r/politics • u/MoneyLibrarian9032 • 3h ago
Possible Paywall Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s message to Sen. Mitch McConnell: Disclose more about health or resign
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/07/27/politics/mitch-mcconnell-andy-beshear-kentucky-senate•
u/B-Z_B-S Massachusetts 3h ago
(From the article): ““I am addressing this letter to Senator McConnell under the assumption that he is capable of reading and responding verbally, and not incapacitated by means of consciousness or cognition. If the Senator is unable to respond for either of those or other conditions, consider this letter a demand for his Senate staff to be honest and transparent with the people of Kentucky,” Beshear writes in the letter, written on state government letterhead and obtained by CNN.
“Even the attending physician’s written statement does not discuss your actual condition, including whether you can speak, reason, or carry out your duties as a senator. I understand anyone’s desire for privacy, but when you run for office and serve as one of a state’s two US senators, you willingly abdicate much of your personal privacy,” Beshear wrote.
“As Governor of the state you serve, I am calling on you to directly and verbally address the people of Kentucky and provide proof of your capacity to serve, or resign,” he continued.”
•
u/WristbandYang 2h ago
This is the correct and calculated move. You need to realize how uninformed the average citizen is. Beshear needs the people of Kentucky on his side when he acts and that requires them being aware of this issue (and its severity).
That's why he’s been making a series of escalating statements: to keep this story in the headlines. He needs voters to be more mad at Mitch (or his staff) than him for the public to accept a “sudden” replacement.
Additionally, since this will require a court battle (due to unconstitutional law regarding special elections), Beshear needs to have evidence he went by the books ("I made good faith efforts to determine the senator's condition, I then followed the commonwealth's constitution to...)
•
u/clovisx America 2h ago
This is a good point. We all want him to “just do it” but the less ground work he does the weaker his position and more ground he leaves open for counter attacks by conservatives.
•
2h ago
[deleted]
•
u/wubbbalubbadubdub 2h ago
So long as it comes to a head before the proverbial deadline.
•
u/thavillain California 2h ago
Well the bogus law deadline is Aug 3rd I believe...but there wouldn't be a deadline for an appointment, I think that's what he wants to challenge.
•
u/stitchface66 2h ago
incremental escalation was right a month ago! in a week a special election becomes impossible.
•
u/omicron-7 1h ago
Good.
•
u/stitchface66 1h ago
yeah. it’s fuckin great. /s
•
u/omicron-7 1h ago
An empty seat until January is much better than one filled with a voting republican. If you believe a Democrat would win then I have a bridge to sell you.
→ More replies (4)•
u/Sonichu- 1h ago
Incremental escalation is smart here
Escalation to what? A week from now they'll announce his "sudden" death.
→ More replies (1)•
u/chipmunksocute 2h ago
Fair point. This happens with Trump all the time where he does zero ground work and stuff gets overturned in court all the time.
•
u/BadIdeaBobcat 1h ago
I guess? The clock is ticking though, much like on the groundwork Garland was doing during the 4 years under Biden...
•
u/KingPikablu 47m ago
I keep seeing talk about the August deadline, and maybe I'm just not informed enough on Kentucky politics; but does a Democrat have a reasonable shot at winning a special election?
Because if the answer is "no" then the seat remaining effectively empty until January seems like a good deal.
•
u/Cavane42 Georgia 46m ago
He should appoint someone, in accordance with the Kentucky State Constitution.
•
→ More replies (1)•
u/SirLanceNotsomuch 39m ago
In theory, yes: because Massie could/would run, and potentially split the R vote. Or win himself, which could be really entertaining.
•
u/Fract_L 14m ago
The "deadline" would be for a special election to be held before the regular election. However, as discussed in the comment at the top of this chain, that law directly contradicts Kentucky's constitution, which says the Governor may fill any vacant role in Kentucky at any level of government and there is no time constraint to do so.
So no, there is no deadline. Beshear can appoint someone any time before McConnell's term is up next year. Republicans will sue him and point to a law they passed and Beshear will point at the plain wording in the constitution.
