CPAC - Mitch McConnell
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James Joyner | Thursday, March 1, 2007 |
Jon Henke arranged for a few of us to briefly meet with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell after his address at CPAC.
He declined bait to take shots at Harry Reid. Indeed, he was quite gracious in pointing out what a hard job his counterpart has, trying to pass legislation with only 51 votes (50, with Tim Johnson in the hospital) in a body where you need 60 to get anything controversial through. He is quite proud, though, to have managed thus far to keep at least 40 of his 49 votes together at all times and thus preventing “any bad bills from hitting the president’s desk.”
Moreover, there seems to be a renewed vigor among Republican activists, who are suddenly “reminded what it’s like to have a Democratic Congress.” (Given his graciousness with his time, I declined to point out that they still might not know if his colleagues hadn’t done such a good job of imitating a Democratic Congress over the previous several years.) Certainly, though, it’s easier to make points with the base in opposition rather than when having to take responsibility for compromise legislation.
UPDATE: Moe Lane vigorously denies having baited the good Senator. He includes a picture of yours truly standing with his hands in his pockets listening to poor McConnell being shamelessly baited.
UPDATE: I would call to the attention of Mr. Lane’s colleague, Erick Ericson, the relative proximity of Georgia and Northern Virginia to the Bahamas.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia.
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Given his graciousness with his time, I declined to point out that they still might not know if his colleagues hadn’t done such a good job of imitating a Democratic Congress over the previous several years.
That's really not a good enough reason. He should be reminded constantly, regularly and as often as possible.
I reminded Henke immediately afterwards. Had it been a 1-on-1 interview, I'd have certainly made the point to McConnell; it struck me as outside the spirit of the occasion in a group meet-up.
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