There has never been any love lost between Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump, indeed the only time the two seemed to get along were those times calling for a sort of mutual assured political destruction – the impeachments being just one example. But McConnell is quickly running out of ammo in what had been a Republican detente, having announced his retirement from leadership in November and complete retirement after the 2026 election. And yet despite the fact that Mitch has little left to contribute or continue the fight, he took some shots at Trump in a new book detailing his forty-year career in the Senate.
In a biography based on McConnell’s diaries and memories, Michael Tackett’s book, “The Price of Power,” Mitch says that Donald Trump is “despicable” and a “narcissist” while also bashing Trump’s abilities as “stupid.” According to the Associated Press:
Mitch McConnell said after the 2020 election that then-President Donald Trump was “stupid as well as being ill-tempered,” a “despicable human being” and a “narcissist,” according to excerpts from a new biography of the Senate Republican leader that will be released this month.
Well. Donald Trump may not be “book smart” in the old vernacular, but he’s as smart as one can find when it comes to a fight. McConnell should be able to relate. Neither has a conscience when it comes to raw power. This might be the issue in that there isn’t, or wasn’t, enough room for both within the same party. It is a minor miracle that the GOP remains as a quasi-single entity. McConnell barely holds on to the shreds of Republican-past, while Trump continuously creates the Republican future. In that sense, there is only one smart one and it’s not Mitch. We don’t live in the past.
There is another question left hanging and this, too – might be typical McConnell. The book will not hit the shelves until one week prior to the election, a time that might maximize financial gain while losing very little pull. Trump and his team will not have time to worry about political blows in the precious weeks remaining. Meanwhile, the book may see a flurry of excitement in and around an election that will likely be drawn out through at least another month.
It is fitting that the book be released during the height of the political season because the most telling comments came right after the last presidential election.
Privately, he said in his oral history that “it’s not just the Democrats who are counting the days” until Trump left office, and that Trump’s behavior “only underscores the good judgment of the American people. They’ve had just enough of the misrepresentations, the outright lies almost on a daily basis, and they fired him.”
That hurts. If the American people showed “good judgment” in booting Trump from the White House in 2020 then what is going on now? Yes, the dynamic has come full circle with Trump again seeking office, but there are remaining truths – Trump’s power-hungry intolerance is more forceful than ever. To that end, McConnell has endorsed Trump – but did he have a choice? Not if he wants to sell the most books. But McConnell must adhere to his views – the book could’ve been changed. Instead, the only change is that McConnell will no longer be a thorn in Trump’s side. He won’t be there to protect that side, either – if that matters.
To the extent that there wasn’t room for both egos, that issue has been resolved. McConnell is leaving while Trump remains. The political disasters that once brought them together may not even arise in a post-political world. But even if so, it wouldn’t hurt Trump to have the veteran in the Capitol to help him wiggle through issues – should they ever actually arise again. Perhaps Trump only needs a party big enough for one.
McConnell would be left to watch along with the rest of us.
God Bless: I can be reached at [email protected] and @JasonMiciak
The american people showed the good judgement…No, more americans showed good judgement than the ones who did NOT show good judgement. When millions of voters show the absolute lack of anything approaching good judgement, it is incorrect to use such a blanket statement as “the american people”.
I agree and have the same reaction to the statements about the Supreme Court giving immunity or killing RoeVWade. The entire SC didn’t do those things, just the extreme white/right wing majority did.
And the cherry on top: he’s going to vote for trump anyway. Our nation will have dodged a bullet when V.P. Harris becomes President Harris but being rid of McConnell will be almost as beneficial.
Amen to that!
Mitch McConnel’s legacy is summarized in three phrases:
“Obstructionism over bipartisanship”
“Power over principle”
“Party over country”
Pot, met kettle!
Why do they wait to write their tell all books until it is “safe” to do so. Such chickenshits! Those comments should have been made years ago and he should have impeached the orange menace back in the day. So tired of these yellow idiots. No offense to the other idiots of the world.
With anything Trump, his actions smell as bad as his diaper, a large pig lot after a hot rain day ,,,
Stupid is, stupid does … His current mental/physical health shows an end game may be had after the vote counting … The marshal team showing up for his escort to court appointments, may find a poor wittle old man whimpering in a dark corner somewhere … No doubt in my mind SOMEONE knows where he will hide after the loss of the election … !!
Phuck that mealy mouth turtle…he’s as corrupt as it comes and bears a great deal of responsibility for Trump remaining in office when he SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED. He also orchestrated this corrupt Supreme Court and should carry blame for the overthrow of Roe. Trump wouldn’t have done the damage or be running for office if this slackjawed nazi wasn’t doing his thing.
slackjawed nazi !!!