There’s an old story I’ve told before but it bears repeating under the circumstances. Charles de Gaulle, during his time as leader of the Fifth Republic, was riding in the back of a limousine with one of the sycophants he kept around to remind him of how great he was. (Sound familiar?)
The toady was doing his job boosting the great man’s already bloated ego, reminding him he was indispensable to the people of France. The limousine was passing a cemetery at the time and de Gaulle waived his hand.
“The graveyards are filled with indispensable men,’’ he said.
Someone should relay this story to either Sen. Mitch McConnell or the folks handling his affairs while he recovers from an unidentified medical emergency that has sidelined him for almost a month. He is not indispensable to the nation’s wellbeing and, given his age — the Louisville Republican is 84 — and a series of incidents that raise questions about his ability to adequately carry out his duties, it is time for him to retire with less than six months remaining in his tenure so a replacement can be secured to represent the interests of the people of Kentucky.
Like the immortal Willie Mays, McConnell has reached a point where he is no longer able to get the job done.
Let’s first note an issue of importance that seems to have escaped everyone’s consideration. McConnell was rushed to a local hospital from his DC residence on the morning of June 14, reportedly found by EMTs in an unconscious state. In an audio of the communications between the rescue workers and dispatch, a reference is made to cardiac arrest and that CPR was in progress. McConnell’s name isn’t mentioned in these communications but surrounding details line up.
So, everyone should express hope that Addison Mitchell McConnell, the longest serving senator in the Commonwealth’s history who also held the longest tenure as the Senate GOP leader, has a complete recovery from this obvious setback and that his life on this planet continues unabated. Regards should also be extended to his family.
That said, McConnell needs to step aside quickly and without rancor. His obvious physical frailty over the past few years has often raised questions about his ability to fulfill his duties. Details regarding the extent of his current infirmities are hard to come by. Neither his office nor his family have provided information about his circumstances, other than to say he’s recovering and that he is being afforded great care.
But it’s reasonable to conclude McConnell hasn’t remained in a hospital for 26 days as of today because he likes the food. Whatever befell him is serious and given rise to speculation that he either hasn’t survived the ordeal or, as some nitwits have speculated, he’s brain dead.
Three individuals — Senate Republican Leader John Thune, of Montana, who inherited the job from McConnell, Sen. John Barrasso, R-WY, and conservative television commentator Scott Jennings, of Dawson Springs, who once worked for McConnell — said they have spoken with him over the phone and that he seemed fine.
Regardless of one’s political loyalties, there’s no reason to believe these three men are lying.
“I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky,’’ Jennings said in a July 7 X post. “He’s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 20 minutes … about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR Presidential Library, and even a little bit of Senate history. I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible.’’
All that may be true. Or it may be the product of wishful thinking. But there’s just no denying that having been found unconscious and then spending almost a month in the hospital, McConnell’s circumstances were dire and perhaps remain so. It goes without saying that his constituents and the public in general deserve basic information about McConnell’s status, the cause of the hospitalization and when, if ever, he may return to the Senate. For reasons unknown the staff and family have proved reticent, somewhat like McConnell himself while answering questions from reporters.
Combine all that with a history of ill health that would fill the Oxford Handbook of Medical Sciences, there’s basis to conclude McConnell needs to retire and concentrate on getting well.
McConnell, as has been noted numerous times, suffered from polio as a child and walks with a slight limp. That never slowed him from serving. He has proven particularly prone to falling, at last five times since 2019. As a result, he has suffered facial cuts, a concussion and a shoulder fracture. He has been viewed being shuttled around the Capitol building in a wheelchair.
That’s not all. In February he spent eight days in the hospital with flu-like symptoms, forcing him to miss a string of Senate votes.
But by far the oddest malady that has befallen him is his tendency to, for lack of a better term, space out. On three occasions since 2023 while speaking in public he simply froze and stared straight ahead without responding to those checking on his well-being. In July 2023 he froze while speaking with reporters and stared ahead for about 20 seconds. Add to all this the man’s obvious frailty and the only logical conclusion is for him to step aside.
This is not really an overly political question. Concerns have been voiced that Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, might be positioned to anoint McConnell’s successor if he opts to retire early. That’s not the case. Before April 2024, the governor maintained the authority to appoint a temporary replacement for a senator exiting before the end of his or her term — McConnell’s tenure runs to January 2027 since he did not seek re-election this year.
Now, under House Bill 622, any vacancy must be filled via special election. Under the new law — adopted specifically by the GOP super majority to deprive Beshear of the appointment power — the governor must issue a proclamation directing county sheriffs to hold a special election, with the winner serving the remainder of the unexpired six-year term.
And there’s this little item known as the Constitution of the United States of America. Under the 17th Amendment, the state legislature can authorize the governor to appoint a temporary replacement until a special election is held. The Kentucky General Assembly has opted not to do so, which means Beshear is limited to issuing a writ of election.
In other words, Beshear doesn’t have the power to appoint Zohran Mamdani to the U.S. Senate. The stand-in would seek election and fill out the term.
Mitch McConnell is not irreplaceable. A cogent argument can be made that, during his 42 years in the Senate he has done much more harm than good. He is the man most responsible for the divisiveness that has crippled the once great institution, rendering it almost impossible to get anything of substance accomplished. Ultimately, he will not be missed and his departure from the chamber would be good for America.
More on all this at another time.
Mitch McConnell is a human being with loved ones. As Linda Loman said of her husband, Willy, “Attention must be paid.’’ Inviting his potential passing is cruel and uncalled for. But he should leave, for his benefit and the benefit of the nation.