Sunday, July 28, 2019

Democracy Destroyer: Moscow Mitch McConnell




As someone who ranks as the most unpopular Senator in his own state, it's shocking that somehow Sen. Mitch "Moscow Mitch" McConnell (Shitheel- KY) continues to get re- elected, until you realize it's a state that, according to 538, is 23 points more Republican than the rest of the country. The benighted voters of that state haven't sent a Democrat to the Senate in 20 years.  That's a main reason Moscow Mitch feels empowered to allow Russian meddling in our elections.

Maybe if it ever dawns on them that their senior Senator is a bought- and- paid- for Russian asset, that might, might change (once again, we believe Democrat Amy McGrath has the best chance against him in 2020).  But even if he continues to decompose in the Senate for another 6 years, history has already made it's judgement.  He's a firmly committed destroyer of American democracy.  Looking beyond his all- out obstruction and sabotage efforts during the Obama presidency, the outrageous blockade of Merrick Garland and his stuffing the judiciary with right- wing cranks, and his refusal to bring any legislation passed by the House to the floor for a vote, Moscow Mitch's lasting, most egregious stain will be his enabling Russian despot Vladimir Putin to meddle in our elections.

Dana Milbank briefly notes Moscow Mitch's recent history blocking legislation to protect our elections, such as:
A bipartisan bill requiring Facebook, Google and other Internet companies to disclose purchasers of political ads, to identify foreign influence.
A bipartisan bill to ease cooperation between state election officials and federal intelligence agencies.
A bipartisan bill imposing sanctions on any entity that attacks a U.S. election.
A bipartisan bill with severe new sanctions on Russia for its cybercrimes.
McConnell has prevented them all from being considered — over and over again. This is the same McConnell who, in the summer of 2016, when briefed by the CIA along with other congressional leaders on Russia’s electoral attacks, questioned the validity of the intelligence and forced a watering down of a warning letter to state officials about the threat, omitting any mention of Russia.
One measure Moscow Mitch objected to would have mandated use of paper ballots in state election systems for a voter- verified paper trail.  Moscow Mitch's response?
"This is partisan legislation from the Democratic House of Representatives... It's just a highly partisan bill from the same folks who spent two years hyping up a conspiracy theory about President Trump and Russia."
Yeah, that phony Trump- Russia hoax!  Moscow Mitch went on to say a reform like this would give Democrats the political upper hand in elections!  Funny how honesty, transparency and counting every vote advantages Democrats!

Well, let's not overlook another reason the ever- corrupt Moscow Mitch might be blocking plans to safeguard our elections:
The plans would likely burden the two largest electronic voting machine vendors in the United States, Election Systems & Software and Dominion Voting Systems, with new regulations and financial burdens. Together, the companies make up about 80 percent of all voting machines used in the country and both have far-reaching lobbying arms in Washington D.C. Many of those lobbyists have contributed to the McConnell campaign, reported Sludge last month, an investigative outlet that focuses on money in politics.  (our emphasis)
So, where venality intersects with protecting power and privilege, that's where you'll find the destroyer of our democracy, Moscow Mitch.

BONUS:  While he's busy helping himself and his friends in Russia, here's what's going on back home --


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