By Eric Ham
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – As the clock wound down on the debt ceiling and Democrats were unable or unwilling to break the logjam on their own, Republican Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, stepped in and saved the nation from going over the financial cliff.
The Kentucky senator reminded the country of the clout he wields; even as the GOP is supposedly locked out of all levers of power in Washington. McConnell whipped his caucus for months ensuring that not a single Republican would reach across the aisle to do what lawmakers – from both parties – have done for decades, ensure that America will meet its financial obligations.
But, just like that, the seven-term senator went from villain to hero in some eyes, though even some Republicans objected. In doing so, he gave Democrats a much needed, albeit temporary, victory. Or did he?
How soon people forget, this is the same lawmaker who refused a hearing to fill a Supreme Court vacancy. The same lawmaker that refused to bring any legislation to the senate floor passed in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. Yet suddenly he goes from obstructionist to magnanimous. Clearly, the wiley and crafty political operative is playing the long-game.
Senator John Thune, McConnell’s No. 2 was asked if concerns about the pressure being placed on Democratic Senators Joe Manchin (WV) and Krysten Sinema (AZ) played a factor in the Minority Leaders decision. Thune responded “No doubt.”
Republican Senator, Kevin Cramer (ND) went on to say, “I think he wanted to protect them.”
Sen. McConnell not only showed the enormous influence he continues to wield over the machinations in the Senate but also gave cover to embattled Democratic senators that have come under intense scrutiny.
For instance, Sen. Sinema is not up for re-election until 2024 but already a very public recruitment effort is underway – among Democrats – to identify a primary challenger to the moderate first-term senator.
No other state voted at a higher percentage than West Virginia for President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. The ever-shrewd and politically cunning McConnell undoubtedly knows this already and seems to be tacitly making a play for the two embattled senators if they decide to jump (the Democratic) ship.
Like a really scary horror movie or an uplifting superhero film; the villain and the protagonist can never be counted out. The same applies to McConnell. Not well-liked and never genuinely beloved even in his own home state, he still manages to win re-election convincingly. His grip on power remains both tight and firm.
The man who proudly proclaimed his intention of making the first African-American elected to the White House a one-term president is always acutely aware of his strengths and with great precision and lethal efficiency he plays to all of them.
Unabashedly and nakedly political, he signals to his caucus that he has not gone soft, McConnell penned a fiery letter to President Biden after the Senate successfully passed legislation to raise the debt ceiling. He stated in part:
“Republicans filled the leadership vacuum that has troubled the Senate since January. I write to inform you that I will not provide such assistance again if your all-Democrat government drifts into another avoidable crisis,”
While temporarily relenting in blocking the debt limit increase, allowing $480 billion more borrowing room for the the U.S. Treasury, McConnell set the stage for another fight on Dec. 3, or whenever government borrowing is stalled, perhaps in early January.
Some would consider his response very rich considering $7.8 billion in additional debt that was accrued during his tenure as Majority Leader during the Trump administration.
The fact remains, although Democrats nominally control all levers of political power in Washington. McConnell, though in the minority, is still able to dictate a sizable and influential role over what and how much of President Biden’s agenda succeeds or fails.
Of course, it does help that two Democratic senators say they value bipartisanship above all else. The Senate minority leader is well aware of this and is using it as an opportunity to exert control over the agenda.
A Supreme Court supermajority; setting the legislative agenda; slow-walking nominations; a caucus unwilling to step out line, it all shows Mitch McConnell is a case study in what amounts to what arguable could be described in reality as nearly absolute political power.
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Contact this writer: eric@macenews.com
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