GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell

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GOP Leader McConnell remains in hospital after concussion

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell suffered a concussion after a fall at a local hotel and remains hospitalized “for a few days of observation and treatment,” a spokesman said Thursday.

https://apnews.com/article/republican-senate-mitch-mcconnell-hospital-4bf1b2efa0deec62c82d15b39ee5fc28?

ps:? for Senator McConnell and his family that all is well ?

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McConnell's health scare

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was escorted out of his leadership news conference today after freezing midsentence for about 20 seconds, leaving reporters and senators in stunned silence.

Why it matters: The 81-year-old GOP leader, described by colleagues as one of the most effective political operators in modern history, was hospitalized in March with a concussion after suffering a serious fall at a fundraising dinner.

• His monthlong absence drew speculation of possible plans to retire, which McConnell immediately quashed.
• Those rumors are likely to kick back into overdrive after today's health scare, with McConnell's seat not up for re-election until 2026.

Driving the news: Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), one of McConnell's top deputies and a leading contender to replace him as leader, helped lead McConnell away from the lectern after the apparent health episode.

• McConnell returned to the news conference about 10 minutes later and told reporters he was "fine," before going on to answer questions about Hunter Biden's plea deal, the House's possible impeachment inquiry into President Biden and other issues.
• Asked at the end of the news conference whether he had anyone in mind to replace him as leader, McConnell chuckled and walked away.

An aide to McConnell told Axios that he "felt lightheaded and stepped away for a moment."

• Barrasso told reporters that he's been "concerned" about McConnell's health since his fall several months ago but denied that the GOP leader's condition has worsened.
• "I'll support Sen. McConnell as long as he wants to remain as leader," said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who along with Barrasso and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is viewed as a possible successor.

Note: Overall U.S. data based on 2021 resident population estimates; Includes non-voting Congress members; Generation after Gen Z excluded because membershey are not eligible for Congress. Data: Quorum, U.S. Census Bureau, Axios research; Chart: Simran Parwani/Axios

The big picture: McConnell — the longest-serving leader in Senate history — represents a strain of establishment Republican that has otherwise been marginalized by former President Trump's hostile takeover of the GOP.

• The Kentucky Republican has routinely used his floor speeches over the last year to make an impassioned case for ramping up U.S. military aid to Ukraine — clashing with House Republicans and leading presidential candidates who oppose the war effort.
• That and his criticism of Trump after Jan. 6 have made McConnell an enemy of the GOP base as well as Democrats; a poll in January found he is America's least popular senator.

Even still, McConnell remains a powerful force on Capitol Hill — and a sudden retirement would leave a gaping vacuum in the Senate GOP conference.

• McConnell easily dispatched a leadership challenge from Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) after the midterms, winning 37-10 in a secret ballot.

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Mitch McConnell jokes that he was ‘sandbagged’ as Biden calls to check on him after freezing episode

Mr McConnell was referring to Mr Biden’s own public episode where he tripped and fell on stage at the US Air Force Academy graduation back in early June

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/mitch-mcconnell-biden-sandbag-freezing-video-b2382885.html?

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Sen. McConnell plans to serve his full term as Republican leader despite questions about his health

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has repeatedly said he is “fine” since he froze up midsentence during a press conference on Wednesday. And now his office is trying to tamp down speculation that he might not fill out his term as leader because of his health.

https://apnews.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-health-republican-leader-07bdd2f78545b92bb8d2dd32395ff956?

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Mitch McConnell Mercilessly Heckled During Speech With Chants of ‘Retire!’

The Senate Minority Leader appeared completely unperturbed by the rowdy crowd as he pushed on with his speech.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/mitch-mcconnell-mercilessly-heckled-during-speech-with-chants-of-retire?

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McConnell in Winter: Inside the GOP Leader’s Attempt to Thwart Trump

The Kentucky Republican is doing all he can to bolster Ukraine, preserve NATO and help his party maintain its Reaganite roots.

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/08/14/mitch-mcconnell-trump-00110969?

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Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell appears to freeze up again, this time at a Kentucky event

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell appeared to briefly freeze up and was unable to answer a question from a reporter at an event in Kentucky on Wednesday, weeks after he had a similar episode in Washington.

https://apnews.com/article/senate-gop-leader-mcconnell-health-freeze-up-c5b43745251daa0bb63636ceff4edce2?

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Sen. McConnell’s health episodes show no evidence of stroke or seizure disorder, Capitol doctor says

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s health episodes show “no evidence” of a stroke or seizure disorder, the Capitol physician said Tuesday, but his statement still left questions about the apparent freeze-ups that have drawn concerns about the 81-year-old’s situation.

https://apnews.com/article/mitch-mcconnell-health-senate-doctor-162087fbf0d0c1dfa2c19beca1bd380f?

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? McConnell's fundraising juice

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told Republicans behind closed doors today that he has no cognitive issues and plans to serve out the rest of his term as leader and senator, CNN reports.

• The brief remarks about his recent health scares seemed to satisfy his colleagues — none followed up with questions.

McConnell then revealed that his allied outside groups had raised $50 million in August alone — a clever way of reminding the GOP conference why he has maintained his grip on leadership for so long.

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Will McConnell’s proudest accomplishment be his party’s political undoing?

And does it matter as long as his federal judiciary enforces minority rule?

https://kentuckylantern.com/2023/09/04/will-mcconnells-proudest-accomplishment-be-his-partys-political-undoing/?