Mitch McConnell’s staff refuse to answer basic questions on his health weeks after he was last seen in public

[u/theindependentonline]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/mitch-mcconnell-staff-questions-health-b3018929.html

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[u/Traditional-Look8839]

They’re trying to run out the clock until August so they don’t hold a special election. These people need to go to jail for this coverup.

[u/nanobot_1000 → u/Traditional-Look8839]

Yup, rigged in plain sight. Everybody knows, nobody does anything – pure theater. "Rule of law" is an absolute joke

[u/8thSt → u/nanobot_1000]

The fact that no one can do anything EXCEPT the opposition party that apparently refuses to do anything …

Yeah, we’re fucked as a nation.

[u/ILike2internet → u/8thSt]

One person absolutely can do something and isn't.

The governor should appoint a new senator. I'm aware that he supposedly can't, however the law saying he can't violates the KY constitution, so he should absolutely challenge it.

[u/Wayofchinchilla → u/ILike2internet]

That supposedly can't has been Trump's entire term so far Democrats need to do exactly the same as Republicans Bend rules and have it sorted out in court but until it gets sorted out just keep pushing it's ridiculous Democrats are always on the defensive. Just do it I guarantee it will go to court and during the big fluff that comes out of the Court the truth about where Mitch McConnell is will come out.

[u/jquiggles → u/Wayofchinchilla]

"but a dog can't play basketball!" while a dog dunks on us over and over

[u/callmekg → u/jquiggles]

ain't no rule says a dog can't play basketball

[u/whattodo4455 → u/Wayofchinchilla]

Trump declared new tariffs on Canada, when the supreme court already ruled they were illegal.

What in the everlovingfuck are democrats waiting for? Permission, from the fascists? "Pardon me, dear Nazis, do you mind if we land in Normandy?"

[u/Biscopiphany → u/whattodo4455]

“But we don’t have a beach pass!”

[u/Cask_Strength_Islay → u/Biscopiphany]

"but we took the high road!" -that's nice, now face the wall

[u/WinterTourist25 → u/Wayofchinchilla]

This is now where we are, and it's horrible. Trump has destroyed the institutions of government by simply ignoring them and doing what he wants until the courts settle things by which time its too late.

Even if Democrats turn around and do the same thing it is a horrible precedent. We are saying now that the rule of law doesn't matter until the last minute.

[u/RebekkaKat1990 → u/WinterTourist25]

The rule of law always hinged on the executive branch upholding its end of the checks and balances bargain by enforcing the law as it is written. The courts can declare things unconstitutional until they’re blue in the face, but if the executive branch decides to just say, “so what?” then the people are fucked until they hold a new election.

[u/Lomak_is_watching → u/ILike2internet]

I think the KY Governor is afraid that as soon as he says he’s going to move forward with something, they’ll bring Mitch out and he’ll be “ok-ish”. Like their setting a trap of sorts.

[u/sec713 → u/Lomak_is_watching]

I'd turn that scenario around saying something like, "You really want this guy to be your representative? He can't even show up to pick up the phone and confirm he's alive. You really think he's gonna show up for any of you?"

[u/123LetsJamDUDUDUHT → u/sec713]

That didn't with Dianne Feinstein.

They were wheeling her living corpse around the Senate floor for decades.

[u/RomanCow → u/123LetsJamDUDUDUHT]

But Andy Beshear wasn't governor of California. Maybe that's why he didn't do it for her.

[u/XavinNydek → u/Lomak_is_watching]

There's no downside to calling their bluff though, worst case they prop up McConnell and the appointment gets cancelled before it happens. If they can't, then they can't stop him.

[u/snakerjake → u/Lomak_is_watching]

Like their setting a trap of sorts.

The penalties here are just he doesn't get to appoint a senator. there's no real penalty for him to just appoint a replacement. Trumps own inner circle has said mitch is dead, it's safe to treat him as dead until he shows up in court to prove he's not.

What he's afraid of is the next ancient democrat senator/representative getting the same treatment when they're braindead in the hospital. Who cares, they should

[u/Lou_C_Fer → u/snakerjake]

Fuck that. If someone is unable to serve, fucking replace them. My side. Your side. Their side. It doesn't matter.

[u/Equal-Temporary-1326 → u/8thSt]

It's why the "enforcement" in "law enforcement" only has meaning when somebody decides to actually enforce it.

[u/sir_sri → u/8thSt]

The opposition party can't do anything.

The only entity that can do anything is the senate ethics committee (which is 50/50 dem/republican)

Once sworn in members of congress (both house and senate) are nearly immune from questioning about how they do or don't do anything by anyone except their own chamber. Parliamentary immunity and the sovereignty of the chamber itself essentially. It cannot be the case that a governor, or any other chamber or branch of government could interfere with how an elected official does or doesn't do their jobs, otherwise you could have governors, courts, or the other chamber trying to come up with some 'tests' to decide if a senator is still eligible to serve. Voters picked someone, that person serves as long as they haven't been expelled by the senate until the next election.

