The last time Mitch had a serious primary challenger was in 2014 and that challenger was Matt Bevin, who after losing the primary challenge to Mitch, went on to become a one-term governor. I voted for Bevin in that primary but voted for Mitch in the general.

Mitch next comes up for reelection in 2026. By then, he will be 84. Unless something comes up between now and then, I think he will retire rather than run again.

For me, Mitch McConnell has been a mixed bag. He’s better than just about any Democrat, but that’s a very low bar.

Right now, my three Federal congressmen are Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, and Congressional rep. Brett Guthrie. All three are Republican and Paul and Guthrie both vote nearly 100% the way I want them to. And Mitch does too – most of the time. Two out of three ain’t bad.

I’m just glad I don’t live in a place like the SF Bay area or NYC where I would have no representation at all.

I like Rand Paul. A lot. But I don’t think he would be a successful Presidential candidate, nor President. Like his father, his most effective role is likely in the Senate.

Mitch seems very consistent to me; he does what is necessary to promote the GOP and its goals. Those often don’t align with Conservatism. It’s like Tom Brady’s goal is to get the team he is quarterbacking to the Super Bowl. He doesn’t have allegiance to ideals.

Oh, I know. I’m just especially sensitive to use of the word, because of my former name.

Yes, and it is, as you point out, a bit careless. And I was taking the easy way out – riding the horse that left the barn. 🙂

Trump has shown and is showing that old age is not necessarily a defining aspect for the office.

I’ve noticed that you use the word “neocon” to mean anyone hawkish on foreign policy. A lot of people use it that way now, but I submit it doesn’t apply to someone like McConnell, who never was a Democratic or on the left, and therefore is not a neocon in the older meaning of the word. Nor are all neocons hawkish, by the way. I’ve got a bunch of older posts on the subject, but at this point I think the horse has left the barn and most people seem to be using it to mean anyone in favor of foreign military intervention.

Due to his long presence in the Senate, Mitch has a good understanding of how to play the political games and plays them as well as anyone. So, he’s not a true conservative and not a populist, but he’s not as bad as a Chuck Schumer or Bernie Sanders would be. A mixed bag, but it could be worse.

He seems healthy enough at 78, but I was pretty healthy at 78 myself. Age 83 was my last good year. Still pumping somewhat serious iron in the gym, traveling enthusiastically, and relatively sound of mind, I thought I was good for another ten years. In one year I went from hale and hearty to basket case. After 80 things begin to go wrong. When he’s 84, he may well be very ready for retirement.

I don’t trust any of them. Trump is really the only one they fear. I agree he will be too old in 2024 but I see few options. Rand Paul is one. The most important thing now is to see if 2022 can be stolen.