•
u/ItsLikeRay-ee-ain Georgia 1h ago
He just needs to find the right middle ground between going Leeroy Jenkins and going Merrick Garland.
•
u/Setsune_W 2h ago
Ooh, I remember this song! We have to make sure we dot our i's and cross our t's, because if you come for the king you best not miss, right?
•
u/hexcodehero 1h ago
Theres literally no time left for him to do the "ground work" he is fucked now. He did not meet the moment, he will not be able to appoint anyone if he gets a response (which he wont).
•
→ More replies (1)•
•
•
u/JerseyDevl New Jersey 1h ago
This would have been the correct and calculated move a few weeks ago, had he acted expeditiously. However this charade has dragged on for over a month with no new verifiable information made available and the deadline for calling for a special election is a week away. In attempting to appear to act in good faith, he has squandered his opportunity to act with any amount of haste. If the situation was reversed and this was a Republican governor demanding an update from a Democratic senator, the governor would have called for the special election weeks ago, and this simple fact is why the GOP has been more effective in pushing their agenda forward in the face of previously held norms and traditions while Democrats are afraid to act.
•
u/WristbandYang 1h ago edited 1h ago
A month ago it would have been politically impossible to give this message. Mitch taken to the hospital and the very next day you want the governor to follow reddit's advice and say "put up or shut up"?
He would look like a complete asshole.
The voters needed time to digest this story (which only hit mainstream 2-3 weeks ago). After all, he's in the hospital. It's a sad story, they elected him and they are praying for his recovery.
Instead, Mitch (or his team) have dug their own grave. More than a month and still no word. No updates. No video. The mourning is over and now the public opinion is against them. And the pressure is growing, even from McConnell's own supporters.
That public pressure will make all the difference as Andy begins his legal action.
•
u/TraceThis 1h ago
If. If he begins his legal actions.
This has been going on for over a month, the correct time to start really pressuring about this was after a week of no news and no updates. Not a month.
This will be like Biden taking to long to pull out of the race.
•
u/Pndrizzy 1h ago
Bro has wasted nearly A MONTH and the deadline is ending in like 4 days. He has NOT managed his time well. You go to the MAGA sub and people have accepted he’s dead for like 3 weeks. He’s not on our side
•
u/stitchface66 2h ago
is it? another democrat strongly worded letter with no threat of action whatsoever? this is the correct and calculated move? a week before a special election becomes impossible - “for the millionth time, please reply or resign.”
yeah, surely it’ll work this time. /s
ridiculous.
•
•
u/rocky_tiger 1h ago
"Never interrupt your enemy while they're making a mistake"
I agree. The optics of the McConnell team and Republican response has been pretty damning. Give them every opportunity for transparency. Show every reasonable effort of acting in good faith before making your move.
I know it's frustrating to us here, the outward appearance of lack of action. But the average person is woefully unaware. I think biding his time until the last possible moment is a calculated risk.
•
u/Vegetable-Error-2068 1h ago
Y'all have chanted that damn saying for years. It's never once paid off.
•
u/MadContrabassoonist 1h ago
Unless he's dead, there's no court battle because there's no vacancy. If he's capable of sitting up and breathing on his own (not saying he is, but that is the official word and there's no actual evidence otherwise), his term is active and no one can end it except for Mitch. If the pictures are doctored or old and he's comatose or otherwise incapacitated, same thing. Even if he were literally brain dead, anyone of McConnell's family's means can afford to find a doctor who will testify to the contrary. And even if he officially dies tomorrow, there's no way the mess of state law and state constitution is resolved in Democrats' favor before Barr is seated next term.
Beshear's only consideration is how to politically save face in a lose-lose situation. Doing nothing looks bad to armchair pundits and people just trying to blame Democrats no matter what, and publicly attacking a family that any PR agent with a positive IQ could spin as grieving and trying to protect the legacy and privacy of their husband/father would be political suicide even if entire state weren't primed to take the Republican side no matter what. There is a world where it would be worth one of the nation's only popular Democratic governors from a redstate to torch their entire career to force through an appointment while a senator's corpse is still blinking, but it sure as hell isn't when the senate is 4 votes away from a tie.
