Once again the Senate GOP majority leader has stumbled with words while giving a speech…..
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze up during a press conference in Kentucky Wednesday, a month after he experienced a similar episode while talking to reporters at the Capitol. McConnell spoke for several minutes at the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Government Forum before freezing up while taking questions from the press, WLWT reports. NBC News reports that the 81-year-old paused for more than 30 seconds after he was asked if he would run for re-election and remained frozen after an aide asked, “Did you hear the question, senator?”
After McConnell told an aide he was OK, two other questions—one about Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and one about Donald Trump—had to be repeated before he was led away by aides. “Leader McConnell felt momentarily lightheaded and paused during his press conference today,” a spokesman said afterward. An aide speaking on condition of anonymity tells the Washington Post that McConnell will consult a doctor before his next public event as a “prudential measure.”
Go see a doctor? And what would think his diagnosis will be?
If you think McConnell will be cleared and pronounced in good mental health….then you would be right.
The Capitol’s attending physician has pronounced Sen. Mitch McConnell good to go and said he can carry on with his duties, a day after the minority leader froze at a microphone during an appearance in Kentucky. “I have consulted with Leader McConnell and conferred with his neurology team,” Dr. Brian Monahan said in a statement. It was his second such incident in weeks. “After evaluating yesterday’s incident, I have informed Leader McConnell that he is medically clear to continue with his schedule as planned.” The statement was released by McConnell’s office, CNN reports.
he 81-year-old McConnell suffered a concussion when he took a fall in March. “Occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration,” said Monahan, echoing the diagnosis the senator’s office has provided. The release of the doctor’s statement represents the first time McConnell’s staff has acknowledged the freeze-ups, per NBC News. President Biden said during a visit to FEMA headquarters in Washington on Thursday that he had just had a conversation with McConnell. “He was his old self on the telephone,” said Biden, who was stricken by two brain aneurysms in 1988. Such spells, Biden said, are “part of the recovery.”
Should Republicans need to choose a successor to the longest-serving Senate leader in history, the New York Times rates potential candidates for the job. The early front-runners would be the senators referred to as “the Three Johns:” John Thune of South Dakota, John Cornyn of Texas, and John Barrasso of Wyoming. Other possibilities include Sens. Joni Ernst of Iowa and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, who are both members of the GOP leadership team. The Times‘ assessment can be found here. So far, McConnell has given no indication that he plans to step down; his Senate seat will be on the 2026 ballot, and there’s not a way to force a leadership vote until after the 2024 elections, per CNN
Come on people….this man is too damn old….time for him to be put out to pasture and find a younger leader of the aging GOP. He looked like he had no idea where he was, what he was doing or anyone around him.
Yes we all have ‘brain farts’ from time to time but ours does not involve the running of this country.
Thoughts?
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”
I have always considered the man nothing more or less than a right wing opportunist who flows with the wind and has never had the courage to have an opinion of his own…He is a rich old man and a survivor but I have always hated the idea that he has influence over our politics…nevertheless he is far superior to some slug …..I better stop here before I get into trouble.
He should have stepped down 15 years ago….power hungry will make you do unwise things. chuq
High time they had an age limit for such positions of power. (In every country) I would suggest 70 as the maximum. Otherwise you get things like this, as well as Biden’s stumbles and ramblings. As a bous, it would exclude Trump too.
Best wishes, Pete.
I think mandatory retirement at age 65 would be better….chuq
That would work too.
As a 75-year-old guy, it might surprise you that I agree with age limits on political leaders. For that matter, Ruth Bader Ginzburg gave us three Trumpian Supreme Court judges by not retiring after the first bout with cancer.
If companies can expect even brilliant leaders (and lesser human beings in the ranks) to retire at 65 or younger, why do we put people like Grassley (89), Feinstein (90), and McConnell (81) back in office over and over till they die?
They aren’t the only geriatric leaders, of course, and good things can be said about post-65 accomplishments of people in government. On the other hand, because little has been done to develop, mentor younger folks to seek the presidency, it still looks like a man who will be 81 in 2024 will run against a man who will be 78 in 2024 to be president. Gad! They both nee to slow down and take a nap!
Until Reagan, men in their prime ran for the presidency. I thought Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, then Barack Obama were a return to that sort of candidate for the job after Reagan. That encouraged me after Reagan’s Alzheimer announcement that pretty much confirmed my suspicions at the time he denied knowledge of the Contra mess. He was honest, I think, to claim it, but starting to be a bit out of it at only age 69.
Do not forget Thurman…he was a 100 I believe….well past useful as a politician….age 65 retire….run for office 3 times then out….and must resign government gig if they run for another government office…..I disliked Reagan a bunch. chuq
Doug, whenever people wildly praise RBG – rightly so – I refrain from mentioning that her unwillingness to step down even though she was clearly too ill to serve gave us a Supreme Court that is recklessly rightwing and “Trumpian” indeed…there are many people in powerful jobs who are simply too old to handle the rigors of it, across all areas of our government…
I give her a qualified praise because of the hesitancy to retire when it would have benefited the country, not her notion of personal accomplishment of lasting as long on the bench as the previous record holder.
Agree that her decision had a hugely negative impact on our country
Another case for term limits. I never cared for McConnell. Something was always off. That fall seemed to juggle something in his brain. Happened to my mom’s best friend after she fell too. He needs to go.
Yes like so many others….show them the door. chuq