# McConnell vs. McGrath for Kentucky Senate seat! **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 9, 2019, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773 "2019-07-09T15:03:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/21 "2019-07-09T22:54:17Z")
Knock that down 1% per month and it’s a non-factor. Could happen. Lotta time left. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/22 "2019-07-10T00:44:36Z")
Knocking Trump’s approval down 15 points ain’t gonna happen. I’m not saying McGrath doesn’t have a chance. McConnell has a high net negative approval in the state. McGrath’s play needs to be going after him directly, not tying him to Trump. That, and essentially everything else falls her way, and she could get within spitting distance at least. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/23 "2019-07-10T01:11:16Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Knock that down 1% per month and it’s a non-factor. Could happen. Lotta time left. In a Republican strategy room somewhere, Rockclimber Bo is saying “Sure Trump’s approval rating is down but if we bump it up 1% per month then it’ll be a non-factor.” ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/24 "2019-07-10T01:35:57Z")
It’s the tie to Trump that keeps him up there, not knocking him down. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/25 "2019-07-10T03:01:48Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > It’s the tie to Trump that keeps him up there, not knocking him down. This. Trump had a rally here last year and several co-workers drove hours to see him. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/26 "2019-07-10T03:56:07Z")
[CNN had Amy McGrath on today](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLIZbTWO1LE); 4:47 video at link. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/27 "2019-07-10T04:18:24Z")
This is one bet I’m not making. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/28 "2019-07-10T05:58:18Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [CNN had Amy McGrath on today](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLIZbTWO1LE); 4:47 video at link. Well, she seems to agree with posters above but going more aggressive and actually trying to split McConnell and Trump. That “Trump=9/11” explanation at the end, well it was something. Not sure how I feel about it but the thought “lipstick on a pig” comes to mind. Guess it’s a faux pas she wants to burn off early. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/29 "2019-07-10T12:26:04Z")
Mitch McConnell will retire undefeated. He is unbeatable. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/30 "2019-07-10T12:31:06Z")
That is probably true, but it’s no reason not to try. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/31 "2019-07-10T14:10:35Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > That is probably true, but it’s no reason not to try. This. I’ll happily keep working to get rid of the SOB, myself. I have a dream of KY catching up with the rest of the world… ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/32 "2019-07-10T14:33:13Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Mitch McConnell will retire undefeated. He is unbeatable. I highly recommend the NPR podcast “Embedded.” The latest series is about the rise of Mitch and all the shit he has done to win and retain power. He has done more to damage politics than nearly anyone else. I don’t know how anyone can support this vile person. When people talk of “the swamp”, they are talking about Mitch. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/33 "2019-07-10T14:39:37Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Saying that the only reason Obama got elected was a sop to black people in response to slavery is not going to help him in this election, IMO. That might be true. Maybe if he ever says it we’ll find out. > [@](#): > > Plus he got at least two of those three things wrong. What are the things he got wrong? [ul][li]That we didn’t fight the Civil War[/li][li]That the Civil War was not about slavery[/li][li]That we didn’t pass any civil rights legislation[/li][li]Obama wasn’t African-American, or[/li][li]It would be easy to figure out who to compensate?[/ul]Because AFAICT all those things are true.[/li] Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/34 "2019-07-10T14:54:28Z")
[quote=“Shodan, post:33, topic:836773”] That might be true. Maybe if he ever says it we’ll find out.What are the things he got wrong? [list][li]That we didn’t fight the Civil War[/li][/quote] He didn’t say we fought the Civil War – he said we fought the Civil War to make up for the original sin of slavery. That’s incorrect, historically speaking. [quote] [li]That the Civil War was not about slavery[/li][/quote] It was about slavery, but it wasn’t about making up for the original sin of slavery. [quote] [li]That we didn’t pass any civil rights legislation[/li][/quote] We did, but it wasn’t in order to make up for the original sin of slavery – it was to end discriminatory policies and practices (which it partially accomplished). [quote] [li]Obama wasn’t African-American[/li][/QUOTE] He is, but he wasn’t elected to make up for the original sin of slavery. So McConnell is wrong about any of these things being actual efforts to deal with the original sin of slavery. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/35 "2019-07-10T15:48:56Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > That is probably true, but it’s no reason not to try. “No chance in hell” is probably in the top 3 of reasons not to try something, lol. If she’s a team player, the only real use of her campaign might be to force McConnell into some gaffe or position that is politically useful on the national level. He’s so safe though, it would be difficult to draw him into something. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/36 "2019-07-10T16:20:53Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > He didn’t say we fought the Civil War – he said we fought the Civil War to make up for the original sin of slavery. That’s incorrect, historically speaking. You can’t make up for a sin until you stop committing it. Therefore, fighting a war to stop people from committing a sin is part of making up for the sin. So no, it’s not incorrect, historically or otherwise. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/37 "2019-07-10T16:25:58Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > You can’t make up for a sin until you stop committing it. Therefore, fighting a war to stop people from committing a sin is part of making up for the sin. So no, it’s not incorrect, historically or otherwise. > > Regards, > Shodan I agree with the first sentence – we couldn’t even try to make up for slavery until we ended slavery. Once slavery ended, then the country had the moral duty to try and make up for slavery. This hasn’t occurred yet. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/38 "2019-07-10T17:11:51Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Obama wasn’t African-American > > Because AFAICT all those things are true. > > Regards, > Shodan Back, in 2004, Alan Keyes, who was running for the Senate against Obama in Illinois, proclaimed that h[e, Keyes, was “African-American” while Obama wasn’t, because Obama didn’t have ancestors who were enslaved.](https://quod.lib.umich.edu/p/passages/4761530.0009.002/--keyes-obama-debates-africans-and-african-americans?rgn=main;view=fulltext) Using that precise definition, I suppose Keyes could also argue that descendants of a free Negro from a Northern state, who had never been someone else’s slave, were also not real “African-Americans.” But more to the point, Shodan, do you think this entire nit-picking debate means anything to anyone who won’t vote for a nigger? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/39 "2019-07-10T17:18:57Z")
Boy, I’ve sure noticed you since your name change and not in a good way. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773/40 "2019-07-10T17:24:10Z")
McGrath has hit upon a clever strategy of [blaming McConnell](https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/09/amy-mcgrath-challenges-gop-majority-leader-mitch-mcconnell-for-senate.html) for Trump’s failures to keep some of his more popular promises: > [@](#): > > …McGrath said her campaign strategy will be to show Kentuckians that McConnell is a barrier to their ability to “drain the swamp,” a key reason why the red state voted for Trump. > > “Trump promised to bring back jobs,” she said. “He promised to lower drug prices for so many Kentuckians. That’s so important. Who stops him along the way? Mitch McConnell.”… Of course, you know and I know and McGrath knows that Trump (depending on how charitable one feels) had no intention of keeping those promises or at least no inclination to put any real effort into keeping those promises, but that’s not important – she’s not running against Trump, and wisely keeps the heat focused on the turtle-soup pot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-vs-mcgrath-for-kentucky-senate-seat/836773.md?page=3)