It’s not impossible for his staff to be truthful about the seriousness of his dying health.
Yesterday, @DWMarch suggested Beshear visit until he saw McConnell.
I don’t see it that way. One is Federal government and one is State. They share the same set of constituents and that’s about it. I don’t want Pub governors involved in Dem senators.
Apart from that being a rather significant point in itself (regardless whether you see it or not), there’s also the incipient battle in Kentucky between the governor and state legislators over who really has the power to appoint an interim successor if needed. There are practical, legal and political considerations that should not be handwaved away.
Take it up with him, then.
Huh? I did and you responded to it:
Your weekly reminder: however reprehensible it is for a major elected figure’s severe health problems to be concealed from the public, in this case, the political damage falls on Republicans, minus to some extent effects of lurid ravings by those allied with the Democratic Party, who seem intent on assuming some of the political fallout and damaging Gov. Beshear as well.
It’s reasonable to doubt that with his known frailties, plus whatever subsequently happened to put McConnell in the hospital, he’s in as good shape as the released photos show* and that he’ll ever be up to resuming his Senate duties. But let’s calm down. MAGA’s going to hold that Senate seat until, and most probably after November. Nothing material will change.
*Mitch’s evident backwards aging is impressive. He may turn out to be the most prominent celebrity user of “Just For Men” since bin Laden.
I think there was more, but that is what I could find.
Until they put the rumors to rest, there will continue to be speculation. And, no, the “statement” his office put out doesn’t put the issue to rest.
Personally, I believe he’s alive. I’m even willing to entertain the idea that the photo is genuine. The amusement some are getting from speculating (and worse) doesn’t bother me in the least. Lindsey Grahm died quickly. Let us enjoy a slow and painful decline.
The statement and the pictures show he is alive and not in a coma or brain dead. Mind you, that doesnt mean he is up for going back to the Senate. That is still up for discussion. Personally I think that isnt very likely, at least soon.
Unless it’s a complete fabrication. (not my view).
Muscular contractions such as heartbeats or breathing powered by converting the chemical energy of food into mechanical energy meets the definition of ‘work’.
Kentucky law on this is not ambiguous. Andy Beshear vetoed the 2024 law taking away his involvement in filling a senate vacancy, and his veto was overridden:
There’s an argument that this violates the Kentucky constitution, but it is unlikely courts would agree, because that provision only applies to state offices, not federal:
https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Law/Constitution/Constitution/ViewConstitution?rsn=173
My 90 y.o. husband had a stroke that obliterated his ability to speak, read, or write. But I know that I could have given him a shave and haircut, put a clean shirt on him, sat him up in bed and asked him to smile. It would have needed a few takes, but I’m pretty sure we could have gotten a snapshot as good as the one Mr MConnell’s handlers released.
BTW, my husband died within three months.
I think that the photograph is an accurate depiction of the scene that was in front of the camera at the time, and that that’s McConnell there in the picture. But again, that doesn’t prove anything. Even if he were completely all the way look-through-his-pockets-for-spare-change dead, they could have posed him like that. I don’t think he’s completely all dead, because if he were, his doctors would say, but that still doesn’t rule out coma or brain dead or anything else.
Yes, that was a weird “proof of life” photo. If he were really okay, and doing some work remotely, and all that, i think he’d have arranged a short video call to a news agency. And he’d have looked weak and sounded bad, and there’d also have been no doubt that he was well enough to realistically hope to return to the Senate.
Based on what they produced, I’m pretty sure he’s in really bad shape. I believe it’s a real photo, and that he was alive. And also, that it’s all but an admission that he’s not in good enough shape to actually speak.
Point granted. I will say that IMHO, the “heavily sedated” and “incapicitated unable to function” takes are yet reasonable until more is known.
I don’t know what to make of the second “proof of life” photo, but like Fox Mulder, “I WANT TO BELIEVE” … this Yahoo News/Lead Stories fact check.
EDIT: Apparently, I was the last kid in the class to get the note passed to them. The second “proof of life” photo, with McConnell standing next to a man in a light blue T-shirt, is a known social-media fake disavowed by even McConnell’s office.
And even if they did agree, it would take too long, the November Elections would be here.
The source that was cited here is indeed rather dubious.
I do not think so- but unable to return to the senate floor? That is a reasonable point to make. I think he is recovering from some stuff, and alive, and able to function- to some degree. His doctors and family are hoping for a further recovery. That remains to be seen
*> We found no evidence that the photo released July 12 showing Sen. Mitch McConnell in a rehabilitation facility alongside his wife, Elaine Chao, has appeared online before.
- Multiple digital forensics experts analyzed the image and told PolitiFact they found no evidence of AI generation.
So at least the other photo is real,
A turtle’s just a lizard who’s brought his house with him.
I don’t think there’s any real need to replace McConnell right away. Even if Beshear could flout the law and appoint a Democrat, it wouldn’t change the majority, and it’s not like the Senate is going to be addressing anything of consequence in the next 3 1/2 months.
If they wanna Terri Schiavo him for the rest of his term, I say let 'em.
Right. The most important votes in this Senate will likely be after the election. If the Democrats win enough elections to control the Senate in the next Congress, expect two fairly quick resignations in the Supreme Court and then confirmations for their replacement rammed through the Senate during the lame duck session.
Eh. The last time a justice retired during a lame duck session was 1882. The style these days is for justices to retire when they finish their business for the judicial year in early summer. By the time the election comes around they’ve already hired clerks and aides for the next session and have already begun hearing cases.
Besides, with the necrocracy in the state it’s in, I fully expect Thomas and Alito to cling to the bench until they literally crumble into dust and drift away on the breeze.