Mitch McConnell is on the verge of facing the 18 longest days of his political life

[babylonsister]

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Mitch McConnell is on the verge of facing the 18 longest days of his political life
Analysis by Chris Cillizza, CNN Editor-at-large
Updated 4:35 PM EST, Thu February 21, 2019
Video at link~


(CNN) Mitch McConnell's life is about to get a lot more complicated.

As soon as Friday, the Democratic-controlled House will vote on a privileged resolution to terminate President Donald Trump's invocation of the National Emergencies Act to secure funding to build a wall on the country's southern border. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) has penned a letter urging all members of Congress to vote for the resolution and, given the Democratic majority in the chamber, it seems certain to pass.

Which means that it will be sent to the Senate. Where it will be required by law to be voted on within 18 days. Which could well be the longest 18 days of the Senate Majority Leader's political life.

As CNN's Michael Warren wrote way back on February 12 when considering the political impact of Trump declaring a national emergency on the wall:

"Doing so could set off a chain of events on Capitol Hill that risks splitting the Republican conference, undercutting other parts of Trump's agenda and likely opening the administration's actions to legal challenges. It may also provide a clarifying moment that Republicans on the Hill have managed to avoid since Trump took office -- casting an up or down vote on whether to build the full-scale wall Trump desires."

Uh, yeah. And every sign points to this nightmare scenario for McConnell happening -- and happening soon.

On Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made clear that if the House passes the privileged resolution, he will ensure the Senate votes on it.

"This issue transcends partisan politics, and I urge all senators -- Democrats and Republicans -- to support this resolution to terminate the president's emergency declaration when it comes up for a vote in the Senate," said Schumer. "Identical companion legislation to the House resolution will soon be introduced in the Senate."

Which is a problem for McConnell because of, well, math.

more...

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/02/21/politics/national-emergency-resolution-castro-donald-trump-mcconnell/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2C6PGRKn4kC0iCHO6QC2vFAS4QjoWeVlHqKWMTWraA0LLrWjlHgRINaQw

[still_one]

1. While this is good to get the votes on the record, I don't believe they have the votes to over-ride

Last edited Fri Feb 22, 2019, 08:50 AM - Edit history (1)

a veto, so while it may pass, in Congress, most likely trump will veto it, and it ends there

[CousinIT]

3. I agree that's the most likely scenario. I also believe the step is necessary.

It's incumbent on the house and senate to send it through anyway and let the Turd veto it. Then we go from there. But it has to be done. It's part of Congress's job. They must assert their oversight role as much and in as many ways possible.

Republicans in the Senate - Turtle in particular, are ninnies. They're too timid to buck their Turd POTUS or their criminal party no matter what they do. I don't expect any different from that pack of low-life jackals.

But the process needs to play out anyway.

[still_one]

4. I agree

[BumRushDaShow]

9. THIS

Whenever the GOP is in control, they have stopped doing "regular order" of business - i.e., allowing bills that are voted out of committee or come from the other chamber, to be looked at/reviewed and revised and debated in committee/voted on in committee/voted on by the full chamber.

The so-called "grid-lock" is not 2-parties wrestling over legislation to a standstill. It's one party (GOP) not allowing any legislation at all to see the light of day unless it is preordained by the WH and can pass with a majority of only their caucus ("Hastert Rule" ). If neither condition applies, then nothing gets done other than naming post offices or passage of extremist legislation.

[lark]

16. Reugs are traitors. The traitors control the Senate and have no conscience or care for constitution

They only care to maintain power and drumpf will pull in tons of Russian rubles and vote hacking if they go along with his anti-constitutional declaration. In fact, the destruction of our constitution will rev up considerably if repugs go along and that is what I expect will happen.

[NewJeffCT]

12. I tend to agree

but, it will be good to see how many Republicans will vote for America and the Constitution versus Trump's unpopular, expensive and useless wall.

I'm guessing several senators up for re-election in 2020 will vote with the Democrats - Gardner? Perdue? Collins? McSally?

[olegramps]

19. If it passes it will force Trump to veto it against the vote of some of his own party.

It appears that it is going to have less than desirable consequences for the criminal illegally occupying the White House. I don't recognize the validity of any election in which their was voter suppression or foreign interference.

[dewsgirl]

2. I believe, I read last night he is upside down with his polling in KY. I hope he enjoys

the rest of his time in DC.

[onetexan]

17. i just looked this up

and glad to know his approval rating is 33%, and that the good people of KY want him out of office.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/431002-poll-33-of-kentucky-voters-approve-of-mcconnell

The good thing in the article is this bit:
"Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is reportedly courting former Marine fighter pilot and recent congressional candidate Amy McGrath to challenge McConnell next year. Steven Cox, a Kentucky health care advocate, already declared his candidacy in the race."

Of the 3 i really like Amy McGrath's story. She sounds like she'd make an amazing candidate.

[dewsgirl]

20. It was like the last thing I read before I fell asleep,

Im happy I was correct, didn't realize it was by such a big number, maybe KY is slowly, but surely waking up.

[onetexan]

28. another "The Hill" article back in august 2017 said McTurtle's polling was @18%

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/347362-poll-mcconnells-approval-in-kentucky-at-18-percent

This perrenial political fat cat has been in Congress for 34 years now and has enriched himself - from my search he's worth $17 million, and not to mention he married Elaine Chao whose daughter of a wealthy Chinese shipping company founder.

[SergeStorms]

5. Finally!

The gutless cooter will be forced to stand up to the short fingered vulgarian in the White House. The death of the republican party can't some soon enough for me!

[world wide wally]

6. I am wondering what f McConnell will try to refuse to bring impeachment to the floor

if the House votes to do so.
I put nothing past that dweeb turtle.

