It’s happened again in front of reporters. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was taking some questions from reporters and he froze. McConnell was in Covington, Kentucky and a reporter asked about running for re-election.

The incident occurred after McConnell, 81, was asked about running for re-election in 2026. The Republican leader acknowledged the question, but trailed off shortly after and stopped speaking. McConnell began to stare ahead and after roughly 10 seconds, an aide stepped in and asked whether he heard the question. McConnell continued to look off into the distance, prompting the aide to say, “we’re going to need a minute.”

She then asked for assistance from what appeared to be a member of McConnell’s security detail. The senator appeared to regain his composure after roughly 30 seconds of silence, clearing his throat and stating, “OK.”

It was like the last time he was seen on camera freezing as a reporter asked a question. Last month McConnell was taking questions and was surrounded by other senators, including Senator Barrasso (R-WY), who happens to be a physician. Barrasso helped him away from the scene and McConnell returned a few minutes later. At that time his staff said that McConnell “plans to serve his full term in the job they overwhelmingly elected him to do.”

BREAKING

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeares to freeze again while taking questions from reporters in Covington, Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/TPdRjCylXA

— Salem News Channel (@WatchSalemNews) August 30, 2023

A spokesperson today said, “Leader McConnell felt momentarily lightheaded and paused during his press conference today.” He will see a doctor before returning to work.

This is scary stuff for anyone. It is particularly unnerving coming from an elected official and one as high-ranking as McConnell. It pains me to say so but it may be time for someone who loves him to gently guide him toward retirement. McConnell’s knowledge of the ins and outs of policy and parliamentarian procedures have been priceless for Republicans. We have Mitch McConnell to thank for Merrick Garland not being on the Supreme Court. He was crucial in pushing through all of the Trump judicial nominees, including the three Supreme Court nominees.

I hope he is mentoring a strong replacement in those matters. Democrats cheat on everything and have to be kept in check.

The good news is that if he does leave office before his term is up, in January 2025, he will have to be replaced by another Republican. Republicans can thank Mitch for that, too. In 2021 he urged the Kentucky General Assembly to change a law that determines how the state fills any potential U.S. Senate vacancies. It shifted the appointment power from the governor to the party of the senator leaving office. Kentucky’s governor is a Democrat so we can dodge that bullet.

I’m not a doctor but I can guess as good as anyone else. I think the last fall he took and had to be hospitalized took a greater toll than originally thought. It was reported that he hit his head. I think that has compromised his mental acuity. He needs to take care of himself and, at age 81, should certainly be planning retirement. I hope he has people around him who care for him enough to help him with that decision. This has happened two times in as many months before a camera and reporters. Who knows how often it happens when the cameras aren’t around?