In a speech in the well of the Senate less than an hour ago, Senator Mitch McConnell announced he will leave Senate leadership at the end of this term.
His speech alluded to the fact that the politics have changed since he came to the Senate, and that it was time for him to step away.
"And believe me, I know the politics within my party at this particular moment in time. I have many faults. Misunderstanding politics is not one of them," he said, alluding to the divide over Ukraine, IVF, abortion and more.
He continued with this:
That said, I believe more strongly than ever that America's global leadership is essential to preserving the shining city on a hill that Ronald Reagan discussed.
As long as I'm drawing breath on this earth, I will defend American exceptionalism.
So as I've been thinking about when I would deliver some news to the Senate, I always imagined a moment when I had total clarity and peace about the sunset of my work.
A moment when I'm certain I have helped preserve the ideals I so strongly believe.
That day arrived today.
Thank you.
I'm glad he thinks he has ideals. Mitch McConnell has done more to exacerbate the divide and polarize the Senate than any other. His "leadership" will be remembered as one of obstruction and obstinance.
As gun control advocate Shannon Watts writes, "Sen. Mitch McConnell’s legacy will be that he purposefully undermined America’s first Black president, he broke the Supreme Court, he helped elect a fascist President, and he abetted up an insurrection on American soil."
We can add numerous attempts to undermine or repeal the Affordable Care Act, breaking the judicial confirmation process entirely, abusing the filibuster in order to stop any legislation that might actually benefit the ordinary people in this country, bowing to corporate influence and sowing the seed that have led to the point we are today.
Let's not pretend his successor will be any better. He is likely to be a Trump toady who will bow before the pressure and screw this country even more.
So goodbye, Mitch, to leadership. I'm sure your legacy will speak for itself, and it will not be applauded by history.