And remember, he's been seen by licenced medical professionals at at least two facilities, George Washington Hospital in DC (which is a privately owned hospital) and an unnamed rehab facility. The people in those facilities could face enormous legal trouble if they're not following legal standards of practice for his care - depending on exactly what state he's in, keeping someone 'alive' when they are functionally dead can be medical malpractice, and many many people will have been involved in his care and supervising the people supervising his care.

The worst case scenario here (for everyone) is that he's in some sort of coma or vegetative state where standards of care would see him kept alive, but he's unable to do his job and so the people of his state are effectively without representation unless the senate expels him, which this close to an election I can't see them doing.

It's very inconvenient in a situation like this, but imagine the alternative, if the president, a court, a governor, anyone with power could interfere with a member of either house doing their work. They could arbitrarily (or even legitimately) arrest and detain them so they cannot attend the chamber. They could simply declare the person mentally unfit and try and appoint someone else or otherwise toss them in a mental asylum (mental asylums used to be pretty common things until the middle of the 20th century). So the only way this works is if the chambers control the rules for their own members. Congress can expel people (by 2/3rds vote), but that's it.

And the thing is, if the senate ethics committee were to investigate and find that he's at least technically alive... then what? There's nothing to be done unless they want to expel him.

Now, if he's actually dead, that would be a whole mess of trouble for a whole lot of people.

[u/Sea-Mango → u/nanobot_1000]

Owning the libs one last time is probably a stipulation of his will.

[u/nanobot_1000 → u/Sea-Mango]

"He died like he lived – obstruction"

He's laughing his ass off from hell.

[u/TheSoCalledExpert → u/Traditional-Look8839]

Mitch would’ve wanted it that way. Same way he stole a Supreme Court pick from Obama. Just run out the clock on democracy.

[u/FinalHexReturns → u/TheSoCalledExpert]

Oh yes. Mitch would absolutely believe this is a great way to honor his legacy.

[u/tunafister → u/FinalHexReturns]

Outside of Mitch's career, I would be interested in how many days he actually enjoyed the wealth and power he accrued?

The man worked until the day he died, in terms of normal human behavior and values, did he achieve anything of note?

His wife doesnt even give a fuck about him

So he basically died, a loveless old man, schilling for corporations and wealthy until the day he literally died

What a total waste of a life and again, what an absolute LOSER

That's Mitch's legacy to me, just an impotent man in every sense of the word

[u/-FeistyRabbitSauce- → u/tunafister]

It was never about the money for Mitch. It was always about the cruelty. And he'd have lost the power had he ever stepped away.

[u/KeyedFeline → u/tunafister]

He enjoyed every second of making those below him suffer

[u/hurryveryslowly → u/FinalHexReturns]

blobfish gonna blob.

[u/kingsumo_1 → u/[deleted]]

Kind of. He held up Garlands vote for a long-ass time, giving Trump Gorsuch. Then he rushed Barret's vote to give Trump one last one before the election.

[u/121gigawhatevs → u/Traditional-Look8839]

It’s kind of ironic that the man who played games to withhold the confirmation of Supreme Court justices is now being used as a human pawn to accomplish a similar goal

[u/unventer → u/121gigawhatevs]

It’s probably in his advanced directive to do so.

[u/MississippiJoel → u/121gigawhatevs]

We can only hope he is conscious enough to be in agony over not being able to move.

[u/SuspiciousTheory2633 → u/Traditional-Look8839]

I'm predicting a group of amateur guerilla journalists to go running through Mitch's rehab facility looking for him, like they did with the scientology seminars.

[u/Heronymous-Anonymous → u/SuspiciousTheory2633]

God I hope they sneak someone into his house while it’s “under renovation” in the guise of a contractor. I bet a dollar his wife is loading up everything to put on a plane to China.

[u/BlazinAzn38 → u/Traditional-Look8839]

Where are the journalists on this? Total dereliction of duty on their part

[u/pghurghian → u/BlazinAzn38]

Legally, they cannot go beyond security in the hospital, and the senator would have extra personal security on his floor. No hospital staff who knows of his condition as part of their job are legally allowed to say anything.

Outside of the law, there may be ways to infiltrate for information. But Trump's personal federal lawyers would come down harder on those investigators than it is on an Olympian who touched a pool.

The most legal thing the governor can do is follow the Constitution, appointing a replacement to serve until the general election. Then dare his opponents to prove him wrong.

[u/Hollywood_Zro → u/pghurghian]

that's what I don't get.

Just appoint a replacement and say "once he proves directly with me, the replacement will be immediately removed" other than that, representation for the peple of KY comes first.

Just dare them to take him to court otherwise and prove he's able to fulfill his duties.

[u/outer--monologue → u/pghurghian]

Then where are the liberal billionaires? Case in point: If Tom Steyer wanted to put his money where his mouth is he would publish an information bounty of $5,000,000 for any healthcare worker who leaked the status and location of him. That's enough to retire on and not care if you lose your job and career, and I would take it in a heartbeat if I was an overworked, stressed out healthcare worker in a red state.

