Mitch McConnell spent 41 years building the most powerful Republican machine in the Senate..he blocked nominees.. killed legislation.. outlasted six presidents.. and bent the entire GOP caucus to his will for four decades.. (Andy Barr won)

X.com ^ | 5/19/2026 | 🇺🇸 Thomas A. Whitaker @WhitakerTA

[ransomnote]

🇺🇸 Thomas A. Whitaker
@WhitakerTA_
·
15h
🚨 Do you understand what quietly happened in Kentucky tonight..

Mitch McConnell spent 41 years building the most powerful Republican machine in the Senate..

he blocked nominees.. killed legislation.. outlasted six presidents.. and bent the entire GOP caucus to his will for four decades..

and the moment he stepped back..

Trump walked in on May 1st.. endorsed Andy Barr.. offered the only real rival an ambassadorship.. and the rival dropped out the same week..

> Cameron — the man who was supposed to carry McConnell's network forward — entered with a polling lead.. raised money.. had the name recognition.. had the Christian conservative base..

> Barr had none of that early.. until Trump made one phone call and one diplomatic offer..

> Cameron finished at 30%.. Barr won with 60%..

> the seat McConnell held since 1984 flipped to a Trump loyalist in a single primary night..

> the first open Kentucky Senate seat in 42 years.. decided by an endorsement and an ambassadorship..

every single establishment figure watching this tonight told their donors "the McConnell network is durable".. every single one assumed the old machine had enough infrastructure to survive his retirement..

it didn't survive a single election cycle..

not a scandal.. not a Democrat.. not a generational shift..

one endorsement.. one ambassadorship offer.. and 41 years of political infrastructure collapsed in an evening..

the quiet part nobody is saying out loud.. Trump didn't just win a primary tonight.. he erased the last internal friction point inside the Senate Republican caucus without a single floor vote..

it's only getting quieter from here..

I'll keep you updated. Turn on notifications. 🚨

[SkyDancer]

The Rhino’s rhino.

[Reily]

Repeal the 17th Amendment! Go back to Federal-State relationship the Founding Fathers intended. Senators appointed by the legislature would be the voice of the states in federal policy. Senators might actually be appointed that deeply understood their states. (Could actually find their state capitals without a staffer driving them there!) Now we have a Senate that for all intents is just an upper House. A senator is nothing more then a congresscritter with a 6 year term. By making it like the House it has all the vices of the House like hyperpartisanship and no of the virtues (2 year terms). Note: the House was designed to be partisan but the two year terms force that partisanship to be constantly tested. (Yes many districts flunk the test!) The House needs term limits, the Senate if the 17th is repealed might not.

[paulcissa]

Cocaine Mitch’s use-by date expired years ago, but I did find it entertaining to watch him glitch-out on TV during his droning podium pressers. He should have retired then but that’s politicians for you...anyone seen Nancy lately?

[oil_dude]

Genius move by Trump

[FLT-bird]

Yet another Senate seat flipped from the RINOs.

[Sacajaweau]

Everyone knew Mitch was retiring. Trump had nothing to do with it.

[Sacajaweau]

Mitch announced he was going to retire mid 2025.

[Bullish]

However he did manage to get Bush and Trump’s Supreme Court nominees confirmed and managed to block Garland from serving on the Court.

You mean like 'Hollywood' John Roberts?

[Bullish]

While no fan of McConnell you all could show some respect for the guy. Without his backbone Obama would have had another SCOTUS justice.

Oh yeah? And without Mitch, China wouldn't have a huge foothold in America right now.
Mitch sold us down the Yangtze river plain and simple and made himself and his family quite rich in the meantime. He should never be forgiven or respected in the least bit because of that.

[dfwgator]

Without his backbone Obama would have had another SCOTUS justice.

[paulcissa]

That’s so FR. Not only did you not read the article, you didn’t even read the post! Let me help:

Trump walked in on May 1st.. endorsed Andy Barr.. offered the only real rival an ambassadorship.. and the rival dropped out the same week..

Trump had nothing to do with it? You’re just having a sacajaweau hissy fit ‘cause you hate Trump.

[Sacajaweau]

Cameron never had a chance. Why would Trump endorse a loser?

[TornadoAlley3]

Mitch is dead man walking. Biden may outlive him. He may already be deceased.

[central_va]

Never a bad time to kill off a RINO.

[central_va]

Throw another rino in the pile.

[central_va]

Loaded with milquetoast Rinos.

[libertylover]

I voted for Andy Barr because Cameron has already lost one statewide race, against a pervert supporting Democrat (Beshear).

Also, the Democrats defeated Amy McGrath who has lost at least 2 times, maybe 3. I don’t think she’s ever won anything and self-proclaimed to be the most far-left person in Kentucky.

[Lurker]

Concern troll is concerned

L

[Uncle Miltie]

Good riddance RINO turtle.

[central_va]