McConnell protects Republican brand while enhancing his own reputation

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) was the steadying hand that helped President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) strike a deal to raise the debt ceiling.

At a time when Boehner faced repeated insurrection from Tea Party-affiliated freshmen, McConnell calmed financial markets by declaring from the outset that GOP leaders would not allow the nation to default on its debt.

Over the weekend, he helped seal a bipartisan deal to raise the debt ceiling and avert the danger of missing the Aug. 2 deadline set by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

McConnell’s actions have won plaudits from Democrats, but they could make him the target of a conservative backlash.

Despite the political threat from his right flank, McConnell kept focused on his goal of preserving Republican chances of capturing the Senate in 2012. He feared that prize could slip away if Democrats successfully blamed the GOP for causing a national default and damaging the economy.

On Saturday, Vice President Biden called McConnell in an attempt to restart debt-limit talks with the GOP leadership, according to a Senate aide familiar with the sequence of events.

Later that day, Obama followed up with a telephone call of his own, hoping that McConnell could help end the partisan standoff.

McConnell has insisted throughout the contentious talks over spending cuts and taxes that he would not discuss anything without keeping Boehner in the loop.

Careful not to get “cross-wise” with the House GOP leadership, according to one aide, McConnell shuttled back and forth from his office to Boehner’s office on Saturday and Sunday, acting as a broker between president and Speaker. He used the red-painted hallway connecting their offices, which is off-limits to reporters, to travel back and forth.

BS!!! McConnell and the RINOs fell for a sting operation by the dimocrats and MSM. They were had!!

I used to think that too - that they were stupid and naive - but when you've been in office as long as B!tch McConnell, you learn how things work. They're not stupid, THEY LIKE THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE.

They just give us lip service and go about doing as they wish - politics as usual! They have NO intention of changing anything.

They will never vote term limits for themselves - is there any other option to force this upon them? A massive petition or something?

The word “Brand” in the headline says it all. As far as media goes, the Republican “Brand” is going to be McConnell, and others like him. The press has really one aim: undermine Conservtism, and therefore it's Champions. We have Republican Leadership who live in mortal fear of their political opponents - both elected and media alike. That's the only way Democrats get ahead. So long as the Republicans are in terror of media reprisals against them, this is what we will get from them: compromise, negotiation, diplomacy - in other words, surrender. When Democrats were in solid Majorities for years, no mention of words like “compromise, negotiation and diplomacy” with Republicans is ever mentioned. Anywhere. None of the current leadership on the Republican side have the stomach for the fight it's going to take. They're too afraid of what the press will say about them.

Here is what has to change: the Political Class deals with each member as though the members were in and of themselves a “vote” for or against something demanded by the Leadership. There is never any serious connection between Congressional Members and actual constituents when it comes to Leadership demands. That's why Boehner says “get your asses in line” - as if he's talking to a bunch of middle management underlings in a corporation he owns. It's a command so detached from the reality that it seems as though Leadership truly forgets these House members actually represent We The People, and are there to do what we asked them to do. All the Republican Leadership can say to them is "shut up & and sig with us and the Democrats", without remembering they're saying it to those who sent the Majority to the House.

Media wants to keep separated elected Republicans from Conservative constituents, and they threaten a merciless campaign of harassment to insure it. So long as the Republican Leadership cowers from this single fear, We The People who want to save America as we've known it, are on the brink of losing the fight.

They will never vote term limits for themselves - is there any other option to force this upon them? A massive petition or something?

While there are a lot of serious risks associated with it, I've been convinced for some time that the only solution to our current corrupt Federal Government is a Constitutional Congress called by the States. The Constitution allows for it. We just need enough red states to do it.

The Constitutional Congress could add term limits and balanced budget amendments to the Constitution. As if the scum in Washington would obey that part of the Constitution.

"The only thing that keeps Congress from being more corrupt than it is, is the fact that most of the Congressional hacks are inept bunglers." - - - Mark Twain

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.