Turtle boy speaks up...

Mitch McConnell criticizes Trump

From POLITICO Playbook

“McConnell criticizes Trump’s ‘excessive expectations’,” by CNN’s Ryan Nobles: “Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell offered some of his toughest criticism yet for President Donald Trump in a speech Monday to a Rotary Group in northern Kentucky. McConnell, who has been relatively measured in his previous critiques of the White House, argued the President’s approach to the legislative process is leading to an inaccurate impression of how Congress works. ‘Our new president, of course, has not been in this line of work before,’ said McConnell according to CNN affiliate WCPO which covered the event. ‘I think he had excessive expectations about how quickly things happen in the democratic process.’

“McConnell made the case that the Congress is working as it should and that voters should allow the process to play itself out before passing judgment. ‘Part of the reason I think people think we’re under-performing is because of too many artificial deadlines unrelated to the reality of the legislature which may have not been understood.’ … And while McConnell told the audience Monday that he believes the lines of communication between the executive and legislative branch remain strong, he did admit that he wished the President would tweet less and stay on message more. ‘I’ve been and I will be again today, not a fan of tweeting and I've said that to him privately,’ McConnell said. ‘I think it would be helpful if the President would be a little more on message.’”

-- IT’S WORTH NOTING: McConnell criticizing Trump is indeed a shift. His comments come after Trump took to Twitter to criticize Senate rules after the GOP health care bill failed -- a trop McConnell doesn't much appreciate. The comments also represent the growing frustration in Congress that Trump just doesn’t get how Washington works and that the Hill could end the year without a single meaningful legislative achievement in an all GOP D.C.

SHOT -- @seanhannity at 3:11 p.m.: “In light of dangerous NKorea threat, I’m stopping all petty political disagreements for at least next 12 hours. Let’s see what others do.”

CHASER -- @seanhannity at 11:03 p.m. and again at 5:30 a.m.: “@SenateMajLdr No Senator, YOU are a WEAK, SPINELESS leader who does not keep his word and you need to Retire!” This was in response to the above story, which has McConnell saying Trump’s expectations were out of line. … This is extraordinarily strong language from Hannity, a Trump friend and supporter.