Paducah Sun: McConnell’s Long Tenure Marked With Distinction.
The Paducah Sun/Editorial
MILESTONE
McConnell’s long tenure marked with distinction
McConnell’s role is vital now that the tide of change has swept Washington.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Mitch McConnell’s rare political instincts have made him both a powerful ally and a formidable foe, depending on the issue at hand. The Senate minority leader is known for his capacity to face down the Democratic leadership, as well as the ability to forge compromise, as the circumstances demand.
It’s fitting then, that he marked his own recent milestone — the longest serving senator in the history of Kentucky — last week by honoring the memory of two of his predecessors who displayed similar political acumen, both of whom happened to be Democrats.
He primarily praised the senator whose record tenure — 24 years — he has now surpassed. The western Kentuckian and former governor Wendell Ford was first elected to the Senate in 1974. McConnell praised Ford for his belief “that the only purpose of government, at any level, was to serve the people.”
McConnell praised Ford’s work ethic: “... a 14-hour day was routine, a 16-hour day frequent, and an 18-hour day not uncommon.”
Ford broke the record of Paducah’s own Alben Barkley, whom he called Ford’s “childhood hero.” Barkley holds the distinction of being the first Kentuckian to lead his party in Congress. McConnell, of course, is the second.
McConnell said Ford and other public servants from the Commonwealth “will continue to remind me every day that with energy, determination and principle, being the senator from Kentucky is the best job I could ever hope to have.”
Next week McConnell will become the most powerful Republican in Washington, which also makes him the number one target of the left. Their current favorite punching bag, George W. Bush, and his even more unpopular sidekick, Dick Cheney, are leaving town. Once the Obama fervor dies down, the left will take aim at another target: Mitch. But McConnell is seasoned enough to know what he’s up against and savvy enough to maneuver the minefields.
McConnell’s role is vital now that the tide of change has swept Washington. The reality is, he still represents the moral and social values of most Kentuckians better than those now in charge. He has been a stalwart supporter of First Amendment and Second Amendment rights, both of which have been under attack of late. He has a solid pro-life voting record. He has championed relief for oppressed people in other parts of the world, such as Burma.
He supports an all-of-the-above approach to achieving energy independence — developing renewable sources while tapping into our own abundant oil and gas reserves. He supports expanding nuclear power generation, as well as clean coal technology, which is vital to Kentucky’s economy.
The senator, re-elected in November despite a massive effort — and millions spent — by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, has also been a staunch advocate of low taxes and smaller government. Immediately after his swearing in, he delivered an address on the floor of the Senate calling for cooperation but reminding lawmakers that their first responsibility is to the taxpayers. Referring to President-elect Obama’s proposed $1-trillion stimulus bill, McConnell said: “Sixteen years ago, we rejected a stimulus bill the size of the Minnesota state budget. We shouldn’t be rushed into voting for a bill that by any estimate will be bigger than all 50 state budgets combined.”
With Congress seizing the recession as an excuse for going on a spending spree, the country needs someone to apply the brakes. We can be proud that the brakeman hails from the Commonwealth.
If Mitch McConnell is the iron man of Kentucky politics, his wife is the iron woman. Next week, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao ends her tenure as the only member of George W. Bush’s cabinet to serve from beginning to end in the president’s two terms. Eight distinguished years.
MILESTONE
McConnell’s long tenure marked with distinction
McConnell’s role is vital now that the tide of change has swept Washington.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Mitch McConnell’s rare political instincts have made him both a powerful ally and a formidable foe, depending on the issue at hand. The Senate minority leader is known for his capacity to face down the Democratic leadership, as well as the ability to forge compromise, as the circumstances demand.
It’s fitting then, that he marked his own recent milestone — the longest serving senator in the history of Kentucky — last week by honoring the memory of two of his predecessors who displayed similar political acumen, both of whom happened to be Democrats.
He primarily praised the senator whose record tenure — 24 years — he has now surpassed. The western Kentuckian and former governor Wendell Ford was first elected to the Senate in 1974. McConnell praised Ford for his belief “that the only purpose of government, at any level, was to serve the people.”
McConnell praised Ford’s work ethic: “... a 14-hour day was routine, a 16-hour day frequent, and an 18-hour day not uncommon.”
Ford broke the record of Paducah’s own Alben Barkley, whom he called Ford’s “childhood hero.” Barkley holds the distinction of being the first Kentuckian to lead his party in Congress. McConnell, of course, is the second.
McConnell said Ford and other public servants from the Commonwealth “will continue to remind me every day that with energy, determination and principle, being the senator from Kentucky is the best job I could ever hope to have.”
Next week McConnell will become the most powerful Republican in Washington, which also makes him the number one target of the left. Their current favorite punching bag, George W. Bush, and his even more unpopular sidekick, Dick Cheney, are leaving town. Once the Obama fervor dies down, the left will take aim at another target: Mitch. But McConnell is seasoned enough to know what he’s up against and savvy enough to maneuver the minefields.
McConnell’s role is vital now that the tide of change has swept Washington. The reality is, he still represents the moral and social values of most Kentuckians better than those now in charge. He has been a stalwart supporter of First Amendment and Second Amendment rights, both of which have been under attack of late. He has a solid pro-life voting record. He has championed relief for oppressed people in other parts of the world, such as Burma.
He supports an all-of-the-above approach to achieving energy independence — developing renewable sources while tapping into our own abundant oil and gas reserves. He supports expanding nuclear power generation, as well as clean coal technology, which is vital to Kentucky’s economy.
The senator, re-elected in November despite a massive effort — and millions spent — by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, has also been a staunch advocate of low taxes and smaller government. Immediately after his swearing in, he delivered an address on the floor of the Senate calling for cooperation but reminding lawmakers that their first responsibility is to the taxpayers. Referring to President-elect Obama’s proposed $1-trillion stimulus bill, McConnell said: “Sixteen years ago, we rejected a stimulus bill the size of the Minnesota state budget. We shouldn’t be rushed into voting for a bill that by any estimate will be bigger than all 50 state budgets combined.”
With Congress seizing the recession as an excuse for going on a spending spree, the country needs someone to apply the brakes. We can be proud that the brakeman hails from the Commonwealth.
If Mitch McConnell is the iron man of Kentucky politics, his wife is the iron woman. Next week, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao ends her tenure as the only member of George W. Bush’s cabinet to serve from beginning to end in the president’s two terms. Eight distinguished years.
Labels: Fitting tribute
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