The retirement of Mitch McConnell from his leadership position marks "a body blow for the establishment, interventionist wing of the GOP," highlighting the fracturing within the party, especially over foreign policy. Described as an 'unreconstructed George H.W. Bush-style Republican,' McConnell has been a staunch proponent of this faction. His departure is seen as significant, with his brand of conservatism criticized by more right-wing members of the party and noted as going out of style as old Republican purveyors are aging out and retiring. McConnell's strained relations with Donald Trump have positioned him as a symbol of the Republican old guard, working to steer the party away from Trump's influence and towards a post-Trump era. This raises questions about whether his replacement will represent the old or new guard in the party's approach to foreign policy.
.@CurtMills on #McConnell: "time and again, McConnell showed himself to be essentially a kind of unreconstructed George H.W. Bush style Republican on foreign policy, and really did sort of stick his neck out there as the years went on.” More: https://t.co/bWxxj5YCoO
Mr. McConnell has been at loggerheads with Mr. Trump for years as he worked to push him out of the party and steer it to a post-Trump era. https://t.co/fvfg1HxE2c
.@jaynordlinger on Mitch McConnell and the trajectory of the Republican Party. https://t.co/OUkaeF07VM
After McConnell's relations soured with Trump, the senator became a symbol of the Republican old guard in Washington that was working to reverse Trump’s effects on the party — with a focus on one issue in particular: foreign policy. MORE @blaise_malley : https://t.co/z8kZgbRwuu
McConnell’s brand of conservatism, particularly on the foreign policy front, has been going out of style. It is reviled by more right-wing members of the party, and old Republican purveyors of it are aging out and retiring, writes @blaise_malley https://t.co/B5AaTOgnab
"Time and again, McConnell showed himself to be essentially a kind of unreconstructed George H.W. Bush-style Republican on foreign policy, and really did sort of stick his neck out there as the years went on," @CurtMills told @blaise_malley https://t.co/B5AaTOgnab
Will Mitch McConnell's replacement represent the old or new guard in his party's foreign policy? https://t.co/B5AaTOgnab
What does McConnell's retirement mean for the GOP on foreign policy? https://t.co/B5AaTOgnab
NEW : Loss of Mitch McConnell in the leadership seat is "a body blow for the establishment, interventionist wing of the GOP” -- @JacobHeilbrunn @TheNatlInterest MORE from @blaise_malley today: https://t.co/z8kZgbRwuu
Race to replace Mitch McConnell marks the apex of the fracturing GOP -- especially over foreign policy. NEW @blaise_malley w/ great quotes from @JacobHeilbrunn @jimantle @ToryAnarchist @CurtMills https://t.co/z8kZgbRwuu
Brian McGuire: Mitch McConnell: Senate Institutionalist | National Review https://t.co/19oFdLgz0k