McConnell blocks bill to reopen most of government

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) blocked legislation on Thursday that would have reopened most of the federal government impacted by the partial shutdown.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) tried to get consent to take up a House-passed bill that would reopen all agencies except the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is at the center of the shutdown fight. But McConnell objected.

The Senate GOP leader didn't explain his objection from the Senate floor but he has warned for weeks that he will not bring up a government funding bill unless it's the product of an agreement between congressional Democratic leadership and President Trump.

"The solution to this is a negotiation between the one person in the country who can sign something into law, the president of the United States, and our Democratic colleagues," McConnell said Tuesday when he blocked a House bill as well as a piece of legislation to fund DHS through Feb. 8.

It's marks the third time that McConnell has blocked House-passed government funding bills in the past two weeks.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mcconnell-blocks-bill-to-reopen-most-of-government/ar-BBSozi5?li=BBnb7Kz

[grumpyduck]

1. That sounds to me like desperation.

He's afraid of something.

[leftieNanner]

4. He's afraid of accidentally falling out of a window

and going "SPLAT" on the pavement.

[bdamomma]

8. yea for real

That's a Russian tactic.

Why doesn't he just resign, Take Ted Lieu's advice. Take your wife and get out.

[grumpyduck]

16. See, that's just it.

Resigning and getting out of town would be a good "cut your losses" solution right now -- and let someone else clean up the mess. He probably has a lot of money anyway. But he's not doing that, and I'll it's not just blind loyalty to a guy he didn't even know a couple of years ago -- or maybe a few years ago.

As Marcellus said to Horatio in Hamlet, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."

[leftieNanner]

33. "probably has a lot of money" - there's no probably about it

His father in law is the owner of a Chinese shipping company (one that was accused of shipping illegal drugs, I think). Mitch is worth many millions.

This is not necessarily blind loyalty to Trump, but his opportunity to cram as many skeezy judges into our federal judicial system to prevent any future progressive laws. I do hope that some day we find out who is holding Mitch's leash.

[grumpyduck]

34. Okay, right out of the movies, then...

Maybe he's getting some judges out there who would be "friendly" to his father-in-law's nefarious activities if they ever got caught.

Nefarious is a good word. Don't think I've ever had a chance to use it.

[diva77]

15. Fear or Greed

He had no trouble holding out for SCOTUS pick. McTurtle thinks slow and steady wins the race.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

2. Ditch Mitch......He works for Trump/Putin......

This pile of shit gets more disgusting.

[NurseJackie]

6. He's not the only one who does things to benefit Russia.

It's sickening.

[leftieNanner]

3. This is total Bull Shit!

Could somebody mail a copy of the Constitution to this idiot ASAP please?

The Senate can pass bills and if Trumpface vetoes it, they can override.

[bdamomma]

20. Hey that's a good

idea, mail Mitch the Constitution. Like all of us.

[leftieNanner]

32. We should totally do this!

I have a copy from my local Indivisible group.

[Takket]

5. he's wrong

"The solution to this is a negotiation between the one person in the country who can sign something into law, the president of the United States"

Congress can make a law by overriding a veto. Does the senate majority leader not know grade school civics???????????

[EleanorR]

7. Doesn't want his wife and brother in law to lose their jobs nt

[old guy]

9. Yup.

[jeffreyi]

10. Mitch is not our friend.

[bdamomma]

23. He wasn't

President Obama's friend either he obstructed for 8 years. Mitch what a despicable POS.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

11. round robin the slimey Moscow Mitch

Every Senator should submit the bill, every day, all day. Let Mitch object over and over and over. Let him object until he loses his voice. Each time he objects, another Senator should stand and try to get consent for the same bill, or one just like it.

[0rganism]

19. i like it

let him show his loyalty to president Motherfucker over and over and over again, so there's no question in anyone's mind where he stands... until he can no longer stand.

[Raven123]

12. I think McConnell wants Trump to fail

He will just blame the Dems for not working with Trump while protecting "Trump country" GOP vulnerables who are up for re-election. By not holding votes, no one is on record, so at campaign time, should the voter landscape change they can claim a position on how they would have voted.

McConnell has no use for Trump. He us hoping Trump self-destructs and is primaried out of office in 2020.

Just my theory

[LakeSuperiorView]

13. Hypocritical flip flopper. He voted for that bill a month ago.

Karma can't smack that Mitch soon enough.

[bdamomma]

14. hmm...

this paragraph here:


The Senate GOP leader didn't explain his objection from the Senate floor but he has warned for weeks that he will not bring up a government funding bill unless it's the product of an agreement between congressional Democratic leadership and President Trump.

This not between the Democratic leadership and Trump, this is between Trump and McConnell. He must scared as shit, this doesn't wash with me.

Didn't McConnell hear what Trump said He would own it (the shutdown).

[Initech]

18. McConnell is going down with the ship and he knows it.

This is more about saving his ass than saving the government. He did a bad thing and he knows!

[Initech]

17. It's time to block or censure McConnell then!

[sinkingfeeling]

21. I don't remember learning in civics class that the Senate only worked for the executive branch.

I was taught there were 3 equal branches of government

[bdamomma]

25. Hey sinkingfeeling

did you ever think of running, that was a great comment. you can re-educate them.

[FloridaBlues]

22. He's trying so hard to make this about the democrats being the cause

God I hope there's a strong Dem running against him.

[Amaryllis]

24. WHAT is his end game? His motivation? WHy is he so afraid of going against T?

[spooky3]

27. per MSNBC commenters, he is trying to protect his GOP members from having to cast a tough vote

that may hurt them in the primaries or general elections.

[Amaryllis]

28. That is interesting since their position is becoming increasingly unpopular.

[spooky3]

31. Yes, but I see the commenters' point. Mitch takes the blame, if any, for not allowing a vote,

but a particular state couldn't blame its Senator, because they don't know how he or she would cast a vote. If Mitch allowed a vote, the Senator could cast a vote against the wall/for ending the shutdown (the more generally popular position but not necessarily popular enough in a given state), and the Trumpolytes in the state and out of state big donors might support a primary opponent, or not turn out for the Senator in the general.

But it's also possible that Mitch is just fine with the status quo and knows that there might be enough votes to override a veto, and his bread is buttered on the side of not allowing an override to happen.

[Freethinker65]

26. Up or down vote! Up or down vote! Is Trump afraid to use his veto power?

Trump does not have to sign anything if Congress overrides a Presidential veto, Turtleman.

[Goodheart]

29. My immediate question to McTurtle would have been...

If you're only here to agree automatically to everything he wants and reject anything else THEN WHAT'S THE POINT OF THE SENATE?

[keithbvadu2]

30. Yet Mitch can forward legislation favoring his Russian pals.

Yet Mitch can forward legislation favoring his Russian pals.