Dem
51
GOP
49
As long as we're on the subject of 1/6, several of the officers who protected the Capitol that day, as well as the family of Brian Sicknick (who died that day), were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal yesterday. And in the receiving line afterwards, clearly by pre-arrangement, the honorees refused to shake hands with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). You can see it here:
We don't think we've ever seen McConnell, with his outstretched hand, look so awkward. And that's saying something.
If anyone knows the score, it's the Capitol police. And so they know that, first of all, McCarthy voted against impeaching Donald Trump and McConnell voted against conviction. McCarthy also voted to toss out some electoral votes, which means he was party to "stop the steal." Those two men might not be insurrectionists, but they are insurrectionist enablers. So, no wonder they were snubbed.
And in case anyone needed a reminder that the two leaders don't exactly have spines of steel, McConnell appeared on CNN on Tuesday and was asked if he would support a Trump presidential bid in 2024, should the sage of Mar-a-Lago claim the Republican presidential nomination for a third straight time. The Kentuckian's answer: "What I'm saying is, it would be pretty hard to be sworn into the presidency if you're not willing to uphold the Constitution. That's what I said and I just said it again."
The careful reader will notice that the word "no" does not appear in McConnell's answer, much less "Hell, no" or "No fu**ing way." Nor is there anything like: "I cannot support someone who calls for the Constitution to be put aside; after all, I swore an oath to uphold that document." The Minority Leader might look like a turtle, but he speaks like a weasel. And undoubtedly, if it had been McCarthy being interviewed, he would have been just as weaselly.
What it amounts to is that, once again, Trump has survived what should be a career-ending moment. And it barely took 48 hours before the most prominent Republicans in the country were kowtowing to him once again. McCarthy and McConnell have jobs for life if they want them; Trump isn't going to be able to stop them from being reelected. However, both men want to remain the leaders of their respective conferences. Trump commands the base, and the base commands many of the conference members, and so, ipso facto, Trump commands McCarthy and McConnell. That dynamic will end when Trump dies, and it might end if Trump is convicted of crimes, or if Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) seizes control of the Party. We have no doubt that the two minority leaders would be relieved to see any or all of these three things come to pass, but until then, they will keep puckering up. (Z)