Ditch Mitch

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is up for re-election in 2008. Many pundits believe that he is unstoppable, even though he has been a firm supporter of George W. Bush over the past six years, which has won him no accolades of late.

In 2002, when McConnell ran for re-election against Lois Combs Weinberg (D), he was in a different political climate. The United States was fighting against the war on terror, Republicans were the good guys, and many Americans were still flying the American flag from 9/11, which was not even a year old.

Since then there has been a drastic change in the political landscape in Kentucky. McConnell, who campaigned hard for fellow Republican U.S. Representative Ernie Fletcher to successfully win the gubernatorial race in 2003, found out that his powers of influence have been blunted more than a bit. This realization came during the most recent gubernatorial race, which saw Ernie Fletcher lose his bid for re-election, even with old Uncle Mitch's dirty money and support.

Although, a Democratic challenger has yet to emerge, McConnell has already begun to release some of his $9 million war chest for political advertisements on television across the state. It is hard to believe that someone who has so much power and influence in Kentucky and Washington would be so hard pressed to begin airing political advertisements against a non-existent challenger.

It is safe to bet, however, that McConnell understands his bid for re-election in 2008, with a Democrat slated to win the White House, will be an uphill battle. Although, I accept the inevitability that he will probably win his campaign, considering he will muster all of his unholy powers to save himself, unlike his good pal, Ernie.