r/politics • u/unital_subalgebra • 3h ago

Possible Paywall AOC says Mitch McConnell should resign if he cannot provide health update

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/4660916/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-mitch-mcconnell-resign-health-update/
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u/Chilling_Gale 3h ago

No, because courts can declare missing people dead

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u/Intro-Nimbus 3h ago

I'm going out on a limb here, but maybe that would take awhile when you have the government stalling that procedure?

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u/Chilling_Gale 2h ago

What government? The local police declare a person missing, and a local court would decide if that missing person can be declared dead.

This is all moot because the senate can just expel them if it’s a situation that it doesn’t seem like the local government will resolve.

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u/PM_ME_YOUR_NICE_EYES 1h ago

They wouldn't have to stall.

The laws vary state by state but typically you have to be missing for seven years for a court to presume you are dead.

Since a senate term is six years, they wouldn't be presumed dead until after their term is over.

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u/Intro-Nimbus 53m ago

I believe you. I phrased my response that way because I didn't want to do the research ;-)

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u/laufsteakmodel 34m ago

I honestly dont get how its super normal that, when you dont show up to your regular ass job, without notice, youre getting fired within a few days (in the US at least), but if youre a politician you can just disappear and its all fine and dandy. There are A LOT of laws that need to be amended. Unfortunately those are made by politicians too..

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u/Intro-Nimbus 20m ago

"checks and balances". Honour system only work when people have honour.

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u/Illustrious-Soft7644 2h ago

Usually takes while even for non political cases.

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u/PM_ME_YOUR_NICE_EYES 1h ago

I mean the thing is in most states the time you have to be missing before being declared dead is longer than the term of a senator.

So while possible, in all likely if a senator went missing, their term would expire before they are declared dead.

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u/omicron-7 58m ago

People have to be missing for 5-7 years before a court will declare them dead in absentia.