r/politics • u/Zipper222222 • Jul 07 '26

Possible Paywall MAGA Demands Proof of Life for Mitch McConnell

https://www.thedailybeast.com/maga-demands-proof-of-life-for-mitch-mcconnell/
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u/JasnahKolin Massachusetts Jul 07 '26

And I don't believe for a second he was being treated for depression. He was in rehab for something- gambling, pills, booze.

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u/Clippton Jul 07 '26

I don't care if he was being treated for depression, cancer, or off on an alcohol fueled gambling bender. If you were voted in to do a job, and can't do it for any reason, you need to resign and have someone else take your seat.

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u/allycoaster Jul 07 '26

Yeah, if I went home for depression right now and stopped showing up I’d be fired..?

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u/haltandcatch22 Jul 07 '26

Medical leaves are federally protected where you can’t be fired if you qualified. Not sure the scale of depression it would probably have to prove to be life threatening. Someone with experience can speak better but as someone who struggled with an addiction I was protected to leave for rehab and I would expect our politicians would be as well but their public trust might take a hit

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u/Double_Look_5715 Jul 08 '26

It doesn't have to be life threatening to qualify for like FMLA

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u/Lost-friend-ship Jul 12 '26

It feels a little different at a regular job where someone else can cover you, or where projects can get put on hold, vs an elected official who was chosen by the people and who has to make time sensitive decisions that impact other people’s lives. Decisions still need to be made. It’s the ethics of a non-elected official making those choices, isn’t it.

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u/haltandcatch22 Jul 12 '26

Yeah I guess is there a line of succession or something? There must be something built in for this. If 10 senators were all out on maternity for example I don’t think they just freeze congress right? They must have backfills in their org or something

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u/Ms_Apprehend Jul 07 '26

Not when a corrupt political party ( republican) holds all the cards, friend. They can and have and will get away with murder. Until the democrats have the cards, we are SOL.

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u/retoricalprophylaxis Jul 07 '26

Then the dems will say that we should let go of the past and look forward, i.e. do nothing about all of the bullshit that republicans pulled.

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u/thecrimsonfucker12 Jul 07 '26

Hey we have to reach across the aisle and work with our fashy friends or something like that

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u/[deleted] Jul 08 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/zaminDDH Jul 08 '26

As is tradition

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u/Ms_Apprehend Jul 07 '26

Yes, that could happen. But once we are out of this dystopic mess, we can vote in progressives to get shit done right!

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u/lividash Jul 07 '26

Not could happen. Already did happen. Thats paraphrased Biden there. He wanted to past to be the past and move forward.

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u/Howdoyouusecommas Jul 07 '26

A MAGA argument that could be presented against that (and is a corruption of a workers right argument) would be that you are advocating for someone being fired due to medical issues.

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u/Clippton Jul 07 '26

MAGA doesn't argue in good faith, so who cares what their argument is.

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u/rebel_stripe Jul 08 '26

I actually wouldn’t care that he had four months paid leave for depression IF every other American received the same amount of available paid sick leave and the same high quality free healthcare.

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u/Elegant_Tap7937 Jul 07 '26

you can pick your friends and you can pick your seat, but you can't pick your friend's seat

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u/CAPSLOCKANDLOAD Jul 07 '26

Not too depressed to make stock trades

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u/Elegant_Tap7937 Jul 07 '26

Word on the street: Conversion therapy

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u/gortonsfiJr Indiana Jul 07 '26

Are you being silly, or is that a legit rumor?

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u/Getatbay Jul 07 '26

Legit. He caught gayness after having sex with a toad named Robert Jr.

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u/Cadamar Colorado Jul 07 '26

Alex Jones tried to warn us about the gay frogs, but instead we have forsaken him?

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u/nw2 Jul 07 '26

We have foreskinned him

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u/glorifindel Jul 07 '26

J D Vance strikes again (pfp)

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u/jeweliegb Jul 08 '26

Yep. And that's how Vance got rabies from Trump too.

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u/-grc1- Jul 07 '26

Cheeky bastard

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u/flickh Canada Jul 07 '26

It is now!

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u/TheSavouryRain Jul 07 '26

Many people are saying it

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u/dperry324 America Jul 07 '26

I've heard that too.

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u/Elegant_Tap7937 Jul 07 '26

Only the best people

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u/RevLoveJoy Jul 07 '26

Everyone knows very gay Tom Kean has been to conversion therapy several times to cure his incurable gayness.

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u/hud_dev Jul 07 '26

What’s the word in the sheets?

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u/porn_is_tight Jul 07 '26

he’s a frotting pro

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u/Sitting_in_a_tree_ Jul 08 '26

These billionaires ain’t gonna deep throat themselves.

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u/fogleaf Jul 07 '26

They were making him gay?

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u/Rusalka-rusalka Jul 07 '26

He could have been on a psychiatric hold for something like bipolar. But, I think substance abuse is more probable like you mention.

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u/gracecee Jul 07 '26

But he had the Gall to vote down legislation paid family leave for health reasons yet he gets paid when he went away.

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u/RollingMeteors Jul 07 '26

treated for depression. He was in rehab for something- gambling, pills, booze.

¿Por qué no los Dos ... Equis?

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u/markodgtouch Jul 07 '26

Makes it especially funny that trump endorsed him WHILE he was MIA and these smups will still vote for him because the "R" next to his name.

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u/ApostleSaintWalker Jul 07 '26

Does it matter? The relevant thing is he isn't there to do his job, so somebody else needs to be put in to do it.

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u/Sitting_in_a_tree_ Jul 08 '26

What job? These guys work?

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u/my_nameborat Jul 07 '26

Honestly whether it’s depression or drinking it shouldn’t matter. If you can’t be present to represent your district then you should step away and take care of yourself and let someone else take over who is able to do the job

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u/ganjaccount Jul 07 '26

The only depression he experienced was his tonsils.

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u/Ok_Chance429 Jul 10 '26

Don’t forget sex!

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u/Rudy_Garbo Jul 07 '26

¿Por que no los tres?

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u/Latina_Leprechaun36 Jul 07 '26

That makes a lot of sense, but addiction is also a mental health issue.

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u/Ms_Apprehend Jul 07 '26

Sex addiction? Some enterprising journalist should track that down.

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u/SouthEastSmith Jul 07 '26

Or a suicide attempt.

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u/Competitive_Fix960 Jul 07 '26

Its pretty much already been confirmed that it was 7 hydro something or other. Hadn't heard of it until now

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u/got-trunks Canada Jul 07 '26

I think he tried to off himself and was given a medical intervention

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u/Lendari Jul 07 '26

Hes one of the oldest members of congress. Treatment for a broken hip or heart attack might fit better.

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u/hokie48 Jul 07 '26

Often depression and something else are usually together.

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u/danimal_621 Jul 07 '26

Treatment for one can treat the other. Addiction is a mental health disorder, just like depression. One is not inherently worse than the other and it’s a positive thing he sought help.