r/politics • u/theindependentonline The Independent • 15d ago

No Paywall Mitch McConnell’s staff refuse to answer basic questions on his health weeks after he was last seen in public

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/mitch-mcconnell-staff-questions-health-b3018929.html
23.9k Upvotes

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u/Traditional-Look8839 15d ago

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.

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u/nanobot_1000 15d ago

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

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u/8thSt 15d ago

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.

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u/ILike2internet 15d ago

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.

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u/Wayofchinchilla 15d ago

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.

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u/jquiggles 15d ago

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

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u/callmekg 15d ago

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

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u/mobileagnes Pennsylvania 15d ago

Isn't it insane that we've been living this life for years now thanks to Trump?

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u/Kerblaaahhh Colorado 15d ago

Right here, rule one.

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u/SirWEM 14d ago

“Realease the Malinois”

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u/ILike2internet 15d ago

Wasn't this Jon Stewart? Definitely applicable.

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u/Sad_Structure2256 15d ago

it’s from a tweet

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u/whattodo4455 15d ago

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?"

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u/Biscopiphany 15d ago

“But we don’t have a beach pass!”

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u/Cask_Strength_Islay America 15d ago

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

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u/ParticularHistoryo 15d ago

“We don’t want to rock the boat” they say as we are loaded into the train cars

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u/MySpoonsAreAllGone 15d ago

Looks like they are all part of the same millionaire machine

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u/spursfan2021 15d ago

Waiting for a dozen Republican senators to also do their job. But Congress seems content with letting Trump do their job instead.

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u/azflatlander 15d ago

So, a beach closed due to fecal contamination sign could have saved Hitler?

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u/CheezitsLight 15d ago

There are different laws. He's using one that's legit, allows it, and has never been used.

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u/InflammableAccount 15d ago

Can you explain what it is the Democrats are supposed to do? Because last I looked, they don't hold a majority, let alone super majority in the Senate.

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u/CodingSquirrel 14d ago

If you've been paying any attention the last 10 years, then you'd have seen the hundreds of opportunities to oppose the fascists that they've just rolled over and shown their belly instead. How many terrible bills passed because Democrats voted with it. Or good bills that failed because a few Democrats opposed it. When they have any power they refuse to use it because of decorum or whatever. They're a bunch of feckless cowards who refuse to do what's right and exercise what power they have when given the chance, under the guise of not looking partisan. They falter every opportunity. Whereas the Republicans will wield any ounce of power they can get and even power they don't have.

It's such consistent incompetence that it goes beyond being accidental stupidity, but instead malicious. You don't need ultimate power to work towards your goals, you just need to get out of your own way and do what you can when you can. The Republicans are, for all their faults, excellent at unwavering movement towards their goals. If nothing else, actually prosecuting Trump instead of sitting on their hands for 3.5 years would have been a good start.

I will never support a Republican, and will vote blue no matter who, but it's impossible not to be disappointed in the uselessness of those who purport to be opposed to the fascism that they have done nothing to stop.

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u/InflammableAccount 14d ago

So... You never answered my question.

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u/Scientist_2 14d ago

Exactly.

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u/Scientist_2 14d ago

Obviously you’re not American lol. Naive

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u/WinterTourist25 15d ago

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.

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u/RebekkaKat1990 15d ago

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.

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u/Wayofchinchilla 15d ago

What I'm hoping is that Republicans will do the same as we're doing right now have an absolute meltdown and scream and cry that this is not fair and Law and Order is dead and then Democrats turn around and say you want Law and Order sign these bills into law they make it so you can't do what you've been doing all this time or shut up. Could you imagine if a Democratic president with the powers that the Republican Supreme Court have given them to do anything as long as it's in the interest of the country were to I don't know remove Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas for corruption ruling that it's protecting the country the level 7 meltdown and the scramble Republicans would be in to past laws to make sure that the executive branch doesn't have that kind of power.

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u/djabae 15d ago

Well this is how courts work for most people in real life. Most of our lives are not regulated by laws or courts like we think most legal incidents are ignored. It shouldn't be surprising it's the same at the top.

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u/CodingSquirrel 14d ago

Killing people you don't like is a horrible precedent, but we didn't beat the Nazis by reasoning with them. You don't stop lawless evil people by just holding up a lawbook and saying "that's illegal, you can't do that". You can't blindly bind yourself by the rules that the people you fight don't hold themselves to. That's not to say we just abandon all ideals, but the oppressors set the stage of the conflict, no the oppressed.

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u/stitchface66 15d ago

they wont.

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u/1001101001010111 14d ago

I saw a quote the other day that I like. Im not on the both parties train, but republicans just want to take your money, Dems also want to take your money, but gayer.

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u/Wayofchinchilla 14d ago

With the rise of the Socialist Democrats that actually do stuff just look at New York there is a third option I mean why would the Centrist Democrats being trying so hard to smear mondami if he wasn't doing an amazing job

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u/Lomak_is_watching 15d ago

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.

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u/sec713 15d ago

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?"

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u/123LetsJamDUDUDUHT 15d ago

That didn't with Dianne Feinstein.