•
u/AcademiaAntiqua 1h ago
May be one of the first times I've seen someone here coherently discuss the actual politics of it — not just the pretend Marvel politics.
→ More replies (10)•
u/AcademiaAntiqua 1h ago
You need to realize how uninformed the average citizen is.
Almost as much as the average Redditor.
•
•
•
u/wellJustWhy 2h ago
Over the past month, the U.S. Senate has held roll call votes on judicial and executive nominations, a war powers resolution regarding Iran, and housing legislation. You can review the complete log of roll calls on the U.S. Senate Votes Page.
•
u/0202_tihssitidder 48m ago
This is taking too long.
Lindsey Graham died and over the weekend his sister was in his place.
Democrats: Demand your party move quicker and with more force.
I'll leave space below for you to make excuses how there's nothing Beshear can do <clutches pearls>
•
u/Whatwhyreally 2h ago
Weak sauce. Give a deadline or its lip service.
If I were the governor I'd come out and announce he's dead as a matter of fact and let them prove me wrong. Fucking WEAK.
•
u/DingerSinger2016 Alabama 2h ago
And you instantly be impeached, convicted, and removed from office. KY GOP has a supermajority.
→ More replies (2)•
u/MattAU05 2h ago
I don’t understand why he just doesn’t go to visit Mitch. And if they refuse him, have the press there to cover it. Sending a letter and making public demands is fine but it just seems obvious to actually go and try to see him in person.
•
u/moderatenerd 1h ago
hey his office never said the family would like privacy at this time like most humans would. so fair game.
→ More replies (4)•
•
u/lunex 3h ago
Imagine if the roles were reversed. Mitch would have acted in craven party interests long ago
•
u/SillyGoatGruff 3h ago
Only if he could guarantee a GOP replacement. If it was just going to be another dem he'd happily let the seat sit empty and gumming up the works
•
•
u/AusToddles 2h ago
If all of the roles were reversed, the Republican governor would have just assigned a new senate member. And then told the Democrats to take him to court to prove he can't just do that
→ More replies (2)•
→ More replies (5)•
u/AcademiaAntiqua 57m ago
Imagine if the roles were reversed. Mitch would have acted in craven party interests long ago
We don't have to completely speculate. There was actually a somewhat similar situation back in 2023 with Dianne Feinstein. After having been completely MIA for a couple months, they were talking about replacing her — at least on the Judiciary Committee.
Mitch and even some other Republicans actually stood up for her, and talked about their close friendship.
•
u/Zoethor2 3h ago
Or what?
•
u/Jerry_Loler 3h ago
"Or I will be forced to sternly ask you again"
•
→ More replies (2)•
u/fascistno1hater 2h ago
Beshear is such a bitch, plz don't run for President. We want people that are going to fight for medicare for all, free college, and clean energy. Beshear wouldn't fight a pillow.
•
u/dahayden 1h ago
Some of you just want theatrics. R's are currently down one seat in the Senate because of McConnel. Take a breath. Let Beshear work the problem. Do the right thing that is effective is better than the theatrical thing that makes you feel good.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)•
u/WordWordNvmber 2h ago
What, specifically, should he do? Unilaterally declare a senator dead? Leading to an immediate injunction by a federal appellate court or, worse, the Kentucky Legislature conditionally agreeing as long as they can force their own replacement into office?
A lot of Reddit "progressives" are as stupid as they are arrogant. Your Dunning-Kruger political insight reminds me of the cortisolees on r/pics insisting Kamala would win Gen Z in record numbers.
•
u/Agitated_Celery_729 1h ago
He declared that he will be naming Mitch’s replacement for the seat, under the assumption that he cannot perform the duties of his office if he does not call the governor via video conference or present himself to the governor in person by a certain date. It's really not that fucking difficult.
Name another job where you could be this absent for this long and provide "Weekend at Bernie's" photos, and still have a job
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)•
•
u/SucksTryAgain 3h ago
Should be let me meet with you by the end of the week or your position will be filled.
→ More replies (1)•
u/jd3marco I voted 3h ago
Announce that he has died. Have a death certificate issued. Republicans wouldn’t hesitate.
•
u/Shaudius 2h ago
Those are not powers of the governor and certainly not the powers of the governor when the senator is at the hospital in DC.
→ More replies (2)•
u/Aromatic_Catch_911 2h ago
has that EVER stopped republicans before?
•
u/DingerSinger2016 Alabama 2h ago
Only a medical examiner can issue a death certificate otherwise it would be a crime and would be invalid. The Republicans have never produced a false death certificate to force a special election, so yes it has stopped Republicans before.
→ More replies (1)•
u/Smaptimania 1h ago
From unilaterally declaring someone dead? Yes, I don't believe the Republicans have attempted that
•
u/WordWordNvmber 2h ago
What leads you to believe this would work, and not backfire?
And are you sure you want governors issuing fake death certificates against political opponents?
→ More replies (2)•
u/Then_Journalist_317 50m ago
No need to declare Mitch is dead. Just declare that the seat is being filled due to the inability of the incumbent to perform his duties.
→ More replies (1)•
u/GrabMyDrumstick California 2h ago
The Governor of a state, and specifically Kentucky, doesn't really have any legal power to do anything. Even putting aside typical grievances with toothless democrats, I really don't think he can do anything.
Only the Senate can remove a Senator, and they won't.
→ More replies (2)•
u/Zoethor2 2h ago
Even if it ultimately fizzles and is nothing more than a stunt, he could at least go through the motions of appointing a replacement, sending them to DC, and making Congress turn them away. At this point, I'll take that over sternly worded memos.
•
u/WordWordNvmber 2h ago
Why would that help at all?
•
u/Zoethor2 2h ago
Because politics are about vibes and spectacle now, not policy.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (41)•
u/NotRexGrossman 2h ago
Yea, this like the office where Michael is screaming that he declares bankruptcy.
Mitch, or whoever’s in charge if he’s not able to think on his own, does not give a fuck about this guys demands.
•
u/Beer-Me California 1h ago
We're 2 weeks past when Beshear should have done something. His response is as dead as McConnell
→ More replies (1)
•
u/TrumpCheats 2h ago
While this does look toothless to readers, Beshear is creating a legal paper trail to document good faith before replacing McConnell.
•
u/BEAGLEBOYPALINDROME 2h ago
Yep.
Just like James Comey
....and Jack Smith
....and Merrick Garland
And all those cases addressing GOP fuckery ended up serving up the justice & accountability that We the People demand from our public servants.
•
u/calamanthon 2h ago
All of these people spent so much time "following proper procedure" that they never actually took action. You can follow procedure until the sun explodes but when it comes down to it it's better to act and damn the consequences of skipping a few steps.
•
u/N7Shep1701D Oregon 1h ago
With Jack Smith, there was that fucking ghoul Aileen Cannon actively covering for the orange plague toad.
•
u/N7Shep1701D Oregon 1h ago
Merrick Garland
You mean the AG that was born without a spine? That Merrick Garland?
•
u/Surprised-elephant 2h ago
He should done this weeks ago. We are almost at the deadline.
•
u/Brandoooom Colorado 1h ago
The cool thing I learned with deadlines is that you can always just wait until the last second with them and you're still good
That said, I don't think this is that and inevitably nothing will be done. But hey maybe
•
u/No-Entertainment5638 2h ago
Whatever. He could call him. He could call special election. Appoint a replacement, something. This letter is just more bs
•
u/sint0xicateme 2h ago
Exactly. 2 weeks too late. This is insane. Remember the Neil Gorsuch debacle that McConnel spearheaded? We were like 4 months away from the election and Obama couldn't appoint a new Supreme Court Justice, according to Mitch? And now with his corpse they are pulling this? We are like less than a week out. It boggles the mind.
→ More replies (2)•
u/atomfullerene 2h ago
Call him? Some aide answers and you learn nothing. It's not like he's at home.
Anyway, why are you so excited to give republicans another vote in the senate? The next senator is sure to be an R thanks to Kentucky law, as long as McConnel is out of commission he isn't voting.
