it sounds pretty conclusive and final. i know karl viewed it that way. but i take your point. >> quickly, howard, how unpopular is mitch mcconnell in kentucky? could he be in trouble? >> well, put it this way -- first all, the republican base doesn't really like him. partly because he is from louisville. partly because he is an insider in washington. he has never been wildly popular in the state. and he is not really down home friendly kind of guy in the kentucky mold. he has never been wildly popular. he is not hated, he is just not liked. >> howard fineman, great to have you on tonight. thank you so much. >> thanks, ed. >> that's "the ed show" tonight. "the rachel maddow show" starts right now. melissa filling tonight. >> thanks at home for you staying with us the next hour. rachel has the night off, but there is lots going on this snowy evening. how little the nra has in the gun debate. congressman luis gutierrez joins us from chicago, where mourners are paying their last respects to hadiya pendleton.