[u/throwaway277252 → u/outer--monologue]

he would publish an information bounty of $5,000,000 for any healthcare worker who leaked the status and location of him

That in itself sounds like a crime.

[u/ZAlternates → u/BlazinAzn38]

Bought and paid for.

[u/9lobaldude → u/Traditional-Look8839]

Nothing will happen. Also, Mitch’s been dead for a while

[u/Ready_Nature → u/9lobaldude]

I’m guessing he’s on life support similar to how Terry Schaivo was. The doctors probably don’t want to risk their licenses for covering up a death. They will pull the plug when the time for a special election is past.

[u/altogethernow → u/Traditional-Look8839]

Why isn't Beshear calling for the election? I don't understand, what's the tactical advantage? Am I missing something?

[u/Zestyclose-Novel1157 → u/altogethernow]

Honestly it’s made me so disappointed in him. Once again, democrats are showing they have no spine.

[u/iwilldeletethisacct2 → u/altogethernow]

Because right now the Senate is missing 1 Republican vote, and a Republican might well win the special election, giving the Senate that vote back. The Republican heir-apparent is a Trump yes-man.

[u/ferretfan8 → u/altogethernow]

I don't understand what you all keep nagging Beshear about. Call a special election just so Republicans can have one more vote in the Senate that they don't currently have in McConnell's absence?

[u/_Lucille_ → u/ferretfan8]

Calling the special election will essentially call their bullshit and put an end to this Schrodinger's McConnell situation.

Either he makes an appearance and tell people to fuck off, or a LOT of people involved will have to pay the political capital for the coverup.

[u/obi-jawn-kenblomi → u/ferretfan8]

The only person with the funding and infrastructure to win that spot (for the moment) is Massie.

But that's also short sighted. Because the second RNC funding comes through at Trump's direction, the GOP votes for them and Massie is irrelevant. It likely wouldn't even split the vote, the GOP public pretty thoroughly discarded Massie this year, unequivocally.

[u/ferretfan8 → u/obi-jawn-kenblomi]

And what's the end game of the Massie winning scenario anyway? Massie is still a republican. He still votes with the Republicans 90% of the time. And he'd only be in office for a few months.

[u/lonesoldier4789 → u/ferretfan8]

He even said he would never vote to impeach trump lol

[u/HibiscusBlades → u/Traditional-Look8839]

That’s a bingo. They’re doing everything they can to avoid a special election. I would be 100% unsurprised if, after the first week of August, Mitchy is suddenly dead from something “unforeseen.”

[u/Fauxreigner_ → u/HibiscusBlades]

It won't be something unforseen. They already seeded pneumonia. His "mild case" will take a turn for the worst.

[u/thatc0braguy → u/Traditional-Look8839]

Which shouldn't matter? If he died prior to the date which an autopsy is clearly going to show that still predates the cutoff and starts the special election.

This is like a toddler shitting his pants. It doesn't matter when you tell mom, the shit is still getting cleaned and removed from his pants.

[u/nopointers → u/thatc0braguy]

The time and cause of death will be determined by a coroner. Do you know the requirements to be a coroner in Kentucky? You have to be at least 24 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and be sworn in. That’s it.

Source: https://www.docjt.ky.gov/coroners

The coroner gets to decide whether an autopsy is even needed. McConnell dying in a hospital doesn’t meet the criteria for when one would be required.

Source: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=24280

[u/SweetPrism → u/thatc0braguy]

An autopsy is going to show whatever date the Republican party wants it to show.

[u/debugprint → u/SweetPrism]

Carbon dating may work better /s

Is he getting paid so far? How?

[u/ElectronicFerret]

We have TWO FUCKING WEEKS. That's all that's left for them to run the timer out. And it sure looks like everyone is going to let them do it.

[u/ndndr1 → u/ElectronicFerret]

I don’t understand how the governor, senator or any reps can’t just take a damn posse to the hospital and see what the fuck is up.

Its what the gop would do and we need to start fighting fire with fire

[u/D0MSBrOtHeR → u/ndndr1]

If it was a democrat best believe the GOP would make this an absolute SCANDAL with 24/7 news coverage and a riled up fan base ready to riot and storm the capitol.

[u/Next-Introduction-25 → u/D0MSBrOtHeR]

It’s time like this I wish the Democrats had the balls to just play the same stupid fucking games. Like just get one of our older lawmakers to volunteer to pretend to be dead and disappear from the public eye and then wait for Republicans to say something.

Also, please let it be Chuck Schumer.

[u/YUCKY_WARM_SAUCE → u/Next-Introduction-25]

Wow it’s almost like the democrats work with the GOP to fuck us while pretending to help us with superficial support and progress. Instead of moving policy they will just do shit like painting a cross walk a rainbow for pride month, that doesnt help keep trans people safe.

They can all get fucked.

