WASHINGTON _ Mitch McConnell's primary mission is to show that the Senate is efficient and workmanlike _ and avoid a costly government shutdown just before the critical November election.
His chief nemesis this week: his Kentucky colleague, Republican Rand Paul. Again.
They represent the same state, often vote the same way, and share the same conservative philosophy. But their approaches are radically different. McConnell, the Senate majority leader, is a consensus-builder. Paul doesn't mind going it alone. McConnell will avoid ideological conflict for the sake of collegiality. Paul doesn't mind tying up the Senate by pressing his views.