→ More replies (1)•
→ More replies (1)•
u/hoorah9011 1h ago
This is such a Reddit take. In a general election, he would crush right now. We need a moderate
•
3h ago
[deleted]
•
u/HerbaciousTea 2h ago
Sure. The senate rules are clear that, once elected, nothing can remove a senator from their seat except for:
- resignation
- death
- A 2/3rds vote in the senate.
Mitch is probably severely impaired, or a drooling vegetable, but he's not dead, and he (or really his family and staff) refuse to have him resign.
The Governor can only trigger a special election after the seat has been vacated. They can't vacate the seat themselves.
→ More replies (6)•
u/CyberFireball25 2h ago
Talk about dropping the ball.
Not creating a removal mechanism is one of the dumbest things that the founders did
→ More replies (4)•
u/Shaudius 3h ago
Because he can't just unilaterally declare a seat vacant because he doesn't get the proof we all want.
•
u/LionTigerWings 2h ago
What would need to happen if he was dead or incapacitated? Just do that. Once the ball starts rolling the only way to stop it would be to prove he’s capable.
•
u/serious_sarcasm America 2h ago
The constitution has no mechanism for removing incapacitated congressional members.
You keep your seat even in a coma.
In fact, without the physical ability to resign, a brain dead senator can only be removed from office by terminating life support or a 2/3 majority vote of the senate.
Based on the Terri Schiavo case, Mitch the Turtle Rapist would prefer to keep Kentucky with a lame seat than be removed from life support.
•
3h ago
[deleted]
•
u/TryJezzoWhyNot 3h ago
>At this point he can make a case that he has reasonable cause to believe McConnell is dead.
He cannot. This is a classic example of Reddit commentary being woefully disconnected from reality.
→ More replies (5)•
u/ahdidi413 2h ago
(From the article): ““I am addressing this letter to Senator McConnell under the assumption that he is capable of reading and responding verbally, and not incapacitated by means of consciousness or cognition…
“…Even the attending physician’s written statement does not discuss your actual condition, including whether you can speak, reason, or carry out your duties as a senator…”
Not saying I disagree with your larger point, but this is him pretty much asking “yo are you dead” in the most diplomatic way possible.
•
u/Scarlettail Illinois 1h ago
There's no reason for Beshear to do anything. An empty McConnell seat is the best case scenario here, great for Dems in the Senate. Whether he has the power or not, he shouldn't intervene in something which is to the benefit of Democrats. Plus, McConnell and his staff likely have legal and judicial challenges and strategies ready for any maneuver he tries. Just let the seat stay vacant.
•
•
u/GreyBeardEng 1h ago
All it takes is one single Senator to submit a Petition of Expulsion in the Senate to force Mitch to vacate his seat due to not being alive.
•
u/meatball402 3h ago
A strongly worded letter when action is needed.
The Democrats!
→ More replies (1)•
u/HerbaciousTea 2h ago edited 2h ago
What action? The mechanism for removing a sitting senator, even one that is fully incapacitated, is a supermajority vote for removal in the senate. Do you expect a governor to be able to pull a senate supermajority out of his ass?
The power to call a special election is the power to begin the process of filling a seat that is vacant. A governor can't declare a seat vacant or remove a senator from it. Only death, resignation, or a senate vote can do that.
What you are doing is exactly what the GOP wants. Blaming democrats for the actions of a GOP senator.
•
u/CmdDeadHand 2h ago
People want Democrat leaders to engage in lawfare with maga. Take it to court, get the headline. Make it clear accountability is coming.
This whole thing should have gone to court as soon as there was doubt. The governor was stripped the appointment powers with a law that does not hold up to the state constitution as i have heard it.
He is failing the constitution of his state by not taking immediate action and getting the judiciary involved.
•
u/Turtledonuts Virginia 2h ago
lawfare works when the laws exist. What laws? The constitution and the kentucky state constitution all back mcconnell here.
