McConnell: ‘I didn’t think President Trump had a chance of winning’ (interesting admissions)

McClatchy ^ | 20 Dec 16 | DAVID LIGHTMAN

[xzins]

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was surprised on election night: He didn’t see President-elect Donald Trump winning or the Senate staying in Republican hands.

“I honestly thought we wouldn’t hold the U.S. Senate,” the Kentucky Republican told Kentucky Educational Television’s ... “I thought we’d come up short, and I didn’t think President Trump had a chance of winning.”

The Senate victories were “really something,” McConnell said, “but it never occurred to me he (Trump) might be able to win as well.” ...

“It was a lot of feeling among just ordinary people...that the current administration didn’t care about them,” he said, “and Trump was able to convey, ...a message from a billionaire who lives in Manhattan a genuine concern (to those) who feel kind of left out.”

[mandaladon]

Men of little faith!!!

[phoneman08]

REMINDER: Trump’s win is only ONE HALF of why we won’t have a liberal Supreme Court for A LONG TIME. Mitch McConnell is the other half, and frankly, his winning gamble of holding off the Obama nominee will prove one of the most profoundly influential choices of all history. We dislike much of what he has done, but make no mistake about it. THIS reversed it all. He was under tremendous pressure to proceed with Obama’s nominee. He said no. And won.

Which reminds me I owe a dear Cruzer friend dinner. We had argued over many things during the primaries, and I was right about everything, (hehe) except that I was certain McConnell would fold like a cheap suit.

It's also noteworthy that having the Scalia seat yet to be filled was also helpful, indeed perhaps instrumental in Trumps victory.

[Degaston]

I think its important to remember that a good working relationship between Trump, Paul Ryan, and Mitch McConnell With folks like Lindsey Graham and John McCain in the ranks of the 52 member GOP caucus in the US Senate is going to be vital. When Trump starts his “they aren’t draining the swamp fast enough” tours throughout the States with battleground 2018 Senate races we’re going to see that Mitch is going to be in an important pivotal role for success.

[unixfox]

Time to primary this POS.

[x]

Before anyone gets on their high horse his belief was shared by most people.

...

McConnell should not be attacked for exemplifying what probably most Trump supporters believed as well.

True. McConnell's job was to get his people elected and stay out of Trump's way, which he more or less did. The doubts he had were shared by many. Admitting them now that the election is over is a lot better than publicizing them while the campaign was still underway.

[Resettozero]

I think its important to remember that a good working relationship between Trump, Paul Ryan, and Mitch McConnell With folks like Lindsey Graham and John McCain in the ranks of the 52 member GOP caucus in the US Senate is going to be vital. When Trump starts his “they aren’t draining the swamp fast enough” tours throughout the States with battleground 2018 Senate races we’re going to see that Mitch is going to be in an important pivotal role for success.

You're probably accurate in your guesstimate of the future but that doesn't mean I shall like him better as a person or respect him any more than I do now. The future of America does not hinge mainly on the actions or inactions of the men you named. It's in Someone Else's hands and always has been.

[Resettozero]

Mitch McConnell is the other half, and frankly, his winning gamble of holding off the Obama nominee will prove one of the most profoundly influential choices of all history.

He probably abhorred the thought of all his properties being burned to the ground. Nothing brave in that.

[VRWC For Truth]

Take the tortoise to the woodshed and beat it mercilessly

[headstamp 2]

Fully illustrates just how disconnected the GOP has become from its base.

Too busy whoring out to lobbyists.

[af_vet_1981]

CNN Election Coverage, Nov 4 at 7:23 PM

Senior Trump Advisor: "It will take a miracle for us to win"

We witnessed a miracle Election Night. I thank God for his mercy to give our nation space to repent and amend our ways. May God grant wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to President Donald Trump and Vice President Michael Pence, that we may dwell in safety and prosper, that we may bless all our citizens, as well as our neighbors throughout the world.

[Nuc 1.1]

Proud ordinary person. The senate majority leader is a stinking snob.

[catnipman]

““It was a lot of feeling among just ordinary people...that the current administration didn’t care about them,” he said”

And neither do the GOPe, RINO, DC insider, elite Pubs, Mitch!

[Yaelle]

Wow, haven’t heard good things about graham for some time. Thanks.

[Chaguito]

That was my first thought, too. I commented to my mom on election night that the senators are riding in on Trump’s coat tails. McConnell is blind and lazy.

[TTFX]

I don’t know if you remember, when the campaign was starting McConnell said of Trump:

We are going to drop him like a hot potato

in the sense that Senators would run their campaigns while distancing themselves from Trump. The Republican Senate candidates who used this strategy, those from Nevada and New Hampshire, lost their races that would’ve been won had they not followed McConnell’s ‘drop him like a hot potato’ strategy.

[af_vet_1981]

Someone who doesn’t believe his team will win has no business being its leader.

I think the whole team was soberly recognizing the distinct probability, if not likelihood, of defeat from 7pm to 8pm or so. God gave us a miracle.

[Dave W]

I doubt McConnell is scared of Trump. He was there before Trump and he will be there after Trump.

[Dave W]

You are behind on the news Mr. Head. McConnell has already been reelected as Senate majority leader by the Republican senators that will be seated in Jan. 2017. It’s good for two years, so there you have it. It was also unanimous. The voting has been done, the votes have been counted and McConnell won. For better or worse, the senators think he is the best one to lead them. Apparently, he is quite the technical guru behind the scenes. He has not been antagonistic towards Trump, so let’s just see what he can do with 52 votes that include McCain and his buddy.

[Dave W]

Almost every republican senator got more votes than Trump, which means Trump had no coattails. Even the detested Rubio won his senate race in a landslide by over 700,000 votes, while Trump won Florida by less than 200,000 votes. If anything, Rubio and the other senators dragged Trump over the finish line.

On the House side, Trump did have some coattails and helped several Republicans win their seats.

[Dave W]

Thank you for bringing that up. Most posters love hating McConnell and are never fair when skewering. They really can’t fairly evaluate.