McConnell freezes during news conference

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze during his opening remarks at the weekly Senate Republican press conference on Wednesday, seemingly unable to speak. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who is also a physician, approached him and spoke quietly with him, and the two walked away from the podium.

The top Senate Republican eventually returned to handle questions, but not before arousing the concern of his colleagues. A McConnell aide later said he "felt lightheaded and stepped away for a moment."

McConnell, 81, was discussing the Senate's progress on the National Defense Authorization Act when he ceased speaking. Barrasso asked him, "You OK, Mitch?" He asked if the Republican leader wanted to return to his office and helped McConnell away from the podium. Sen. John Thune, the second-highest ranking Republican in the Senate, took over the press conference.

When McConnell returned to the podium a short time later, reporters asked what happened, and whether his sudden break in his remarks was related to his injury earlier this year, when he suffered a concussion from a fall.

"I'm fine," the top Senate Republican responded.

"You're fine? You're fully able to do your job," a reporter asked.

Yeah," McConnell replied.

Briefly addressing reporters outside his office Wednesday night, McConnell disclosed that he received a call from President Biden.

"Well, the president called to check on me, and I told him I got sandbagged," McConnell said. This was in reference to Mr. Biden having tripped over a sandbag while on stage for a commencement ceremony last month at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.

When asked how he was feeling, he again responded, "I'm fine."

Following the incident, Barrasso also said he went back to McConnell's office to make sure he was OK, but believes McConnell is fine, since he returned and took questions. He said he had some concerns after McConnell's fall, but the Senate minority leader continues to do a "great job" leading the conference.

"I'm a doctor, I'm just not his doctor," Barrasso told reporters. "He answered questions, and he was fine."

McConnell, a polio survivor, has served in the Senate since 1985.

Concussion side effect? Mini-stroke? Taking a moment after coming to the realization that the last few years he's sold his soul for the orange guy and might die in jail if his own crimes are discovered? (I don't know if he's actually committed any crimes.)

The strange part is that in his early years in the Senate, he was moderate, pro-choice, and pro-civil rights.

Once Obama became president and the Tea Party took over the GOP, he aligned with them.

He was still sane just pre-trump, too.. I can't find the quote/video right now, but I recall mitch saying something like "If donald trump is the nominee that will be the end of the republican party," back in 2015.

Then once trump was the nominee and potus, mitch became a trump boot licker for the most part.

A youtuber I watch described McConnell's incident while wearing a Teenage Mutant Ninja TUrtles shirt. I was amused.

But he had an interesting take on the whole thing. While he disagrees with McConnell on literally everything, he recognizes that McConnell is trying to pull the party away from Trump, so we may just want to let him serve out his term.

He is possibly forgetting that it was McConnell who denied Obama a supreme court pick, and that has been disastrous.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has repeatedly said he is “fine” since he froze up midsentence during a press conference on Wednesday. And now his office is trying to tamp down speculation that he might not fill out his term as leader because of his health.

In a statement, his office said McConnell appreciates the continued support of his colleagues and “plans to serve his full term in the job they overwhelmingly elected him to do.”

Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said after Wednesday’s episode that McConnell’s job as leader calls for more transparency than it would for others.

“We should find out, you know, fairly soon what happened and how serious it is,” Cramer said. “But I don’t have to tell you, Mitch is also, as an individual, a pretty private guy. So we’ll see.”

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said he talked to McConnell on Wednesday night and he seemed “strong and alert.” But he said what happened at the news conference on Wednesday was disturbing to watch.

“Mitch is strong, he’s stubborn as a mule,” Cruz said. “My prayers are with them. I hope that — we’re going into the August recess — I hope he has time to fully recuperate.”

GOP senators who are seen as potential successors have been cautious in their approach to questions.

“He’s fine, he’s back to work,” said South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican and one of the senators standing behind McConnell when he froze up.

“I support Senator McConnell as long as he wants to serve as leader,” said Texas Sen. John Cornyn, another potential replacement.

Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 3 Senate Republican and a former orthopedic surgeon, guided McConnell back to his office to rest during the news conference. Afterwards, he told reporters that he has been concerned since McConnell was injured earlier this year, “and I continue to be concerned.”

Barrasso then added: “I said I was concerned when he fell and hit his head a number of months ago and was hospitalized. And I think he’s made a remarkable recovery, he’s doing a great job leading our conference and was able to answer every question the press asked him today.”

Several other GOP senators projected confidence in the Republican leader.

Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall said he was “a little concerned” after the news conference.

“He said that he got a little overheated, a little dehydrated,” said Marshall, who is also a doctor. “That’s what it looks like to me. I can tell you, he’s got a strong, strong voice in our conference. He’s providing steady leadership. And I think he’s doing a great job as leader.”

The Republican leader carried on with his full schedule after the episode on Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he spoke with his Republican counterpart at an event for Thursday evening for Major League Baseball owners.

“I said I’m so glad you’re here,” Schumer said. “And he made a very good speech.”

I do hope the opportunity people & the media have here to call him glitch mcconnell from now on isn’t wasted.