Making Mitch Pay

Because of procedural rules, it usually takes 60 votes to pass even nominally controversial pieces of legislation in the US Senate. Democrats only have 50 votes, give or take Joe Lieberman. That means that Republicans can stall, block and "obstruct"--to borrow a phrase they repeatedly leveled against Democrats in the minority--pretty much anything they want to.

The man pulling the strings is Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. McConnell's kept a pretty low-profile over the years, mastering legislative minutiae and blocking any attempts to get big money out of politics. But now he's front and center--and Democrats and progressive groups intend to keep it that way. Their goal is to paint McConnell as lead obstructionist, blocking not only debate on the Iraq war--as he did a few weeks back--but also on populist priorities such as energy independence, cheaper drugs and student debt relief.

"He long ago became one of the legendary money grubbers in modern American politics," the Louisville Courier-Journal editorialized recently. "He spells it P-O-L-I-T-I-C-$."

Americans United for Change launched a "McConnell Watch" campaign this week, starting with a television ad lambasting the Senator's rosy view of the war in Iraq. For a long-time Senator and leader of his party, McConnell is surprisingly vulnerable. In the latest Survey USA poll, 49 percent of Kentuckians approve of the job he is doing, versus 43 percent who disapprove. He's not endangered, but he can't get too comfortable, either.

Democrats almost knocked off Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning in '04. They'll be gunning for McConnell in '08.

Comments (30)

1. " That means that Republicans can stall, block and "obstruct"--to borrow a phrase they repeatedly leveled against Democrats in the minority--pretty much anything they want to. '

   Kinda like the Dems did when the Repubs had control?

   Posted by john maasch at 03/31/2007 @ 10:50am

2. Yep. Welcome to the Hill.

   Posted by hhemwm at 03/31/2007 @ 11:36am

3. The GOP did te same to Tom Daschle, you might recall.

   Posted by hhemwm at 03/31/2007 @ 11:37am

4. Kinda like the Dems did when the Repubs had control?

   Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/31/2007 @ 10:50am

   Exactly! It's because of the Democrats' obstruction that's there is now no war in Iraq, no Patriot Act... Hang on...

   Posted by Amsterdam69 at 03/31/2007 @ 12:03pm

5. I almost fell out of my chair when I heard McConnell bring up the threat of Filibuster in the first 15 minutes of the new Congress, I think it was on the minimum wage increase. Poor working folk never voted for him anyway. Plus, have you ever seen a more seedy looking Senator?

   "Republicans have been accused of abandoning the poor. It's the other way around. They never vote for us." Dan Quayle (1947-)

   Posted by COProgressive at 03/31/2007 @ 12:16pm

6. "They'll be gunning for McConnell in '08."

   So the Democratic activists will just "leave McConnell alone"...

   if he just does what they say???

   Posted by Mask at 03/31/2007 @ 12:57pm

7. Dan Quayle.

   "Potatoe" Murhpy Brown. council on competitiveness

   hehe. I miss the lil fella.

   Posted by crabwalk at 03/31/2007 @ 12:57pm

8. Oh, man, McConnell, what a menace to society. And isn't he married to the Secretary of Anti-Labor Elaine Chao? Is she still there, making sure management beats the workers every time? And if the following part is true --

   "He long ago became one of the legendary money grubbers in modern American politics," the Louisville Courier-Journal editorialized recently. "He spells it P-O-L-I-T-I-C-$."

   -- then maybe Kentucky will give him the treatment that Pennsylvania finally gave Rick Santorum. For too many of these flag wavers, apple pie means a big piece of the pie for them and crumbs for everyone else.

   Posted by RLawrence at 03/31/2007 @ 1:38pm

9. McConnell is one clever SOB. I hope that Kentuckians will retire him, just like South Dakotans voted Daschle out of office recently.

   It will be a great pleasure to hear Rethugs whine about the losses of their great leaders in 2008...

   Victory, at long last!?

   (I still have visions of Ken Starr prancing to the tune of "Sentimental Journey" to his own words "Gonna get a Presidential P@@@s, gonna nail it on the wall ...")

   Posted by jkrogman at 03/31/2007 @ 1:46pm

10. In terms of real politik, Sampson looked dreadful as an "accumulator of information," but one who couldn't remember, according to his own testimony, at least one hundred (100) times.

    For some Repub Senators and Representatives, the train is leaving the station. Why don't a lot of them join the Democrats in supporting full and vigorous investigation of the various scandals that the Bush White House has ignited? All winners welcome...

