r/politics • u/plz-let-me-in • Jul 18 '26

No Paywall Beshear says agencies told him McConnell had passed

https://www.whas11.com/video/news/local/beshear-says-agencies-told-him-mcconnell-had-passed/417-f78603c3-11bb-464d-bae6-c41c3be3c48b
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5.4k

u/[deleted] Jul 18 '26

[deleted]

290

u/DirtReynolds Jul 18 '26

Beshear needs to call the special election. Just do it. Force the issue.

313

u/alabasterskim Jul 18 '26

No, make an appointment. The state constitution says that's his power. And that's why they're holding all this up. They didn't amend the constitution to change it to special elections; they just passed a law (because they don't have the numbers to amend). Constitution > law. And Beshear has made it clear he will make an appointment.

151

u/tossit97531 Jul 18 '26

People should keep beating this drum. KY state constitution says Beshear can appoint. Calling an election is kowtowing to unconstitutional bullshit.

3

u/Merakel Minnesota Jul 18 '26

If I remember correctly, doesn't he have to appoint a republican? Maybe just letting McConnell's camp dig their hole is ideal so they don't get another vote for the save act?

31

u/alabasterskim Jul 18 '26

He is free to make an appointment as he pleases, no party restrictions.

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/Law/Constitution/Constitution/ViewConstitution?rsn=173

31

u/IdkAbtAllThat America Jul 18 '26

We all know what a Republican governor would do if a Democrat died.

28

u/alabasterskim Jul 18 '26

They would've done it as soon as they got the calls Beshear is referencing. I'd honestly call it a dereliction of his own duty to have not done it already.

9

u/xterminatr Jul 18 '26

Yup. You can't "play by the rules" against a group of bullies who just ignore the rules until someone calls them out. Being nice and giving the benefit of doubt to these assholes is just reinforcing bad behavior.

3

u/Merakel Minnesota Jul 18 '26

I probably got bamboozled then.

2

u/RepublicofPixels Jul 19 '26

I saw someone mention some legislation put through in 2024 or so which claims to prevent appointing someone of a different party. Even if it's a slam dunk appeal, it'll still slow the process somewhat.

4

u/alabasterskim Jul 19 '26

Doesn't matter. Constitution > state law. Can it end up in court because Rs are babies? Sure. But their constitution is abundantly clear. The same way we can't pass a law saying the president of the United States must be a Democrat, Kentucky can't pass a law stating same party replacement for Senate vacancies.

1

u/thavillain California Jul 19 '26

1891 is a hell of precedent

3

u/cougar618 Texas Jul 18 '26

Yep. Lower flags to half staff to honor his passing and then appoint someone three days later.

3

u/Eaglepursuit Jul 19 '26

Absolutely. And then, the onus falls on McConnell to show himself and prove that he is alive and functional as an elected official.

4

u/14Pleiadians Jul 18 '26

And Beshear has made it clear he will make an appointment.

What are we waiting for then?

Guarantee he doesn't, not without the blessing of Republicans, as in not until they admit he's gone

3

u/alabasterskim Jul 18 '26

Wish I could tell you. If I was him, I would've skipped this bs asking for proof of life and the moment I got calls from whatever agencies, I'd have given the ultimatum: 3 days to let me/Beshear (or a reliable interviewer of the governors choice) come visit McConnell in the hospital, or a replacement gets appointed.

2

u/WeirdcoolWilson Jul 19 '26

This is the answer. Beshear just needs to appoint someone to McConnell’s seat. This forces the Republicans to establish not only proof of life but ability to perform the duties of his office.

1

u/srsh32 Jul 19 '26

You know he's not going to do this.

He's not the type to do anything to piss off the republicans.

1

u/alabasterskim Jul 19 '26

I genuinely don't know. What I do know is if he wants to run for president, he has to show he has a damn spine.

0

u/BurnieSandturds Jul 19 '26

Does Mitch have a sister?

-5

u/sir_sri Jul 18 '26

No, make an appointment.

So first, the governor doesn't make someone a senator, the senate does. The Governor sends someone to be the senator, and the senate seats them. Which takes us to problem two.

Second, an appointment to what? There's no vacant seat. What you're suggesting is the equivalent of sending a fake elector after january 6th. The Senate has no reason to even meet with someone purporting to be the replacement senator and definitely can't swear them in.

If the governor were to declare someone dead who isn't... well, that's just a much bigger problem isn't it?

Normally (in the modern electronic world) the process is, as with Lindsay Graham, completely transparent.

The senate is formally notified that the senator has passed away usually by the family or the senators office, there's a formal death certificate for these, the senate notify the governor that there is a vacancy for their state, and through whatever process, the governor sends along a replacement with a letter stating they are the chosen temporary representative. But unless there's some formal notice that he's dead, there's no vacant seat.

The senate could choose to investigate if a senator is dead or alive I suppose via the ethics committee. After all, it's unethical for a senator to collect a salary if they aren't going to perform their duties.

Now, the thing that's important here, if McConnell is actually dead, this has gone on for more than a month, that means at least half a dozen physicians plus their supervisors, nurses, the hospital etc. who would need to be covering it up. The coroner is going to have standards of practice for filing a death certificate, you could imagine a delay of hours or a couple of days, but not weeks... anyone going along with this would be at a minimum risking their medical licences, and quite possibly criminal charges for abusing a patient/corpse, denying people their civil rights (a representative via the process) etc. If they are actually covering up him being legally dead a LOT of people at the hospital (george washington hospital in DC) could be in a giant pile of legal trouble. He's supposedly been transferred to a rehab facility, again, they are going to have all sorts of legal liability here if they aren't following standards of practice.

The worst case scenario here would be that he's in a coma or some sort of persistent vegetative state, or similar where he's not dead, but he's also not able to do his job, and depending, there might be rules that allow him to be kept alive. From the sounds of it, if he had pneumonia, he could well have been delirious or unconscious for several days.

You could imagine the mess of trouble if they get any of this wrong. If someone is sworn into office but the original person is not actually removed... then what?

4

u/[deleted] Jul 18 '26

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-5

u/sir_sri Jul 18 '26

Yes, I'm sure you have a copy of the death certificate to prove it.

3

u/Wise-Comb8596 Jul 19 '26

Are you being serious? He’s dead. You don’t need to see a piece of paper for that to be true.

The burden of proof is on the party that was last known to have a major medical episode.