Mitch McConnell falls into line

When I wrote yesterday that Putin was the last but one person on the planet to acknowledge that Joe Biden had won the 2020 presidential election I had forgotten about Senator Mitch McConnell. Dear old Mitch, Senate Majority Leader and stalwart Obstacle Man - putting things in the way of deals, any deals, with the Democrats - took until yesterday - after Putin - to congratulate Biden and to say categorically that the former vice president had beaten Trump. For Mitch, sombre Mitch, to admit this fact, following the adjudication of the Electoral College, it must have taken some doing. But when the truth is hitting you in the face, there really isn't any point in trying to prolong the agony. But of course for Mitch to come out and say it, Mitch of all people, it was almost like Trump conceding. But not quite of course. Trump sent off a furious tweet to condemn Mitch's betrayal. "I won 75 million votes, how could you say I lost?" What I liked about Mitch's announcement was his recognition of Biden's long public service record and Kamala Harris's, too. So maybe Mitch won't be locking horns with Biden from Day One of the new administration. Just maybe there might be an element of mutual respect. Mitch's concession is the first piece of optimistic news for some time. More and more people, especially in the Republican party, will ignore what Trump says and tweets because if Mitch says it's over, it's over. Period.