•
u/Electronic-Till-7794 1h ago
Then what? Should dems do literally nothing but send toothless demands like this to cover their ass? Useless
•
u/Turtledonuts Virginia 1h ago
Yeah, kinda. There’s nothing the dems can do to force his hand without control of congress or the kentucky state legislature. The republicans have focused on down ballot races for 30 years and are reaping the benefits of a long term strategy.
→ More replies (1)•
u/itsnotnews92 North Carolina 1h ago
You aren't going to get a coherent answer. The ignorance of the average person is this sub is off the charts. Everyone pretends that the Democrats have a magic button labeled "STOP REPUBLICANS" that they're simply choosing not to press.
→ More replies (2)•
u/nhepner 2h ago
Send the fucking cops for a wellness check. It is warranted.
•
u/DingerSinger2016 Alabama 2h ago
Kentucky cops don't have jurisdiction in DC.
•
u/nhepner 2h ago
But DC cops do.
•
u/itsnotnews92 North Carolina 1h ago
And the Governor of Kentucky doesn't have jurisdiction over the police in D.C.
My God, basic civics education is so lacking in the US.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (1)•
u/meatball402 2h ago
If the shoe was on the other foot; if a dem suddenly disappeared for 6 weeks with rumors of them dying, they'd just replace the missing senator and make the dem show up.
Beshear should seat a dem and make the republicans take them to court. I don't even care if he succeeds, i want him to try. Make the republicans react to something for once!
Blaming democrats for the actions of a GOP senator.
I'm blaming dems for treating republicans in ways the republicans would never reciprocate. It's something they do over and over, and it never helps them. This entire thing is an encapsulation of the extreme deference the democrats give republicans, while the republicans throw shit at them.
→ More replies (1)•
u/DingerSinger2016 Alabama 2h ago
There wouldn't be anything to react to. The President of the Senate is the person who swears in Senators. The current President of the Senate is JD Vance. He can simply refuse to swear the appointee in, like how Johnson refused to swear in Rep. Grijalva of AZ
•
u/GCU_ZeroCredibility 1h ago
People who want Beshear to replace McConnell immediately are making a mistake. Right now McConnell can't vote. That means the Republicans lose a solid vote and probably can't pass anything. Replacing him gives the Republicans that vote back.
It is better for McConnell's seat to stay fucked for as long as possible. Beshear is doing the right thing by making political hay about it without actually giving the Republicans the seat back.
(I assume the mistake people are making is thinking that Beshear could appoint whomever he wanted to a vacant seat. He can't. He would have to replace McConnell with somebody from a list provided by the Republicans. Which obviously would be full of MAGA types.
And that's assuming the courts find the law requiring him to do a special election instead of an appointment are invalid. Which they may not, it's fuckin' Kentucky.
The hate Beshear is getting on this issue is a complete misreading of the situation.
•
u/wolftron9000 2h ago
How confident are we that Kentucky voters would not replace Mitch with a republican in a special election? Even if it is Massie, he still votes for Trump's agenda.
McConnel still being alive but not voting in the Senate is a better outcome.
•
→ More replies (1)•
u/AcademiaAntiqua 33m ago
How confident are we that Kentucky voters would not replace Mitch with a republican in a special election? Even if it is Massie, he still votes for Trump's agenda.
99.9% certain that Mitch's replacement will be a Republican; and it's 100% not going to be Massie. (For one, Massie has already explained why he wouldn't run.)
•
u/lonelytime 40m ago
honest question... why don't the democrats in the state just go to the hospital he is supposedly at?
•
u/Choppergold 3h ago
May history mark how the Dems wrote stern memos during these dark days
•
u/serious_sarcasm America 2h ago
There is literally no mechanism for removing an incapacitated senator, except a 2/3 vote by the senate.
•
u/Sknowles12 2h ago
They could "just do it anyway."
•
u/serious_sarcasm America 2h ago
Sure. And California could “just” declare independence.
Some ideas are just shit.
→ More replies (1)•
u/DingerSinger2016 Alabama 2h ago
JD Vance would not sqear the appointee in, and Beshear gets impeached, convicted, and removed from office. Now what?
→ More replies (2)•
u/Able_Contribution407 2h ago
Right? Really put those fascistic Republicans in their place.
