I wonder if he can even make it to the end of his term. He knows the Democratic governor of Kentucky will not appoint a Republican to replace him, so he’s going to fight that.
It’s funny how on certain topics (and to be clear, VERY few), the Dems and reps are the same. The Dems have feinstein who’s in a similar state, and she’s got people keeping her in office because they don’t like who the governor is(n’t) going to pick
Feinstein is an order of magnitude more cognizant than McConnell, and yet a great many Dems want to see her removed also…and you just don’t see that kind of parity with the GOP.
But you’re right, there’s at least calls from the Dems to kick her out, so there is a decent difference between the two parties. I just wish the leadership felt the same way.
Leadership wants her out, and she finally accepted the option of letting another Democratic senator temporarily fill her position on the Judiciary Committee while she was unable to attend for many, many weeks in the most recent episode - but Republicans refused.
At that point, Democratic leadership can decide that they want her out so badly that they’ll simply hand Republicans a win. Or they can try to get her back in her seat with her hand on the button, so that Democrats can get at least a few wins in the Judiciary Committee.
I want Feinstein out, but I still think Democratic leadership made the correct decision.
There’s reports from colleagues that they need to repeatedly reintroduce themselves to her during the same meeting. She was completely unaware of her own months long absence from the capital.
There’s definitely more Democrats calling for her retirement than GOP calling for McConnells (AFAIK there are zero), but saying she’s an “order of magnitude more cognizant” is pretty damn generous
Like they did with Strom Thurmond. Dude had to be wheeled onto the Senate floor and looked half dead by the end.
Part of the reason this happens is committee seniority is determined by length of time in the Senate, so to control committees it’s important to keep Senators in office as long as possible for both parties.
I think some people might read this comment and think you are describing some satirical hyperbolic scenario. But given what we have seen from conservatives over the last few years, It’s not just possible, it’s their normal.
William Rehnquist had a speaker installed in his private bathroom and the last couple of years on the court, he would suddenly disappear from the bench during oral arguments, but never worry, he could still hear them arguing on his special toilet speaker before making decisions that would affect hundreds of millions of people.
Under the amended law, the governor now may only choose from three names recommended by the executive committee of the outgoing senator’s state party, and must make that selection within 21 days of receiving the list from the party.
With both of Kentucky’s senators currently being Republican, the choosing of those three nominees would be up to the executive committee of the Republican Party of Kentucky, which is made up of 54 members.
After a vacancy is filled, there would be a special election with an open and bipartisan process — often referred to as a “jungle primary” — allowing any candidate gaining 1,000 signature to run. A candidate with more than 50% of the vote would win, but if no one wins a majority of the vote, the top two vote getters would go on to a runoff election in 70 days.
The timing of that election would be determined based on when the vacancy occurred.
If the vacancy occurred more than three months before a regularly scheduled election, that’s when it would take place. It the vacancy occurred less than three months before an election and a regular election is scheduled the following year, the latter election date is when the vote for the Senate seat would occur.
I wonder if he can even make it to the end of his term. He knows the Democratic governor of Kentucky will not appoint a Republican to replace him, so he’s going to fight that.
Oh, I’d put money on them keeping him in a vegetative state if he croaks just to keep a Democrat out of power.
It would be the culmination of his life’s work.
At this point, we’re already witnessing the GOP version of “Weekend at Bernie’s”.
It’s funny how on certain topics (and to be clear, VERY few), the Dems and reps are the same. The Dems have feinstein who’s in a similar state, and she’s got people keeping her in office because they don’t like who the governor is(n’t) going to pick
Feinstein is an order of magnitude more cognizant than McConnell, and yet a great many Dems want to see her removed also…and you just don’t see that kind of parity with the GOP.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say the lady who tried to give a speech during a roll call vote, ceded power of attorney to her daughter and has to heavily rely on her staff to function is more mentally cognizant than the turtle by any stretch. He’s struggling, but she’s on another level.
But you’re right, there’s at least calls from the Dems to kick her out, so there is a decent difference between the two parties. I just wish the leadership felt the same way.
Leadership wants her out, and she finally accepted the option of letting another Democratic senator temporarily fill her position on the Judiciary Committee while she was unable to attend for many, many weeks in the most recent episode - but Republicans refused.
At that point, Democratic leadership can decide that they want her out so badly that they’ll simply hand Republicans a win. Or they can try to get her back in her seat with her hand on the button, so that Democrats can get at least a few wins in the Judiciary Committee.
I want Feinstein out, but I still think Democratic leadership made the correct decision.
There’s reports from colleagues that they need to repeatedly reintroduce themselves to her during the same meeting. She was completely unaware of her own months long absence from the capital.
There’s definitely more Democrats calling for her retirement than GOP calling for McConnells (AFAIK there are zero), but saying she’s an “order of magnitude more cognizant” is pretty damn generous
That’s ridiculous, Feinstein is clearly far more gone.
The issue isn’t her replacement, it’s that Dems would lose control of all of the committees she’s on.
I don’t believe for one second that Democrats and Republicans are the same or equally corrupt.
In this case, though, it does seem like they’re both playing the same stupid game due to their own seniority rules.
It’s not about who Gavin Newsom would or would not pick, it’s a matter of the Judicial Committee being brought to it’s knees if she’s out.
They can’t appoint a replacement without cooperation from the Republicans, and the Republicans would rather stall the committee than replace her.
I hate this reboot.
Like they did with Strom Thurmond. Dude had to be wheeled onto the Senate floor and looked half dead by the end.
Part of the reason this happens is committee seniority is determined by length of time in the Senate, so to control committees it’s important to keep Senators in office as long as possible for both parties.
To be fair, they did the same thing with Dianne Feinstein
I think some people might read this comment and think you are describing some satirical hyperbolic scenario. But given what we have seen from conservatives over the last few years, It’s not just possible, it’s their normal.
Oh, to be clear: I’m 1000% serious.
I expect the same for any of their SCROTUS justices who beef it.
William Rehnquist had a speaker installed in his private bathroom and the last couple of years on the court, he would suddenly disappear from the bench during oral arguments, but never worry, he could still hear them arguing on his special toilet speaker before making decisions that would affect hundreds of millions of people.
The GOP dominated KY state legislature has been prepping for this eventuality https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2023/07/28/heres-how-kentuckys-law-works-for-filling-u-s-senate-vacancies/70484359007/
This is insanity.
Arizona, Hawaii, Maryland, North Carolina, Utah, & Wyoming have similar laws according to ballotpedia.
Mind you, not disputing the insanity heh
I’m a huge liberal but doesn’t this make it a little more democratic than the governor picking someone?
Apparently what would happen is a Republican would replace him, as of a law passed in 2021 https://www.npr.org/2023/07/31/1191034037/mcconnell-facing-health-questions-says-he-ll-serve-full-term-keep-leading-senate