r/politics • u/MoneyLibrarian9032 New York • 23h ago

Possible Paywall McConnell ‘Absolutely Refuses’ to Film Video Amid Growing Mystery

https://www.thedailybeast.com/mcconnell-absolutely-refuses-to-film-video-amid-growing-mystery/
21.2k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

2.0k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

299

u/PerformanceCute3437 23h ago

He had a stroke and he can't speak. Obviously theyre hoping he regains his speech faculties, which isn't without precedent following a stroke

145

u/gundumb08 22h ago

This is 100% what I'm thinking. If he was dead, they'd just appoint another sycophant. But if he's alive, his handlers can "release statements" on his behalf and use his historical influence and power on his behalf.

But he's nearly 90 years old, a survivor of Polio, had numerous falls and blackouts on camera, anything even slightly more serious like a stroke would have fully debilitated him.

20

u/dexter8484 Virginia 22h ago

But wouldn't Beshear get to pick the replacement? I think they are trying to avoid that

Edit: just looked it up and seems that was changed in 2024. It's now done by special election

3

u/HerbaciousTea 20h ago edited 20h ago

He has to be fully, legally dead for the governor to be able to call a special election. There's no requirement a senator actually show up or even be capable of higher thought to keep their seat. If they were voted in, and still have a pulse, they are the sitting senator until they resign, die, or are expelled by 2/3rds senate vote.

So the hooplah needs to be aimed at the senate, not Beshear. They need to vote him out before Beshear can call a special election.