Can you guys (who're interested) PLEASE give me your opinions on the severe,

[Upthevibe]

and pathological genesis of Mitch McConnell's true purpose regarding these judges?

His wife has loads of money so I'm not inclined to think it's that. I listened to a great podcast about him on NPR a couple of months ago and he's not a religious fanatic.

In all seriousness, I'm truly interested in what propels him. Also, I saw the phenomenal presentation given by Sheldon Whitehouse which was eye-opening and chilling..

Thank you....

[TwilightZone]

1. Simple. It's all about power.

That's what drives McConnell. It's not at all complicated.

[Upthevibe]

5. Thank you TwilightZone....

I don't think I've ever truly understood the "high" from power.....Maybe that's why I'm so perplexed. I'm a recovering alcohol/addict (over 30 years) and I had a friend tell me that power's "like that" in terms of the feeling....

[TwilightZone]

9. Right there with you.

I get it and somewhat understand it, but I have a hard time understanding how people could sell out everything they believe in in the pursuit of power.

I've spent many a day since 2016 wondering how every single one of the Republicans in Congress would fall behind an incompetent buffoon, but it all comes down to this - doing so gives them power and keeps them in power. It's the only thing that matters to them, in the end. When they move every so slightly out of line, Trump or McConnell threatens their status or funding or endorses their primary opponents, and they hop right back in line.

[PatSeg]

22. I don't really understand it either,

especially not with a man of his age. He has everything a person could possibly need or want and he is at the end of his life. What does he gain from the kind of crap he pulls as the Senate Majority leader? Is it just a pathological need to always be winning?

[Upthevibe]

39. PatSeg....

I know! You're absolutely right...He's closer to the end than beginning of his life. He has whatever he wants...I'm just like WTF??? But what REALLY gets me even more are his supporters. People I grew up with in Texas. People I worked with there. The Christians..... It's so disturbing...

[CincyDem]

2. Raw power: He believe this will be his legacy as "the most powerful" Senate leader. n/t

[brush]

7. Yep, when you think about it, he's argurably more powerful than trump...

as he's the gatekeeper/denier for not just all legislation passed by the House, but for life-time federal judges, including the Supreme Court.

[Upthevibe]

10. Thank you, brush.....

I'd agree that he is more powerful than dt. He's done so much harm it's shocking...

[Upthevibe]

8. Thank you, CincyDem....

That's what others have told me. As I've mentioned, I don't understand the "high" of power.....

[lagomorph777]

36. Power lust has infected the GOP, all the way down to the MAGAT hordes.

That's why Turd is constantly using the adjective "powerful" when he is referring to anything he favors. It lathers up the hordes.

[Frasier Balzov]

3. The demographic trends of the electorate are against the Republican worldview.

Packing the federal courts is their way of hanging on.

[Upthevibe]

15. Frasier Balzov, good point...

That leads me to another question regarding the lower courts. Can judges who aren't qualified or who lied under oath be impeached? Also, can those courts be expanded too if/when we have the power?

[Frasier Balzov]

35. If precedent shall be our guide.

Don't throw litigants, witnesses and counsel in jail capriciously.

Avoid relationships which make you appear less than impartial or reveal you to be corrupt.

Don't drink and hold court.

Don't otherwise become mentally enfeebled according to a medical standard.

https://ballotpedia.org/Impeachment_of_federal_judges

[Upthevibe]

40. Fraisier Balzov...

Thanks for this article. I'll read it....

[lagomorph777]

37. Impeachment is impossible unless we take 2/3 of the Senate,

and that is mathematically impossible this time around. It is probably impossible in electoral terms, for the foreseeable future.

[wryter2000]

4. People with a lot of money always want more

Why would the Koch's work so hard to protect their cash cow?

And, as someone posted above - power. Plus, winning a huge victory.

[Upthevibe]

16. Thank you wryter2000....

I get what you're saying about money. Is there speculation that McConnell is someone who's financially benefited from some of the money that Sheldon Whitehouse was talking about?

[pandr32]

6. He seems to be a huge fan of James Buchanan

Some say he was the true architect of the kind of the kind of 'capitalist radical right' politics that have been gradually put in place over many decades.
'Democracy in Chains' is a book that makes the case.

[Upthevibe]

17. Thank you, pandr32...

Interesting....I know very little about James Buchanan. I'll check him out..