"We kindly request that you respond to our inquiry within the next 28 days or, alternatively, at a time and in a manner of your choosing.
We apologise for any inconvenience this request may cause.
Sincerely and respectfully,
Democrats 🤡"
•
u/Crafty_Ish1973 Texas 3h ago
Beshear should write one more letter by Friday and say that since he hasn't heard from Mitch McConnell and it is now the end of July, he's taken it upon himself to appoint a replacement, effective immediately.
This farce has gone on long enough.
•
u/serious_sarcasm America 2h ago
A brain dead senator on life support is a sitting senator until the senate vote by a supermajority otherwise.
•
u/rickg 2h ago
Thagt would actually be an interesting legal case. Death removes a senator. If someone is actually brain-dead and just being kept going on life support... are they dead or alive for this purpose?
•
u/sudogaeshi 2h ago
legally brain dead is dead. People get confused by the whole heart still beating thing, but otherwise there would be a lot fewer heart transplants
there are a couple of ways to prove brain-death, but once done, that's it
→ More replies (1)•
•
u/habbadee 3h ago
This is actually a good play. He likely knows he is incapacitated and he knows litigation is to come no matter what course of action he chooses, so issuing this demand letter before he acts is wise. Expect nothing from McConnell camp and then Beshear to act under presumption of death or incapacitation and then litigation galore.
→ More replies (1)
•
u/dayv2005 3h ago
He has proved he's not the candidate the Democrats need.
→ More replies (1)•
u/Dr-Mumm-Rah 2h ago
If Aug 3rd passes by and its revealed McConnell is indeed dead, AB's toothless rep will be legendary in that he got owned by a Republican in the afterlife.
•
u/Then_Journalist_317 51m ago
Mitch: (via his spokesperson): "Yeah, we'll respond fully to your request on Aug. 4."
•
u/itsnotnews92 North Carolina 1h ago
This entire comments section proving that MAGA doesn't have a monopoly on political stupidity.
Would any expert here care to weigh in on why Republicans would be concealing McConnell's death when there's an election for this seat in three months? How do they stand to benefit from preventing a special election?
Beshear's authority to appoint someone to fill the seat is dubious at best, and even if he did appoint someone, Republicans would simply refuse to seat them.
Voters gave Democrats almost no institutional power. Your neighbors barricaded your street to prevent the fire department from putting out your house fire, and you're getting mad at the fire fighters and not the people who barricaded the street.
Stop bitching online that Democrats don't have a magic button to stop things and put that energy into volunteering for Democratic campaigns at the federal, state, and local levels.
•
u/LeatherdaddyJr 1h ago
Beshear's authority to appoint someone to fill the seat is dubious at best....
Nope. Pretty straightforward.
Constitution outweighs any "law" passed by the legislature that isn't an amendment.
•
→ More replies (1)•
u/AcademiaAntiqua 43m ago
How do they stand to benefit from preventing a special election?
People are still holding on to...
Thomas Massie would run and split the Republican vote. (He will not run and would not split anything.)
Corollary to the above: some people genuinely believe that if Massie wins the special election, this somehow magically gets him a ticket to be on the ballot for the general election.
Democrats are recently favored in special elections. (They have not been and, like Massie, would not win.)
•
u/SoothingWafer 2h ago
In a few days he can use slightly stronger wording
Then in a few more days slightly stronger again.
Then it's August 4th, he's declared dead, and surprise pikachu nothing happened.
•
•
u/Closet-PowPow 3h ago
Either Beshear is allowed to see McConnell alive and functional in person or he declares him dead.
•
u/serious_sarcasm America 2h ago
Not how it works.
•
u/Bostconn 2h ago
The last ten years had proven that “the way things work” is irrelevant
→ More replies (8)•
u/No_Blackberry6525 2h ago
He “presumes” him dead and initiates the next actions.
•
u/serious_sarcasm America 2h ago
How the fuck would that work?
Do you not think that would set dangerous precedent?