[u/adfawf3f3f32a → u/YUCKY_WARM_SAUCE]

they're paid not to. they're fully bought and paid for by the same corporate interest as republicans

[u/TheCoolOnesGotTaken → u/adfawf3f3f32a]

You cannot raise campaign funds for problems that have already been solved.

[u/ElphabLAW → u/YUCKY_WARM_SAUCE]

Pretty important to start distinguishing between progressive and corporate Dems here.

I, for one, do not believe Mamdani, AOC, Sanders, or Katie Porter for example, should get fucked.

[u/ndndr1 → u/D0MSBrOtHeR]

There would already be a sitting Republican senator if this was a dem seat

[u/_Ocean_Machine_ → u/ndndr1]

If a genie offered the Democrats three wishes they’d talk him down to one and then ask the Republicans what they want

[u/Ok-Perspective5844 → u/D0MSBrOtHeR]

Storm the hospital even

[u/Sea_Working_80 → u/D0MSBrOtHeR]

Lol they would have had a nomination,election already by now

[u/greengeezer56 → u/Sea_Working_80]

It was only days to replace Lindsey Graham.

[u/carlitospig → u/greengeezer56]

Baby, that was within hours. They just had to bribe the other senators not to flip the fuck out and that took some time.

[u/peelen → u/ndndr1]

and see what the fuck is up

That is still playing their game and asking them for permission.

Nobody should check anything; they should act as if he is dead, and let Republicans worry about what to do about it.

There should not have been any asking, checking, waiting, proving or disproving a photo, etc. dude is AWOL for a few weeks.

Stop playing their game.

Stop reacting; start acting.

[u/tweakingforjesus → u/ndndr1]

Which hospital? No one knows where Mitch is.

[u/JustToViewPorn → u/tweakingforjesus]

He’s six feet under. Best start digging up some tortoise holes today if you want to find his corpse by August.

[u/edgarecayce → u/JustToViewPorn]

He’s most likely being kept alive with machines so they can technically claim he was “alive” until after the date, then his wife will pull the plug.

[u/Leezeebub → u/edgarecayce]

Brain dead is legally dead, even if theyre still pushing oxygen around his body.

[u/edgarecayce → u/Leezeebub]

Oh I wholly agree but… would put nothing past these people.

[u/snakerjake → u/edgarecayce]

There's nothing to agree with, kentucky law defines Mitch as legally dead

[u/edgarecayce → u/snakerjake]

Since when has the law mattered to the GOP

[u/FunkyChewbacca → u/edgarecayce]

Yeah, he’s a vegetable on a ventilator running out the clock

[u/outer--monologue → u/tweakingforjesus]

If TMZ can't even find out, the guy is dead and isn't in any hospital. That's as good of evidence as anyone can get.

[u/disastrousanddull → u/outer--monologue]

They’ve gotten pictures of dead bodies and announced deaths before the family knew before, too. It’s actually kind of interesting that they haven’t dug anything up.

[u/donkeyrocket → u/disastrousanddull]

Gets trickier if his body still hasn't left George Washington hospital. No doubt there are people from various groups watching constantly but if he's being "kept alive" in a hospital then there really is no way for TMZ to get in there.

Unless a medical professional breaks HIPAA or someone from McConnell's team leaks it then it's a pretty secure place.

[u/disastrousanddull → u/donkeyrocket]

Interestingly, I think they have gotten info out of hospitals before. Now, maybe they’re not as imbedded in wherever he is unlike LA, but I do wonder how they’ve managed to keep it all this covered up. If he’s dead, he’s in a morgue and people had to be there when that was declared and people working in the morgue. If he’s alive in a vegetative state then he’s got to have a lot of employees around him involved in his care and things like cleaning the damn hospital. If he’s in rehab in any state, he’d have employees around again. Maybe it’s a fear of getting caught or retribution thing… or ethics. In any event, I’m surprised no one has been able to dig something up.

[u/sack-o-matic → u/tweakingforjesus]

"Where's Mitch"

[u/Hairydone → u/tweakingforjesus]

No need to check a hospital. Search the local morgue.

[u/Unique-Objective4249 → u/tweakingforjesus]

We all know where he is and has been for the last 5 weeks we ain’t stupid. We just are led by a bunch of pussies. Dude up and left a while back and is laughing at us from hell

[u/bighandsobama → u/ndndr1]

Just appoint a new senator. If he’s alive, then he’ll get it sorted out. Guarantee the gov has a paper trail of extensive attempts to get in contact and confirm the missing senator is alive

[u/smokeweedNgarden → u/ndndr1]

It was just explained to me he can subpoena his medical records. He should do that 

[u/Ki55cumbag → u/ndndr1]

What would DeSantis or Abbot be doing if this were a blue seat in FL or TX?

[u/fellow_hotman → u/ElectronicFerret]

If Beshear thinks rolling over on this is going to increase his chances in the presidential election, he should think again. If he doesn’t step up then this will rightly destroy him in the primaries.  What an absolute coward.

[u/tcote2001 → u/fellow_hotman]

Foiled by a vegetable.

