Why is Yertle the senate majority leader?

[trof]

How did he gain enough power and support to get the job? Is it because he pisses off Democrats?
He seems to be a totally unlikeable person.
How is it he came to be in that position?

[rzemanfl]

1. Почему вы спрашиваете товарищ?

"Why do you ask comrade?"

[jberryhill]

2. He was elected by the R senators

The majority elects its majority leader in the Senate, just as the House elects its speaker.

[trof]

4. Thanks, but I understand the'how'. I want to know the 'why'?

He doesn't seem to be charismatic at all.
Did he control huge PACs and a lot of campaign money to dole out?
I just wonder why they chose him.

[jberryhill]

6. Seniority counts for a lot in the Senate

1. Who wants it?

and

2. Whose been around the longest?

Knowledge and expertise with the Senate rules is much more important than "charisma" for this job.

[Brother Buzz]

3. How is it a post turtle came to be in that position?

[MiddleClass]

5. Not enough Democrats came out and voted for Feingold in Wisconsin

And not enough Democrats came out and voted for Katie McGinty in Pennsylvania.
Not enough Democrats in both states voted for Hillary.

So Republicans picked that turtle

[haele]

7. Because he's patient and his strategy of obstruction "worked" when President Obama was in charge.

Ideologically, other than being a party man, he is "Southern Center-Right" - basically an Economic Moderate with some conservative social leanings - primarily in regards to social hierarchies (i.e., "nominally" bigoted while he plays the Southern Gentleman). He's a Chamber of Commerce/Old Boy Network type.

He also has seniority, a modicum of decent health for his age and had (at the time he became Majority Leader) very few potential skeletons in his closet. Also, he wasn't a raving religious nutjob that would turn the moderates off - he was stable and dependable in his positions.
Also, back in the Bush era, he could be "bipartisan" when he needed to be as a Minority Leader. In the Obama era, he was the darling of the word "NO" - and he was good at providing cover for the few moderates that still were in competitive Purple areas.

Looking back, he got his position when the Republicans weren't in charge of the Senate, and since the Teahadists would never agree with having a (gasp) Center or Center-Left Republican in charge, he gets to keep his job to keep the Republicans from imploding on their bile.

Haele

[trof]

8. Thank you, Haele.

You have really helped me to understand.
I owe ya' one.
trof