    Posted by jkrogman at 03/31/2007 @ 1:55pm

11. " That means that Republicans can stall, block and "obstruct"--to borrow a phrase they repeatedly leveled against Democrats in the minority--pretty much anything they want to. '

    Kinda like the Dems did when the Repubs had control?

    Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/31/2007 @ 10:50am

    This is a lie, and you know it. Democrats were largely prevented from even getting their legislation out of Committee, and the filibuster was almost never used by Senate Democrats to prevent the Republican agenda from passing. If you spent more time telling the truth and less time lying, you wouldn't come across as being an ass.

    Posted by ARCHANGEL_M at 03/31/2007 @ 3:27pm

12. Grumbles here. I have long thought and cannot prove that he will have plenty to answer for when a new admin uncovers the truth at the Labor Dept, so ably driven by his wife Elaine Cho. I think the numbers coming out of her department are all a myth and the truth will out. I hope to see them both run out of DC on a rail and believe that day is close at hand. Grumbles out.........

    Posted by grumbles at 03/31/2007 @ 3:41pm

13. MASK,

    Mitch McConnell is a thug of the worst sort. At 49 percent, anyone worth their salt should be able to take him out in 2008. All any candidate has to run on is this simple platform: "Voting for McConnell while Republicans are against the American public as well as in the minority makes no sense. Vote for me, I'll caucus with the Democrats who are in the majority, and I can make things happen, good things that will make you, the people of Kentucky, proud to have me as your next United States Senator............"

    Posted by POSEIDON at 03/31/2007 @ 6:48pm

14. Posted by JOHN MAASCH 03/31/2007 @ 10:50am

    RIGHTWING LUNACY ANYONE?

    I know this may come as a shock to you John, but the opposition party is supposed to "obstruct" the other side's agenda WHERE THEY DISAGREE WITH IT. That is why they are called "the opposition party". Wake up dude, sleeping through Government 101 does not make for a good citizen.............

    Posted by POSEIDON at 03/31/2007 @ 6:51pm

15. Kentucky ain't Pennsylvania............Good to see the dems beating their heads against a brick wall, though (heh,heh)

    Posted by davebarlett at 03/31/2007 @ 8:40pm

16. and that's why we call it kentucky... and not pennsylvania

    Posted by Will C. at 03/31/2007 @ 8:44pm

17. Being a proud citizen of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, I think i would be seriously surprised if Mitch actually lost his election in 2008. In years past the Dems have put up only token candidates against Mitch and Bunning's opponent benefited from Bunning's foot-in-mouth disease, not from being a great candidate.

    If the Democrats put up House Speaker Richards or maybe Chandler (congressman from Lexington, who took Gov. Fletcher's seat) then they might be able to beat Mitch, but if it's another lamb to the slaughter then our smarmy senior senator will win again.

    Posted by Tzimisce at 03/31/2007 @ 10:26pm

18. Mitch McConnell is a thug of the worst sort.

    Posted by POSEIDON 03/31/2007 @ 6:48pm

    So the activists would be "gunning for him"....REGARDLESS of what he did, accomodating or obstructionist?

    Posted by Mask at 03/31/2007 @ 10:29pm

19. yay! targetting pubs for political hits! looks like progressives have learned a few tricks from regressives...good.

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 04/01/2007 @ 12:01pm

20. Yes! I want to make Mitch pay and pay and pay! I'm a current resident of Kentucky and cannot stand the man. I've had dealings with him in the past and he's a pol to the max and a king of pork.

    I really want to work on the campaign of whoever is running against him (I won't be TOO choosy), but the Dem's have not put anyone up yet. I keep waiting to hear who is going to run against him.

    Posted by jeling at 04/01/2007 @ 7:14pm

21. Posted by RIO BRAVO 04/01/2007 @ 7:06pm

    Do you even pay attention to what is going on? I bet you get an email everyday from your local republican campaign office outlining all of the talking points and come-backs to use if one of those "non-believers" dares to speak up.

    ....and don't forget to call them Demoncrats......how cute.

    In your small brain you actually think the dems are going to wreck us financially? So, if you spend BILLIONS on war that makes us LESS SAFE and then reduce taxes for those that can afford to pay more.....this makes more sense to you? You know the money must be paid back eventually, right?

