Monday, 20 June 2005
The Rise of Senator McConnell
It appears that Sen. Bill Frist, the majority leader in the senate, is preparing to retire at the end of next year. Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell is poised to take over the job as majority leader. This is great news for conservatives in the Republican party.
Currently, the Republicans seem almost hapless against the paper tiger Democrats and their allies in the media. Letting their opponents define them and the issues without fighting back. I believe this will change under McConnell's watch. He won't let the Democrats or the squish Republicans control the spin of the day without a response.
Many might think that bringing a spine to the Senate Republicans is impossible. Mitch McConnel has made a career of doing the impossible. In his first venture into politics he won the Jefferson County Judge Executive position in the heavily democratic Louisville area. He served as Judge Executive until he won the Senate race in 1984. That year he was the only challenger nationally to beat an incumbent and he did it at the time when Kentucky was a hopelessly Democrat state. Since then, he has spear headed the Republicanization of Kentucky which has lead to the first Republican Governor in 40 years, control of the state senate. In addition the Republicans hold both U.S. Senate seats, and 5 of the 6 congressional seats.
McConnell has a proven record of strength and fortitude in the face of overwhelming odds. He understands how to position conservative ideals for mass consumption by the public. He has the strategic vision to confound his opponents and always end up a winner.
The thought of McConnell leading the senate renews my hope that the Republicans will do something positive with their majority. I believe he will completely outclass the opposition and provide the necessary leadership to move the conservative movement forward.
