Though I will say, I take no shame in enjoying the Monty Python parrot sketch jokes about him. And someone suggesting he was in a state of rigor tortoise just about killed me when I read it.
Thank you so much for this Noah, trying to explain the reality of the situation to people is exhausting me. And I also don't understand why they aren't happier with the reality of the situation. It truly is a good thing for the Republicans to be down a vote in the Senate for the foreseeable future.
I am so sick of people who demand that Beshear should march down to the hospital to find out if McConnell is alive. Also that he should just appoint a replacement, which is against Kentucky law.
It'd be hard for Beshear to march to DC, right?! The people saying he should do to McConnell what McConnell did to RBG are the ones I find especially confusing. How on earth is a governor supposed to have the ability to do something to a senator (elected position) that would be the equivalent of what the entire Senate and a president did to fill the SCOTUS vacancy (very much NOT an elected position)?! Believe me when I say that I understand the impulse and I understand the desire for equivalent revenge SPECIFICALLY on McConnell! Unfortunately the situations just aren't equivalent in that way. No one is more frustrated than myself with McConnell likely slipping from this mortal coil without suffering for the things he's done. They might be AS frustrated, but they are NOT more frustrated, unless they are Merrick Garland perhaps .
I love a good Schrodinger's Senator conspiracy theory as much as the next person, but you've addressed the sticking points I have with it, especially the whole idea that Beshear must 'do something.' Somehow I think the optics of Beshear storming the doors of a rehab facility would not work in our favor. I think what's really bubbling under the surface for many of us is just a general frustration with the idea that senators can get away with things the average employee can't. Like not showing up to work for over a month without showing proof of ability to return AND collecting a paycheck while doing it, when many employees can barely get time off for a doctor's visit.
I don't know what condition he's in. I think you're probably right that he's just a stubborn asshole who is holding on to the remainder of his term and power because once he is out he is just an elderly man in failing health of no particular use to anyone. I beg people to stop wanting doctors, nurses or other hospital workers to violate HIPAA over this. He's not worth destroying a career over. (Although my husband says if they really want to know, ask a housekeeper. Hospital housekeeping staff know EVERYTHING.)
Thank you so much for this! I've had so many people tell me that McConnell is deliberately sitting in his hospital bed waiting for this mysterious August 3rd deadline to pass so that he can prevent Massie from becoming Senator for a few weeks, and I just could not figure out how that was supposed to work, or, as you say, why Dems were supposed to be pushing for a Massie Senatorship instead of just letting Mitch's vote stand empty. I thought there was some grand nine-level chess being played that I just wasn't getting. (I have the same thought about why no one except Count Binface is opposing Nigel Farage - why *not* run against him? Why is putting up a candidate "playing into his stunt"?)
Excellent points all, but (and bear with me here), what about this argument? Mitch claims to be a Christian. Christians profess that every living person possesses a soul. Mitch bartered away his soul decades ago. Ergo, Mitch—being a soulless ghoul—cannot be a living person, and his seat has de facto been empty all this time. Of course, that’s true of every MAGA senator, so—in fact—there are no living Republicans in the Senate. The Democrats are just too lazy and feckless to declare their insurmountable majority and power. (Damn them!) It all makes perfect sense if you don’t think about it too hard. Right? Right?
OK, but all that said, if Beshear took a camera crew to the supposed bedside of McConnell to show he is, in fact, not fit to serve, wouldn't that at least expose the GOP's antics? If, indeed, Beshear is legally neutered to make an appointment, then why is the GOP stalling on the next appointment if they know it will go to a Republican? It doesn't make sense that if the seat is safe, why are they stalling?
Why would a guy whose life's mission was to keep power in the hands of the GOP by any means necessary want to screw the GOP? Who is he saying FU to? To Trump? His past actions made Trump's ascendance to authoritarianism a slam dunk. What am I missing, here?
his life's mission is to hold onto power. he's a stubborn power hungry asshole, and right now his power hungriness is in conflict with his effort to help the gop.
Why did Ginsburg stay in office when it was obvious that that was going to destroy everything she had fought for her entire life? powerful people are often egotistical and selfish.
McConnell was never a fiendish mastermind. he was stubborn and power hungry. that generally benefited the gop. in this case it isn't.
if chuck schumer was sick and not voting, who would that hurt? Ds or Rs? If Rs insisted that Schumer was part of an evil conspiracy to hurt Rs by not filling his seat, would you think that was reasonable? Or would you say, "that's preposterous; he's hurting our party, not yours!"?
But at the end of the day, he is collecting a Senate paycheck, funded by taxpayers. At some point, it is reasonable to demand he prove he's capable of returning, and if he can't then you thank him for his service and move on. The people of KY didn't elect his staffers to run his seat anymore than Californians elected Diane Feinstein's staff when she was ailing. I bristle at the notion that the rules are mere suggestions. But if in fact the GOP will play that game, then the Democrats need to, too.
Frankly, I’m tired of the Democrats only doing what is “allowed”. Do you think the GOP cares one iota what is allowed? They have been breaking laws left and right. And when they’re caught, or if a judge demands they stop, they change the laws to benefit them instead. We need a new mindset. A system based on norms and civility and honor doesn’t work when the opposition is uncivil and dishonorable. If you’re getting beaten up by a bully, you don’t hold up a written cease and desist order, you punch the bully in the nose and work out the legalities later.
---> if Mitch McConnell insists on tripping over his withered dick, for god’s sake, let him.
^^^ Hard to argue with this.
I didn't need the mental image, but yeah.
Though I will say, I take no shame in enjoying the Monty Python parrot sketch jokes about him. And someone suggesting he was in a state of rigor tortoise just about killed me when I read it.