[pandr32]

38. You're welcome

The book is hard to put down and it will certainly explain the rotten root of the political right wing.

[Upthevibe]

41. pandr32....

Thanks for telling me about this book. I'd love to have more of an understanding and it seems like this book will help...

[ananda]

11. It's most definitely about money and his wife's financial interests..

.. along with aiding and abetting whatever Putin wants.

[Upthevibe]

18. Thanks, ananda....

Yea, for some there just never seems to be enough money.....

I haven't delved into McConnel's possible or probable dealings with Putin and Russia, but of course I know his nickname is "Moscow Mitch."

[Clearly fogged in]

12. Capt Bligh says it's fear.

Fear of what you'll do to him.

[Upthevibe]

19. Clearly fogged in....

Interesting....I hadn't thought about fear in his case....

[Clearly fogged in]

20. He has to keep fighting

fighting to the very end, fighting the fear he knows comes from looking into the abyss. He has a lot to fear.

[In It to Win It]

13. For Mitch and probably many other republicans, it's not about abortion or anything religious.

However, they will use the abortion issue to get what they want.

I know, with certainty, that Mitch McConnell is for having money in politics. He doesn't want that to change. The judges he picks will likely cement that for him.

As a side bonus, he will also say for the religious fanatics that the judges (who he wants to protect unlimited money in politics) will ALSO protect religious freedoms and ban abortion.

[Upthevibe]

23. In It to Win It, thank you.....

I completely agree that he uses the abortion and other religious issues for his purposes.

A good friend of mine feels that voting rights and overturning Citizens United are the first things we need to do if/when (I'm superstitious so that's why I've been saying "if/when" ) we get back the Presidency, the Senate, and keep the House. The work that will need to be done to repair the damage and in some cases restructure systems seems overwhelming...

[samnsara]

14. my dad, bless his heart, always watched military shows on tv...usually on the History channel..

...lots about WWll and Hitler. Sometimes I would sit with him and watch them. One of the scariest things I ever heard was Hitler already had 'Generals' in place to take over different parts of America. I feel this is happening now. I just wonder what part of America General McConnell was promised....or General Barr...

[Upthevibe]

25. Samnsara, Thank you....

I've also watched a lot of documentaries about WWII and Hitler. I didn't know that Hitler already had Generals in place over here. That's terrifying....

[Doremus]

21. For the same reasons that someone with enough money to last 20 lifetimes spends all their

waking hours pursuing more.

For the same reason said billionaires will throw ethics to the side and steamroll over anything and anyone standing in their way of more.

The same reason they can close their eyes to the devastation and suffering their direct actions cause.

In some ways they're not human. In some ways they are. In some ways we all are.

[Upthevibe]

26. Doremus...You are SO right about the whole money situation...

I simply DON'T get it! One thing we ALL know is that at some point we're going to die. I'm starting to think they aren't human and are really some kind of robots from the dark side. It just doesn't make sense to me

[jmbar2]

24. I've had the same questions going through my mind

What could make him such a horrible person?

Here's a good article that provides some insights. He's basically a machiavellian money grabber. It's about power.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/20/how-mitch-mcconnell-became-trumps-enabler-in-chief

[Upthevibe]

29. jmbar2...Wow....

Thank you so much for this link. I'm going to read it now.....

[aidbo]

27. Mitch McConnell is a Republican.

What other reason is necessary?

[Upthevibe]

31. aidbo....

Yea....I guess that's right.....

[Statistical]

28. There is no such thing as too much money.

Money and power that is all they give a shit about. Power leads to money and money leads to power. Two sides of the same coin.

They are killing the ACA because it will give the ultra rich the tiniest of tax cuts.

[Upthevibe]

32. Statistical....You're right....

The abuse of power and the lust after money...... It just makes me sad....

[forthemiddle]

30. I know many Republicans

I come from a very purple area, so 1/2 of my friends and family are Republicans, and 1/2 are Democrats.
In 2016 almost every single one of the Republicans said the only reason they were voting for Trump was because of the judges. It has always been the goal of Republicans to remake the Judiciary, and they succeeded. Nothing nefarious, just their political philosophy.

[Upthevibe]

34. forthemiddle...

I guess.....

[NorthOf270]

33. His legacy as a right-winger

That's all.