For 20-years we have called out the Machievellian nature of Mitch McConnell and his duplicitous agenda to support the UniParty apparatus in Washington DC. Heck, even the name of this site, “The Last Refuge” came from our non-pretending association as to the nature of the root cause of our problems within the Republican apparatus. Mitch McConnell has always been working for the other side.
Last night in the confirmation vote for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Mitch McConnell voted no. In an almost identical way to former Senator John McCain refusing to repeal Obamacare, Mitch McConnell ends his time in the senate with a very planned, purposeful and public rebuke of President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the military.
Do not overlook that Senator McConnell intentionally waited, just like McCain, to cast his ‘nay’ vote until the end of the vote call. McConnell did this with purpose and public intent, just like McCain. Vice-President JD Vance then steps-in to a 50/50 vote to cast the tie-breaking vote.
Mitch McConnell now exits the chamber as Pete Hegseth is now confirmed despite him.
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President Trump was asked about Mitch McConnell’s vote as he departed California for the return to DC. Video Below:
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WATCH:
NEW: Mitch McConnell seen waddling over to go shake hands with the Democrats after voting ‘NO’ for Pete Hegseth’s confirmation.
The move forced JD Vance to cast the final tie breaking vote.
The next four years will be a fight.pic.twitter.com/phfV6Did9C
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 25, 2025
NEW: Mitch McConnell seen waddling over to go shake hands with the Democrats after voting ‘NO’ for Pete Hegseth’s confirmation.
The move forced JD Vance to cast the final tie breaking vote.
The next four years will be a fight.pic.twitter.com/phfV6Did9C
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 25, 2025
Two years:
Class II terms run from the beginning of the 117th Congress on January 3, 2021, to the end of the 119th Congress on January 3, 2027. Senators in Class II were elected to office in the November 2020 general election, unless they took their seat through appointment or special election.
Democrats
Booker, Cory A. (D-NJ)
Coons, Christopher A. (D-DE)
Durbin, Richard J. (D-IL)
Hickenlooper, John W. (D-CO)
Luján, Ben Ray (D-NM)
Markey, Edward J. (D-MA)
Merkley, Jeff (D-OR)
Ossoff, Jon (D-GA)
Peters, Gary C. (D-MI)
Reed, Jack (D-RI)
Shaheen, Jeanne (D-NH)
Smith, Tina (D-MN)
Warner, Mark R. (D-VA)
Republicans
Capito, Shelley Moore (R-WV)
Cassidy, Bill (R-LA)
Collins, Susan M. (R-ME)
Cornyn, John (R-TX)
Cotton, Tom (R-AR)
Daines, Steve (R-MT)
Ernst, Joni (R-IA)
Graham, Lindsey (R-SC)
Hagerty, Bill (R-TN)
Hyde-Smith, Cindy (R-MS)
Lummis, Cynthia M. (R-WY)
Marshall, Roger (R-KS)
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY)
Mullin, Markwayne (R-OK)
Ricketts, Pete (R-NE)
Risch, James E. (R-ID)
Rounds, Mike (R-SD)
Sullivan, Dan (R-AK)
Tillis, Thom (R-NC)
Tuberville, Tommy (R-AL)
The Democrats are BROKE. Shutting off the foreign aid spigot will hurt both parties, but the poorer one will always suffer the most.
Home sales might increase!
Cutting off the foreign aid MONEY LAUNDERING spigot will hurt the dims and the RINOs. More winning.
It looks to me like most of the republicans are people that needs primaried.
Both parties need to purge the entrenched Congress critters. In the 90’s it was “Throw the bums out”. Need to revisit that.
I have always believed that those in Congress from each House whom have been there more than 18 years ought to move on and not be allowed to be employed by special interest/govt. organizations, there really needs to be a law to remove all/any security measures starting with China Mitch McConnell, Schiff, Schumer, and after hours trader Nancy Pelosi!