Thank you so much for this Noah, trying to explain the reality of the situation to people is exhausting me. And I also don't understand why they aren't happier with the reality of the situation. It truly is a good thing for the Republicans to be down a vote in the Senate for the foreseeable future.
I am so sick of people who demand that Beshear should march down to the hospital to find out if McConnell is alive. Also that he should just appoint a replacement, which is against Kentucky law.
It'd be hard for Beshear to march to DC, right?! The people saying he should do to McConnell what McConnell did to RBG are the ones I find especially confusing. How on earth is a governor supposed to have the ability to do something to a senator (elected position) that would be the equivalent of what the entire Senate and a president did to fill the SCOTUS vacancy (very much NOT an elected position)?! Believe me when I say that I understand the impulse and I understand the desire for equivalent revenge SPECIFICALLY on McConnell! Unfortunately the situations just aren't equivalent in that way. No one is more frustrated than myself with McConnell likely slipping from this mortal coil without suffering for the things he's done. They might be AS frustrated, but they are NOT more frustrated, unless they are Merrick Garland perhaps .
I love a good Schrodinger's Senator conspiracy theory as much as the next person, but you've addressed the sticking points I have with it, especially the whole idea that Beshear must 'do something.' Somehow I think the optics of Beshear storming the doors of a rehab facility would not work in our favor. I think what's really bubbling under the surface for many of us is just a general frustration with the idea that senators can get away with things the average employee can't. Like not showing up to work for over a month without showing proof of ability to return AND collecting a paycheck while doing it, when many employees can barely get time off for a doctor's visit.
I don't know what condition he's in. I think you're probably right that he's just a stubborn asshole who is holding on to the remainder of his term and power because once he is out he is just an elderly man in failing health of no particular use to anyone. I beg people to stop wanting doctors, nurses or other hospital workers to violate HIPAA over this. He's not worth destroying a career over. (Although my husband says if they really want to know, ask a housekeeper. Hospital housekeeping staff know EVERYTHING.)
Thanks for this very clear explanation of the impact of McConnell's absence. It's really helpful.
Of course, I also appreciate your usual clear, no BS, descriptions of people and options!
Thank you so much for this! I've had so many people tell me that McConnell is deliberately sitting in his hospital bed waiting for this mysterious August 3rd deadline to pass so that he can prevent Massie from becoming Senator for a few weeks, and I just could not figure out how that was supposed to work, or, as you say, why Dems were supposed to be pushing for a Massie Senatorship instead of just letting Mitch's vote stand empty. I thought there was some grand nine-level chess being played that I just wasn't getting. (I have the same thought about why no one except Count Binface is opposing Nigel Farage - why *not* run against him? Why is putting up a candidate "playing into his stunt"?)
Excellent points all, but (and bear with me here), what about this argument? Mitch claims to be a Christian. Christians profess that every living person possesses a soul. Mitch bartered away his soul decades ago. Ergo, Mitch—being a soulless ghoul—cannot be a living person, and his seat has de facto been empty all this time. Of course, that’s true of every MAGA senator, so—in fact—there are no living Republicans in the Senate. The Democrats are just too lazy and feckless to declare their insurmountable majority and power. (Damn them!) It all makes perfect sense if you don’t think about it too hard. Right? Right?
All true, but the memes are hilarious.
The “proof of life” photos have produced some hilarious memes 😂
OK, but all that said, if Beshear took a camera crew to the supposed bedside of McConnell to show he is, in fact, not fit to serve, wouldn't that at least expose the GOP's antics? If, indeed, Beshear is legally neutered to make an appointment, then why is the GOP stalling on the next appointment if they know it will go to a Republican? It doesn't make sense that if the seat is safe, why are they stalling?
It’s not the gop doing anything. It’s Mitch screwing over the gop.
Mitch is alive and incapacitated. There’s nothing to expose.
Why would a guy whose life's mission was to keep power in the hands of the GOP by any means necessary want to screw the GOP? Who is he saying FU to? To Trump? His past actions made Trump's ascendance to authoritarianism a slam dunk. What am I missing, here?
his life's mission is to hold onto power. he's a stubborn power hungry asshole, and right now his power hungriness is in conflict with his effort to help the gop.
Why did Ginsburg stay in office when it was obvious that that was going to destroy everything she had fought for her entire life? powerful people are often egotistical and selfish.
McConnell was never a fiendish mastermind. he was stubborn and power hungry. that generally benefited the gop. in this case it isn't.
I accept your opinion. But I'm not buying it.
if chuck schumer was sick and not voting, who would that hurt? Ds or Rs? If Rs insisted that Schumer was part of an evil conspiracy to hurt Rs by not filling his seat, would you think that was reasonable? Or would you say, "that's preposterous; he's hurting our party, not yours!"?
But at the end of the day, he is collecting a Senate paycheck, funded by taxpayers. At some point, it is reasonable to demand he prove he's capable of returning, and if he can't then you thank him for his service and move on. The people of KY didn't elect his staffers to run his seat anymore than Californians elected Diane Feinstein's staff when she was ailing. I bristle at the notion that the rules are mere suggestions. But if in fact the GOP will play that game, then the Democrats need to, too.
There is no hospital that would allow a camera crew to enter and film a patient. This is a ridiculous fantasy.
Frankly, I’m tired of the Democrats only doing what is “allowed”. Do you think the GOP cares one iota what is allowed? They have been breaking laws left and right. And when they’re caught, or if a judge demands they stop, they change the laws to benefit them instead. We need a new mindset. A system based on norms and civility and honor doesn’t work when the opposition is uncivil and dishonorable. If you’re getting beaten up by a bully, you don’t hold up a written cease and desist order, you punch the bully in the nose and work out the legalities later.
Just let him die in peace. They can settle everything out when he's gone.