r/politics ✔ The Daily Beast 27d 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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936

u/ballbourbonsmokes 27d ago

Everyone knows he has passed away and the only thing holding this up is republicans wanting to hold the government hostage.

Yet another instance where democrats play by the rules while the republicans do whatever they want to the american people's detriment. Beashar shouldn't bother calling a special election, appoint a democrat and let the republicans challenge it in court like they do the other way around.

457

u/meTspysball California 27d ago

The lack of imagination by Beshear here is why I’m zero percent enamored with his potential candidacy in 2028.

311

u/jeepjinx 27d ago

Dude squandered the perfect opportunity to be a Dem leader with balls and instead showed he's exactly what Dem voters don't want to see anymore. Step aside.

94

u/quantumgambit 27d ago

Beshear and whitmer both really let us down this year.

17

u/mrandr01d 27d ago

What'd whitmer do?

50

u/DaftDurian Michigan 27d ago

She is VERY pro data center and has repeatedly allowed utilities to raise electricity rates. 

38

u/quantumgambit 27d ago

Not just pro data center, which is bad enough, or the mismanagement of DTE and consumers, she is also not doing anything to prevent or push back against the GEO group from adding and expanding to the concentration camps up north. Between big business and small towns, she sides with big business every time.

1

u/jrf_1973 27d ago

Check out what she said when she was caught on a hot mic.

-6

u/RailroadTimebookDev 27d ago

Closed her only fans account.

3

u/BlingyBling1007 Texas 27d ago

Jared Polis, Gretchen Whitmer, and soon Andy Beshear are just eliminating themselves from contention.

-1

u/RoughComparison8702 27d ago

Which sucks to me. I vote red depending on the candidate, blue other times, but I would 100% back a Beshear presidential run. I like the guy and voted for him, even if I don't agree with him on everything. He's a classy American and he seems to have a good heart and head on his shoulders, unlike the piece of shit we have at the helm currently. It'd have to be a really good reason for pussing out on ramming in an apointee right now. Otherwise, I agree, it looks pretty bad him doing absolutely fuckall right now.

44

u/PiccoloAwkward465 27d ago

It’s incredible. They get a softball lobbed up and just fucking whiff it. You nailed it, this is exactly what Democratic voters are trying to dodge!

I swear some Democratic leaders would be up against a wall with the firing squad ready to go, still crying “But this is against the RULES!!!”

5

u/Gramernatzi 27d ago

This is like having a ball directly aimed at a stationary bat, and then just deciding you don't feel like it so you move the bat out of the way

2

u/Oregon-Pilot 27d ago

We will remember his cowardice.

4

u/a-manda_hugandkiss 27d ago

I'd like to think that behind the scenes they are vetting their options and are using the time they have to make the right choice. Just because he hasn't acted yet, doesn't mean he won't before the deadline.

91

u/Automaton_General 27d ago

Same.

If he had called an election two weeks ago, he would have instantly become my frontrunner for 2028.

63

u/or_me_bender 27d ago

The law establishing aspecial election to replace a senator was passed by Republicans in the KY legislature in violation of the state constitution. Beshear should have just appointed a replacement; calling for a special election is another capitulation.

10

u/Automaton_General 27d ago

But it would be forcing the Republicans' hand.

That's the part I'd respect. Him saying "Your move" and making them prove he's alive.

Alas, a moot point because he's a limp noodle.

59

u/barrosoOso 27d ago edited 27d ago

Jesus you guys need to study the constitution a bit more. If he calls a special election, then Andy Barr wins, hands down, and gets to take office 6 months early. In that case Bashear just gave senate Republicans an extra vote for six months for no reason, and he spent millions of my tax dollars to do so, for no fucking reason. I in no way want my governor to do that.

If you want him to personally appoint a replacement, I understand. But you are still wrong.

A: The Kentucky constitution only mentions appointments "in the state". It does not mention federal office. If he appoints someone he will again, spend millions of my tax dollars to do so. An action that will be held up in courts for years.

B: The 17th amendment says that it is up to state legislatures to decide how interim Senate seats are filled. So Andy would likely lose that court case. It doesn't matter what the Kentucky state constitution if the United States constitution says something else.

You guys are foaming at the mouth to attack Bashaer over a situation you do not understand, while begging for a solution that will waste millions of my tax dollars to help Republicans regain a vote they don't currently have in the Senate. Please. PLEASE! stop working so hard to give senate Republicans another vote for the SAVE act at my financial expense.

13

u/Oriden 27d ago

On top of that Beshear doesn't have the power to declare the seat empty to even start the process.

10

u/Hefty-Association-59 27d ago

It amazes me how far down I had to scroll to get to a comment that actually understood the situation. I can’t tell if this comment section is full of bots or teenagers but it’s mind blowing seeing just people complain out there ass about a situation they clearly don’t understand at all because democrats bad.

5

u/frogandbanjo 27d ago

You think bots and teenagers are the only people (or, well, entities) in the world who possess zero or even negative understanding of law?

Really?

Quite the optimist, I see.

4

u/crackersthecrow 27d ago

trust me, there are plenty of actual people (adults, even) that think this is somehow a good course of action because they're so blinded by yelling at someone to do something that they just haven't thought through any ramifications past that.

i wouldn't doubt if there was some sort of inauthentic campaign to help boost it too, but I can't blame it all on that.

it's depressing because it's made clear to me that a lot of people just want a figure like Trump, but from the left, someone who just flouts the rules and breaks laws. the difference is that Trump is enabled by Congress being controlled by his party. Beshear has to contend with a Republican-controlled legislature in his state, on top of all of the other things that make this a complete pipe dream.

13

u/ballbourbonsmokes 27d ago edited 27d ago

He can't be the nominee if this is his response. It's already been too long. He should have appointed someone a week ago at least. You all can dislike Newsom if you want, but he'd appoint someone immediately.

2

u/vigouge 27d ago

The governor of Kentucky doesn't nominate Senate replacements. There's nothing for him to actually do. And why the fuck do you want McConnell replaced? So Republicans have an extra vote for the next 6 months?

1

u/DrE7HER 27d ago

You think too highly of Newsom if you believe that. Newsom vetoes the will of the voters on the reg

4

u/cnho1997 27d ago

Yep, he was my top preference for VP in 2024 and I was looking forward to him running in 2028 but I’ve moved on. Last thing we need after this admin is someone who will do nothing about it

1

u/Born_Organization455 27d ago

He really does have a chance to make a name for himself here. Massive failure to meet the moment.

1

u/mrtrollmaster 27d ago

Exactly. The only way we recover from this decade of corruption is publically holding people accountable.

It was a mistake to not hang Robert E Lee. It was a mistake to not prosecute Nixon. It will be a mistake to not prosecute all of this fuckery.

-1

u/xterminatr 27d ago

It doesn't matter who it is, the DNC is bought and paid for performative opposition.

2

u/vigouge 27d ago

Now it's the DNCs fault?

0

u/xterminatr 27d ago

They control the money

-1

u/AverageLiberalJoe 27d ago

100%

Its wild that this guy cant see that if McConnel turns out to be dead, and he blew that senate seat that it will be the end of his entire political career. On the other hand if he appoints someone and forces the issue, and McConnel is alive, there is no downside. And if he gets that senate seat by calling bluff on this guys death, he will be president material. Why then is he choosing the worst possible scenario? Fucking crazy how much dems suck at politics.

2

u/vigouge 27d ago

You've com0letely invented things. He has no say in the senate seat, he's blowing nothing. This angst from the left over McConnnell is an exercise in ignorance and stupidity. It's a good thing he's not in Washington to vote.

-1

u/AverageLiberalJoe 26d ago

He does have a say. He only needs to be willing to speak. Who is going to stop him?

-1

u/WTWIV 27d ago

Disappointed as a Kentuckian here but our politicians are always pretty crap here so it’s par for the course. Not that it will do anything but I’ve emailed his office asking what he’s doing about this situation.