Mitch McConnell: The Man Who Sold America

[babylonsister]

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/mitch-mcconnell-man-who-sold-america-880799/

September 17, 2019 6:00AM ET
Mitch McConnell: The Man Who Sold America
After 40 years of scorched-earth politics and bowing to special interests, will Mitch McConnell finally pay the price?
By Bob Moser

snip//

McConnell’s opponent in 2020 will surely make an issue of where his campaign money comes from, too — since it’s almost exclusively from corporate donors from outside Kentucky. Only nine percent of his haul in the most recent fundraising came from individual donors back home; the vast majority, as usual, derived from a roster of big corporate interests — including United Parcel Service, the Blackstone Group, Eli Lilly & Co., and the private-prison GEO Group.

“This is a winnable race, if you try to make it catered to Kentuckians,” says Matt Jones, the popular host of Kentucky Sports Radio who’s also considering a run. “This is a blue-collar, anti-establishment state. People are religious, but they’re not Bible Belters. There’s a long history of fighting for workers’ rights here. People say voters aren’t going to go for Trump and then vote for a Democrat down-ballot. But that’s misunderstanding Kentucky.” Aquilina agrees: “The reason people voted for Trump here is the same reason they hate McConnell.”

Which means McConnell won’t have the luxury of distancing himself one iota from the president between now and next November; Trump’s approval ratings in Kentucky are more than 20 points higher than his own. As demonstrated by his hasty dismissal of those election-security bills in July, the senator has no choice but to keep himself tethered to Trump and hope to ride his coattails — a situation that, for a control freak like McConnell, cannot be comforting.

That’s what it’s come to for Mitch McConnell. Four decades of clawing his way to power, by any means at his disposal, and now his political life, which is his only life, ultimately rests in the hands of the most erratic character ever to occupy the Oval Office. No one can doubt that McConnell will run a campaign, as always, that is lavishly funded and equal parts savvy and cutthroat. But the conditions, created largely by the senator himself, are ripe for a reckoning. And if it comes, it will be an ironic and fitting denouement to one of the most destructive political careers in American history.

[Va Lefty]

1. An excellent read although, infuriating and depressing

[KPN]

2. Just this: "one of the most

destructive political careers in American history.”

Perfect description of McConman.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. typo: should be "sold out" nt

[Bayard]

4. Amy McGrath is pulling about even with him,

In some polls. If she gets more exposure, she'll dunk him.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

5. Good

Anyone know where we can donate to her?

[Bayard]

6. You can donate via Act Blue,

Her website is amymcgrath.com

[ZERTErYNOthe]

7. Mitch McConnell: The Man Who Sold America

The most frustrating part of this is that McConnell is 77 years old. While investigations are starting now, they won't do anything for a few years at a minimum. He will die before anything could happen to him. The worst outcome? Lose an election, but between him and his wife, well, they already accomplished what they wanted. They have damaged our democracy for a generation, at a minimum.

The system is stacked against most people. If you are blessed by birthright to accomplish high office, and people start asking questions, well, just resign to stop the investigation, and enjoy your retirement while you continue to make a ton of money privately (and if you were corrupt enough you don't have to work again - you are a lifetime recipient of Wingnut Welfare).

Sen Warren has the right idea. We've had too many Republicans escape investigations and judgement just by resigning, or in the case of Mark Foley (R-FL), the investigation was actively thwarted by Congress obstructing the investigation by refusing to turn over relevant materials and records to law enforcement. Compare that to Rep. Weiner, who went to prison for similar text messaging. The difference, other than party affiliation, is that the federal government obstructed the investigation in to Foley, but posted publicly the emails from Weiner's laptop.

[babylonsister]

8. Yes, most definitely stacked.

Maybe they need to cut back all that time off for congresscritters so they long for extended vacations, i.e., retirement. What fun is it to die with all that money if you can't enjoy it?

And welcome to DU, ZERTErYNOthe!