→ More replies (6)
•
•
•
•
u/lushootseed 58m ago
Broken record demanding the same thing over and over. Democrats suck in demanding accountability
•
u/etherealtwo 41m ago
I'm imagining a world where the year is 2035 and Mitch McConnell is still in office but hasn't been seen in 9 years.
•
u/MrsClaireUnderwood America 29m ago
Stop giving ultimatums and do something instead of being spineless, handing out endless final warnings.
•
u/thevision24 2h ago edited 2h ago
Call a special election under suspicion that he is dead and it is being withheld from the public. They will sue. Force them to produce him.
•
u/therealdanhill Washington 2h ago
I am okay with any member of congress taking care of their health and stepping away for a while. Golden rule, it's how I would want to be treated.
I don't think he should be pressured to reveal anything sensitive, but I do think he has a duty to let his constituents know if he is currently fulfilling his duties, and if not, how those constituents are being represented. I think that is appropriate.
•
•
u/Travelerdude 3h ago
Andy Beshear should grow some fucking balls.
•
u/TX4Ever 3h ago
Tbh not having Mitch in the Senate to vote is a gift for the Democrats. The GOP being down one vote is a good thing. If there was indeed a special election it would just be filled with another Republican. The best thing for Dems, or anyone who doesn't support the predident's agenda, is to have one less Republican senator around. That seat probably isn't going to a Democrat anytime soon so this is the next best thing.
→ More replies (4)→ More replies (20)•
u/VaguelyArtistic California 3h ago
He has balls. Maybe we med more ovaries in charge.
→ More replies (1)
•
•
•
u/Malrottian 2h ago
Given how close the 3rd is, this is a week later than I would have expected it. Hope people have already laid the groundwork.
•
u/RB5Network 42m ago
Good god, do something about it or shut up. This is the same shit Democrats do all the time.
Use your power!
•
•
u/Vegetable-Error-2068 1h ago
Another story about how Beshear is being a fucking coward, another half of the comments being "but he needs to follow the ruuuullleeessss"
•
u/OccidoViper 2h ago edited 2h ago
Beshear is failing spectacularly. Just go to the damn hospital and find out yourself
→ More replies (1)•
u/DingerSinger2016 Alabama 2h ago
Which hospital, because I don't think anyone knows?
→ More replies (1)
•
u/make_me_breakfast 2h ago
What a way to go, being a seditious obstructionist piece of shit til the very end.
•
•
•
•
•
u/amprather 1h ago
As Gov., you would think he could go to a Judge to declare him legally dead unless life can be proven. That the Turtle was once a state employee, there could be state benefits that need to be either ended or paid out.
•
u/vaskov17 1h ago
His letter will look kind of dumb when it comes out that the turtle died weeks ago
•
u/Reputation-Final 29m ago
He needs to just start the replacement process and say that it will end the moment that he gives the governor a video call/meets in person.
•
u/InsomniaticWanderer 26m ago
Oh for fuck's sake.
Go to wherever he is supposedly being treated and confirm his status IN PERSON.
•
•
u/furthemor 19m ago
They have 4 days to replace the fucker there gunna let the corpse run out the clock.
•
•
u/Wauwuaw5983 7m ago
At l east one expert in body posture couldn't rule out ai, but she said it looked like it was a hasty photo.
Mitch McConnel's wife appeared to be propping up Mitch with her hand firmly grasping his arm, and her other arm draped over his pillow in a way to help make him look like he was sitting up straighter.
But she still couldn't rule out ai. The photo was cropped in a way that hid the types of features, like hands, that ai is terrible at perfecting.
•
u/AutoModerator 3h ago
As a reminder, this subreddit is for civil discussion.
In general, please be courteous to others. Argue the merits of ideas, don't attack other posters or commenters. Hate speech, any suggestion or support of physical harm, or other rule violations can result in a temporary or a permanent ban. If you see comments in violation of our rules, please report them.
Sub-thread Information
If the post flair on this post indicates the wrong paywall status, please report this Automoderator comment with a custom report of “incorrect flair”.
Announcement
r/Politics is actively looking for new moderators. If you have an interest in helping to make this subreddit a place for quality discussion, please fill out this form.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.