McConnell is more of a crass cynic than he is an incompetent. He needs to kiss the donor class who will provide the cash to bring out the vote of the credulous who think they are voting against the "others'; those who are different from themselves. I think McConnell really thought Clinton would have been elected and he could continue the "lets oppose everything s/he does routine" to keep the base happy. McConnell may not be either a racist or a misogynist but he knows the base is full of those. So coupled with money from the donors and the credulity and bias of the base his mission would be clear. Unfortunately, someone more crass as well as incompetent won the election so he needs to make certain the government doesn't implode altogether since as majority leader of the Senate the responsibility is his.