Here is the best we can hope for in 2026
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Democrats removed and replaced with Republican:
Jon Ossoff (D-GA)
Gary Peters (D-MI)
Republicans Primaried or Replaced:
John Cornyn (TX)
Joni Ernst (IA)
Lindsey Graham (SC)
Mitch McConnell (KY)
Thom Tillis (NC)
If we can replace these 7 with new MAGA Senators and hold on to the other Republican seats in 2026 we will be able to finish out President Trump’s last 2 years with fireworks.
Hoping Dan Bishop will run for Tillis’ seat in 2026!
mcconnell isn’t going to run again, so open seat. Definite primary challenges for cornyn and tillis. The other 2, ernst and graham, vote pretty much with our interests, so I am leery about primarying them. You can’t do too much of that lest we lose a seat to the ‘rats. Must defeat ossoff and peters. What ye think of defeating smith in Minnesota? That would be a delicious win. The rest of the ‘rats are unfortunately shoo-ins.
Very correct and pragmatic. I agree.
Ernst was a true conservative when she was first elected. She has become part of McConnell’s posse since then.
Graham is the true definition of RINO. He reminds me a lot of my Senator, Cornyn. Graham is the best one in the Senate at saying one thing in public and doing the opposite behind closed doors.
Smith is a possibility in Minnesota depending on how much clean up on voter rolls can be done before 2026 elections
Graham is also good at throwing out trial balloon talking points that fire up the Democrats. Graham is a perfect example of how the Senate is the deep, fetid end of the swamp. He was more reliable when he was in the House, then went to the Senate and got swallowed by the slime.
I thought for sure Mace was going to run for that Senate seat again (not a huge improvement) but it looks like she wants to be governor.
In S.C. too many people thru their hats in to run against Graham, it not hard for an incumbent to win, they need a republican pre-primary where they decide one person that will run against Ms. Lindsay.
Ernst, Rubio, & Cory Gardner were all 2010 Tea Party candidates, who immediately sold themselves out to the Establishment. They were NEVER real TP people.
He will be taking a dirt nap before then, I think. He froze up yesterday after the vote.
Planck’s Principle applies in politics too.
‘A new
scientific truthpolitical movement does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.’ (usually summarized as: We advance “one funeral at a time.”)Getting rid of Ossoff here in GA will probably lead to the current governor Kemp replacing him..
Isn’t McConnell retiring in 2026?
S.C. needs to get behind ‘one’ candidate against Graham, not 2 or 3.
Kentucky needs to fix this problem. Ditch Mitch!
They have tried!!! But remember, Mitch had the reelection money under his fingers.
He had rigged everything in KY.
So true.
Funny how RINO’s know how to use the power of the purse when they want to.
Lots of RINOS to primary. Good. About 75% of the Republican list including the first four, Ernst, Graham, Tillis, McConnell.
But WE need to recruit the candidates OURSELVES, not just choose between the people presented to us by the political elite. AND GIVE MONEY to support them. Or people who hate us WILL.
Turtle needs to go away. Hopefully from natural causes. Soon. Praying for his replacement.
At least roll the turtle on his back and watch him flail. (I’d never do this to a real turtle).
The problem is that Gov Andy Beshear of Kentucky is a dem, so if the turtle leaves before his term expires, the gov will appoint a lefty nutjob.
The turtle has announced he is not running for re-election, so he will be replaced next year (election is 3 November 2026). The turtle may be a duplicitous weasel, but (in my opinion) does not cause as much trouble as a dem, because dems are unapologetically unAmerican.
By law, the governor of KY has to appoint a senator from the same party as the one leaving should a vacancy occur.
I think the Republican leadership in the State Legislature gives the governor a list of names to make the selection.
BUT, Thune put McConnell as chair of the Senate Rules Committee that decides what legislation will be considered.
Perhaps an investigation into the China-friendly dealings of Mr. Elaine Chao?
Maybe he will get bird flu
Would there be anything in the 25th Amendment that applies to Senators?? IMESHO, there several that should be encouraged to retire and write their memoirs.
There is an expulsion clause for Congress in the Constitution; similar to impeachment. Designed for corruption, but doesn’t exclude health issues.
The Turtle’s No vote totally confirms that President Trump pick for the job of Secretary of Defense was the right one.
Pete Hegseth is the Right Man at the Right Time.
