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(click a book cover for a review or other books by or about the presidency from Amazon.com) |
from Republican Leader, by John David Dyche (number of quotes indicated): |
OnTheIssues.org BOOK REVIEW:
Mitch McConnell is in the election battle of his career in 2014 (against Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentucky Secretary of State and Democrat for Senate). So this biography is timely, especially since it's the only biography available of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. If Grimes wins in November, she will be viewed as a "giant killer" on the scale of David Brat (who took out House Majority Whip Eric Cantor in their June 2014 primary). If McConnell wins in November, it's likely he will become the Senate Majority Leader, since his victory implies a few other Republican Senate victories needed to give the GOP the majority in the Senate. In other words, the Kentucky Senate race is the hottest of the 2014 election.
This book is a solid biography of Mitch McConnell. It was reviewed by McConnell before publication, and hence is an "authorized biography," but the author (John David Dyche, a columnist for the Louisville Courier-Journal) claims that McConnell only commented and never made any editorial demands. The author discloses that he "likes Senator McConnell personally, [and] is generally sympathetic with his politics" (p. 251). The book details numerous negative incidents from McConnell's past, and certainly seems fair and balanced (especially since the book details positives and negaitves of just about every other major Kentucky politician too). Here are the highlights of what the author thinks readers should know about McConnell:
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For anyone interested in Kentucky politics, this book is a must-read. For the 99% of the rest of us, this book is a must read to learn about our new Senate Majority Leader, if McConnell wins, or to see who the newest Democratic hero of the Senate beat, if Grimes wins.
-- Jesse Gordon, editor-in-chief, OnTheIssues.org, August 2014
| OnTheIssues.org excerpts: (click on issues for details) |
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Abortion Ernie Fletcher: 1998: Pro-life, but not on a mission. |
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Budget & Economy Ernie Fletcher: Cure budget ills by eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. Jim Bunning: 2008: $700B bailout bill is socialism. Mitch McConnell: 2008 economic bailout: put Main Street ahead of Wall Street. |
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Civil Rights Mitch McConnell: 1963: Witnessed MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech. Mitch McConnell: Flag-burning is free speech; no Constitutional amendment. Mitch McConnell: Switched to opposing flag-burning amendment. Robert Byrd: As Ku Klux Klan member; opposed 1964 Civil Rights Act. |
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Corporations Mitch McConnell: 2008 bailout means firm limit on executive compensation. |
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Crime Mitch McConnell: Supported anti-flag burning amendment; but then changed mind. |
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Education Mitch McConnell: 1983: Appealed to Reagan Democrats on school prayer. |
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Energy & Oil Mitch McConnell: Find more, use less: drill ANWR & off coast. |
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Environment Mitch McConnell: 1979: Killed "garbage-to-steam" plant. Mitch McConnell: Got funding for KY's first federal wildlife refuge. |
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Families & Children Mitch McConnell: 1983: Initiative to fingerprint children. Paul Patton: 2002: Denied then admitted extramarital affair. |
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Foreign Policy Mitch McConnell: 1983: Don't give away the Panama Canal. Mitch McConnell: Opposed "Moscow-centric" focus on former Soviet Union. |
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Free Trade Elaine Chao: 2001: Opposition to Chinese trade is xenophobic hysteria. Heritage Foundation: OpEd: Sullied hawkish views for sake of Chinese money. Mitch McConnell: 1986: Trade sanctions against apartheid in South Africa. Mitch McConnell: Treat Hong Kong separately from China for trade. Mitch McConnell: 1994: Firmly supported NAFTA and GATT. Steve Beshear: NAFTA favors foreign interests over Kentucky's own. |
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Government Reform Ernie Fletcher: 2005: OpEd: Violated state merit system by improper firing. Ernie Fletcher: OpEd: Lost in 2006 after admitting political discrimination. Mitch McConnell: Term limits are an idiotic notion. Mitch McConnell: 1990: Opposed Motor Voter: just registers uninformed voters. Mitch McConnell: Leading opponent of campaign finance reform. Mitch McConnell: 2001: Electoral College is the linchpin of American politics. Paul Patton: 2002: Called special session for public financing system. |
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Gun Control Mitch McConnell: Declines NRA contributions, but opposes gun control. |
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Health Care Mitch McConnell: 2000 McConnell Miracle: $700M for Kentucky tobacco farmers. Mitch McConnell: $10B paid by tobacco companies, but no federal regulation. Mitch McConnell: 2007: Expand SCHIP with "Kids First" bill. |
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Homeland Security Ben Chandler: 2004: Focus on protecting military veterans. Mitch McConnell: 1969: Opposed ABM deployment, but supported it later. Mitch McConnell: 1983: If we spend too little on defense, we lose America. Mitch McConnell: 1999: Clean up Paducah uranium enrichment plant. |
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Jobs Ben Chandler: 2003: Focus on job losses from "Bush Economy". |
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Principles & Values Bill Clinton: OpEd: Won with public focus on domestic over foreign issues. Elaine Chao: 1993: Married Mitch McConnell on Ronald Reagan's birthday. Jim Bunning: 1983: Ran for governor; but lost badly. Jim Bunning: I don't read newspaper; I get all my info from Fox News. Mitch McConnell: 1957: President of high school student body. Mitch McConnell: The best kind of change is gradual change. Mitch McConnell: 1993: Married Elaine Chao on Ronald Reagan's birthday. Mitch McConnell: Contract With America was a tactical mistake. Mitch McConnell: 2001: Accused of improper relationship with Chaos in China. Newt Gingrich: OpEd: Great revolutionary but less adept at governing. Sarah Palin: OpEd: Palin made most sense in election about change. Scotty Baesler: 1998: Won primary as conservative Blue Dog Democrat. Scotty Baesler: OpEd: '98 Fancy Farm rant was turning point to campaign loss. |
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Tax Reform Ben Chandler: 2004: No new tax pledge. Jim Bunning: AdWatch: Voted for tax breaks but not minimum wage increase. Mitch McConnell: 1977 AdWatch: Horse Sense understands when tax cuts are real. |
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Technology Mitch McConnell: 1987: Supported $87.5B earmark-laden highway bill. Ronald Reagan: 1987: Vetoed $87.5B earmark-laden highway bill. |
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War & Peace Mitch McConnell: 1967: Against Vietnam war, but enlisted in Army reserves. Mitch McConnell: Kuwait war was worth fighting, including avoiding Baghdad. Mitch McConnell: 2005 Iraq: Democracy is the ultimate antidote to terrorism. Mitch McConnell: Honorable discharge as medically unfit in Vietnam War. |
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All material copyright 1999-2022 by Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org Reprinting by permission only. |
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