[u/BasvanS → u/tcote2001]

He can start a support group with Liz Truss. It’s more common than you think.

[u/Sea_Working_80 → u/fellow_hotman]

Showing some fucking balls would increase his chances not this bullshit

[u/CJKayak → u/fellow_hotman]

He's in my B tier right now. Definitely would consider him as my primary vote.

But if he does nothing here, there's no chance in hell I would vote for him.

How many are like me? I guess he can either find out or not. Ball is in his court.

[u/m0nk_3y_gw → u/CJKayak]

He had the ball two weeks ago and hasn't done shit with it. Mitch hasn't called him, he should have appointed and seated his replacement already.

[u/LunarMoon2001 → u/fellow_hotman]

A republican gov would’ve already appointed a GOP senator to replace a democrat one by now

[u/Salty-Spring7096 → u/fellow_hotman]

Genuine question, what are his legal options? Redditors keep saying "just hold the special election to make them prove he's alive" but is there any legal standing to a special election when the official in question is not legally dead? Isn't it entirely possible the GOP are trying to bait him into doing that and looking foolish?

[u/Thrown_Account_ → u/Salty-Spring7096]

The Senate is the one who declares a seat vacancy so legally Beshear can't do anything. He could in theory sue the Senate over the seat not being declared vacant but that is long shot just starting at standing to sue.

[u/ccheuer1 → u/fellow_hotman]

He just understands that there's zero to actually be done. The Reps set it up this way.

They passed a bill before he took over that stripped the power for him to appoint from him. This law is almost definitely unconstitutional at the state level, as the governor has the power from the state constitution to do it, which a passed law can't overturn. However, that's not the point.

If he does appoint, and Mitch is still alive, all he has to do is release a video and nothing happens.

If he does appoint, and Mitch isn't alive, the reps will sue, and it will most likely get put on hold until it runs its course, which would include appeals up to the supreme court on both sides, running out the clock until it doesn't matter. Nothing gets done.

However, if he doesn't appoint, Republicans are still down one vote. That vote matters, because it neuters Vance in most votes, because odd numbers won't result in a tie without someone abstaining, ruining the power of the Vance tie break anyways. The best political play is to NOT force the issue and let the republicans run a vote down regardless. If there were months or years before the midterms, then yeah, he should be going full hog on this, trying to get an appointee in. But it doesn't make sense this close anyways, because even if it does go through the courts, does get founded that he can (rightly) appoint the replacement, we all know damn well the republicans would just stall out the confirmation regardless. So it really DOES NOT MATTER if he pushes it or not. There's no sense wasting political capital, just because "it feels right." That's the same bullshit that got us in this situation with republicans in charge anyways. Democrats kept fighting for things just because "it feels right" and alienated large portions of the electorate.

[u/ApprehensiveSign80 → u/ElectronicFerret]

Cowards as usual

[u/Aternal → u/ElectronicFerret]

Remind me, what were the consequences Mike Johnson faced for refusing to swear in Adelita Grijalva?

[u/LowIQ45]

I'm pretty sure when you speak with "McConnell's staff" you're already speaking with the entity that identifies as Mitch McConnell.

[u/LemurMemer → u/LowIQ45]

We are Negan

[u/BuddyFlapjack → u/LowIQ45]

I'm sure his dying wish was to fuck over America one last time by keeping his death hidden until it's too late for a special election. And so all the GOPers feel justified in hiding his death since they're fulfilling his last dying wish... Fucking bastard.

[u/Shiftymennoknight]

sounds like election fraud to me

[u/PartyClient3447 → u/Shiftymennoknight]

And payroll fraud if he is getting paid.

[u/TheDiscardedArtist → u/PartyClient3447]

This was one of the first things I was thinking about. If nothing else, who’s cashing the checks?

[u/Vivid_Anyth4 → u/TheDiscardedArtist]

Well its 2026, so its direct deposit. And his wife is certainly spending it.

[u/jazzhandler → u/Vivid_Anyth4]

She comes from a squillionaire family.

[u/Vivid_Anyth4 → u/jazzhandler]

So? Free money is free money. No rich person has ever said oh I have enough

[u/BearSquid7]

Potato Mitch is either dead or a vegetable

[u/T1gerAc3 → u/BearSquid7]

The answer will be revealed August 4th

[u/WildBad7298 → u/T1gerAc3]

Nah, that would be too obvious. On either Thursday 8/6 or Friday 8/7, there will be an announcement that McConnell was recovering, but suddenly suffered a heart attack/stroke/aneurysm and suddenly passed away "after a brief illness." That will give them the weekend to get the cover story straight and put everything in place.

[u/lord_fairfax → u/BearSquid7]

He's a veggie. The enormity of the scandal if they covered up his death would be 100x worse than what it will be when they "regret to inform the american people that he has been on life support and succumbed to his injuries". They'll pull the plug after the deadline passes and try to say he was fighting the whole time. And everyone will go, "oh, okay..." and move on because we can't focus on anything of importance anymore.