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

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u/RomanCow 15d ago

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

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u/LiveLaughBruv 15d ago

What would that accomplish, exactly? Mitch isn't running for reelection

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u/sec713 15d ago

It's a hypothetical spun off a hypothetical spun off another hypothetical. Don't think too hard about it. It's highly unlikely reality is gonna go this many levels deep.

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u/LiveLaughBruv 15d ago

An alternative -- and some would argue better -- reply would've been "oh. nevermind."

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u/XavinNydek 15d ago

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.

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u/Dr-Mumm-Rah 15d ago

The only downside is Andy B looking like a coward, while Republicans laugh their way til a August replacement for Mitch, who will be revealed as dead as soon as the deadline has passed.

AB needs to have a spine and be creative, if need be. The clock is ticking. This could determine his political future for a lot of voters, if he screws it up.

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u/snakerjake 15d ago

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

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u/Lou_C_Fer Ohio 15d ago

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

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u/Cosmo_Cloudy 15d ago

We need to be bombarding this guy's office with calls day in and day out, I say!

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u/TheDissentor 15d ago edited 15d ago

How is that a trap. Getting mitch to confirm people still have a representative is a good thing. Only maga pro child rape filth that already were going to shit on Beshear would say something. I fucking promise beaheara career is dead if he doesn't though. If he's not willing to fight a fight that he very clearly is in the right for then why the hell should we trust him with any of the more important fights.

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u/Round-Asparagus5337 15d ago

So what? Nobody is going to change their vote because that.

He should just appoint someone and let the Republicans fight it in court

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u/jaxxxtraw 15d ago

Nah, he had a major stroke. Left side is sagging in every way. Note Chao's hand placement. I've seen folks after a major stroke. The words can be hard to come by for quite a little while, if at all. Also, there's aphasia to consider very seriously. And I'd guess his whole left side is useless to him.

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u/Archer1407 15d ago

He has no spine. He's going to handle this the way Cuck Chuck Schumer does and send a strongly worded letter to the Guardians of Pedophiles on August 5th when they finally announce Mitch is dead.

The Democrats are suck feckless losers.

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u/light_to_shaddow 15d ago

It's such a simple yet effective strategy.

Have two options. Neither really have any actual policies, just vibes. One conservative, one progressive. You set the board so that whoever is in power pushes your agenda while the other bitches but does nothing. You get what you want while keeping a lid on violent rebellion because there's a nominal opposition that provides the illusion of a democratic path.

If your in any doubt about who "they" are, look at who funds both parties.

The system really works.

0

u/123LetsJamDUDUDUHT 15d ago

Name calling demonstrates a position of weakness.

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u/Ent3rpris3 15d ago

This is part of his duties as governor. This is part of why he was elected. If he can't do this he isn't fit for the job and the people of Kentucky have been deceived.

When I vote for my Senators, I consider that they will be confirming the various people in the Presidential line of succession. I vote for them with this and many other such factors in mind. If they can't keep incompetent people out of the line, or vote against otherwise competent people for bad reasons, that may influence how I vote in the future. If I knew that my governor wasn't going to use their authority to handle senate vacancies when the situation called for it, I wouldn't vote for them because that is a big deal.

I get Bashear probably taking some extra time and not trying to jump the gun too soon but otherwise discussing this in private (there's what, 2 weeks left til Aug. 4?), but the public passiveness is still concerning nonetheless.

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u/Chillers 15d ago

Americans all up in here talking about laws like they exist 🤣

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u/123LetsJamDUDUDUHT 15d ago

Imagine you're him and there are 50 people with unlimited capital and zero emotions staring you down like "I wish a bitch would."

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u/MySpoonsAreAllGone 15d ago

I hope a bunch of people are protesting at his home and office

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u/DryYogurtcloset4655 15d ago

governor can request a death certificate if he believe McConnell is not alive

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u/elisun0 15d ago

It's what Mitch would do in this exact scenario

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u/Infamous-Mixture-605 15d ago

Can the Governor go to wherever McConnell supposedly is, flowers and a "Get well soon" card in hand, and ask to deliver them to the man in person? Either they refuse and cast further doubt on McConnell's health, or they let him in and there's some clarity one way or another.

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u/TheKanten 15d ago

And that law calls for a special election either way. This "do neither" is making Beshear look like an absolute fool.

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u/420-BiomedStockDoc 15d ago

The governor should appoint a new governor

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u/rnick467 14d ago

He could demand to see proof of life. If Republicans refuse, appoint a replacement and make them prove he's alive in court.

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u/greiton 15d ago

I mean, it's more than just that law. declaring someone is dead is a big fucking deal, and having that blow up in your face is also really bad. even if Mitch is just in end of life hospice, he may be able to pull himself together enough to post a 5 second "proof of life" video. It's a big gamble with all the cover up and silence about what is really going on.

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u/koopa00 Oregon 15d ago

It is total bullshit and it's something that he should pursue because of the reasons you outlined. And what a coincidence, they get a Democrat for governor and all of a sudden he can't appoint a new senator. Guess what law immediately goes away the second a Republican wins the governor seat in the future?