After sitting on the sidelines for three months, leading to speculation over whether he remained within this mortal coil Sen. Mitch McConnell triumphantly reappeared on Capitol Hill 10 days ago to accomplish absolutely nothing.
During that long, virtually unexplained absence, folks openly wondered what was going on with the 84-year-old Louisville Republican with questionable health, leading to the creation of the catch phrase, “Where’s Mitch?’’
Now that he has, somewhat, returned to the public eye, however, folks are still asking, “Where’s Mitch?’’
McConnell, who set two impressive records during his thus far 41-year tenure — he is the longest serving senator in Kentucky history as well as the longest serving Senate Republican leader — remains on the periphery, there but not there. He has done nothing to restore confidence that he physically and mentally capable of carrying out his official duties.
Questions remain regarding McConnell’s physical condition and the reasons behind his long, drawn-out absence. It is known he fell at his DC residence on June 14 and subsequently contracted pneumonia. But details behind what led to the three-month vacation remain unclear, with McConnell and his staff, frankly betraying the faith Commonwealth voters consistently placed in him.
To some, that was no surprise. McConnell has a history of placing his own needs and desires above all else, even the public good. To do otherwise, in this instance, might destroy whatever remaining confidence the public has in him. He maintains he didn’t suffer a heart attack, a stroke or even a concussion as a result of his fall. But he remained cooped up for three months and emerged as a pale image of his former self.
Upon his return, while being loaded onto an SUV sitting in his wheelchair, reporters asked various questions, the most notable one being, of course, how are you feeling.
McConnell failed to provide so much as a thumb’s up.
When one reporter asked, “Can you say a word for us, sir?’’ McConnell stared straight ahead in a manner similar to the occasions when he, for lack of a better term, spaced out, saying nothing and giving no indication he had an idea where he was or what he was doing. The door closed and the SUV drove off.
The videos of him are stunning. McConnell has never been a physically imposing figure like Alan Ritchson in “Reacher.’’ (For the record, neither am I.) He has always walked with a bit of a limp attributable to a childhood bout with polio and, let’s face it, Barney Fife’s physique, or lack thereof, does spring to mind.
But his physical deterioration is evident, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given his advanced age. He remained in a wheelchair when he returned to the Senate and his speaking voice is a shadow of his traditional baritone.
McConnell, in a written statement undoubtedly composed by his staff and issued just prior to his return, acknowledged that his recovery “has been a long and often frustrating process, and the lingering effects of childhood polio haven’t made it any easier.”
Just what was involved in that “process,’’ and what made it necessary, remains unclear.
McConnell further noted, “I’m still not quite back to 100 percent, but I’ve assured Leader (Sen. John) Thune, (R-SD) that, as I continue with physical therapy on the advice of my doctors, I will do my best to be present for tough votes when our Conference needs me.”
For what it’s worth, McConnell did appear sufficiently cognizant greeting well-wishers on the Senate floor. There was also some discussion later in the week about McConnell’s vote in favor of the agriculture bill, which passed committee by a single tally. The confusion centered on Sen. John Hoeven, R-ND, a fellow Senate Agriculture Committee member, sitting next to McConnell, advising him to vote no on the measure at hand McConnell instead voted aye — which correctly reflected the GOP position. Asked a second time, McConnell again voted aye. Hoeven later explained his bad advice centered on confusion over what was being voted on.
So, to clear the matter up, McConnell was correct. The confusion is attributed to Hoeven, not McConnell.
But there are new questions over how frequently the public might still see McConnell. The Daily Beast reported this week that McConnell was expected to attend a congressional reception this week for the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce as a “featured guest.’’ But McConnell was a no-show at the popular event, once again raising speculation about McConnell’s health and availability.
McConnell’s tenure in Washington is almost over. He opted against running for re-election to an eighth term this year and his time in Washington will mercifully end in January.
He should have exited earlier. In addition to failing to perform his job for three months, he will essentially end his career as a part-time legislator, showing up on those occasions when his appearance is needed to pass some Republican legislation.
Those who maintain McConnell is both physically and mentally capable of representing the people of Kentucky are either fooling themselves or scamming the Commonwealth. He’s not up to the job and, while it’s not his fault, obviously, he needed to step aside for all those involved.
That hardly matters now. The Senate is on the verge of going on a recess that will continue past the November elections. It will be a lame duck session and, as usual, little will get done. Remaining on the Senate payroll beyond his use by date is depriving Kentuckians of the representation they deserve.
It’s an issue that requires Senate attention.
According to U.S. Senate Rule 6: “No Senator shall absent himself from the service of the Senate without leave.” But there’s no formal enforcement mechanism. McConnell never made a formal leave request. Members of the Senate are required to vote in person. Yet, the Senate doesn’t have a rule that removes a senator from office for missing votes.
McConnell missed every Senate vote from June 14, the date of his injury, and Sept. 14, his return to part-time work.
Of course it can be argued his absence proved beneficial to the nation. We’ll let it go at that.