“We all were here. We saw what happened. It was a violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election, from one administration to the next. That’s what it was.” — Mitch McConnell
In his statement, McConnell went further than Pence did last week. He (1) acknowledged that the election was legitimate, (2) described Jan. 6th graphically as “a violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power,” and (3) explicitly pushed back against the Trumpified RNC.
This is necessary but not sufficient. So now the remaining questions:Will McConnell embrace the recommendations of the House Jan. 6th Committee?
Will he finally break with Trump 2024?
Will other GOP senators follow his lead and speak out?
Based on past experience, this may be merely sound and fury, signifying nothing. But there are real signs of stress as Republicans come to grips with the latest fiasco caused by their fealty to TFG. A few scenes from what the NYT is calling the GOP’s “food fight”: