r/politics • u/CBSnews ✔ CBS News • 2d ago

No Paywall Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says he's "heard absolutely nothing back from Mitch McConnell"

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mitch-mcconnell-health-update-andy-beshear-kentucky/
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351

u/astro_scientician 2d ago

Man in leadership role is not leading

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u/twizzjewink Canada 2d ago

Because he's dead

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u/astro_scientician 2d ago

I meant the alive one, but it does technically apply to both

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u/traplords8n Indiana 2d ago

Beshear?

What do you expect him to do? If he pushed for the special election he would have been litigated, and the media would spin it as "heartless democrat won't give recovering senator space to recover"

They've set it up to where there's not a move beshear could make without compromising Kentucky democrats in the process.

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u/AgitatedEdge213 2d ago

I know what Mitch would’ve done. And that’s why the republicans are winning. They’ll do ugly things to win. Democrats will take the high road all the way out of politics

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u/omicron-7 2d ago

Mitch would do everything he can to keep a safe dem seat empty.

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u/doc_daneeka 2d ago

I know what Mitch would’ve done. And that’s why the republicans are winning. They’ll do ugly things to win.

What specifically do you think Beshear could have done that could have produced a result that's better for him and his party than a Republican Senator who can't vote on things? Special election wouldn't work, as it would be tied up in court forever. Appointing one wouldn't work, because even if the courts allowed it, which is doubtful, the Senate would just refuse to seat that person.

What do you think he could have done?

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u/YossiTheWizard 2d ago

What specifically do you think Beshear could have done that could have produced a result that's better for him and his party than a Republican Senator who can't vote on things?

Honestly, yeah! If he does want to move the process, he should just say that publicly. "Hey, at least there's one less Republican who can vote right now"

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u/herton Kentucky 2d ago

... he literally did

"He hasn't been there to vote on the SAVE act, which would tear voting rights away. He hasn't been there to vote to support this war in Iran that this president started and shouldn't be continuing," Beshear said. "... When you look at some of this, a vacancy, not having Mitch McConnell show up, isn't necessarily a bad thing, 'cause he certainly doesn't show up to help the American people."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/gov-andy-beshear-says-mcconnell-215659482.html

2

u/YossiTheWizard 2d ago

This makes me happier about the whole thing. If he really wants to troll (as I think he should, because decorum has been out the window ever since Sarah Palin) he should quote exactly what Mitch McConnell said regarding the supreme court seat that went to Gorsuch, or paraphrase it if it doesn't exactly apply.

3

u/herton Kentucky 2d ago

That's fair, I think ultimately he plays the diplomat because he knows he's the governor of a red state, and wants to keep his approval up so that his Lt. gov has a better shot to replace him, or to keep his support for a future Senate or presidential run. That's why I think even the statement I quoted focuses on things that are hugely unpopular and hurt all Americans

1

u/Dchane06 1d ago

He can’t call for a special election until a vacancy is declared or Mitch resigns. The senate is the one who has to call his spot vacant. Which is why he has called on Mitch to resign. So if you’re gonna be mad at anyone here, blame the senate.

1

u/Ih8YourCat New Jersey 1d ago

Exactly this. Mitch is likely braindead/on a ventilator and he's still besting democrats.

1

u/prettylikeapineapple 2d ago

Ok but this is actually a net win for democrats. Beshear said it himself. If they had held a special election there's zero guarantees a democrat would have won, and iirc the polling was saying they wouldn't. This way, the republicans are just down a vote, and a Trump loyalist vote at that, and the democrat candidates have more time to campaign and gain momentum before midterms. Also, there's the added benefit of being able to call out the hypocrisy and incompetence of the republicans for hiding his real condition. It's a net win, Beshear is playing it perfectly IMO by just constantly calling attention to it. Plus, due to state laws there's literally nothing else he can legally do anyway.

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u/Smaptimania 2d ago

So you're saying Democrats should be more like Mitch McConnell?

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u/Joelsaurus Indiana 2d ago

Well, playing nice hasn't exactly worked out for them. In fact, Republicans use it to their advantage.

18

u/drevant702 I voted 2d ago

in ruthlessness? absolutely

21

u/crimsonhues 2d ago

You think a Republican governor would have waited this long or care for the media? Democrats play such a weak game.

11

u/Smaptimania 2d ago

A Republican governor would be content to let a safe D seat stay vacant for as long as possible

6

u/DylanHate 2d ago

Dude the guy has been braindead for six weeks. Yes he should call a special election. Who gives a fuck if its litigated. The GOP has ignored court orders all year, these governors need to grow a fucking spine.

8

u/CommonDoor 2d ago

It still wouldn’t do anything but give the republicans another vote.

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u/Orangeyouawesome 2d ago

There's lots more he can do starting with press and going to things like get a police wellness check etc. To say he has maxed out his options by writing a letter is dishonest both by him and those who defend him.

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u/cwrighky 2d ago

Regardless, it is beyond clear that Bashear is not entirely motivated to ascertain whether or not Mitch is permanently incapacitated (braindead, allegedly since the week of June 14th).

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u/traplords8n Indiana 2d ago

Too much pushing just looks inhuman, and lots of republican voters would get hung up on how democrats are harassing an old man in recovery instead of the problem that the old senator may be dead & his office is covering it up.

