Mitch McConnell’s big Trumpian miscalculation

Last weekend I saw a boat flying an American flag along with a “Trump 2024 – Save America Again” banner that replicated the infamous “Trump 2020 – Make America Great Again” flag. “Infamous” because they were the “battle flags” worn by Trump supporters when they stormed the Capitol on January 6.

When I saw my first Trump 2024 banner, I was disgusted and partially accused Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Of three reasons.

First, some of his actions or inaction between 7 November 2020 and 13 February 2021 directly or indirectly threaten our democratic system of government and threaten the credibility of forthcoming national elections.

Second, Senator McConnell made one of the biggest political miscalculations in modern history when he told GOP senators that their decision on whether to convict Donald Trump for a second time was a “voice of conscience”.

Third, McConnell did not succeed initiate legislation that would have excluded Trump from running a future election office.

These reasons make me wonder, “Does Mitch McConnell regret anything?” and “What does Mitch think when he sees an increasing number of 2024 Trump banners and hats?”

These are reasonable questions to ask, since 13 months after losing the re-election, Trump is still the undisputed king of the Republican Party and daily teases another presidential election, as McConnell could have captured the Trump tiger in February.

Instead, Trump continues to rule through fear and intimidation after rising from the ashes on January 6th. Resurrected by power derived from cult-like followers, the former president intervenes in the primary process of the 2022 mid-term by support loyalist candidates even against the incumbents – potentially bringing the GOP’s chances of winning back to the Senate.

Characteristically, Trump conveniently forgets McConnell’s critical role during two state court trials that twice saved him from Senate judgment. And how McConnell provided Trump with bragging rights after his Senate confirmed one record number of judges, including three on the Supreme Court. Also, McConnell pushed Trump’s first legislative victory through, one tax relief bill in 2017 and 2018 criminal law reform.

But all that is past. Instead, Trump rejoices regularly regrettable McConnell, using childish names such as “Broken Old Crow”, “stupid” and “fool”, who accuse him of incompetence and questioning his legislative voting decisions.

Worse, in April, while addressing GOP donors, Trump called McConnell a “stone-cold loser” and “a dumb son of a b_ ch.” And on the Fox Business Channel, Trump said, “the party needs new leadership in the Senate.”

Back to the question: “Does McConnell regret anything?” Let’s review the actions and statements that gave him Trump’s anger.

November 7, 2020, four days after the election, major news media projected that Joe Biden had defeated the incumbent president. But then-Senate Majority Leader McConnell quietly waited until 15 dec – the day after Biden’s victory was certified by each state’s Electoral College – to recognize and congratulate the Biden-Harris ticket. This was too reportedly the last day Trump and McConnell spoke.

During the 39 days of McConnell’s silence, the president was in media exaggeration, spreading the “big lie” that undermined the integrity of our presidential election.

McConnell chose not to counter Team Trump’s election forgery, which ultimately resulted in the January 6 attack on Capitol Hill when the Electoral College’s votes were ceremoniously certified before a joint congressional meeting chaired by Vice President Mike Pence.

At 10 p.m. on January 6, hours after the violent mob was removed from the Capitol, Leader McConnell addressed a reconvened joint session of Congress, saying, “This failed uprising only underscores how crucial the task before us is for our republic.” He ended his short speech by saying, “And we will certify the winner of the 2020 presidential election.” The moment Trump heard those words is likely when he moved McConnell’s name to the top of his enemy list.

After the “uprising” on Jan. 6, it is likely that McConnell never thought Trump would rise from the ashes again. McConnell’s testified to that powerful 13. feb The Senate acquittal speech, held after he, along with nine other Republican senators, voted “no” – ensuring that the two-thirds of the Senate votes needed to convict a presiding judge would fall short.

“American citizens attacked their own government,” McConnell said, “they used terrorism to try to stop a specific piece of democratic business they did not like.” But, he continued, “They did this because they had been fed wild lies by the most powerful man on Earth – because he was angry that he had lost an election. Former President Trump’s actions ahead of the riots were a disgrace. negligence. “

In fact, McConnell could have used those words to argue to convict Trump, given that on January 6, he said it was a “failed uprising.”

As a result, the power of the Supreme Court, which is unequivocally vested in the legislature to control the common executive, was essentially declared invalid by Senator Mitch McConnell’s leadership or lack thereof on February 13, 2021.

In retrospect, one might ask: Was McConnell afraid to lead the Senate in suing, judging, and then potentially excluding from running for president for the first time in American history?

Maybe, and remember how McConnell timed conveniently The Senate trial is set to take place after Biden’s inauguration, presumably to use the “we can not convict a former president” card. And during the trial, he did just that, saying, “Article II, Section 4 must have force. It tells us that the president, vice president and civil servants can be sued and convicted. Donald Trump is no longer president.”

But maybe he is again.

In preparation, Trump loyalists position allies in local and state polling stations to prevent future “fraudulent” results. In addition, numerous controversial Trump-inspired voting laws has been passed across the country, which many Democrats believe is unsolicited, restrictive and discriminatory.

Meanwhile, Trump’s primary focus and fundraising efforts are to avenge his loss in 2020, turn the “big lie” into truth, and reconfigure January 6 for a new-fashioned Patriot’s Day.

Do you regret it, Senator McConnell? If not, Amazon sells Trump 2024 flag for $ 9.44 with free shipping soon to be “in stock”.

Myra Adams writes about politics and religion for several publications. She is a RealClearPolitics contributor and served on the creative team of two GOP presidential campaigns in 2004 and 2008. Follow her on Twitter @MyraKAdams.