Kentucky Governor Warns He Got Calls “Suggesting” Mitch McConnell Died

[u/B-Z_B-S]

https://newrepublic.com/post/213199/kentucky-governor-got-calls-suggesting-mitch-mcconnell-died

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[u/OldYellersLastHandy]

Dead or alive, he’s incapable of performing the responsibilities of the role. 

[u/Too_Hood_95 → u/OldYellersLastHandy]

I'd argue he's doing more good for the country now than he ever has before!

[u/weristjonsnow → u/Too_Hood_95]

Haha fair point

[u/No_Internal9345 → u/weristjonsnow]

The best time to bury a McConnell was a decade ago, the second best time is now.

[u/driving_andflying → u/No_Internal9345]

Hell, we've been "suggesting" Mitch McConnell died over a year ago, and the Republicans have been Weekend at Bernie's-ing it for at least that long.

[u/Fauster → u/driving_andflying]

I love how is Chinese wife, constantly followed by allegations that she is an agent, flew straight to China when he had a health crisis. There are few universes in which that makes sense, and one is where you really can't talk about how to manage an asset when they are brain dead (dead) over the NSA-bugged lines.

Let the life of Mitch stand as a cautionary warning about how much destruction and cruelty can be accomplished by a single man. RIP to all the red-state women we lost to pregnancy complications.

Edit: I misinterpreted the order of operations. First she left, then he stroked out again/whatever, then she was photographed meeting with the VP of China three days later. Obviously the family/philanthropist trip she cited as an excuse. I mean, who wouldn't extend a trip if their spouse was on death's door.

[u/Cynykl → u/Fauster]

flew straight to China when he had a health crisis.

She was already in China when he was taken away by ambulance.

It is the fact she continued with her scheduled itinerary and did not return home that people find suspicious.

[u/A_Monster_Named_John → u/Cynykl]

If you're unlucky or self-loathing enough to spend any amount of time around right-wing people, it becomes immediately apparent that all of their relationships (family or otherwise) are 100% cold-hearted and transactional.

[u/MightyKAC → u/A_Monster_Named_John]

For a perfect example of this, look up Rupert Murdoch's ex-wife Wendy Deng. Someone should have made a movie about that woman a LONG while ago.

[u/TannerThanUsual → u/driving_andflying]

I recall several videos of him just... short circuiting

[u/oinkyboinky → u/TannerThanUsual]

The Glitch McConnell era.

[u/KDLGates → u/No_Internal9345]

Can we release him into the sea

[u/pizzabazooka → u/Too_Hood_95]

I’d argue he’s still rat fucking us by stalling to avoid a special election.

[u/Ok-Gur-349 → u/pizzabazooka]

No, he's dead. He's been dead for weeks.

It's the rest of the Republican machine ratfucking you by stalling to avoid a special election.

[u/claimTheVictory → u/Ok-Gur-349]

Will it come out that they released a forged "proof of life"?

[u/Vismal1 → u/claimTheVictory]

If it did would it matter?

[u/Professional_Dare_80 → u/Vismal1]

It fucking should.

[u/Appropriate_Unit3474 → u/Professional_Dare_80]

Then we'd be in a democracy that didn't need effort to save

[u/GODDAMNFOOL → u/Too_Hood_95]

He's missing votes on a Senate that already has razor thin margins. Time to push some legislation!

[u/KerryBoehm → u/Too_Hood_95]

More of them should follow suit.

[u/Plaguedoctorsrevenge → u/KerryBoehm]

At least lady Lindsey got the memo

[u/BDF106 → u/Too_Hood_95]

Well fertilizer does help things grow...

[u/ItsSignalsJerry_ → u/Too_Hood_95]

Unfortunately he has a proxy

[u/rezelscheft → u/OldYellersLastHandy]

it is absolutely outrageous that we have now for two weeks been publicly debating whether or not one of our most powerful senators is even alive.

what an absolute failure by all of us - voters, journalists, and elected officials - that we’ve gotten to this point.

[u/OldYellersLastHandy → u/rezelscheft]

Not just outrageous from a government standpoint.

Let’s say it’s the likely scenario: He’s alive but he’s in bad shape - unlikely to get better. 

For fuck sake, Republicans. Do the right thing for this man you claim to respect. Put some other Republican stooge in his seat and let him die in peace with his family. I’m sure every McConnell in Kentucky is being harassed day and night by media trying to figure out what’s happening. 

Enough. He’s old. He’s on the way out. Let’s be done with this.

[u/ic33 → u/OldYellersLastHandy]

For fuck sake, Republicans. Do the right thing for this man you claim to respect. Put some other Republican stooge in his seat and let him die in peace with his family.

Here we run into Kentucky law.

Current law passed by the legislature says that the seat would be empty until a special election (which would not make much sense before the real election).

But the KY Constitution seems to require that the governor would appoint a replacement. Note that Kentucky's governor is a Democrat. Hence this would end up in litigation real quick.

[u/Courtnall14 → u/ic33]

If his information is good, Brashear needs to appoint someone, or start the process of an appointment. Make the Republicans prove they're not committing what is essentially election fraud.

[u/FragrantKnobCheese → u/Courtnall14]

Make the Republicans prove they're not committing what is essentially election fraud.

What would be the consequences? They're literally committing crimes every day, right out in the open and they're getting away with it.

[u/MAG7C → u/Courtnall14]

I mean it makes my head explode to think, of all people to be replaced, Bashear would be handling this with kid gloves. No man, do the thing you have the power to do. Do it now. What would Mitch do?

[u/Tall_Trifle_4983 → u/ic33]

the KY Constitution seems to require that the governor would appoint a replacement. Note that Kentucky's governor is a Democrat. Hence this would end up in litigation real quick.

OHHH. THANKS

[u/Delta-9- → u/Tall_Trifle_4983]

Yeah, that explains a lot, whether he's dead or alive.

[u/AnalNuts → u/Tall_Trifle_4983]

IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE NOW

[u/ExcitingOnion504 → u/Tall_Trifle_4983]

From preventing Obama appointing a SCOTUS judge for a year to preventing his own replacements appointment after his death. Would be on brand until the end at least.

[u/TheGreatLuck → u/rezelscheft]

Remember back in the day when journalists used to do real investigative reporting despite how much trouble they would get in. I mean like where's those journalists today? We would know whether he was dead or alive by now because somebody with Integrity would have snuck into the hospital a long time ago

[u/cboogie → u/rezelscheft]

All the governor has to do is say get him on a zoom call now or I’m starting the election process. I’m boggled as to why he is not going this.

[u/mattxb → u/OldYellersLastHandy]

If he can't even call the governor in weeks to tell him he's alive that says it all

[u/MrZenumiFangShort → u/OldYellersLastHandy]

We need Jon Bon Jovi in here to sort this out!

[u/Brief_Raspberry_6542 → u/MrZenumiFangShort]

I was thinking RoboCop.

[u/ToadP]

Announce the runoff right now! Appoint a New Senator right now.

[u/Mybunsareonfire → u/ToadP]

This is the move. Force them to produce McConnell. 

[u/IolausTelcontar → u/Mybunsareonfire]

It’s such an obvious move.

[u/Zomunieo → u/IolausTelcontar]

Jeffries and Schumer are probably sweating bullets with worry that Beshear will act, forcing them, to also have to do something.

[u/Eldalai → u/Zomunieo]

Johnson would be worried too, but he hasn't heard about this yet, and he'll have to look into it

[u/Mundane_Bad594 → u/Eldalai]

Right after he’s done looking into his son’s Internet history. Gotta keep them kids accountable after all

[u/BigHobbit → u/Mundane_Bad594]

Not just internet, but porn specific. He wants to know what his son jerks off to so he can join in on the fun.

[u/Mundane_Bad594 → u/BigHobbit]

Gotta keep up with those youthful trends

[u/DrusTheAxe → u/Mundane_Bad594]

Susan Collins is concerned, very concerned, that Mitch may be unalive

[u/DeadSecurity → u/Mundane_Bad594]

You guys got it wrong, it's even weirder his son keeps an eye on his history to make sure he doesnt look at porn

[u/BasvanS → u/DeadSecurity]

They’re helping each other find the best porn.

Conservatives are so fucking weird.

[u/Hopesprings60 → u/Eldalai]

Omg that's perfect

[u/RonaldoNazario → u/Zomunieo]

Showing that doing something is actually possible for elected democrats, lest someone actually expect Schumer or Jeffries to actually do things.

[u/putsch80 → u/IolausTelcontar]

Which is exactly why the Dems won’t do it. They’ll clutch their pearls, keep making statements, and do precisely fuck-all while the GOP steals a seat in the Senate.

Beahear seems like a nice guy, but he’s just as cowardly and feckless as the Dem leadership.

[u/nopointers → u/putsch80]

The reason the Ds won’t do it is right now McConnell isn’t voting, so the senate majority is even narrower.

The reason the Rs won’t do it is right now Massie could win a special election, and MAGA doesn’t like him. That’s why he got primaried out of his House seat.

If the Rs wait until at least August 3, they can install a candidate they like better as a replacement in November.

[u/grapebeyond227 → u/nopointers]

Wouldn’t it be better to remove an R vote *and* add a D vote?

[u/nopointers → u/grapebeyond227]

That would be fantastic, but there isn’t much chance of it happening. Unlike most states, in Kentucky the replacement is not appointed by the governor. Instead, the replacement is selected by an election. It’s a very red state. The only real hope would be if there are two strong Rs running and the vote is split enough that a D slips through with a plurality but a minority of the total vote.

[u/Free_For__Me → u/nopointers]

Unlike most states, in Kentucky the replacement is not appointed by the governor. Instead, the replacement is selected by an election.

As I understand it, this is actually a pretty recent change and was designated by a law that was put in place in anticipation of specifically this situation with McConnell. The KY constitution is in conflict with this law, however, stating that KY indeed addresses a vacant seat via Gubernatorial appointment and NOT by special election.

Beshear himself has stated that he believes the law to run afoul of the state constitution, so he may try and make an appointment and force the whole thing to the KY Supreme Court. Or, if the DNC pushes him, he might just allow the special election to take place and hope Massie comes in with a serious axe to grind against MAGA.

In any case, Beshear and the Dems need to be moving with all haste to confirm McConnell's death in the next 2 weeks, or the case will then be muddy enough that there will be no functional chance of appointing a Dem OR electing an anti-MAGA republican.

[u/punkindle → u/Mybunsareonfire]

I spoke to Mitch McConnell for 20 minutes, and he told me they should do a special election

[u/Smooth-Item8719 → u/punkindle]

I spoke to him for 19 minutes and he told me Satan has made him 1st Lieutenant of Hell. 

[u/Wombatapus736 → u/Smooth-Item8719]

I spoke to him for 20 minutes and it.was the worst phone sex ever.

[u/phatelectribe → u/Mybunsareonfire]

I don’t know why they haven’t done it.

If McConnel is so incapacitated that he can’t defend his office (or dead) then he’s not in office anymore.

[u/Due-Technology5758 → u/phatelectribe]

Being alive is the only legal requirement to hold McConnell's office. Beshear cannot call a special election or even appoint an interim replacement (using the constitutional power that the 2024 law attempts to supersede) unless he is pronounced dead. Only a 3/4 majority vote in the Senate can vacate McConnell's seat while his body continues to have oxygenated blood pass through it. Incapacitated, brain dead (corrected below, brain death does count as death so long as it's reported) it doesn't matter.

[u/Rasp_Lime_Lipbalm → u/Due-Technology5758]

Beshear cannot call a special election or even appoint an interim replacement (using the constitutional power that the 2024 law attempts to supersede) unless he is pronounced dead.

And this is exactly why he's not doing it to call their bluff. If for some reason, McConnell is alive, Republicans will provide the evidence and then go after Beshear legally for attempting to "circumvent" the Kentucky constitution.

[u/phatelectribe → u/Due-Technology5758]

Akshully…..

both DC and KY law regards brain dead as legally dead. So even if his heart is beating and whether or not he’s being kept alive on a ventilator or in a coma, if he’s brain dead, then he’s legally dead and yes, they can force that issue.

[u/Due-Technology5758 → u/phatelectribe]

Good correction, I wasn't actually aware of that. That does require two doctors to declare though, so I do wonder if there is some bullshit they can pull using that angle.

[u/PM_ME_YOUR_NICE_EYES → u/phatelectribe]

Akshully to your Akshully

You're not legally dead until a medical professional signs a death certificate. Which presents a huge problem with the special election route because you'd need to find a doctor that has examined McConnell to do it.

(Also it's really worth pointing out that the threshold for brain dead is really quite high, if you shine a light in a patients eyes and their pupils change size then they are not brain dead.)

[u/Vann_Accessible → u/Mybunsareonfire]

The burden of proof is on McConnell’s office.

Should be easy to prove or disprove.

[u/shaka_sulu → u/Mybunsareonfire]

If the parties were reversed the national guard would be knocking down his door with agents would be carrying video cameras.

[u/Za_Lords_Guard → u/Mybunsareonfire]

I keep thinking of the "roll her old bones in here" scene from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

[u/mackzarks → u/Za_Lords_Guard]

And I'll dig up your daughter, you know that's school policy

[u/sambull → u/ToadP]

I think he might actually do that tomorrow. I think their moves to take the seat have sparked a actual fight in him.

[u/blackcain → u/sambull]

McConnell took two SCOTUS seats from us, it's only right that we take his.

[u/Its_just_U → u/blackcain]

This isn’t even “taking it”. It’s the defined procedure…

[u/blackcain → u/Its_just_U]

Yes, but the supermajority GOP made sure that he can only be replaced with another GOP and then they made further changes such that only what the legislature will give him. They've been destroying the governor powers over time so that only the legislature has power.

Kentucky's legislature needs an overhaul.

[u/Ferelar → u/blackcain]

So just appoint a Democrat anyway. We cannot persist in following every rule while the fascists insist on following zero rules. We cannot continue to go high and let them stab us in the balls.

[u/SunshineCat → u/blackcain]

We take more than his seat. I want every last dime of wealth owned by every one of these shit heads going to fix our fucking government they abused their power to destroy.

[u/D1rtyH1ppy → u/ToadP]

No run off. Just appoint a replacement like the Kentucky constitution says to

[u/hatmatter → u/ToadP]

Mitch McConnell's sister!

[u/Mypornnameis_ → u/hatmatter]

Disgusting thought. Unlike Graham, McConnell has children who are the rightful heirs to the seat according to all traditions of royal succession. How dare you suggest usurping monarchical protocol.

[u/AccomplishedScale362 → u/Mypornnameis_]

His oldest daughter, Porter, is a progressive activist who worked as the campaign director for Take On Wall Street. She’d be great! Evidently, all his daughters lean progressive.

Edit: Porter is the youngest of 3 daughters. More about her

[u/failed_novelty → u/AccomplishedScale362]

Evidently, all his daughters lean progressive.

They lived under the same roof as the face of underhanded conservativism. They were either going to be completely brainwashed or 100% Democrat.

[u/thewb005 → u/hatmatter]

The natural next choice!

[u/heyitscory → u/hatmatter]

Did... did they just put a Dolly Parton wig on Mitch's lifeless corpse?

No, this is Senator Michelle McConnell! She's a turtle too.

[u/Blue_Swirling_Bunny → u/hatmatter]

So , Aunt Gladys from Weapons, in other words?

[u/Arkhangelzk → u/ToadP]

This is what they have to do. Appoint the replacement, if Mitch is alive he can come contest it. No pictures, no videos, no reports of phone calls that allegedly lasted 20 minutes. Either he does it or he doesn't.

[u/hexiron → u/ToadP]

He has a couple weeks before that must be done. Keep handing the GOP rope and watch them continue to squirm in the spotlight as even staunch red hats have noticed and started asking questions.

[u/I_Have_A_Chode → u/hexiron]

When has handing this enemy rope to hang themselves with worked? They use the rope to keep pulling the dumpster fire farther along

[u/Maothesiamesecat]

Im curious...why can't the governor just go over and see him?

[u/gittlebass → u/Maothesiamesecat]

same reason democrats arent allowed into ice holding facilities. they hiding something

[u/shewflyshew → u/gittlebass]

There has to be a record in the local morgue, right? Is the county withholding information from the governor? This is such a Mitch McConnell way to die.

[u/HoldingForGenova → u/shewflyshew]

He's not "dead" as in "in a freezer." He's "dead" as in he's brain dead, with no actual mental activity, while machines keep his body functioning. Which means no doctor has declared death or recorded official time of death yet, because the family needs to give permission to remove him from the machines keeping him alive, and they're going to wait another 2.5 weeks to do so.

[u/turquoise_amethyst → u/HoldingForGenova]

Hmm, where has his wife and daughters been the last few weeks? And his “friends”? Surely could be checked out if they’re all visiting the same hospital?

[u/Casual_OCD → u/turquoise_amethyst]

Hospital visits between trips to China. The same China Trump just said has completely ruined your election systems and that's why you won't have midterms in November

[u/Sherd_nerd_17 → u/Casual_OCD]

Yep. AND, she met with the vice president of China, as well as the President of the People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs while she was there.

That’s… an interesting place to take off to… as soon as your husband suffers a medical emergency.

[u/gittlebass → u/shewflyshew]

I just looked it up,turns out hipaa also protects all medical records for 50years, so even if he is dead we will not know how or when he died

[u/ClassicT4 → u/gittlebass]

Imagine he managed an indefinite stay at the hospital for the next 50 years. All at the taxpayers expense. He’d be so proud of himself if he could pull that off posthumously.

[u/up_votes_booze → u/gittlebass]

I'm pretty sure hippa only protects cause of death for 50 years. Certified copies of death certificates are typically available to family shortly after a person passes. I think this also applies to anyone that has a legal need for the certificate.

[u/shewflyshew → u/gittlebass]

Amazing. Party loyalty over EVERYTHING I guess.

[u/TheBoosThree → u/Maothesiamesecat]

See him where? I don't believe anyone has said where his body currently is.

[u/AaronfromKY → u/TheBoosThree]

TMZ photographed his wife coming out of a rehab facility yesterday. Pretty safe bet he's there if he's alive

[u/The_Dr_and_Moxie → u/AaronfromKY]

Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s dead and she came back from China specifically to stage visits to the rehab facility to further the cover-up to buy more time until the August deadline.

[u/cenosillicaphobiac → u/TheBoosThree]

He's supposedly in a rehabilitation facility, that's where the supposed photo was taken. The chinese handler that he's married to was spotted leaving the facilility in a face mask and trench coat, as people do in July in DC.

[u/mishap1 → u/cenosillicaphobiac]

The mask would be much more explainable if she wore it in the photo op.

That said, probably a good idea to wear a mask around an octogenarian recovering from a fall and pneumonia especially after returning from international travel.

[u/Bandana-mal → u/cenosillicaphobiac]

Maybe it wasn’t her. It could have been two pesky children on each other’s shoulders under that coat.

[u/NetflixIsGr8 → u/Maothesiamesecat]

I'm curious why he can't just give them a 7 day ultimatum to either visit McConnell or call a special election

[u/Maothesiamesecat → u/NetflixIsGr8]

Like all democrat ultimatums, it will be in court for the next five years.

[u/Delta-9- → u/Maothesiamesecat]

Take a page from the Republican play book: do it anyway and give the courts the finger.

[u/WayneKrane → u/Delta-9-]

But the democrat’s play book is to rollover and maybe furrow their brow. They might even call for an investigation!

[u/frenchfreer → u/Maothesiamesecat]

Because he’s in a hospital and there are federal regulations that say you can’t just barge into someone’s hospital room because you want an update on their personal medical condition. I fucking hate Mitch and the rest of those ghouls, but we either have medical privacy for everyone, or no one, you can’t really pick on choose. That said, they are clearly abusing the right to keep medical information private to prevent the governor replacing a dead senator.

[u/theClumsy1 → u/Maothesiamesecat]

Right? Seems pretty simple

[u/efox02 → u/Maothesiamesecat]

I mean you can’t just waltz into someone’s hospital room. They have to be willing to see you. 

ETA: you can’t find out what room someone is in if you are not family. He is likely not under his actual name either. Staff is likely instructed not to give out ANY information. He is probably on a locked unit. No one is getting to him unless they are explicitly allowed. 

But still if a friend or family member that does not have you listed as a contact got admitted to the hospital, you can’t just call and find out what room they are in. You also have to have a visitor pass to get anywhere. 

[u/punkr0x → u/efox02]

Why wouldn’t Mitch be willing to meet with the governor if he’s recovering as well as is claimed?

[u/Novaskittles → u/punkr0x]

He's too busy having lively 20 minute conversations with all of his GOP coworkers!

[u/Cocoononthemoon]

What would Mitch McConnell do if the field were reversed?

He would have already appointed someone else and gone to court.

We keep losing because we arent willing to play the game. Make him prove he's alive and cognitively able

[u/Agreeable-Boat3509 → u/Cocoononthemoon]

"If hes alive then he'll have no trouble disputing my appointment in court"

The problem is Beshear wants to challenge the constitutionality of the republican legislature trying to limit his gov powers and the courts, especially in KY and SCOTUS are republican controlled so they'll take any excuse to rule against him

[u/kyxtant → u/Agreeable-Boat3509]

That's exactly what the problem is.

Beshear can either accept the limit on his powers, call a special election and have that challenged on the basis of McConnell is still living or appoint his replacement and have it challenged based on the law.

Hell, even if he calls for an election, I can see the Republicans challenging their own law just so McConnell's health isn't revealed.

[u/NumeralJoker → u/kyxtant]

For what it's worth, if the law is invalid, the August 3rd "deadline" people are citing won't matter either.

But that's the trick here; he has to be prepared to deal with the legal challenges, the conspiracies, and the optics of putting a Dem in a red state seat for a few months.

Granted, if it were me I'd bite the bullet and compromise by putting Massie into place, but does Massie want the job? And that's before we even discuss Epstein being the only good thing he's arguably done his entire career.

Still, it would be telling if the Republicans object to the 'wrong' Republican being appointed temporarily.

[u/DisappointedSpectre → u/NumeralJoker]

Granted, if it were me I'd bite the bullet and compromise by putting Massie into place

We've seen how well compromise and "crossing the aisle" works with the GOP, think about how well the whole thing with Merrick Garland went.

No more compromise - find the farthest left, mostly annoyingly democratic socialist person who's qualified and appoint them just to rub it the GOP's faces, then let them take it to court.

[u/Hollowskull → u/kyxtant]

This honestly feels like watching the politics of a corrupt third world country like fucking Uganda or something. Watching it happen blatantly in the USA is gobsmacking

[u/EveningAssignment997 → u/Cocoononthemoon]

The coward democrats are giving the country away.

[u/MA2_Robinson → u/Cocoononthemoon]

Mitch McConnell would be on tv claiming he’s undead and so unfit to serve while appointing someone, meanwhile homeboy would be in the background of the news conference rocking a bandaid all like “I’m right here” and Mitch would claim zombies are not fit to serve in a shady law signed 2 minutes ago.

No verification, no precedent… did I get that right?

[u/SuperstitiousPigeon5]

Mitch Headroom incoming.

[u/qwibbian → u/SuperstitiousPigeon5]

my god, somebody has to do this! 

[u/ClusterFoxtrot → u/qwibbian]

Max Headroom was America's last, great journalist 

[u/ellcoolj → u/qwibbian]

https://imgur.com/a/iZXatn5

[u/xcamxbamx]

He's only 84 years old. He still needs to take a crack at president he's the perfect age.

[u/dr_badhat → u/xcamxbamx]

Yeah let him retire peacefully in The Oval Home - Assisted Living Community.

[u/solidsnakeskin3000 → u/xcamxbamx]

Just a kid

[u/Beef-N-Queef]

Will someone ask Lindsay Graham to check on him?

[u/CMDR_KingErvin → u/Beef-N-Queef]

They probably have a couples torture session together in hell.

[u/Lord_Hitachi]

Impossible, I just got off the phone with him. Twenty minutes, boy can that guy talk

[u/legitimate_rapper → u/Lord_Hitachi]

You sure you didn’t talk to him for about 23 minutes and 17 seconds?

[u/draelbs → u/legitimate_rapper]

I spoke to him for precisely 18.5 minutes, and recorded the conversation to share with you all, but the tape is blank for some reason.

[u/Sea_Working_80 → u/Lord_Hitachi]

That respirator sure makes alot of noise

[u/StTickleMeElmosFire]

How Beshear handles this will determine how I think of him if / when he throws his hat into the ring for 2028. Boldness is called for.

[u/Silvaria928 → u/StTickleMeElmosFire]

Agreed completely. He's on my list of potentials but he is letting this go on too long. He needs to take action NOW.

[u/CptSmackThat → u/Silvaria928]

Said it a few days ago that swing voters won't respect the lack of gumption. Wasn't met with much reception yet here we are.

[u/TheKanten → u/CptSmackThat]

Swing voters wanted the hammer brought down after January 6 and it was blown off like a side bet during a golf outing.

Enough is enough of the pussyfooting, people want an actual fight back.

[u/matthieuC → u/StTickleMeElmosFire]

Prepare to be disappointed. If he were going to do something, he would have done it already.

[u/Black_Cat_Just_That → u/StTickleMeElmosFire]

I have the feeling he's slow walking it in hopes that they hang themselves with their own rope even further. The more Rs lie about his status, the worse they (should) look when it all comes out. Beshear has a little time before he HAS to act, so there's no real harm in letting things play out just a little since no votes are at stake.

Besides, I think the most likely actual situation is that the turtle is technically alive, but only because his body is being maintained by life support. If there's brain stem functioning, that is indeed technically alive, not dead. Death would/could occur if life support is removed, but that is a decision for his next of kin. If this is the reality, it opens up the question of whether a replacement can be legally appointed. According to the letter of the law, he can't be replaced yet, even if we all know that the spirit of the law says he should be.

(I also hold open the possibility that he is brain dead, which is dead dead. However, a physician still has to "call" the death for it to be official, and it's entirely likely that the powers that be have threatened and bribed staff into refusing to call the death. If this is the case, Beshear has more leg to stand on, but again we go back to the technicalities of "when did death actually provably occur?")

[u/DiabolicallyRandom → u/Black_Cat_Just_That]

I have the feeling he's slow walking it in hopes that they hang themselves with their own rope even further.

This made sense in 2000. It doesn't make any sense in 2026. This world is different. the GOP has no self respect, no respect for the law, the country, procedure, reality, or anything.

They will never hang themselves. They will pretend, and deflect, and defy, unless and until their hand is actually forced.

Chickenshit Beshear is already nuking his chances of getting any support from me in any potential primary, as are most potential candidates.

