Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has been a disgraceful, reprehensible leader in the US Senate, and is coming up for reelection to what would be a seventh six year term in office, if he wins in November.
He will be 79 in February, meaning he would be in the Senate until age 85, a good argument for retiring him, but far from the best.
He is the longest serving Senate Republican leader in American history, and longest serving US Senator in Kentucky history. He has been Senate Republican leader for 14 years, the first eight as Minority Leader, and the last six as Majority Leader.
Starting off in the Senate as a pragmatist and comparative moderate, he has become a Far Right leader, undermining President Barack Obama at every imaginable turn, including denying him the Supreme Court appointment of Merrick Garland in 2016, on no legal or constitutional grounds.
He led the fight to undermine campaign finance reform, and his wife, Elaine Chao, has been involved in a conflict of interest in being Secretary of Transportation under President Donald Trump, linking McConnell to Trump’s policies and approach to power, with only an occasional effort to separate himself from Trump.
McConnell worked to undermine health care reform and banking reform under President Obama, and his goal, which failed, was to make Obama a one term President. McConnell has a tone of scandal and corruption constantly surrounding him, and has become very wealthy while in office through his connections with powerful financial interests.
Obstruction and constant use of the filibuster, as well as willingness to shut the government down numerous times and promote the US defaulting on its debt has been utilized regularly, creating a total confrontational attitude.
His major goal has been to fill the federal court system with extremist right wing conservatives, many who do not have adequate qualifications to have lifetime positions, and setting up future constitutional crises in the coming decades. He also has refused to promote election security for the upcoming Presidential election of 2020.
McConnell is an evil force, a nasty, hard line ideologue, and now faces a real challenge from the Democratic Senate nominee, as he has an extremely low public opinion rating in his home state of Kentucky. Amy McGrath has had a career as a Marine Fighter Pilot, and polls indicate a very close race, so let us hope McConnell is retired.
At the least, it seems likely if McConnell is reelected to a seventh term, that he might end up as Minority Leader, as expectations presently indicate the likelihood of a Democratic Senate after six years of Republican control.
Ronald,
What do you think of having term limits which are applicable not just for U.S. President but also for U.S. Senate and U.S. House?
D, I believe there should be term limits, suggesting 24 years maximum for both the House and the Senate, so 12 two year terms for Representatives, and 4 six year terms for the Senate. I think seniority and experience is valuable, so think these are reasonable limits therefore!
However, this will not happen for the simple reason it would have to be by Constitutional Amendment, requiring a two thirds vote of each House of Congress and 38 states ratifying it. The members of Congress will never agree to any limitations, unfortunate reality!
Ronald,
We are in agreement—term limits should be imposed on members of Congress.
My suggestion, for a common denominator, is 12 years.
The United States House of Representatives are two-year terms.
The United States Senate are six-year terms.
My suggestion is that members of the U.S. House can have no more than six terms combining for twelve years; members of the U.S. Senate can have no more two terms combining for 12 years.
United States citizens are not obligated to give politicians careers.
I understand what you, Ronald, mentioned about the unlikelihood of this happening. What would have to become a starting point, to help make this more possible, is for U.S. citizens to care. (They should. The is especially so with what Congress did to them with—and following with what Congress has not done for them after—the CARES Act.)
D, I would disagree with just 12 years, as experience and knowledge gained by “good” people should be able to be utilized longer than just 12 years, as I see it.
Maybe 18 years would be a good compromise, lol, but again, no way will it happen, since it would require a constitutional amendment!