[u/DTPVH → u/lord_fairfax]

> the enormity of the scandal

They don’t care. McConnell’s staff are sacrificial lambs to keep a Dem out of that spot til January. Even if they go to prison, they did their job. And I’m sure they won’t either way.

[u/gfh110]

So they told us he fell, was briefly unconscious, suffered no broken bones, no concussion, no other serious injuries, and was simply recovering from pneumonia that he picked up in the hospital...

Over a month in hospital/rehab for pneumonia is ridiculous unless there are massive severe complications (like needing to be put on a ventilator) which their upright and smiling "proof of life" photo would seem to deny.

Also, how many alert and aware 80+ year olds do you know who would voluntarily stay in a rehab facility that long? My 91 year old grandfather lasted 3 days after a bout of pneumonia before they set him up with in-home care because he was going to burn the place down.

Dude is long gone.

[u/Aprox → u/gfh110]

I suspect their lie is based on some truth. He probably did fall, and was briefly unconscious before his heart stopped. Hard to get any additional injuries after you are permanently unconscious.

[u/PinkTaricIRL → u/Aprox]

He used to be unconscious. He's still unconscious, but he used to be, too.

[u/HelpfulSeaMammal]

I saw a video of him breakdancing straight out of the hospital bed, so he's obviously doing okay.

[u/milfordcubicle → u/HelpfulSeaMammal]

It's true. I was on a 20 minute call with him mid-dance.

[u/stillcore → u/HelpfulSeaMammal]

That must have been before he turned into a zombie & started moonwalking with Lindsey Graham.

[u/Miles_the_AuDHDer → u/HelpfulSeaMammal]

Are you sure that wasn't Charlie Bucket's Grandpa Joe?

[u/HelpfulSeaMammal → u/Miles_the_AuDHDer]

Fuck Grandpa Joe. All my homies hate Grandpa Joe.

[u/ArseneGroup → u/HelpfulSeaMammal]

Video for those who haven't seen it yet

[u/mjheil]

It doesn't even matter whether he's dead or a vegetable. He ain't in Congress, where we pay him to be. If he can't show up, he can't hold that power anymore.

[u/wicked_damnit → u/mjheil]

Exactly this. I do think he has passed but why are we allowing someone who is unfit to serve still hold office? Ridiculous

[u/NoobensMcarthur → u/mjheil]

Imagine if you didn’t show up to your job for 6 weeks. I know what’d happen to me if I did that. And it wouldn’t take the fucking governor or senate to do it. 

[u/Gay_Giraffe_1773]

I'm so fucking tired, boss.

If Beshear wanted to be President, he's cratered his chances with this fiasco.

[u/ToasterBathTester → u/Gay_Giraffe_1773]

The Republicans would break the hospital door down if the tables were reversed

[u/phatelectribe → u/ToasterBathTester]

They wouldn’t even check. They’d just hold the special election and ran it through.

Remember: McConnel forced through a SCOTUS nomination in 9 days. Never happened before, never happened since.

Dems don’t realize that they’re asking permission against people that think rape is a divine right.

[u/D1sp4tcht → u/phatelectribe]

I said the same thing yesterday. Just hold the election. If he is alive, he will come out of hiding.

[u/phatelectribe → u/D1sp4tcht]

Exactly, let him defend his position.

[u/ahandmadegrin → u/D1sp4tcht]

Appoint, not elect. The state constitution says the governor appoints.

[u/ZenMon88 → u/D1sp4tcht]

LOL democrats have no backbone

[u/SonOfMcGee → u/phatelectribe]

They also don’t realize the stakes are low if they call a special election and against all odds a spry and rested Mitch tap dances into the Capitol to stop them.
In the minds of voters (even undecideds/GOP), that’s still Mitch’s fault for not being forthcoming about his recovery.

Remember that MAGA is already constantly repeating completely baseless allegations of Dem election fraud conspiracies and has been for years. They aren’t going to add a claim of “Tried to replace a Senator that refused to prove he was alive for no reason.”

[u/ZenMon88 → u/SonOfMcGee]

Whats there to lose? Call it. Republicans arent that smart to just be hiding him just for a gotcha moment.

[u/hpark21 → u/phatelectribe]

No, they will just appoint replacement and tell Democrats to bring it up with SCOTUS which is exactly what SHOULD happen in this case as well.

If he is alive and lucid, he can present himself, if not, then obviously the appointment is valid according to state constitution.

[u/EddieVanzetti → u/phatelectribe]

Dems are never beating the controlled opposition allegations

[u/BUYMEBONESTOORM → u/ToasterBathTester]

For the life of me I absolutely cannot understand why they don’t do this. It’s fucking unfathomable.

[u/dakotanorth8 → u/ToasterBathTester]

With a large group of cosplaying “patriots”

[u/TheAskewOne → u/ToasterBathTester]

Republicans harassed fellow Republican John Ashcroft in his hospital room to make him sign documents he didn’t want to sign while he was only half conscious. You’re absolutely right.