Good by Turdle. Go back to your moldy, stinky, hole in the cesspool
Only fitting that mcturkey sinks into the lava still clutching at the ring of power. If this isn’t proof that we need term limits, then…
Right BUT who is going to vote for them DEMs =0, RINOS = 0. (95 % of the Republicans are RINOS just doing as little as they can to ride out the next 4 years then back to the corrupt NORMAL.
Did POS Mitch get his few pieces of silver?
BOGO+
Gets a lot more than that from the lobbyists.
He can’t take it with him. Lake of Fire for him. How delicious!
Mitch’s wife is his handler.
He got his a long time ago. K street and China.
I’m going to turn down the temperature with my comment on Turtle’s vote 😎
Trump’s response was smart. No need to inflame things with many more nominees still to come.
McConnell waited until last to cast his vote. I’d like to think that he did so to make sure that his no vote wouldn’t be determinative. Maybe that’s naive 😎.
But Inthink his no vote was a shot across the bow that he was not just surrendering to Trump.
So McConnell voted his conscience?? How many hundreds of times did he coerce fellow Republicans over the years to not break ranks with the party? Sometimes even threatening their careers?
While it’s good that this Establishment and Uniparty fanatic is no longer Majority Leader, he still wields lots of influence. Trump not going after him for this vote shows that Trump has truly learned about how to swim in tne Swamp.
Let’s see what Turtle does on the Gabbard, Bondi, and especially Patel nominations.
“Threatening the careers”That quote alone said it all. NO ONE should see politics especially holding office as a CAREER. That is the main problem.
Your observation sounds correct, in that Thune (hand-picked by the turtle to be the new Majority leader) apparently supported the nomination, and the turtle would not want to stab him in the back. It seems the turtle wanted to send a message to PDJT, but not at the expense of hurting Thune.
As for voting his conscious, I’m not sure he has one, but who knows?
Spot on those customary to sin build thick callouses over their soul making it easy for the next deed.
Also, the confirmation of RFK, Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Recently concerns have been voiced across various conservative platforms about Stargate becoming Operation Warp Speed 2.0 with prudent skepticism about more emergency vaccine mandates. Some outlets such as Newsweek provide perhaps more balanced coverage of Larry Ellison’s unbridled enthusiasm for mRNA cancer vaccines produced by AI.
Recently someone reported that AI interpreted a photo of their dog, a Chihuahua-Yorkie, as a German Shepherd.
A very interesting read, though long, is an essay by Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin, published January 18, 2025, two days before President Trump’s inauguration. Especially interesting is his paragraph on Generational Theory relevant to what many are now saying is America’s “Golden Era.”
https://www.arktosjournal.com/cp/155362543
Thank you so very much for this link! Well worth the time to read.
For a while now, I have felt like I was living in “interesting times“, and now I’m sure of it.
Appreciate this very much!
I was just thinking the same thing, Grasshopper, about McConnell’s vote being a shot across the bow. It was pointed out awhile ago, during the Gaetz nomination, that with the slim Republican majority in the Senate, McConnell, Collins, Murkowski, and Tillis could lock arms and block any cabinet candidate they wanted — esp on the more controversial ones like Hegseth and RFK Jr.
I believe this was his way of doing a Biden — showing that just because he is a faded, doddering version of his former self, he is still mean and ornery enough — and powerful enough — to flex his muscle and give a McCain thumbs down whenever he chooses. I’m glad that this time, VP Vance was there with the 51st vote. But yes, it will be interesting to see if he does this when the vote is closer.
McConnell always relished being in the minority. Now he’s in the minority of the R party.
Yes, that could be his choice, especially if he does not care about his legacy, how people view him after he is gone. McCain did that, and will be remembered for his thumbs-down vote forever. At that moment he confirmed that he was a POS.
He has no conscience.
McConnell ‘The Turtle’ is a liability.
Take that, old vampire
Hegseth will have to deposit MAGA supervisors at every level and every turn in the organizations. I would use “secret shoppers” to get the scuttlebutt.
There is probably room to cut a lot of waste and eliminate a lot of self-serving bureacrats.
