{"id":2663286,"date":"2026-09-17T10:46:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T14:46:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-mcconnells-presence-barely-audible-voice-create-chaos-as-simple-vote-nearly-goes-off-the-rails-chair-forced-to-step-in\/"},"modified":"2026-09-17T10:50:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T14:50:33","slug":"watch-mcconnells-presence-barely-audible-voice-create-chaos-as-simple-vote-nearly-goes-off-the-rails-chair-forced-to-step-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-mcconnells-presence-barely-audible-voice-create-chaos-as-simple-vote-nearly-goes-off-the-rails-chair-forced-to-step-in\/","title":{"rendered":"Watch: McConnell\u2019s Presence, Barely Audible Voice Create Chaos as Simple Vote Nearly Goes Off the Rails &#8211; Chair Forced to Step In"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">44<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwatch-mcconnells-presence-barely-audible-voice-create-chaos-as-simple-vote-nearly-goes-off-the-rails-chair-forced-to-step-in%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2663286&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the declining health and mental acuity of U.S. Senate leaders Mitch McConnell and Dianne Feinstein. It highlights mcconnell&#8217;s recent participation in votes despite apparent confusion and physical challenges, suggesting he may be experiencing significant health issues similar to Feinstein&#8217;s prolonged mental decline. The piece criticizes the political establishment for allowing senior politicians to continue serving past their capacity, emphasizing that McConnell&#8217;s current condition has impacted legislative processes, such as the farm bill deliberation. It notes that McConnell&#8217;s eventual replacement is upcoming, and argues that both he and Feinstein should have stepped down earlier to prevent ongoing dysfunction. The report urges reform and accountability within political leadership, warning of the dangers of gerontocracy in governing bodies.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_2)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Well, it\u2019s official: Sen. Mitch McConnell\u2019s condition has gotten to Dianne Feinstein levels of worrisome.<\/p>\n<p>Not that it wasn\u2019t already worrisome in its own way, mind you. The former Senate Republican caucus leader had already been in the hospital for three months under worrying circumstances, which we were assured were a fall at home followed by complications. He posted a message to X \u2014 or someone posted it for him, anyway \u2014 which attributed it to anything but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-mcconnell-seen-distressing-footage-leaving-home-appears-far-worse-shape-joe-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">being mentally asleep at the wheel<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToday, I\u2019ll cast my first Senate vote since I took a bad fall back in June. I\u2019m really looking forward to being back on the Senate floor and seeing my colleagues,\u201d McConnell said in an X post Monday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy recovery has been a long and often frustrating process, and the lingering effects of childhood polio haven\u2019t made it any easier. I\u2019m still not quite back to 100%, but I\u2019ve assured Leader [John] Thune that, as I continue with physical therapy on the advice of my doctors, I will do my best to be present for tough votes when our Conference needs me.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Today, I\u2019ll cast my first Senate vote since I took a bad fall back in June. I\u2019m really looking forward to being back on the Senate floor and seeing my colleagues.<\/p>\n<p>My recovery has been a long and often frustrating process, and the lingering effects of childhood polio haven\u2019t made\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (@SenMcConnell) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenMcConnell\/status\/2099616441079124330?\">September 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>He went on to prove that he was being totally, 100 percent accurate in his appraisal of his capacities (and that he had indeed appraised them himself, too) by having to be told how to vote in committee:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">JUST NOW: A confused, clearly not-there McConnell votes \u201cAYE\u201d after almost voting NO with Dems but getting *corrected* by handlers around him <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Z797W80PpD\">pic.twitter.com\/Z797W80PpD<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheTNHoller\/status\/2100321772541223397?\">September 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>From the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/09\/16\/us-news\/gop-senator-tries-to-tell-soft-spoken-mitch-mcconnell-how-to-vote-during-farm-bill-markup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New York Post<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>The scene played out during a farm bill markup hearing in the Senate Agriculture Committee.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>When his name was called by the clerk, McConnell, 84, began to lift his finger and appeared ready to vote \u201caye\u201d on moving the legislation forward.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>At nearly the exact same moment, Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), who was seated next to McConnell, turned to him, leaned in and told the longtime senator to vote \u201cno.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Undeterred, McConnell quietly voted, \u201cAye\u201d \u2014 but the clerk didn\u2019t hear him.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Hoeven, again, looked over at the former Senate GOP leader and said, \u201cNo.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Sound familiar? It will to longtime Senate watchers, who remember the slow decline of Dianne Feinstein playing out precisely like this:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">WOW! Dianne Feinstein Told \u201cJust Say Aye\u201d When She Starts Rambling During Senate Vote <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Zth4IVAyee\">pic.twitter.com\/Zth4IVAyee<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BreitbartNews\/status\/1684666984397484032?