Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSpeaker Pelosi: #WheresMitch?!
From: https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/12319-2/
BLOG POSTS
#WheresMitch?!
January 23, 2019
33 days into the Trump-shutdown, and as hundreds of thousands of hard-working Americans are set to miss their second paycheck this week, one person with the power to put a bill on the Presidents desk to re-open government has been conspicuously missing in action.
In 2014, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, Remember me? I am the guy that gets us out of shutdowns. But now, as we face another senseless Trump Shutdown, endangering our national security and forcing workers to struggle to feed their families and pay their bills, McConnell is busy keeping government closed.
Editorial boards and op-eds across the country, including a few in McConnells beloved Kentucky, have condemned his abdication and complicity in Trump-shutdown:
Washington Post: Mitch McConnell is the reason we still have a shutdown
Trump may have caused the government shutdown, but the Senate majority leader is the reason its still closed.
Louisville Courier-Journal Op-Ed: McConnell, stop sitting on your hands. End this government shutdown
The Kentucky Republican is not lending his expertise to help Trump negotiate a deal with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Hes acting like a disinterested backbencher more concerned about whether hell be out of the office in time for happy hour at Johnnys Half Shell.
Washington Post: Mitch McConnell could end the shutdown. But hes sitting this one out.
Maybe McConnell doesnt want his members to have to choose between bucking Trump and opening the government, given Trump still enjoys high approval rating within the party. Or maybe McConnell simply doesnt feel like using up his own political capital on this one.
Louisville Courier-Journal Op-Ed: Yarmuth: McConnell has ceded all power to Trump in government shutdown
The Senate Majority Leader, usually a critical player in resolving Congressional deadlocks, has been missing in action in the current government shutdown debate. More than that, he has essentially ceded legislative power to the president when he said that he would not allow a Senate vote on any bill he wasnt sure the president would sign into law.
Lexington Herald Leader Editorial: Mitch McConnell should do the obvious right thing, reopen the government
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sits on his hands, afraid of Trumps wrath and voters, even though McConnell could end the government shutdown by allowing the Senate to vote on a spending plan and then overriding any Trump veto.
Washington Post Op-Ed: Does Mitch McConnell know hes part of the first branch of government?
A self-respecting Senate majority leader previously would not declare his own impotence, nor turn over the job of legislating to the White House. Pelosi is right: Congress is a coequal branch and its job is to fund the government. You have to wonder why Republicans want the Senate majority if they are nothing more than supplicants to the president and bystanders in governance McConnells do-nothing strategy is not only a constitutional outrage but politically deadly for his members.
Baltimore Sun Editorial: The shutdown is now a record. End it, Mitch McConnell
Missing in action is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. He could do more than speculate on ways to reopen government, he could call on his members to approve stop-gap funding and take the hostage out of the equation.
Vice Op-Ed: The Shutdown Is Mitch McConnells Fault
But even if it feels like Trump is holding the government hostage to get his wall, he cant do it aloneRepublicans, and in particular Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, could restore what passes for normality in this era any time they wanted to.
McConnell and Senate Republicans should join Democrats in taking action to stop holding workers hostage and re-open government to meet the needs of the American people.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
10 replies, 1888 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (9)
ReplyReply to this post
10 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Speaker Pelosi: #WheresMitch?! (Original Post)
Hermit-The-Prog
Jan 2019
OP
2naSalit
(86,536 posts)1. Beautiful!
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,328 posts)2. interesting times
Speaker of the House asking where's the Maj. Leader of the Senate. As long as McConnell's been in office, you'd think he would know that the Senate is supposed to be equal with the Executive Branch.
bluestarone
(16,906 posts)3. Only 30 days too late BUT
Better late than never i guess
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,328 posts)5. who or what is 30 days too late?
lunatica
(53,410 posts)6. Pelosi has been Speaker for only 20 days so it couldn't be her
Could it be Mitch McTurtle?
bluestarone
(16,906 posts)7. Headlines showing Turtleface!!!!
The MSM should have been doing this 30 days ago
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,328 posts)8. I'd only seen a few of those op-eds before
She put together a nice collection.
I just wish broadcast tv news could spare ten seconds every now and then to say something about McConnell's role in this.
bluestarone
(16,906 posts)9. EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DeminPennswoods
(15,278 posts)4. SNL's cold open "Deal or No Deal" skit
offered McConnell lettuce (the salad kind) to come out.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,328 posts)10. he stays in his shell mostly
He only comes out when Senator Kaine makes a motion.