'Mother Nature always wins': Conservative contemplates a future Senate without McConnell and Feinstein

31 July 2023

During a July 26 press conference, reporters were shocked when Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) suddenly quit speaking during the middle of a sentence. McConnell's ally, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), led him away, but the 81-year-old Kentucky Republican returned after about ten minutes and resumed his address.

The incident, like McConnell's hospitalization after a fall earlier this year, has fueled speculation about his future as the GOP's leader in the U.S. Senate. This comes at a time when some Democrats are calling for 90-year-old Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) to step down because of her health.

Never Trump conservative Matt Lewis, in a July 31 opinion column for The Daily Beast, contemplates McConnell and Feinstein's futures as U.S. senators — and wonders what will come if they do end up resigning without finishing their terms.

Lewis stresses that both of them have been major figures in the Senate, living "interesting lives" and having "careers of consequence."

"McConnell is probably more responsible than anyone for the Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade," Lewis observes. "As a conservative, I see this as a good thing; you may disagree. Even if you disagree with McConnell's politics, you're likely to miss him when he's gone — especially when you consider the likelihood that Democrats will find another Republican leader they can work with to the degree (President Joe) Biden has been able to work with McConnell."

The conservative columnist continues, "Feinstein's exodus — she has announced she will not seek reelection next year — will likely be less consequential, but her story is no less unique. She was first elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1969, and became the Board's first female president, having been elevated to that position after the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk…. Feinstein went on to be California's first female U.S. senator and the author of 1994's assault weapons ban, to name just a couple of key points on her resume."

Lewis laments that the Senate stands to "lose some experienced and accomplished leaders" but also finds it problematic that some aging politicians "hang on for dear life" despite their limitations.

READ MORE: Mitch McConnell defends Clarence Thomas

"In recent decades," Lewis argues, "the marvels of modernity have allowed more of us to work productively into an advanced age. This is good news. But while one can stave off the effects of aging for so long, Mother Nature always wins. Always. We are seeing that on full display this week."

Matt Lewis' full Daily Beast opinion column is available at this link (subscription required).

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