THE LAST THREE DAYS
On August 3, at the annual Fancy Farm Picnic, Mitch McConnell was greeted at a public forum in KY with shouts of “Moscow Mitch.” From eyewitnesses, his reaction was between livid and disbelief. Considering how he was adored and doted upon in all previous Picnics, this must have been a shock.
Perhaps he was seeking some mental relief from the shocking greeting he received there. Perhaps his internal polling found his approval rating matched what the Hill reported just a few days earlier (33% approval, more than 55% want him replaced). Even for a power-hungry machiavellian like Mitch, the numbing reality of those numbers has to be a slap in the face, if not a kick in the ass.
In any event, things went from bad to worse. The next day, he fell at home and fractured his shoulder. Perhaps the fall and resulting fracture was caused by too much licking of the wounds, fueled by Kentucky’s best export, on the rocks.
DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPACT OF HIS INJURY.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND
A few more bits of tid about this ass. He has held a senate seat for 35 years. He has been in politics since his 5 week stint in the military reserve (rumors about how he got honorably discharged so quickly have always dogged him locally, rarely nationally) Considering Viet Nam was a very hot war at the time, his discharge always sounded . . . strange.
After law school and his 5 week military vacation, he began his career in politics. He must have done something right, because from starting as an underpaid staffer, and eventually, earning his lowly senate salary, he amassed over $22,000,000 in assets (as of 2018). That vast amount of riches is another issue that makes you scratch your head with your good arm. I have no doubts that his second wife brought in some assets, given her family history, but still, that amount is YUGE.
HIS INJURY AND AGE
Back to his shoulder, however. When you fracture a large bone, it takes months to return to semi-normal. The older you are, the longer it takes to mend and heal, and the less likely you will ever reach normality. That is why doctors concocted the term, “Maximum Medical Improvement,” which roughly translated into plain english means, “tough shit, old guy.” Even super healthy, physical powerhouses like football players typically rarely return to full strength or mobility after such an injury — and those folks mainly are in their 20s and heal much faster than old farts like me.
A couple years ago, I read a statistic that with a major bone fracture, like a hard to heal shoulder fracture, more than 85% of pro football players retire within a year of returning — that is if they return. Legs are easier because you can use a cast. Shoulders are always problematic fractures. If you allow the arm to move too much, the fractured area can be dislodged and fail to heal properly, if at all.
Mitch is 77. A major injury (and his fracture is nothing but major) is exceedingly difficult to deal with and to recover from. Just think about Harry Reid’s fractured eye socket and resulting blindness in one eye. That injury caused Harry to retire.
I suspect that Mitch’s closest fiends and family get the big picture, and realize he won’t be a player in the senate for very much longer. Add to that his poor polling, fund-raising issues, and that pesky “Moscow” thingie, and one can only conclude that he is not long for the senate. I would put even money on his announcing his retirement to spend less time with his family.
Elaine Chao, his second spousette, currently is destroying our Labor Department, OOPS, Transportation Department as its secretary. (Thanks to all for the correction) I suspect she will stay in DC. His first wife divorced him and moved to the west coast to become a strong feminist leader in her own right. Must have been something Mitch said to the little lady. I am also relatively sure that his doctors are pushing retirement, as well.
Having a fractured shoulder is a pain in the neck. The back. The head. The shoulder. The arm. The pain changes with the weather, any movement can create agony. Dressing becomes an hour long ordeal instead of a 10 minute task. Going to the bathroom becomes extremely trying, given how you have to learn to wipe with your non-dominant hand. Just pulling up your pants becomes a hard task. Shirts? Time for a new wardrobe because all of your existing shirts will be cut open to allow the shoulder to remain immobile. Shoes? Slip ons only. Hell, putting on socks becomes a serious job, requiring concentration and a lot of effort.
Eating has to be planned carefully, because you can no longer use a knife and fork. Diets become more centered on easy feeding, rather than healthy food. Then again, between the pain and meds, appetites tend to disappear, causing even more side effects due to lack of proper nourishment.
The mere act of walking causes the shoulder to ache, throb, and sometimes feel on fire. (if this sounds like personal experience, that’s because it is). The opiate pain killers change your personality, destroy your memory, and significantly limits your energy and drive. The forced immobility, especially after reaching 55, means your muscle mass disappears and does not readily return. Most of the time that muscle mass loss is permanent.
As I said, my description of his new reality comes from experience.
THE FUTURE, LONG AND SHORT
Even if somehow he manages to return to the senate, he will not be the same. Not for a long time. At his age, it is likely he will never return to normal strength and mental acuity. He has to realize that himself.
Mitch is up for election in November 2020. Campaigning will be horrific, because travel with such an injury just plain sucks. Flying is a horror show, even in first class. Driving means carefully getting in an out of vehicles, a time consuming, painful, and just plain tough act. Given his approval numbers, having the public see him struggle just to get around will not impress KY voters, especially those already on the fence about six more years of Mitch.
I predict that even he does return to the senate, it will be only to add more racist, sexist judges to the federal bench and to finish out his term. No way will he run for re-election. In fact, i give it even money that he will retire early, in the hopes that a republican will fill the slot.
QUESTIONS
What does KY’s constitution say about early retirement from the US Senate?
Will there a special election given 1.5 years until the next election?
Does their crazy neocon, teabuggered, conserve-christianist goober and current governor, Matt Bevin, get to choose his replacement?
That potential might actually keep McConnell in office given the war between McConnell and Bevin.
In what has to be Karma Kubed, Bevin is actually less popular than Mitch (who is today’s least popular senator in the US) and is ranked as the least popular governor in the country. One Kentucky poll had Mitch at 33%? Bevin hit 31% in one poll. Having these two in this situation, (including Mitch’s injuries), is not Karma Kubed, it is Karma to the 10th power.
From a June, 2019 article in the splinternews.com/...,
What on earth is going on in Kentucky? There are thousands of depraved possible answers to that question, but the one we’re focused on today involves the recent messy drama between Gov. Matt Bevin, Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton, and, apparently, Sen. Mitch McConnell.
It started back in December, when Bevin’s office fired Steve Knipper, Hampton’s chief of staff. Then, in late January, Bevin announced his running mate for the 2019 gubernatorial race would not be Hampton, but state Sen. Ralph Alvarado, who gave a speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention. (Hampton, it should be noted, is the first black official to hold statewide office in Kentucky history.) At the time, Bevin offered no explanation for dropping Hampton from his ticket.
Fast forward to May, when Bevin’s office again flexed its power, firing Adrienne Southworth, Hampton’s chief of staff. Funnily enough, Southworth revealed last week that she had been investigating whether Bevin’s office has the authority to step across offices and fire another elected official’s staff member. This reveal triggered a number of worthwhile questions about the hiring and employment practices being used in the state’s executive office. Two weeks ago, Bevin claimed he had “no knowledge” of the firing.
That battle is/was still being fought under the covers, and more than a few reports suggest that the two truly dislike each other. Bodes well for the State of Kentucky, actually, given the chance to flip both offices next November.