[watoos]

7. We are talking about Republican Senators

who aid and abet a Putin puppet. I'm not so sure the vote will pass in the Senate. We may get 2 Democratic Senators cross over and vote no and only Susan Collins (maybe) voting yes.

That would be a win for Trump.

Also, even if the bill passes and Trump vetoes it, I sincerely doubt there are enough votes to override a veto, which will kill the bill. Now fast forward to all of the law suits that are going to be filed, they will surely reach the SC. What if the SC refuses to take up the case, what if it says, we are going to leave the issue up to Congress to settle? Just asking.

[NurseJackie]

8. What compels him to act and bring it for a vote? Can he still refuse?

What compels him to act and bring it for a vote? Can he still refuse? I expect the worst that will happen to him is a slap on the wrist... or a resolution of tsk-tsk disapproval, and maybe some finger-wagging.

It's my expectation that he'll flaunt the law and do as he wants to anyway.

[watoos]

13. Mitch is required by law,

to bring this particular bill up for a vote.

[NurseJackie]

14. I understand that part... but what are the consequences if he refuses?

Will someone else step in and bring it up for a vote in spite of his refusal?
Will he be jailed until he agrees to bring it up for a vote?
Will he be fined daily until he brings it up for a vote?
Is it possible that he can just ride-it-out without acting?

[tritsofme]

25. Nothing. Statutory rules are not enforceable.

It is essentially a gentleman’s agreement between the House and Senate that they will abide by statutory rules. The expedited process for consideration of trade agreements under Trade Promotion Authority is a similar example of a statutory rule. A determined majority of either House could simply walk away.

The Constitution says that each house is the sole arbiter of its own rules and proceeding, if a chamber is handcuffed by the actions of a previous Congress or the other chamber from changing its own rules, this could be viewed as an unacceptable limit on their rule making power.

If McConnell refused to bring up the resolution, and used a variation of the nuclear option to set a new precedent, no court in the world would order McConnell to hold a vote, it would be dismissed as a political controversy or the overall scheme of statutory rules would come crashing down.

I don’t think McConnell is going to choose this path, but in practice the only restraint is norms...

[NurseJackie]

26. Those went out-the-window long ago! ...

I don’t think McConnell is going to choose this path

I lack your optimism, but I hope you're correct.

but in practice the only restraint is norms...

Those went out-the-window long ago!

Thanks for the interesting reply and the information.

[MiniMe]

15. There is something in the National Emergency legislation that requires the Senate to vote within 18

18 days of the house passing the bill. Mitchie has no choice in bringing the bill to the Senate. It may or may not pass, but their votes will be on the record.

[PatrickforO]

18. It is a privileged resolution, which means the Senate is required by law to vote on

it within 18 days.

So...McConnell is SUPPOSED TO HAVE A FLOOR VOTE on the resolution, and if he does not, he is breaking the law. Could he ignore the law?

I don't know. He could. But then what would happen? I don't know that, either. If he does opt to 'flaunt' the law, as you put it, he's liable to face a real shitstorm. But he could weather that storm. Look at the storm around Merrick Garland, and the subsequent storm around his boy Kavanaugh. He weathered those, the latter with the help of ol' Lindsey 'I'd never do to them what you've done to this guy' Graham.

Problem is, these people are so lawless and chaotic anyway, he may just refuse. It wouldn't surprise me.

In the end, though, McConnell will have to face the music. They all will.

[NurseJackie]

22. I certainly hope that's the case.

In the end, though, McConnell will have to face the music. They all will.

I certainly hope that's the case.

[Va Lefty]

10. This pretty much sums up Mitch

Link to tweet

?s=19

[PatrickforO]

11. This is good news. As one poster points out, Congress will not have

the votes to override, but if a majority in both houses vote for terminating the national emergency, it will be a very good thing.

[kentuck]

21. How do we know there will not be enough votes for a veto over-ride?

I don't know if that is a safe assumption?

[Goodheart]

23. I just don't see that this is in any way politically damaging to Mitch McConnell

He'll simply do anything and everything trump wants him to do, and the voters in Kentucky will reward him for it.

Underwater in Kentucky? I seriously doubt that.

[watoos]

29. I agree,

McConnell is always underwater in Kentucky, but never underwater enough for people not to vote for him.

[ffr]

24. I didn't know he had 18 days to act. Bet he waits the full 18 and doesn't give a shit

Because he's the definition of pure evil.

[Merlot]

27. He was supposed to hold hearings on Garland too

I really don't see how "breaking the law" will be a big issue for mcconnell, especially with trumpfts approval.

[AncientGeezer]

30. Actually no....there is no Constitutional mandate for a hearing.

If there were POTUS Obama would have sued. Hell Democratic Senators would have sued.
SCOTUS hearings are a relatively new practice in our history.. but mot mandated.
God forbid the Dumpster wins in '20...but we take the Senate...we can "legally" play the same card. Withhold consent.

The Senate withheld consent...per Art. II, § 2, Cl 2

[Merlot]

32. Thanks for the info, but you may have mis-understood my post

Worying about beaking the law is probably not high on mcconnell's priorities.

[The empressof all]

31. Ultimately he will do what is best for himself at the time

The polls in Kentucky are not in his favor for his re-election.

He is old and at some point his age will create health issues

It is common knowledge that he and his wife have accumulated great wealth during his Senate tenure

He will be facing even further negative attention from either side of this issue in his party and in general

It's quite possible he isn't interested in running for re-election

It all depends on what Trump has on him.


It certainly will be interesting to see what he does that's for sure. Will he stand for Trump or for the Constitution....