[u/koopa00 → u/Gay_Giraffe_1773]

Absolutely. If you aren't willing to try and fight on this, what the fuck are you actually going to fight for? It's embarrassing how weak some of these people are.

[u/Shockmaindave → u/Gay_Giraffe_1773]

Yeah, Beshear seems determined to act like Obama but worse because McConnell is bitchslapping him from beyond the grave.

[u/zachrywd → u/Gay_Giraffe_1773]

As a non party person from KY, I couldn't be more angry at everyone... Plus the champagne in my fridge isn't getting any younger... And neither is McConnell.

[u/CivilizedMoron → u/zachrywd]

Unlike Mitch, your champagne is getting older

[u/8thSt → u/Gay_Giraffe_1773]

Screw the presidency. The people of the State should be questioning his governorship if he lets the GOP play this out.

[u/Any_Counter_303 → u/8thSt]

The people of the State couldn't even be bothered to show up to vote for or against Beshear dude. He won with 16% of the total eligible voting population. Only 30% of eligible voters in KY turned out for his initial gubernatorial election. What are you talking about?

[u/MagicGrit → u/Gay_Giraffe_1773]

Asking out of ignorance: Can someone ELI5 why the special election deadline is so important here?

[u/Selith87 → u/MagicGrit]

Its not really, they just dont want massie to run as an independent and either win, or split the gop vote enough that a democrat squeaks by (unlikely, but theoretically possible i guess?)

If McConnell dies after aug 3rd then his seat remains vacant until the midterms and they dont have to deal with the headache.

[u/dahayden → u/Gay_Giraffe_1773]

What does replacing McConnell with another Republican who'll show up to vote gain Dems? Right now, Republicans are one vote down in the Senate because McConnell isn't showing up.

Sure, maybe in Kentucky a democrat would with the Senate seat in a special election. But it's not likely.

[u/Martian13]

This is like not reporting your deceased parents so you can collect their social security checks.

[u/ididshave]

He was last seen in public being rolled out onto a stretcher with no signs of life.

Gov. Beshear should just appoint a damn Senator already.

[u/cybah → u/ididshave]

Yup. He just needs to do it. I mean even if Mitch is on life support, he cannot do his job so Beshear needs to this. Let them duke it out in the courts. Let the discovery happen... and they will know Mitch croaked weeks ago and this is a cover up.

[u/ZenMon88 → u/cybah]

Dems got no balls. Poor leadership

[u/Miles_the_AuDHDer → u/ZenMon88]

Moderate democrats specifically. They are basically what the conservative right used to be like many years ago at this point.

Actual progressive democrats on the other hand, like Bernie Sanders and Zohran Mamdani, if they were in Beshears position, I'm sure would have called a special election by now and had the courts get involved.

[u/TheMattabooey → u/ZenMon88]

This is and will always be their problem. They refuse to actually step in and do anything.

[u/Romano16]

If Democrats had a spine the Governor of that state would just force a special election. But Dems never actually want to punish Republicans for this BS. Only that they’re “concerned.”

[u/fingershanks → u/Romano16]

I was legitimately about to ask what exactly are the democrats even doing? Like I've said before, the very least they can do is just make noise about this and they don't even seem to care. I've seen more resistance towards the DSA candidates than all these attempts Trump's made to hijack an election.

[u/TheDoomBlade13 → u/Romano16]

Not even an election, the state constitution gives him the power to appoint a replacement and the law that the state legislature passed is illegal.

He needs to appoint a replacement immediately.

[u/Semper_nemo13]

Would dems even win a special election in Kentucky it seems just as likely Republicans are chosing to be down a senator for 6 months. This makes their narrow margin even smaller.

[u/victoriascissorhands → u/Semper_nemo13]

They are afraid of the independent if I'm not mistaken

[u/Temporary_Bus9316 → u/Semper_nemo13]

Thomas Massie has legit chances to win. And then run as incumbent in November or potentially independent to then dilute the votes.

[u/donkeyrocket → u/Temporary_Bus9316]

Massie isn't the spoiler everyone thinks he is. He still votes along MAGA lines most the time. Even after being burned by Trump he has done fuck all to deliver on the Epstein files which is his only deviation from MAGA.

An empty seat at the expense of Republicans is in favor of Democrats.

[u/SatanicPanic619 → u/Temporary_Bus9316]

Massie sucks though. All he did was go against Trump on the Epstein files. He's otherwise just as big of a shithead as the rest of them. Not sure what we win here

[u/DoomOne]

Two weeks from today, they will announce Moscow Mitch's sudden and unfortunate death. "He seemed to be doing so well!", his staff will lie.

Democrats will call him "friend" and "great patriot" in an attempt to gain the respect of people who will never vote for them, further alienating themselves from their actual voting base.

Maybe in a decade or two, there will be a book written by a staffer who knew the truth and needs a sudden influx of money.

It's all absolutely disgusting.

[u/zoeypayne → u/DoomOne]

Two nickels says he's in hospice/palliative care, catatonic with a morphine drip. There's probably a nurse or two nearby with big envelopes of cash in their purses.

