Mitch McConnell announced Wednesday that he will not seek another term as the Republican Senate Minority Leader. He justified by saying that“It's time for a new generation of leadership.” Indeed, the Kentucky Republican era is long gone.
McConnell was called an “Old Crow” by Trump (In honor of Kentucky-made bourbon) has not been welcome in his own party for a long time. His views – on foreign intervention (including, among others, further support for Ukraine – version) and conservatism – have been used as his strongest assets. Today, they clash with the populism of another Republican — Donald Trump.
McConnell's resignation could be a turning point in the Republican Party.
Trump after all
– Lack of respect for what Trump represents – the frustrated half of the country. “I think whoever's coming in as president has to be smart enough to understand that,” said Indiana Senator Mike Brown, who last time voted against McConnell's nomination.
It's hard to disagree with him – McConnell's gentleness was a perfect match for his Machiavellian approach to politics and his knowledge of Senate procedures. However, his ability to use parliamentary tricks is no match for the sheer power of the Trump machine.
Ironically, McConnell blocked the use of the Senate's legislative tools to remove Trump. He believed the courts — and perhaps voters — could do that themselves. He chose to play Trump's pitch and, as it turns out, mostly lost.
The significance of McConnell's announcement, however, is not only that Trump remains in politics, but that the senator's term is over. It is about the long-term campaign of the former president, thanks to which he defeated the former party elite. Its origins date back to the 2016 primaries, when Trump destroyed the Bush dynasty by mocking Jeb Bush's “low energy level.”
Soon there will be no more Bushes, Romneys or Cheneys in the top ranks of the party. The Republican Party in the Senate — whoever it chooses as leader — appears to be increasingly friendly to Trump, as is the House of Representatives.
Senator Brown recently spoke with another Republican politician. They counted the number of new Senate members who slowly tipped the scales in favor of the former president: “Each new senator elected after 2018 has leaned toward a new paradigm that fixes what didn't work for Republicans.” – he mentions.
Jan. 6, 2021 McConnell and Trump — who haven't spoken since — have always been an odd couple in the Republican universe. Trump used to provoke the laconic McConnell by racially taunting his wife —Elaine Chau. The former president called her “Coco Chow” and “the wife who loves China”. Even after Chao did so, McConnell never retaliated.
PAP
Mitch McConnell, Speaker Paul Ryan and President Barack Obama in the Oval Office
Among other things, McConnell served as midwife to the Trumpism he was encountering at the time. There have been recent rumors that McConnell may officially endorse Trump following behind-the-scenes talks. – Although later He said he “completely humiliated himself” during the riots on January 6.
Throughout his political career, McConnell stubbornly refused to give up. In the end he had no choice: He surrendered to Trump and — like a good Kentucky bourbon — to time.
