McConnell stepping down

Not soon enough.  His term doesn't end until 2027.

Now that he has single-handedly wrecked the country's bid for greatness, he's not running again.

McConnell’s decision to step aside was also foreseeable for a simple, stark reason beyond his age of 82. His party had moved sharply away from him — and toward his intraparty nemesis, former President Trump — even as he remained its titular head in the upper chamber.

The venom with which Trump attacked him was unignorable.

[...]

President Biden told reporters he was “sorry to hear” McConnell was stepping down. In a later statement, Biden — a Washington institutionalist like the outgoing leader — called McConnell “my friend” and noted that they had been able to work “together in good faith even though we have many political disagreements.”

  The Hill

That alone disqualifies Biden as a capable leader. McConnell never did anything in good faith.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), one of the brashest Trump loyalists in Congress, expressed glee on social media at how McConnell had now been “86’d” alongside former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and outgoing Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) [...] greeted McConnell’s departure as “an opportunity to refocus our efforts on solving the significant challenges facing our country and actually reflect the aspirations of voters.”

[...]

Trump’s resurgence has left McConnell out on an uncomfortable limb. If Trump were to win in November, he would almost certainly engineer McConnell’s ouster — an inglorious end to such a long career.

[...]

Talks have been taking place between the McConnell and Trump camps as to under what circumstances the Senate minority leader might endorse the former president — something he has conspicuously failed to do so far.

One source briefed on those talks told this column that the basic outline would have McConnell endorsing Trump as the party’s de facto leader in return for a quietening of Trump’s attacks.

I'm sure he'll evenetually bend the knee.

McConnell's health issues no doubt also were a deciding factor in his choice.

McConnell suffered a bad fall last year and, in the months afterward, twice froze on camera — two embarrassing moments that sharpened questions about his leadership capacity.

[...]

On Tuesday, he bowed to the apparently unstoppable twin forces of Trumpism and time.

And there'll be nothing but praise and plaudits for him by both the media and Democratic leaders.

The House Freedom Caucus mocked Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) after he announced his retirement from his leadership position Wednesday, suggesting that his stance on Ukraine aligns with his Democrat colleagues.

[...]

He said he plans to serve the remainder of his term, which ends in 2027.

[...]

I will complete my job my colleagues have given me until we select a new leader in November and they take the helm next January,” he said.

[...]

“Our thoughts are with our Democrat colleagues in the Senate on the retirement of their Co-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (D-Ukraine). No need to wait till November… Senate Republicans should IMMEDIATELY elect a *Republican* Minority Leader,” the House Freedom Caucus wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

  The Hill

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

UPDATE 02:30 pm:

UPDATE 03/01/2024:

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/mitch-mcconnell-retiring-senate/?utm_campaign=SproutSocial&utm_content=thenation&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter