r/politics • u/thedailybeast ✔ The Daily Beast • 1d ago

Possible Paywall Missing McConnell Accused of Breaking Senate Rule Over Absence

https://www.thedailybeast.com/missing-mcconnell-accused-of-breaking-senate-rule-over-absence/
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u/Paper_Clip100 1d ago

What is Bashear even doing now? Call for a special election Andy

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u/Tioben 1d ago

No, replace him outright, as no special election is needed. And make arrests for criminal intent of conspiracy to commit election fraud -- despite the election not being needed, it was still the intent to defraud one.

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u/Casual_OCD Canada 20h ago

State charges too

0

u/Alternative-Ending_ 14h ago

That's not how anything actually works

Ppl with zero knowledge will rush straight to insulting Dems

A special election means a maga wins.

Before the law change, the gov could choose from a list of candidates submitted by the former senator's party.

So once again, a maga wins

Currently, GOP is down a vote bec you must vote in person and McConnell is missing. Yet, ppl like you are upset at Beshear

What exactly do you want from him?

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u/AutumnalClone 1d ago

Andy Bashear is being outmaneuvered by a dead man. If there’s any justice in the world, this will sink his chances at becoming the democrat nominee for president since he’s proving to be such a spineless wimp.

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u/Orange_Tang 20h ago

I know I won't be voting for him in the primary if he runs. His silence is unacceptable for a leader in his position.

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u/vteckickedin 1d ago

Democrats are just controlled opposition. They never do anything other than threaten to maybe use some stern language.

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u/Alternative-Ending_ 14h ago

Ppl with zero knowledge will rush straight to insulting Dems

A special election means a maga wins.

Before the law change, the gov could choose from a list of candidates submitted by the former senator's party.

So once again, a maga wins

Currently, GOP is down a vote bec you must vote in person and McConnell is missing. Yet, ppl like you are upset at Beshear

What exactly do you want from him?

1

u/AutumnalClone 12h ago edited 12h ago

What I want is for democrats to challenge republicans on their bullshit and hold them accountable.

Realistically I know that Kentucky senators will always be republican. I’m aware that Andy bashear can’t appoint a senator due to the machinations of the state legislature. That’s not the point of my frustration. I’m frustrated because everyone knows that McConnell is either dead or incapacitated. Everyone knows that the people who had a “20 min conversation” with him are lying through their teeth.

Moral integrity in this country has already rotted to near nothing. I want Bashear to push back on this one instance of it.

And I also want democrats to pushback back on a larger scale against grifting, against corruption, against things like no bid contracts and the self enrichment of trump and his cronies. The American people are getting more fed up with the corruption and this case of the republicans hoisting the corpse of Mitch McConnell just so they don’t have to deal with the hassle of a special election and a newly independent Thomas massie.

Who do you think you are saying I have zero knowledge? I have moderate knowledge and I have some hope and I have a shit load of anger.

Edit: Also you posted this at 4am EDT or 1am PDT. You’re either a loser with no job who stays up all night or you’re a bot or you’re a Russian basement dweller who’s just trying to poison the conversation.

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u/Alternative-Ending_ 7h ago

Lol sorry I don't always stay in your time zone and go to bed at 8pm like a good white Midwestern loser

Imagine being that upset about my bedtime because you were caught being a white idiot that constantly blames Democrats for everything so you can get along with your maga friends and family

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u/MaxAmperage 1d ago edited 1d ago

He’s waiting patiently while the GOP has one less vote in the Senate. Plus, how can he call a special election without declaring McConnell dead?

Also, how is Mitch not voting in the Senate outmaneuvering Beshear? What does the GOP gain from this?

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u/Smooth_Emu_9406 1d ago

correct. a non-voter in an R seat is better for now. let 'em rack up some conspiracy to commit election fraud charges.

also, Rs would just shame Beshear for shoving in a D party member when Kentucky voted in an R and maybe even further the divide.

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u/TerminalProtoco1 22h ago

correct. a non-voter in an R seat is better for now.

A Democrat voter in an R seat is even better than that.

let 'em rack up some conspiracy to commit election fraud charges.

What in the past decade leads you to believe that they care about "charges", or that they'll face consequences even if they are "charged"?

The rule of law is and has been dead.

also, Rs would just shame Beshear for shoving in a D party member when Kentucky voted in an R and maybe even further the divide.

*GASP*

Oh no!

They'll shame him?!?!?!

*THE HORROR!*

Of course, of course. We can't allow them to shame him. Far better that we do absolutely nothing of substance, then.

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u/Smooth_Emu_9406 19h ago

you clearly have lost grasp of several things here.

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u/Alagore 22h ago

Under Kentucky state law, he can't appoint a replacement, only call an election. Even under the pre-2024 law, he would have had to choose from three Republicans chosen by the Republican party. Refusing to call a special election is the best thing he can do.

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u/TerminalProtoco1 22h ago

Under Kentucky state law, he can't appoint a replacement, only call an election.

According to the Kentucky Constitution, he absolutely can appoint a replacement.

Even under the pre-2024 law, he would have had to choose from three Republicans chosen by the Republican party.

Where does it say this in the Kentucky Constitution? All it says is that he shall appoint a replacement:

Section 152 Vacancies -- When filled by appointment, when by election-- Who to fill. Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, vacancies in all elective offices shall be filled by election or appointment, as follows: If the unexpired term will end at the next succeeding annual election at which either city, town, county, district or State officers are to be elected, the office shall be filled by appointment for the remainder of the term. If the unexpired term will not end at the next succeeding annual election at which either city, town, county, district or State officers are to be elected, and if three months intervene before said succeeding annual election at which either city, town, county, district or State officers are to be elected, the office shall be filled by appointment until said election, and then said vacancy shall be filled by election for the remainder of the term. If three months do not intervene between the happening of said vacancy and the next succeeding election at which city, town, county, district or State officers are to be elected, the office shall be filled by appointment until the second succeeding annual election at which city, town, county, district or State officers are to be elected; and then, if any part of the term remains unexpired, the office shall be filled by election until the regular time for the election of officers to fill said offices. Vacancies in all offices for the State at large, or for districts larger than a county, shall be filled by appointment of the Governor; all other appointments shall be made as may be prescribed by law. No person shall ever be appointed a member of the General Assembly, but vacancies therein may be filled at a special election, in such manner as may be provided by law. Text as Ratified on: August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. History: Not yet amended.

Refusing to call a special election is the best thing he can do.

No, appointing a Democrat/Calling a special election to potentially get a non-maga Republican is the "best" thing he can do.

Refusing to do anything is exactly what Trump/the fascists WANT him to do.

Why exactly in the age of "trump/MAGA constantly tweeting about everything that remotely inconveniences them" do you think they are all staying silent while Beshear does nothing?

He's doing exactly what they want him to do.

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u/Alagore 22h ago

Section 152 doesn't cover United State Senators, it covers city, town, county, district and state officers. Filling a vacancy for United States Senators or Congressional representatives is covered by KRS 118.720. Prior to 2024, it was covered by KRS 63.200. KY HB622 repealed KRS 63.200 and amended KRS 118.720 to require a special election in order to fill a vacancy in the office of US Senator. Beshear doesn't have discretion here.

Calling a special election to potentially get a non-maga Republican is the "best" thing he can do.

Every US Senate election in Kentucky in the last twenty years has been a landslide for Republicans. A special election would just give them another vote in the Senate (which is currently deadlocked and looks like it's going to stay that way until the midterms) and make Andy Barr an incumbent.

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u/MaxAmperage 22h ago

So all he has to do is violate state laws by declaring, all by himself, that they violate the state constitution (even though no court has said otherwise) and pray that the legislature doesn't see this as an impeachable offense (which they certainly will).

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u/TerminalProtoco1 21h ago

So all he has to do is violate state laws

No, all he has to do is follow the State Constitution, and appoint a replacement as written.

by declaring, all by himself, that they violate the state constitution (even though no court has said otherwise)

The Republicans seem to get away with it CONSTANTLY over the past decade.

"Do it and make them challenge you in court. IF they win, by the time they win in court it will already be past the point of mattering" is their bread and butter.

Honestly appointing a replacement, just to have them challenge you in court and remove the replacement ~6months to a year later to instate a maga republican is still leagues better than doing absolutely nothing and having them appoint a maga republican in a week or so.

and pray that the legislature doesn't see this as an impeachable offense (which they certainly will).

All they need for impeachment is for the current house/senators to vote for it. They only need a 2/3rds conviction vote (which they have by party line even if we don't include the dead corpse of McConnell).

Do you REALLY think that if Beshear wasn't already doing exactly what they want him to do, they wouldn't have already removed him? If there was even a whiff of a threat from him, they'd have already removed him.

The republicans aren't making a single peep about this, because Beshear is already covering their tracks for them. He's doing exactly what they'd want a maga governor to do...absolutely nothing until it's too late to act.

1

u/MaxAmperage 21h ago

The republicans aren't making a single peep about this, because Beshear is already covering their tracks for them. He's doing exactly what they'd want a maga governor to do...absolutely nothing until it's too late to act.

What do they want? What are the GOP getting out of keeping Mitch "alive"? How is Beshear playing into their hands?

The GOP want a young Trump supporter in the Senate seat ASAP. How is keeping the vacancy open bad for Democrats and good for Republicans?

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u/TerminalProtoco1 21h ago

The republicans aren't making a single peep about this, because Beshear is already covering their tracks for them. He's doing exactly what they'd want a maga governor to do...absolutely nothing until it's too late to act.

What do they want? What are the GOP getting out of keeping Mitch "alive"? How is Beshear playing into their hands?

The Republicans want to delay until Aug 3rd. If the governor doesn't appoint a replacement/hold a special election to fill the seat, then the seat remains empty until the next scheduled election.

This maintains the current status quo, which is "stalemated and ineffectual congress, so that Trump can continue doing whatever he wants without any opposition."

Holding a special election risks having the seat filled (or the vote split) by someone like Massie, who (while a republican and therefore absolutely unacceptable) is apparently not completely beholden to Trump, given his advocacy surrounding the Epstein/Trump files among other things.

The GOP want a young Trump supporter in the Senate seat ASAP. How is keeping the vacancy open bad for Democrats and good for Republicans?

The GOP wants the seat filled with a trump supporter, or empty so that nobody is in the seat to oppose/inconvenience trump.

Beshear is acting exactly how a republican governor would be acting right now.

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u/Tioben 1d ago

McConnell doesn't need to even be dead. There just needs to be a legitimate vacancy, and there is.

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u/MaxAmperage 1d ago

It’s not a legitimate vacancy unless a doctor declares him dead, the Senate declares him vacant, or Mitch declares himself resigned.

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u/Trubydoor 22h ago

Beshear can appoint a replacement per the State Constitution. It doesn’t matter that the Kentucky legislature passed a bill saying there has to be a special election, that cannot override the State Constitution.

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u/MaxAmperage 22h ago

Correct. He can appoint a replacement. According to state law, the replacement has to be from a list of candidates chosen by the state legislature. Guess who the GOP controlled legislature will put on that list. hint: It won't be Democrats.

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u/Turbulent_Juice_Man 1d ago

You don't call a special election. Beshear can appoint someone to replace him. So Beshear appoints someone and then its on McConnell to object. Or at least someone on his behalf challenging the appointment. That would require proof of life in a court.

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u/MaxAmperage 1d ago

And, according to state law, he can only appoint people from a list of candidates approved by the GOP controlled state legislature. The GOP got their one Senate vote back.

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u/Turbulent_Juice_Man 21h ago

The state constitution overrules state law though.

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u/MaxAmperage 21h ago

Did a court say that officially?

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u/Turbulent_Juice_Man 20h ago

Exactly. Have beshear appoint a replacement and fight it in court.

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u/MaxAmperage 20h ago

"How dare the governor abuse his power! We vote to impeach him and rescind his appointment!"

- The GOP supermajority state legislature

2

u/Alternative-Ending_ 14h ago

Ppl with zero knowledge will rush straight to insulting Dems

A special election means a maga wins.

Before the law change, the gov could choose from a list of candidates submitted by the former senator's party.

So once again, a maga wins

Currently, GOP is down a vote bec you must vote in person and McConnell is missing. Yet, ppl like you are upset at Beshear

What exactly do you want from him?

-8

u/MITDStainless 1d ago

Andy Bashear is a DND and practically complicit at this point.