\">July 27, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Now, let\u2019s be perfectly fair here: McConnell basically just has to hold on until January and vote how he\u2019s told. The vote on his replacement is taking place this November and, even with a Democratic governor in Kentucky right now, it\u2019s considered a safe hold for the Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, giving Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear the unbridled joy of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/mitch-mcconnell-gets-cold-welcome-home-state-speech-drowned-chants-retire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sidelining McConnell<\/a> for mental incapacity when there\u2019s no such mechanism to do so would be handing an unnecessary victory to the Democrats. Again, all this guy needs is to press the right button and vote the right way for a few more months, and then he can go off deeper into whatever la-la-land he\u2019s retreated into.<\/p>\n<p>But also, let\u2019s be perfectly fair to the McConnell critics here: That\u2019s where he\u2019s gone. McConnell was 78 when he chose to run for another six-year term in 2020, and was still the Republican Senate majority leader. This would have been the time to do a valedictory lap, concede he had no idea of knowing where he\u2019d be in six years and what shape he\u2019d be in, and step away to his chosen successor. Just like Dianne Feinstein <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/dem-insiders-hit-feinstein-mental-fitness-ignore-biden-seems-much-worse\/\">was being told to do back then<\/a>, too.<\/p>\n<p>He rolled the dice and he took his chances. Now, after delaying numerous votes and having <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/cover-top-cover-rep-burchett-blasts-mitch-mcconnell-situation-farce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">his governor asking for proof of life<\/a>, basically, he\u2019s returning in this shape. And by the by, this was kind of important at advancing Donald Trump\u2019s agenda.<\/p>\n<p>As the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.desmoinesregister.com\/story\/money\/agriculture\/2026\/09\/17\/mcconnell-return-moves-long-stalled-farm-bill-senate-committee\/91802059007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Des Moines Register<\/a> reported, the bill was marked up in August but Democrats refused to move on it because Republicans had, in the \u201cBig Beautiful Bill,\u201d mandated that states lower their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-did-and-didnt-make-it-into-senates-final-big-beautiful-bill\/\" title=\"What did and didn&#039;t make it into Senate&#039;s final &#039;big, beautiful ...&#039;\">payment error rates<\/a> on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly referred to as \u201cfood stamps.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Without McConnell\u2019s vote, they couldn\u2019t move it out of committee because of the intransigence. And they still could barely get it out of committee, because he didn\u2019t know how to proceed during the markup process.<\/p>\n<p>McConnell still counted this as a W on social media:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">I want to commend Chairman Boozman for his work on the Farm Bill. As a member of the Agriculture Committee since my first day in the United States Senate, I was proud to vote yes on the Farm Bill on behalf of the hardworking farm families across Kentucky. America\u2019s farmers are\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QFJQChXcuR\">pic.twitter.com\/QFJQChXcuR<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (@SenMcConnell) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenMcConnell\/status\/2100327134979862677?\">September 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Huh. It\u2019s almost like he\u2019s not writing these posts. I\u2019m beginning to think his team may be covering for the guy.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve already blown well past the point where we could have safely prevented this case of Feinsteinitis. Lecturing Mitch on this to his face wouldn\u2019t even do any good; not only is it a waste of breath six years <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/police-say-geriatric-dem-dc-politician-wont-retire-early-stages-dementia-getting-scammed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">after a preventable unfolding disaster<\/a> could have been stopped, he\u2019d probably just smile at you and say he wasn\u2019t ready to order yet, but if you could give him an extra menu and another few minutes, he\u2019ll make a decision.<\/p>\n<p>However, let this be a warning to every <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/establishment-dems-win-80-year-old-crank-lefty-fends-off-young-47-year-old-challenger-mass-senate-primary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">member of the gerontocracy<\/a> in the District of Columbia: If this is how you go out, this is how you\u2019ll be remembered, and you have no one to blame but yourself.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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McConnell\u2019s health now rivals Feinstein\u2019s concerning condition<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2663287,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-09-17T091423.756.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5237,85816,53089,5894,85815],"class_list":["post-2663286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-conflict","tag-government-proceedings","tag-mcconnell-2","tag-politics","tag-vote-chaos"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-09-17T091423.756.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2663286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2663286"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2663286\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2663290,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2663286\/revisions\/2663290"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2663287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2663286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2663286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2663286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}