    Then there's your retarded comment about "enslaving" and "dictatorship". Dipshit, what do you think the first steps towards dictatorship would look like?

    If you had to turn a democracy into a dictatorship, what would you do first? 1. Kill the free press. 2. Limit free speech. 3. Spy on your citizens. 4. Consolidate power in one branch. 5. Definetly hide behind religion. 6. Scare your citizens. 7. Give important positions to the most faithful over the most capable

    Now, which sick bastards have been hard at work making a dictatorship again?

    Posted by IndyMinded at 04/01/2007 @ 10:53pm

22. Posted by RIO BRAVO 04/02/2007 @ 04:26am

    It's spring in Oklahoma. Most days are nice an warm and flowers are blooming. You no longer need the comfort of having your ears nestled between your gluteal muscles for warmth.

    Come forth into the sunshine, stand erect and allow your nostrils to reconnect you with the fresh scent of the earth's annual rebirth. You may be astounded with the beauty around you as you exercise a new and less cramped perspective.

    Posted by canaar at 04/02/2007 @ 09:53am

23. "It's spring in Oklahoma."

    I was there last week...Got a speeding ticket.

    Posted by john maasch at 04/02/2007 @ 10:18am

24. Posted by RIO BRAVO 04/02/2007 @ 04:26am

    You are such a republican's call-girl that you can't get it through your head!!!

    Where did I mention the "demoncrats"? Is every one of your arguments based upon how the other side sucks too?

    What I'm saying is that you need to get your own ideas, your own arguments and make up your own mind. Why do you defend these bastards? What exactly do they have to do before you see they have gone too far? Don't you realize they are USING you and people like you in order to screw all of us?

    Are you a conservative or a republican? What exactly has bush done to deserve the loyalty of a conservative? He is raping you, and all you can say is "well, at least he is more gentle than the demoncrats".

    Posted by IndyMinded at 04/02/2007 @ 3:55pm

25. Are you a conservative or a republican? What exactly has bush done to deserve the loyalty of a conservative? He is raping you, and all you can say is "well, at least he is more gentle than the demoncrats".

    Posted by INDYMINDED

    The question should be: Are you an American or a ...? It's not about left/right or Dem/Repub; devotion to our country, the Bill of Rights should trump any and all other concerns.

    Posted by mtspence05 at 04/02/2007 @ 4:11pm

26. Posted by MTSPENCE05 04/02/2007 @ 4:11pm

    I wholeheartedly agree. I give no allegiance to any "group" of people. I give my allegiance to the ideas behind which some group may also support.

    As I read these posts, it's remarkable how many defenders of the current administration bring up liberals and democrats (like a gay pastor who preaches hatred of homosexuals?)

    It seems so obvious that these jerkoffs are NOT EVEN CONSERVATIVE, so I really don't know WTF all of these people are defending. Just look objectively at what has happened over the last 6 years. How can you not be embarrassed and disgusted (and maybe a little scared of how easy we all will roll over).

    Posted by IndyMinded at 04/02/2007 @ 4:35pm

27. Posted by INDYMINDED

    No, they're not "conservatives". They are reactionary authoritarians. The same mentality can be found in any and all systems; the only difference is the uniforms. They don't, can't, won't think; for them it is simply enough to "know" and "believe". Fanatics, zealots, ideologues--they are an affliction that plagues the globe.

    Posted by mtspence05 at 04/02/2007 @ 4:53pm

28. Just look objectively at what has happened over the last 6 years. How can you not be embarrassed and disgusted (and maybe a little scared of how easy we all will roll over).

    Posted by INDYMINDED

    But they're doing the "Lord's work".

    Posted by mtspence05 at 04/02/2007 @ 4:55pm

29. Posted by MTSPENCE05 04/02/2007 @ 4:53pm

    Yes, the irony would be laughable if it were not so damned depressing. These same flag-waving fanatics in this country have much more in common with the "terrorists" that are supposedly our enemy.

    In "defending" our country we are abandoning all of the things that make it great. In defending "strength" we are showing great fear and our weakness. In attempting to appear successful, we are gutting all of the infrastructure so vital to our success. In attempting to be righteous, we have joined the ranks of the bullies.

    "A wise man in a sea of fools is the fool."

    Posted by IndyMinded at 04/02/2007 @ 5:03pm

30. Oh yes, I can't forget all those God-fearing religious types that support war and killing in the name of "the one true god".

    Posted by IndyMinded at 04/02/2007 @ 5:05pm