This may explain why they are hiding Mitch McConnell's condition

[Chasstev365]

"In Kentucky, a special election to replace a Senator will NOT be called if it’s closer than 3 months till the next election,” Cochran wrote Saturday in a social media post on X. “If McConnell’s condition is clearly unfit for office, they’d hide that to avoid being forced to submit a resignation letter until after that date.”

A cheater even on his death bed.

https://www.rawstory.com/mitch-mcconnell-2677159427/

[hatrack]

1. I can only hope that the Gravedigger Of American Democracy hears the sound of shovels . . .

[wnylib]

2. For all we know, he might be already dead, leaving us

cheated out of our celebration parties.

[Tree Lady]

19. I have someone in my family right now

A cousin who had cardiac arrest last week, I believe they are going to unplug the machines this coming week.

I bet it is something like that except they will keep him on the machines until after the 3 month time politically.

[wnylib]

37. That's, what I thought initially and it could be true.

OTOH, even if he was dead and off of machines, MAGAs would keep it secret, if tge6 could. But the chances for leaks then would be greater than if they leave him on machines, even without hope of recovery.

[popsdenver]

46. He could well be on life support

and they are keeping him that way, as to not detract from Trump's 250 celebrations...........

If they announced it, the 250 celebrations would be overwhelmed by the massive number of Americans, out in the streets celebrating McConnells passing........

His burial plot needs to be surrounded by acres and acres of concrete pavement with surface drains.....same for Trump's burial site, and many other Republicans graves.....

[Dulcinea]

53. That seems most likely.

If he was dead, that wouldn't be kept under wraps for long. Someone would let that news out.

[erronis]

45. Maybe they've already quick--frozen him and will resurrect only when a vote is needed.

Could possibly get 10 more years and 100s of votes out of him.

"Mitch - we are going to pass 10,000 volts through you. If you jerk, we'll call that a 'YES' vote for our party."

[harumph]

3. Then someone needs to get near to him and obtain the proof.

you can be sure the g-damned republicans would do that.

[Ponietz]

18. A "Carhartt" riot might do the trick

[allegorical oracle]

39. Maybe the Governor could casually ask around. nt

[SSJVegeta]

4. There should be some kind of requirement for weekly proof of life

Especially since these people are on payroll

[Tetrachloride]

5. So, an election before the 3 months is a good thing in Kentucky??

[RandomNumbers]

25. possibly. in general, low turnout elections favor the most motivated.

you will get more straight-ticket Rs in November of a midterm or presidential year, and this is a mid term year.

[Crunchy Frog]

6. Is there any way to force the issue? No reason to play nice with him at this point.

Demand proof that they're not pulling a Weekend at Bernie's.

[InstantGratification]

31. Actually it is better for us if they pull this off and keep it hidden

For all the horrendous things he has done over the years, he has been a solid NO vote on the SAVE act. If KY replaces him in a special election, the replacement will almost be guaranteed to be a YES, I don't want to risk that YES being the one that passes it in the senate since it has already passed in the house.

[ToxMarz]

34. Between the R Senators who have lost primaries or who are not running for reelection

might it be possible they don't have the votes to confirm a new Supreme Court nominee before the new Congress is seated. Most of them hate Trump enough they might just want to send him a big Fuck You. And if they're dead or dying, that works too. At least we can hope then we take the Senate.

[Sector 001]

36. It's similar to the movie Dave.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106673/

[cpamomfromtexas]

7. Where can you find death certificates?

[ColoringFool]

12. One cannot, unless one is permitted by or is a member of immediate family.

[Wifes husband]

24. That is not true

[allegorical oracle]

40. It likely varies by state. In Florida, when I tried to look at the death certificate

of a high-ranking person, I was told I couldn't because I was not a family member.

[ColoringFool]

56. Oh, yes, it is. Unless you know of an exception?

[SergeStorms]

8. Where's the MSM coverage of Turtle's condition?

Plenty of coverage about Paul Pelosi hitting a parked car, though, isn't there?

"Liberal" media my ass!

[the_liberal_grandpa]

9. Either way you look at it its

One less vote in the Senate for the repubs

[allegorical oracle]

41. Can't recall whether Thune is empowered to permit proxy votes. Anybody? nt

[rampartd]

52. no

[newdeal2]

10. This doesn't make sense

Who exactly is going to determine he is unfit for office and force him out?

He is clearly unwell but they are hiding him to protect his image, not due to a special election.

And there’s not much benefit here because Republicans have one less vote while he is MIA.

[karynnj]

11. I don't think this is to the Republicans or Kentucky's benefit unless he is alive

He can't vote remotely. If he is alive, they could a la Strom Thurmond bring him in a wheelchair to vote up or down. If he is dead, they have one less vote.

Now, there already is a Democrat and a Republican who have the nominations for November. I wonder if Kentucky law would allow both parties to skip the primary and have an early election. It seems they changed the law twice recently. The first time was to have the Governor pick one of the people on the Republican list (McConnell's party), then to cut the governor out altogether to have a special election. I bet they regret the last change.

