A Newly Benevolent McConnell Channels Obama: ‘We’re All On One Team’

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., joined by Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., far left, and Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., second from left, speaks to reporters after a Republican caucus meeting, at the Capitol in Was... Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., joined by Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., far left, and Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., second from left, speaks to reporters after a Republican caucus meeting, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, May 13, 2014. (AP Photo) MORE LESS

In his first remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate since last week’s election, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) struck a conciliatory tone, a reversal from eight years of vociferously opposing nearly every item on the Obama administration’s legislative agenda.

Of course, McConnell will likely have little to object to in the coming years: With President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office, majorities in both Congressional chambers, 25 states with both a Republican governor and state legislative majority and a Supreme Court poised to tip conservative, the political world is his.

McConnell’s brief remarks notably channeled Obama, whose speech acknowledging Trump’s victory McConnell quoted for the record, with some difficulty.

“As President Obama reminded us, we’re all on one team. This is an inaugural— This is an intramural—excuse me. This is an intramural scrimmage,” he said.

“We’re not Democrats first. We’re not Republicans first. We’re Americans first. We’re patriots first. And now, as you put it, we’re all rooting for the President-elect’s success in uniting and leading the country,” McConnell continued.

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  1. Oh great. Then hold a hearing and confirm Garland, RIGHT NOW. Not.

    Fuck you.

  2. Now? Now? The Obstructionist in Chief is all Kumbaya.

  3. Avatar for marby marby says:

    The fact that he wasn’t struck dead or turned into a pillar of salt when he said those words proves there is no justice in our world.

  4. Satan phoned, Mitch. He told me to remind you he is keeping your cell hot and dry … and that your turn is coming up sooner rather than later. Take care of yourself, Mitch.

  5. After his outright theft of a seat on the Supreme Court, which is something Dems cannot ever forgive or forget, he adopts a “conciliatory tone.”

    It feels more like he’s smiling as he slips the stiletto in, because he knows he got away with it.

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