During the course of Trump's stint as President, he was enabled by Mitch McConnell. More than enabled - without McConnell's hand on the tiller in the Senate, it's doubtful that Trump's administration could have functioned even to the limited extent that it did.
Most of Trump's legislative achievements ( there were relatively few beyond executive orders ) could equally well be described as McConnell's achievements, and Trump's very survival in the face of serious challenges ( investigations, impeachment ) depended on McConnell's management of the Senate. Of course, McConnell was not in it for Trump's sake - his addiction was simply Power.
So it was a hilarious irony to see Mitch McConnell, when guns were being waved in his direction at the behest of the mad President he had propped up for 4 years, suddenly discover the high principles he'd studiously ignored during those years for the sake of holding power, and start waving them around in his own defence ! McConnell is truly the finest distillation of Republican Party Reptile, to borrow a PJ O'Rourke title.
If any confirmation were necessary ( it isn't, but ), we are now being treated to the unedifying spectacle of this hypocritical cynic demanding that Trump not be held to account for the assault that he encouraged, whilst at the same time judging Trump guilty of the charges against him !
If any cipher for the death of principle in American Politics was required, then Mitch McConnell is it's living breathing incarnation. In an irony so acute it practically draws blood, the very same sliminess exhibited by McConnell in order to save Trump's ass and prevent implosion of the Republican caucus is exactly the sliminess that caused that caucus to reject constitutional politics and vote for Trump in the first place !
© Mark de Roussier 2021, all rights reserved.