Mitch McConnell’s new Senate goal: Turn Republican dial to yes

Such comments will no doubt infuriate those who see Mr. McConnell as the personification of knee-jerk opposition to the president over the past six years and the architect of a deliberate campaign to deny Mr. Obama a record of accomplishment and block Democratic initiatives like an increase in the minimum wage. Democrats consider Mr. McConnell a historic abuser of the filibuster both to thwart legislation and nominations and to force Democrats to consume so much floor time on formerly routine matters that they had less opportunity to get bigger things done.

Mr. McConnell has no regrets and makes no apologies. He says it was Democrats who froze Republicans out and employed the Senate more as a political platform than a legislative one.

“It was not about legislation,” said Mr. McConnell, who easily survived a primary challenge from the right and went on to win his general election for a sixth term representing Kentucky, despite being a top target of national Democrats. “It had nothing to do with an outcome. The Senate basically didn’t do squat for years. I don’t think most members of the Senate wanted it run that way.”