[u/sandwichpak → u/StTickleMeElmosFire]

Honestly I think he's already blundering it. How many more open ended warnings is he going to give McConnell's office before he realizes they don't care.

[u/Shipit123 → u/sandwichpak]

This is why the Dems piss me off so much. The guy isn’t acting w any urgency. I mean announce ur gonna hold a special election. Tell them you’ll call it off as soon as you get proof of life. The whole party’s apathy costs us on a daily basis. Longer this shady bullshit keeps

[u/TheWizard]

If he is dead, and facts are being hidden for sinister purpose, EVERYONE involved should be held accountable, with charges.

[u/lustywench99 → u/TheWizard]

They won’t be though. And they’ll make excuses. I doubt he’s dead dead. They probably got him on machines and he’s technically alive. And will die as soon as the machines turn off. Which will be on August 4th.

They’ll claim he took a turn. That he was doing well in recovery and died suddenly. Because you can’t prove anything.

[u/TheWizard → u/lustywench99]

Thats when criminal charges should come into play.

[u/Cabana_bananza → u/TheWizard]

Lying on a death certificate is a felony in every state I believe. Would probably lose a doctor their license.

[u/Happy_Foundation_553]

I agree that they’re going to say he died on August 2nd

[u/xicor → u/Happy_Foundation_553]

Yea my guess is it will be this. Literally the day after the deadline

[u/MakalakaPeaka]

The Governor should start the replacement process NOW. If McConnel is unable to answer, he's unable to serve. Let the GOP fight it all they want, but get a functional Senator in Kentucky's seat ASAP. This is not a game.

[u/B1g_B89]

That would make sense considering that he is dead.

[u/shadowdra126]

Call a special election

Either he shows up or someone who is alive takes office.

[u/Zealousideal-Sink273]

3 words: Police Welfare Check

[u/JojenCopyPaste]

I saw the same thing. There was a Tiktok of McConnell saying he's dead and in hell, that he misses us, but he likes it in hell so he's staying.

[u/ehowardhunt]

Do something about it! This is a great example of an opportunity for Democrats to stop rolling over.

[u/Lord-Velveeta → u/ehowardhunt]

Morgan Freeman narration: "But sadly, they just kept rolling over"

[u/plasmacartwheel]

How is this not the biggest fucking controversy in this country right now?

[u/jander05]

Bro he’s the Governor. If McConnell hasn’t called and spoken with him in 30 days, he should appoint a replacement forcing him to show up or at least make a phone call to the Gov office. Hapless Dems.

[u/frankenfish2000]

SWEAR IN ANOTHER SENATOR NOW

If he is alive, this will wake his ass up.

[u/Gloomy-Insurance-739]

Soooo do something....

[u/KXK]

GOP committing fraud? Never!!! /s

[u/skwibbits]

Then fucking DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Announce a fucking runoff. Go to the fucking hospital and demand to see him. He is obviously doing well enough with that "proof of life" picture, in street clothes with no IV or oxygen.

Fucking do something. Jesus. It is just so infuriating. Republicans would be breaking down the doors to the hospital, and all we are getting is strongly worded requests and hemming and hawing about what the next move is.

Fuck this incompetent bullshit. Go scorched earth, exactly as R's would.

[u/darth_wasabi]

If only there was a way to prove it. Oh well guess we tried nothing and all out of ideas. Classic Democrats

[u/bradhotdog]

I love Andy, but he needs to not give this a minute more of play. I'd be taking the first ride I can to personally see him in whatever hospital or facility they have him at to formally check in on him to make sure he's doing alright, and not take no for an answer when it comes to meeting him in person. that photo looks like he's perfectly capable of meeting someone in the room and talking. prove it this weekend or assume he's dead.

[u/Malfeitor1]

He’s not officially deceased until life support is removed after Aug 3rd. I really hope I’m wrong on that because that would mean his family is complicit

[u/G07V3]

If you’re in the hospital for more than a month then it’s safe to assume that something serious happened. I think it’s also safe to say that if he is still alive, he is unfit to serve as senator after being required to stay in the hospital for more than a month.

[u/Nhak84]

I still say schedule a presumptive death trial. Make him produce evidence under oath.

[u/ApprehensiveHippo898]

He's the governor. Why doesn't he just visit the hospital and pay him a visit.

[u/-Jiras]

Its three weeks until its to late to reelect someone for his position, are we really doing NOTHING about the literal (high) possibility that a sitting senator is not alive anymore and the literal government doing everything to hide the fact????