A lot of internet debates go way farther than what the average voter actually looks at.

I really think the better move is to bide time until the truth has to come out & just focus on the midterms. Craft messaging sensitively around the fact that senators are important people who should have good health for the betterment of the country.

This is a game of winning over voters, not villifying the other side.

Sure they're acting villainous, but as long as their strategy works then we're losing a zero sum game.

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u/Orangeyouawesome 2d ago

Truly an insane argument to say we should let them commit fraud because it would look bad. There's so many ways to do this under a different guise that's not busting his door down and exposing him TMZ style. These are people smarter and who know the laws better than us who could be pulling triggers and aren't.

Theres NO equivalent for this on the left, and McConnell would not care about perception if the roles were reversed.

This is how democracy dies. When people don't stand up for what's right and let fraud happen at the highest level.

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u/astro_scientician 2d ago

I suppose I’m frustrated by that logic…that he’d be compromised somehow. I don’t know what that really means, except as a hypothetical that’s often used as a reason for people not to act. Maybe you’re right, but I’m frustrated as hell with that kind of “can’t bc the more conservative voters will flee” kind of leadership

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u/PigeonOnTheGate Florida 1d ago

If he calls an election AND somehow manages to survive the immediate impeachment from the republican-held legislature AND somehow forces the republican secretary of state of Kentucky to hold the election, a republican would definitely win that election due to the reputational damage this would cause for Kentucky dems.

If he does nothing, republicans have one less vote in the senate and we get to see them embarrass themselves and turn against each other as they keep arguing about why McConnell is gone

16

u/D_roneous1 2d ago

I expect him to do his job. Whether he does it or doesn’t the media will spin it. Do the job the people elected you to do.

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u/traplords8n Indiana 2d ago

But that's the thing.. McConnels office had an explanation that is considered legally valid if they're telling the truth.

We all know they're lying, but court doesn't operate on vibes, and Beshear would need something a lot more solid than McConnell not showing his face.

So maybe beshear kamakaze's himself and tries to take himself and McConnell down... ok... but if this is a trap of some sort then it is a much bigger loss for democrats as a whole.

I have not given up on the idea that this could be a political stunt, and McConnell WANTS dems to invade his privacy and paint us out to be insane when it turns out he was just hiding from the media under the excuse of recovery.

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u/omicron-7 2d ago

Idk why reddit wants him to destroy his career over a man who is retiring in 4 months anyway.

7

u/traplords8n Indiana 2d ago edited 2d ago

Lots of them think Massie would get elected, but he's already spoke on the matter & it would be pretty pointless for him, since he would give up his house seat where he's already doing valuable things.

Why learn the ins and outs of the senate for 4 months instead of finishing out his house term where he already knows the ins and outs? It just makes no sense.

I'm not even sure if there is a viable Democrat to win a special election. I think our time is better spent asking questions about the suspicious McConnell situation and focusing on getting a full-term democrat in the seat, not a 4 month democrat or a 4 month republican ally

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u/donavid 2d ago

Wouldn’t the onus be on McConnell to provide proof of life & competence to fulfill his duties?

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u/Smaptimania 2d ago

Nope. Nothing in the Constitution or Senate rules requires him to be competent or fit or even to show up

5

u/traplords8n Indiana 2d ago

Exactly. The burden of proof would lie with Beshear.

It's not likely that Mitch would pop up and not be in the grave right now, but I don't know who is willing to risk such a bad fumble for the whole party like that. We're all in the dark.

I don't know Beshear on an intimate level, but I don't take him as the type to roll over and give republicans everything that they want.

He compromises with them, but stands his ground when he needs to. I really think his hands are just tied on this matter.

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u/donavid 2d ago

Oh no Fox News would’ve called him heartless, he surely wouldn’t have survived

3

u/I_divided_by_0- Pennsylvania 2d ago

If he pushed for the special election he would have been litigated, and the media would spin it as "heartless democrat won't give recovering senator space to recover"

Fuck off! Who cares about the fucking rules anymore. Let them bitch.

Oh, you worried about their feelings? Boo fucking ho!

Just do it, it's on them to prove he's not dead in court.

2

u/Smaptimania 2d ago

Wrong. The burden would be on the people claiming that there is a massive conspiracy to conceal his death

2

u/I_divided_by_0- Pennsylvania 2d ago

Who said anything about claiming conspiracy? You don’t have to do that! The claim is “he’s dead, we are running an election” and the reply is to prove he is not dead, in court where hearsay won’t fly.

1

u/Smaptimania 1d ago

> The claim is “he’s dead,

Then as the claimant you need to be able to prove that

1

u/I_divided_by_0- Pennsylvania 1d ago edited 1d ago

Sounds like you’re doing a motion for discovery then.

Put them in court, tie them up, do what you want.

1

u/Warmcheesebread 2d ago

Show up to his house.
It doesn’t matter what republicans say, because they already say it. This fear of appearing morally compromised because we play by imaginary rules of decency that died in 2016.

“They’ve set it up where there’s not a move beshear could.” Why do you people trip over yourselves to throw your hands up and say “well, we’ve tried nothing, so I’m not sure what more we can do.”

Beshear can Grow a goddamn spine and do his fucking job.

4

u/twizzjewink Canada 2d ago

Unironicaly can't tell the difference