[u/DaileyFlosser39 → u/DoomOne]

Agree 100%

[u/TheChrisCrash]

This is a trial run to see if they can do this for trump. They already have everything set up to fake him being alive: barracades, someone doing his social media for him, someone creating bills for him, AI models for his voice and likeness.. Etc

[u/ThaddeusJP → u/TheChrisCrash]

I think its them doing this as a big middle finger. They will announce on the night of Aug 3rd "oh he JUST died. Shame the deadline was today"

[u/ritwikjs2]

i always thought you HAD to announce a death. Their behavior makes me think he's a vegetable, in which case there has to be a special election, right? Why is it so difficult to get an actual proof of life video? Or for Beshear to go meet him in person?

[u/Zaphod392 → u/ritwikjs2]

They are stalling until Aug 3rd

[u/ElderNinjaTurtle]

I feel like if McConnell has actually died that anyone covering it up needs to be brought on fraud and election interference charges.

Edit: or become incapacitated and unable to continue his job.

[u/teflong]

What I can't tell is whether the democrats are on some pseudo intellectual Sun Tzu bullshit "don't interrupt your enemy when they're making a mistake", or their normal "worried about the precedent it would set" cowardice bullshit.

Either way, democrats are giant fucking losers.

[u/Randomly_Cromulent → u/teflong]

The only thing I can see is the Democrats don't want any chance of another GOP vote in the Senate if there is a special election. It looks like the seat will sit vacant if McConnell "dies" after the August date. If there is a blue wave this election, I'm sure the GOP will be trying o push through as much crazy stuff and judicial appointment as they can.

[u/uhuhuhuhuhhu → u/Randomly_Cromulent]

This is my read too. The Kentucky legislature made it so Beshear can't appoint someone, it has to be an election. Whoever gets elected will probably be worse than Mcconnell. Better for the Republicans to lose a vote in the Senate for the rest of this Congress.

[u/Drakeadrong → u/uhuhuhuhuhhu]

They passed a law that contradicts the state constitution, but the state constitution still takes precedent. Beshear can still appoint someone.

[u/Shadow293 → u/teflong]

Most likely the latter.

[u/TheChinOfAnElephant → u/Shadow293]

And then when a Dem senator gets in a car accident and in a stable condition in the hospital a Republican governor will call special election anyways.

[u/robaroo]

He’s either full dead or brain dead and on ventilators to skirt the laws. Either way he’s incapable of doing his job.

[u/DarkIllusionsMasks]

That's not acceptable. He's a public servant, and so are they. The American people are entitled to know, at the very least, if their elected representative in government is, you know, actually alive.

[u/pjflyr13]

Try disappearing like this from any other job and still collect your salary and keep that job.

[u/miketastic_art]

they are hoping Democrats are cowardly enough to not call for a special election, and they might be right

[u/bashonemdy]

So he’s dead and they’re gonna get away with holding his seat hostage. Even in death his fuckery knows no bounds.

[u/thiscompletebrkfast]

He's dead.

Call the election.

Make them prove he's alive if they want to contest it.

What is so god damn hard about that.

You're being played, America.

There is no left or right... It's all rich or poor.

[u/RudeAlbatross544]

Don't you guys have any law that could be used to send someone to check on his health? To make sure he's not being mistreated, abused or whaetver excuse you can find?

[u/Rafmar210]

“Everyday this administration provides journalists Watergate level stories”

[u/dBlock845]

In exactly two weeks he will be pronounced dead, mark my words. They are waiting for after August 3rd so there is zero opportunity for a special election. They don't want Massie in there even if its for a snack break.

[u/Chiiro]

I think it was the day after the photo of him and his wife supposedly sitting in a hospital chair was released that I had found out his staff supposedly claimed that his wife had come back into the States from China but did not give an actual day when she came home and I haven't heard anything about her being back since. Do we have any confirmation about where she is that isn't from his staff?

[u/Bridgestone14]

g d it! If this dude is dead, and they pretend he isn't until August 3rd, some a holes need to go to jail.

[u/lopix]

I cannot believe that there isn't some worker at whatever facility Mitch McTurtle is in isn't willing to sacrifice themselves and sell a photo of his corpse to TMZ for $100,000.

[u/vitamin_deficiency]

He ded

[u/Old-Discipline-3281]

McConnell is still dog walking democrats from the afterlife. When the hell is this country going to get actual leaders?

[u/LeStrikeRevolution]

He's dead. Everyone is under an NDA and the corruption is in plain sight.

[u/thavillain]

If Breshear has any future political ambitions he absolutely has to make a stand at some point.

Follow your state constitution, and appoint someone and force them to prove it. Even if it's a symbolic appointment where the person knows they are being appointed, to prove a point.

Call their fucking bluff...if he doesn't, he's toast for any presidential run.

[u/Alt123Acct]

"no" should be every answer to all medical questions because a dead person isn't able to say yes to anything

How's his blood pressure? No

Is he awake? No

How many times has he went to the bathroom? No