I would have thought they would want to get a Trumper replacement in ASAP. Remember, McConnell is a strong defender of the filibuster and is against the SAVE Act. Fortunately, even if they wanted to I don't think they can replace McConnell fast enough to pass and implement the SAVE Act. It does mean if a special election is called Democrats should demand primaries.

[Fil1957]

13. I don't understand why or why not having a special election makes any difference.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

14. The Kentucky GOP has a strange law that only a republican can be named to replace McConnel

https://www.npr.org/2023/07/31/1191034037/mcconnell-facing-health-questions-says-he-ll-serve-full-term-keep-leading-senate

A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:

Senator Mitch McConnell's freeze-up at a news conference last week is raising questions about how much longer he can serve as the senior U.S. senator for Kentucky. A spokesperson says McConnell plans to finish his term, which ends in 2027, but lawmakers are wondering what could happen if he were to step down. Back in 2021, Kentucky's Republican-led legislature passed a law ensuring that McConnell's possible successor would be a Republican. The state's Democratic governor, Andy Beshear, vetoed the bill, but he was overruled by the legislature. For more, I'm joined now by Austin Horn, who is a politics reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader. Austin, so what is Governor Beshear's argument against the current law?

AUSTIN HORN: Good morning, A. The argument against, presented in the governor's old veto message, is based on the U.S. Constitution's 17th Amendment. It's kind of one of those amendments we often forget about. And in 1912, it allowed voters to cast direct votes for U.S. senators. And prior to its passage, senators were chosen by legislatures. The governor's office has been careful to not make a comment on this front in recent days. But it's kind of the consensus among Kentucky Democrats and those in the capital that Beshear would be inclined to push back either by appointing a Democrat, unlike the law says, or stalling and challenging the law. Or, you know, he could always follow the law, but that's not expected.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

26. I forgot about that one...

...eom.

[Callie1979]

35. That law was changed in 2024; special election is now required.

[DFW]

49. Oh, what a shame!

It seemed so easy.............

[DFW]

48. I was thinking about that. But we could use Republican-style tactics against them, as well.

Get some obscure, under-the-radar Kentucky Democrat to switch his party registration to Republican, get named by Beshear to fill out the rest of McTurtle's term, and just vote with us (after all, if Fetterman can vote with them, and they raise no objection....).

[Capt. America]

15. Perhaps the governor should bring some flowers and

Perform a “wellness” check on McTurtle before he shuffles off to hell.

[Martin68]

16. That sounds very plausible.

[OGBuzz]

17. The sooner the better!

[dlk]

20. His wife, Elaine has close ties to the highest echelons of the Chinese government

There’s more to this than McConnell being ill.

[allegorical oracle]

42. She just returned from a visit to China. Thought the timing was odd -- it could've

signaled that he's doing well -- or had bitten the big one.

[ShazzieB]

44. Or maybe she heard he doesn't have much time left...

...and hurried to get home before he gives up the ghost! 👻

[FakeNoose]

21. Yes we've been speculating that he might have kicked the bucket already

They know that Gov. Beshear will appoint a Democrat and they don't want to see that happen.

Poor Moscow Mitch, no fancy state funeral for him. Maybe they'll scatter his ashes over the Lincoln Reflecting Pool?

[karynnj]

30. Ky changed the rules. The governor has no ability to pick anyone.

[mercuryblues]

22. This doesn't make sense, to me

In Kentucky, the rule is that Governor has to replace him with a member of their own party.

Right now, there is a non-voting, Senator. Having him replaced would give them not only a voting Senator, but also a few months of name recognition. Increasing his chances of winning an election.

[Callie1979]

29. Just more GOP stupidity. nt

[mercuryblues]

38. There is something odd about this.

It just isn't what was put forth here.

[hedda_foil]

23. But the next election is now 4 months away.

[Callie1979]

27. Not the first time this has happened. Wont be the last.

[Gaytano70]

28. In the meantime...

Moscow Mitch will keep leaking formaldehyde and they'll keep pumping him full of drugs 😡

[Johonny]

32. Zombie Mitch as worthless dead as alive

Truly a scumbag human that will goto hell.

[C Moon]

33. " A cheater even on his death bed."

Wow. Great phrase. And I hope it is glued down to his legacy.

[calimary]

57. That IS a good epitaph.

But they’ll never use it. Republicans don’t seem to have much of a relationship with the truth. Unless they can “modify” it to suit their overriding agenda.

Just for the record, I don’t trust Republicans anymore than I can pick up my house and throw it down the hill.

[31j20b3]

43. Excellent catch. R's just have to keep the body away from a corner for 3 more weeks

[dave99]

47. Brain dead corpse in one person luxury hospital room, tax dollars draining away

just like Republicans

[twodogsbarking]

50. Maybe he just needs flipped over.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QPNs85BKNw8

[The Roux Comes First]

51. Perhaps He Can Buy a Scrap of Integrity on the Open Market

[drray23]

54. I dont think he will make it to August 9th.nt.

[ImNotGod]

55. I can just picture him sitting next to a pool sipping on formaldehyde cocktails. nt

[Blue Owl]

58. Oh FFS

There’s gotta be a way to force the hand on whether he’s alive or not.