Mitch McConnell's test: Can he do more than obstruct?

[riversedge]

Even if he wins the vote by the end of the week, I still see it as obstruction.




McConnell's test: Can he do more than obstruct?

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/26/opinions/mcconnell-health-care-opinion-zelizer/index.html


By Julian Zelizer, CNN Political Analyst

Updated 5:59 PM ET, Mon June 26, 2017

Story highlights

Julian Zelizer: Throughout his political tenure, McConnell has been a master at congressional obstruction
But the new health care bill will test his ability to be a critical policy creator, writes Zelizer


(CNN)Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is facing a major test this week. Since revealing the details of the Republican health care plan, McConnell has watched as a number of important senators in his own party announced their concerns or opposition. Some, such as Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, have urged him to postpone the vote based on the assumption that, at this moment, it would not pass the upper chamber where the majority only has a slim 52 seats.


Meanwhile, on Monday, the Congressional Budget Office announced that under the Senate bill there would be 22 million more uninsured Americans by 2026, making McConnell's efforts to pass the bill that much more difficult.




But McConnell's supporters believe he can make this happen. They see McConnell as a modern-day Lyndon Johnson, who has served as both Senate minority and majority leader, an old-school legislator who can twist arms and cut deals to bring his party together. They are confident that despite all the potential problems with this bill, McConnell must have enough tricks up his sleeve to defy conventional wisdom.

But the truth is it's nearly impossible to predict if McConnell will succeed. To many, he has defined his career as an obstructionist rather than as someone who creates new policies. The challenge he faces this week is fundamentally different than much of what he has confronted in his time as a party leader........................

[Wellstone ruled]

1. The real truth about McConnell.

Many have know this to be true,the Guy is not a creative individual when it comes to Legislating. His creativity has always been in the obstruction mode,work the rule book and game the referee.