell broke the Senate and hurt the country, and the sad fact is that he could care less.

This so-called institutionalist who expresses such devotion to the Senate's traditions and the working people of Kentucky is, on these fronts, a fraud. That McConnell exists only in the imaginations of the reporters that write glowing profiles about the brilliant means and Machiavellian mindset he employs while giving short shrift to the damaging ends he pursues.

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[In It to Win It]

1. Fake swearing in...

Did they do that for Neil Gorsuch?

[anarch]

2. if humanity survives long enough to write about this period in history books,

The evil Turtle-man will be identified as one of the chief architects of the destruction of America.

[shanny]

3. True. But there is a silver lining.

Just as Rump has been exposing weaknesses in our system, McConnell is exposing the profoundly anti-democratic nature of the Senate.

I don't think everything will just go back to normal once Rump is gone--why would it? It has been abnormal for some time. I think we need some massive changes for our democracy to survive. And to do that the R party needs to implode. In a rational country rump would cause that.

Of course a rational country wouldn't have a president Rump.

[dlk]

4. It's Abuse of Discretion and Abuse of Power on a Daily Basis

Eventually, there is a cumulative effect. McConnell is a serious danger to our country. He needs to be voted out. The sooner, the better.