Our government could be run successfully with 1/100th of the people currently employed.
Trump already has his nominees named for service secretaries, Deputy SecDef (appears to be who will run the “business” of the Pentagon) and the USDs. Michael Duffey as USD for Acquisition is interesting. Will have to watch how that plays out.
Why gain the whole world only to loose ones soul to the devil for eternity.
McConnell is a snake, and our version of Dementia Joe!
Winning no need to give the turtle any attention for his unAmerican ways. Winning will put our country back on track to Greatness. Not an Arrogant way but a Rightous way.
Mitch mcconell is just an old pos like joe biden.😡
McConnell has been a treacherous little man ever since I have been aware of the people in politics. He is evil in a way since he is always on the side opposite of what makes sense. Therefore it has to be self gain that he pursues. I am glad he will soon be gone from the Congress and others, hopefully, with less self-interest and willingness to do harm, will take his place.
If McConnell dies, which could happen, how does the replacement process go in Kentucky? I know there was a fight because it is a Democratic Governor, and a Republican legislature. Same with NC. What if Hollis resigns, quits, or goes away?
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2023/07/28/heres-how-kentuckys-law-works-for-filling-u-s-senate-vacancies/70484359007/
Thank the Lord, the KY legislature may have saved our republic!
RINO Mitch McConnell has Sold Out the USA
so many times that I lost count.
Next time Turtle has one of his “freeze” moments, for the good of the country, don’t revive him.
I won’t be sad when he is gone for good.
I hate paying the salaries of self-serving members of Congress who vote against us, against what the people want. Case in point – Mitch McConnell!
I do see some merit in the comments that Mitch McConnell made regarding Mr. Hegseth’s qualifications.
However, I hope that where Mr. Hegseth lacks in many crucial areas, he has wise advisors to whom he can delegate and trust.
I want to see the Department of Defense run more efficiently and thoughtfully because I hear of so much wasted spending.
Fortunately, Secretary Hegseth has no experience in running organizations that cannot pass a financial audit.
I hate the Turtle.
Report is the McTurtle Rino now chairs a Senate Sub Committee that controls the Pentagon’s budget.
If true, PDJT and SEC Def, Pete still have burs under their saddles.
Sic Bondi on Mitch/wife’s biz trail.
McConnell needs removed from every committee he is on now, and neve be allowed on another one. Thune needs to step here and make that call.
There is something refreshing and comforting in Trump’s ego. It’s not the typical egotistical projection where he has to show that he’s more important or better than the people around him like 99.99 of politicians or company executives display in their need for validation. He’s had the adulation, the attention and the success. He’s married the models and the actress, he’s shmoozed with the elites and the rich, the famous and the powerful. He’s been there, done that.
But he also enjoys talking to ‘normal’ people, listening to them, something a politician or CEO would do only during reelection or filming a commercial.
As he ends the presser, he asks the scrum, “Are you going on the plane? Good. Maybe I’ll see you on the plane.”
PDJT knows he is right…
….he’s had four long years to observe and think about it
CTH/Last Refuge….
Bestest ever…..
McConnell is a “dead man walking”. Reminds me of a scene from a “Godfather” movie at the funeral for Don Corleone.
McCain wreaked havoc until the end…expect no less of Mitch.
Mitch stays loyal to those who sign his paycheck,doesn’t he?
His BIG paycheck, I mean…
How do we start a movement to field and elect new representatives to go to DC with the sole purpose of enacting absolute term limits on CONgress?
this BS needs to end
What amazing stamina by PRESIDENT TRUMP…. North Carolina, Los Angeles, Las Vegas….. WOW! AWESOME!!
McConnell has lost much of his power. In his hey day he would have compelled enough other RINOs to vote NO on Hegseth. Those people are now more afraid to cross to Trump than Traitor Mitch.
Not only has Mitch McConnell been working for “the other side” (dims); he has been working for “the other side” (China). McConnell should have been primaried a long time ago, but the “voters” in Kentucky had other plans. Eventually, we will be rid of him.
I’d trust McConnel just as much as Smallwell or Jasmine Crockett. And I’d trust those two a lot less than Putin.