Some people tend to dismiss how it’s the Senate itself that judges the qualification of anyone to be sworn in, including the existence of a vacancy at all. But many just want to see Beshear “strike manly blows” even if it’s known to be hopeless, to borrow Jefferson Davis’ phrase.
The theory presented on the John Oliver show was that Thomas hates his job and would have quit decades ago if not for the (inexplicably legal) bribes and gifts he receives from GOP-aligned billionaires. If it was deemed necessary by the party for him to resign, Thomas would happily do so (in return for the continued tribute from his wealthy Republican “friends”.)
Except that the bribes being legal is completely explicable: They’re legal because the person deciding whether they’re legal is, ultimately, Clarence Thomas. If he were to leave his position, then some other court might realize that of course it was illegal, and lock him up.
I don’t think he’s at any real risk of criminal prosecution for taking bribes.
But i suspect that now that his wing is in power, he’s enjoying the power and wants to keep it.
The reason for him to leave in the lame duck session is so Trump can replace him with someone like-minded when it comes to things like corruption.
I don’t think Mitch is going to be leaving the Senate before the end of the term, unless he actually dies. I’m pretty sure “comatose” doesn’t create an opening.
I’m with Smapti, i have no problem with a non-voting senator in a seat that is realistically going to stay red.
Except that Thomas’s view isn’t “supreme court justices taking bribes is OK”. His view is “Clarence Thomas taking bribes is OK”.
Good point.
It kind of is, though. The health updates we’re getting are likely to be chosen either by Mitch in real time, Mitch’s previously documented instructions, or his designated medical power of attorney. His staff may know little more than we do.
So, six weeks and counting and still no definitive word on McConnell’s health. If that “proof of life” photo was real he should have been well able to talk directly to the governor or the media by now; or even provide an updated photo. I stand by my belief that he’s brain dead or in a coma and his staff and the GOP are covering for him. I don’t think this can be dismissed as a “conspiracy theory” except in the sense that there’s an obvious conspiracy to keep the real details from the public. You have to remember also that the GOP are liars. They take their cue from the liar-in-chief, and they no longer have any compunction in saying whatever suits their needs, truth and their constituents be damned. They’ve forfeited the right to have the benefit of the doubt that their statements are honest.
I don’t think he’s actually dead yet, however. My reason is that an actual death would have to be certified by a coroner or medical examiner. I have worked with a lot of these over the years. They are not politicians and they have to deal with a lot of hard situations in the course of their jobs. They are not easily intimidated and I can’t see them agreeing to cover up a death to placate a politician. So I don’t think he’s dead, but I do think he’s on life support.
Fitting metaphor, maybe, for how the GOP views our democracy. It’s on life support (or dead) but let’s pretend it’s not so we can reap the benefits.
But it suits the needs of the GOP for him to be dead, because that gets them a special election and a functioning Republican into the seat for the lame duck.
A coma is the worst possible outcome for them because it means they get neither his vote nor any possibility of a replacement until January.
If he’s not “dead dead” he’s brain dead on life support. They’ll just unplug him after the fourth.
Yeah, I don’t get that part, either. Why hasn’t one of those messages Republicans have “heard from him” a resignation? Maybe they’re just waiting until the last minute for that…
What would that last minute be, the latest that he could resign and get a special election onto the November ballot? I assume that if they can’t get it onto the November ballot, the seat would just be vacant until his successor takes office in January…
They’re afraid of who might win the special election. So much so they’d rather leave the seat vacant and be down a vote until someone is elected for real and is seated in January.
Why they’re afraid I leave as a exercise for the reader…
They don’t want Thomas Massie to win. Apparently he is popular enough that if he ran it is a distinct possibility. Massie is an R but a vehement Trump critic who will not go blindly along with Trump’s agenda.
The GOP still has a majority in the Senate without McConnell – admittedly, a somewhat more tenuous majority than if McConnell were availble to vote in chambers. But still a majority with some buffer for a defection or two. Is anything big coming down the pike over the next few months that Republicans/Trumpists must get passed?
I think @Toxgoddess is onto something, except I think it’s more like severe incapacitation such as a stroke that’s left him virtually without speech and without the use of one or more limbs. As his trunk and neck muscles atrophy – and it won’t take all that long unless his therapy is boutique and unusually effective – any future proof-of-life photos will show McConnell looking a lot less vibrant.
Forget having an overarching logical reason to put up a front – for Trumpism, mendacium gratis mendacii is more than reason enough to whittle a thin slice off their Senate majority. Temporarily at that.
Besides, this whole affair is a great dress rehearsal for if ever a bona fide death has to be concealed. Would probably be harder to do that for very long (just how many Trump-loyal medical professionals/facilities [coroners?] would need to be in on it?), but in the right situation, maybe delaying someone’s death call for even a week could advance a Trumpist goal.
One thing about a coroner’s intervention:
Keep in mind that, somehow, McConnell’s location has remained secret. I can’t even fathom how that much hasn’t leaked yet … and the view behind the curtain of THAT cover-up must be pretty damn grisly.
Anyway, a coroner can confirm the death of a body they can’t locate. Would a lone screw-my-license-Trump-uber-alles MD be enough to hold the line inside of that bizzare secret rehab facility?
I don’t understand the benefit to covering up McConnell’s death. Why would they do that?
Then again, I don’t really understand the benefit to covering up his incapacity, which is clearly happening. Unless he’s just mildly ill in such a way that prevents him from doing his job for six weeks, which seems odd.
The argument is that if they delay until Aug 4th the replacement election happens in November instead of September, meaning there’s a lower risk of Thomas Massie being seated in the senate to vote against MAGA schemes in a critical few months around the midterms.
There’s another “proof of life” picture which has been released today.
He has the same plastered smile, same lame arms, and no evidence that he’s able to speak. I continue to suspect a massive stroke has made him mute (and note that he’s being propped up by pillows).
Cite: