It’s the freeze seen round the world. For the second time in five weeks, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze while taking questions. Not froze like he lost his train of thought. Froze like totally shut down. With no clear explanation the day after, we can only conclude that no one in his circle of trust loves Mitch McConnell.

If you haven’t seen this freeze after a luncheon in Covington, Kentucky, it is frightening. Here, the freeze is narrated by Terrence K. Williams:

It’s time for Mitch McConnell to go

This is sad to see. He is not fit to stand up or lead the GOP.

These people are sick, He’s having a major health issue and no one called 911! They wanted him to stand there and answer more questions.

We need Term Limits.

Am I right or… pic.twitter.com/wr7UzAVpmV

— Terrence K. Williams (@w_terrence) August 30, 2023

The hamster died on the wheel and McConnell’s staff keeps on working like it’s a normal press conference. No one on his staff loves Mitch McConnell. Like those Senators in the Capitol in July. Just keep moving forward.

Here are the musings from the Politico Playbook:

ANOTHER PAUSE, A BIGGER PROBLEM — Something is going on with MITCH McCONNELL, and no one seems to have a clue what it is.
When McConnell fell during a fundraiser in March and was absent from the Senate for several weeks, the minority leader’s team moved to quickly tamp down suggestions that his concussion was worse than they’d let on.
When he suddenly froze for more than 15 seconds while speaking to reporters just before August recess, his allies suggested he was just “dehydrated.”
Yesterday, McConnell, 81, again stopped short after being asked at an event in Kentucky if he was running for reelection in 2026 — this time, for a half-minute. His office’s explanation? He was “momentarily lightheaded and paused during his press conference today.” The video — which is difficult to watch — doesn’t suggest a voluntary pause on his part.
If the Kentucky Republican’s health was a concern before, it’s ballooned into a serious worry now.
The GOP leader’s latest health scare has sent the congressional rumor mill into overdrive, triggering questions about both his health and his political future. And yet, McConnell’s operation is saying very little. In that absence, both reporters and McConnell’s own rank and file are left to speculate about what’s happening.
How frequently are these bouts occurring? Are they seizures? Miniature strokes? Are they the byproduct of his concussion? Has he seen a neurologist?
Yesterday’s incident was bad enough that McConnell’s office said in a statement that he would see a doctor. But it seems unlikely that they can go much longer without revealing more about his condition. As National Review’s Philip Klein wrote yesterday, “it’s one thing for something to happen once, but when it happens twice, and in a progressively worse way, it becomes harder to sweep under the rug.”
THE REACTION: Publicly, senators have said little — or if they’ve weighed in, they’ve defended McConnell and wished him well. Members of the upper chamber have long operated under a there-but-for-the-grace-of-God understanding, fearful of calling for ill or aging members of the opposition party to resign lest they one day find themselves in a similar situation.
It’s why Senate Republicans didn’t harp on JOHN FETTERMAN (D-Pa.) over his hospitalization for depression, or DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-Calif.) for her longtime absence for complications from shingles (and her general aloofness upon her return). Likewise, Democrats didn’t go after MARK KIRK (R-Ill.) following his stroke or THAD COCHRAN (R-Miss.) as he shuffled around the Senate appearing to be lost.

I say bullhockey on all the Senators of the Uniparty. They love power far more than they love their constituents or country and they are all vile.

Where is Elaine Chao? The razor smart Chao is a longtime Swamp Critter. I realize that McConnell, Chao and their families love the perks that come from privilege and power. If Chao truly loves Mitch, should she peel his hands off the levers of power and take him home to the rolling hills outside of Lexington, if that is still home? Swamp Critters love the Swamp and are most comfortable there.

A Capitol Hill Doctor has “cleared” McConnell to resume his schedule! Whut?

What is involved in this “cleared”? Like Dianne Feinstein is cleared. Look, there are nonagenarians who are still in the saddle, bless them. But, these guys like Mitch are falling off the horse. Somebody needs to love them enough to head them back to the ranch.

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