The nihilism of Mitch McConnell cares about only one thing: political power.

[riversedge]

The nihilism of Mitch McConnell

As the coronavirus kills more Americans than the Vietnam War and the US economy tanks, the Senate majority leader cares about only one thing: political power.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/29/opinion/nihilism-mitch-mcconnell/

By Michael A. Cohen Globe Columnist,Updated April 29, 2020, 4:31 p.m.
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Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell Chip Somodevilla/Getty

At a time when more Americans have died from the coronavirus than were killed in the Vietnam War, America must overcome a president who is concerned about only himself and a Senate leader focused exclusively on partisan politics.

Last week, US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced his opposition to sending more money to state and local governments as they are dealing with the fiscal catastrophe of the pandemic. In his view, states should pursue a different option ― bankruptcy.

But McConnell went a step further beyond his heartless proposal. He made clear, in a press release, that his real issue was with “blue state bailouts.”



“There’s not going to be any desire on the Republican side to bail out state pensions by borrowing money from future generations,” McConnell was quoted telling conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

The effort to so clearly and ostentatiously turn a national tragedy into yet another partisan issue was met with an immediate and sharp backlash. Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York pointed out that states like Kentucky, which McConnell represents, take in far more federal spending than they return in taxes — the opposite of states like New York, which pays more in taxes to the federal government than it receives. But in a plea for decency, Cuomo said, "If there was ever a time for humanity . . . and a time to stop your obsessive political bias and anger, now is the time.”


But we’re talking about Mitch McConnell. This is the man who mobilized his Republican caucus to prevent witnesses from being called in President Trump’s impeachment trial; who rammed through, on a partisan vote, Brett Kavanaugh’s ascendancy to the Supreme Court; and who has shut down the Senate from crucial business except for the confirmation of conservative federal judges. He also strongly resisted efforts to expose Russia’s interference in the 2016 election on behalf of Trump. I have little doubt he did so because such exposure would have undermined Trump’s White House bid and, in turn, possibly eroded McConnell’s Senate majority............................................

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[dchill]

1. Two things. Political power AND avoiding prison.

Guy has unlimited hangout.

[elleng]

2. ALWAYS

[mitch96]

3. I hope someone is taking notes so we can reverse the tables and use it on them.... nt