[u/BreatheCrete]

Stop sitting around and do fucking something

[u/gedankenlos]

He's just pining for the fjords 

[u/devereaux]

Republicans are scared that Thomas Massie will win the special election and go hard at Trump from the Senate

[u/CCC_OOO]

No no no he’s fully dressed in the hospital with his wife dutifully by his side, just a little wobble and then a cold. 

[u/HamTMan]

Call the election now and let them prove he.is alive

[u/minin71]

If he turns out to be dead, they lied about it with that bullshit picture

[u/PineappleExcellent90]

Have an on camera interview with him. He look like he is well enough in the photo

[u/hey-coffee-eyes]

There's a certain poetic irony that a man who used delaying tactics to prevent Dems getting their Supreme Court picks or bills to pass is now being used as a pawn in the same kind of games.

[u/MrMeesesPieces]

If he’s alive he’s in the hospital in critical condition. If he’s dead..he’s dead. Neither situations are conducive to being at work. Appoint a replacement now.

[u/Revolutionary_Sir_]

Pretty insane the Gov cant figure this shit out. How are they hiding this shit.

[u/dppatters]

If they’ve really been hiding his death and knowingly misrepresenting his condition to avoid the governor appointing a replacement, I can’t even fathom how this would not be criminal? That’s straight up diabolical.

[u/Ndtphoto]

He 'warns' that he got calls suggesting that? What does that even mean?

"I'm warning you that people are suggesting he's dead."

[u/TheJarisaDoor3]

Just a suggestion, but maybe the governor could get off his ass and go see if the man is alive. 

[u/SnowRascal]

No one hears from him for weeks. Then 3 20 minute calls from him on same day. Then statement. Now silence. Something’s happening here

[u/rettribution]

Andy is being a pussy.

Announce a run off and replacement. Allow the GOP to freak out, and then....when he says prove McConnell is fine, let them not.

Fuck all of these people.

[u/Careful_Trifle]

Call the election already then.

If Mitch is alive he'll call you.

[u/LilEddieDingle]

He’s so obviously dead, lol

[u/Terrible-Muscle-3703]

Let me say this again... appoint a new senator. If Mitch is alive, we will find out.

[u/wompuskat3000]

Just announce he's dead and force him to poke his head out of his shell if he's not.

[u/das_masterful]

Why doesn't someone.. You know... Go and look? Surely it isn't that hard to figure out.

[u/mrRabblerouser]

Then stop sitting on your hands expecting republicans to act like they aren’t corrupt shit stains and DO SOMETHING Beshear. Send a message to McConnells team saying Mitch has until Monday to meet with you or you’ll have no choice but to call for a special election. The people deserve representation, not an vacant seat for the next 6 months

[u/MangoSalsa89]

If the photos were real and Mitch was sitting upright and alert and not on any sort of medical support, why isn’t he out of the hospital and back to work?

[u/Ok_Band3086]

why has nobody gone to see him? i feel like if i were a republic congressman i'd want to know for certain if this dude was ok. seems odd nobody has gone to check.

[u/cenosillicaphobiac → u/Ok_Band3086]

They don't want to be forced into an easily provable lie if it can be avoided. They'll lie like you and I breathe, but some can be avoided pretty easily.

[u/Disastrous_Appeal_24]

If he ‘dies’ august 4, we’ll know.

[u/space-thunder-mater]

He’s wearing jeans and a button down shirt joking with his wife in the hospital. Too busy to get on a video call with Fox News

[u/erkose]

Andy Beshear should show up at the hospital to do a bed check. If Capital police interfere, he should call in the Kentucky National Guard.

[u/4rp70x1n]

Beshear needs to get off his ass and call the special election already.

People in positions of power to call out the Republicans on their LIES and BULLSHIT need to stop fucking around and FUCKING DO IT ALREADY.

People "warning" and "threatening" and being "concerned" is how this whole fascist regime has been allowed to take root.

It's beyond fucking frustrating that people in state governments and our Congressional members aren't at least making noise EVERY👏🏻SINGLE👏🏻DAY about this mess.

I know if I were in Congress, my ass would be on every news outlet that would have me and I'd be at least calling out the bullshit and at least using whatever congressional rules available to thwart any advancement of this regime. JFC, HOUSE RULE #9, ANYONE? ANYONE? BUELLER?

[u/fgbh]

Gov... call a spec. Election!

What are you so afraid of?

[u/2late4points]

If a brain-dead person is capable of fulfilling the responsibilities of Senator for Kentucky, then Kentucky should have its count of Senators reduced by one.

[u/Charge1865]

Imagine being part of a party so off the rails, that when a member dies, you have to hide it and scheme just to find another way to screw the common people over...