Is Mitch a vegetable?

[TJ8869]

I believe they changed it to him having to pick a Republican, but, that gives him the chance to nominate someone who will be a disruptor, or won't rubber stamp appointments.

They first changed it so that the governor had to choose from a list of 3 candidates submitted by the same party as the senator being replaced. Then they changed the law again to remove the governor from the equation entirely and require a special election.

Beshear claims the Kentucky constitution gives him the authority to appoint a temporary replacement. I’m pretty sure he’s referring to this section:

Section 152 Vacancies -- When filled by appointment, when by election-- Who to fill.

Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, vacancies in all elective offices shall be filled by election or appointment, as follows: If the unexpired term will end at the next succeeding annual election at which either city, town, county, district or State officers are to be elected, the office shall be filled by appointment for the remainder of the term. If the unexpired term will not end at the next succeeding annual election at which either city, town, county, district or State officers are to be elected, and if three months intervene before said succeeding annual election at which either city, town, county, district or State officers are to be elected, the office shall be filled by appointment until said election, and then said vacancy shall be filled by election for the remainder of the term. If three months do not intervene between the happening of said vacancy and the next succeeding election at which city, town, county, district or State officers are to be elected, the office shall be filled by appointment until the second succeeding annual election at which city, town, county, district or State officers are to be elected; and then, if any part of the term remains unexpired, the office shall be filled by election until the regular time for the election of officers to fill said offices. Vacancies in all offices for the State at large, or for districts larger than a county, shall be filled by appointment of the
Governor; all other appointments shall be made as may be prescribed by law. No person shall ever be appointed a member of the General Assembly, but vacancies therein may be filled at a special election, in such manner as may be provided by law.

Text as Ratified on: August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.

History: Not yet amended.

 

[Huey Grey 2]

Andy should appoint who he wants. Declare a state emergency. Say the Republicans rigged the system. Say the Republicans lied about Mitch. And appoint who he wants.

This is what the Republicans would have done if they were in charge.

 

[LafayetteBear]

What was Ronnie Reagan's slogan? "Trust but verify?" I'm not even willing to trust at this point. We need to verify, and to do it promptly. Letting them pull this stunt for a full calendar month and then tell us, "Well, yeah, he was fine, but then he suddenly died on August 4" would be a dereliction of duty and stupidity of the highest order. C'mon, Beshear.

 

[noleclone2]

 

[MuscoHawk]

Beshear has been handed a golden opportunity here. If he handles this correctly it could rocket him up the democratic presidential field. He has been given a chance to show he is a candidate with a set of balls and a backbone—exactly what this party needs.

But he’s blowing it! He’s doing a perfect Merrick Garland impression by DOING NOTHING. Demand proof of life or threaten to appoint a democrat. Go to the damned hospital and demand to see Mitch. F*cking do something. Anything.

 

[Huey Grey 2]

Another morning, no Mitch. Senate is in session and no Mitch. Andy had better do something. This is ridiculous.

 

[noleclone2]

Another morning, no Mitch. Senate is in session and no Mitch. Andy had better do something. This is ridiculous.

It’s put up or shut up time. I think he will. 2026 is the dawning of a younger Democratic Party that fights back.

 

[MuscoHawk]

Hey, Andy.

 

[MuscoHawk]

 

[UrHuckleberry]

While I think the people of Kentucky have a right to know more about their representation, I am not sure how much it really matters for Dems. As long as they hold on to him, that's a vote not cast for the GOP. If they do a special election etc, the replacement most certainly votes with the GOP. The delay likely benefits them.

 

[MuscoHawk]

 

[TJ8869]

I’m not sure that HIPAA guidelines enable Beshear to make those sorts of demands. A demonstrative fact-finding trip to the hospital could easily turn into an embarrassing faceplant.

 

[MuscoHawk]

I’m not sure that HIPAA guidelines enable Beshear to make those sorts of demands. A demonstrative fact-finding trip to the hospital could easily turn into an embarrassing faceplant.

He doesn’t have to go to the hospital.

All he has to do is say — “Mitch, give us a video, or a phone call, or hold a presser by this date, or I’m moving forward with a replacement / special election.”

It’s what the republicans would do. Hell, it’s what Mitch would do.

 

[Huey Grey 2]

I’m not sure that HIPAA guidelines enable Beshear to make those sorts of demands. A demonstrative fact-finding trip to the hospital could easily turn into an embarrassing faceplant.

Mitch's security is apparently guarding his room rn. That seems like a good signal he's still alive, but a really bad signal that he is able to return to work anytime soon.

 

[TJ8869]

He doesn’t have to go to the hospital.

All he has to do is say — “Mitch, give us a video, or a phone call, or hold a presser by this date, or I’m moving forward with a replacement / special election.”

It’s what the republicans would do. Hell, it’s what Mitch would do.

It’s what Mitch would do…if it was politically expedient.

I don’t recall Mitch demanding proof of life videos or daily wellness updates when he was the Senate minority leader and 90-year-old Dianne Feinstein was convalescing in her California home for multiple months. Probably because Republicans such as Mitch liked that her absence brought Biden’s judicial nominees to a halt.

In fact, the only people who seemed particulary vocal about removing Feinstein were the progressives who were eager to see Governor Newsom follow through on his promise to replace Feinstein with a woman of color. The moderates in the party who held most of the power seemed determined to drag her to the finish line because they were concerned that a temporary replacement might hurt Adam Schiff’s prospects in the impending election.

Mitch being sidelined leaves the Republicans down a man. And there is no guarantee that a special election would go to the Democrats. So that possibly explains why guys like Beshear aren’t making more noise about Mitch’s absence.

 

[TJ8869]

Mitch's security is apparently guarding his room rn. That seems like a good signal he's still alive,

It doesn’t really tell me much. If Mitch really is dead or on life support and Republicans want to keep up the facade that he’s alive and well, then paying Dalton and Garrett to stand outside a hospital room is a relatively inexpensive necessity.

but a really bad signal that he is able to return to work anytime soon.

But it doesn’t give Beshear the authority to replace him. That can only happen if Mitch is dead or he resigns or the Senate removes him. Being unable to return to Capitol Hill has never been a valid reason for forcibly replacing a sitting senator.

 

[Huey Grey 2]

It doesn’t really tell me much. If Mitch really is dead or on life support and Republicans want to keep up the facade that he’s alive and well, then paying Dalton and Garrett to stand outside a hospital room is a relatively inexpensive necessity.

But it doesn’t give Beshear the authority to replace him. That can only happen if Mitch is dead or he resigns or the Senate removes him. Being unable to return to Capitol Hill has never been a valid reason for forcibly replacing a sitting senator.

He has refused to go to work for well over a month now. There has got to be some mechanism to deal with someone like that.

 

[TJ8869]

He has refused to go to work for well over a month now. There has got to be some mechanism to deal with someone like that.

There is a long history of senators who “refused” to go to work for an extended period of time for medical reasons but were not forcibly removed for it. Why do you all of a sudden want to change the protocols for Mitch?