Sen. Mitch McConnell has had phone conversations with several Republican leaders as he remains hospitalized, spokespeople for the lawmakers told ABC News on Tuesday.

I’m sure that McConnell was a great listener that day.

  • bigbangdangler@reddthat.com
    26·
    3 days ago

    The “Joe Biden is an empty suit” people sure don’t seem to mind empty suits when they’re members of the GOP. Curious.

    • amniotic druid@lemmy.worldEnglish
      192·
      3 days ago

      The special election isnt what worries them, it’s the opposite. Unless McConnell “stays alive” until the first week of August, the Kentucky Governor (D) can appoint a replacement. If he dies “after” that date, a special election can be triggered, which the Republicans are a lot more confident they can rig.

      • dhork@lemmy.worldEnglish
        17·
        3 days ago

        Actually, Kentucky is a special case, as the heavily Republican legislature passed a law (over the Democratic Governor’s veto) specifically removing the right of the Governor to pick a replacement. Now, in the case of any vacancy, the Governor’s only role is to schedule the special election.

        But, if it’s too close to the General Election, then the governor is obligated to fold the special election in with the General. The current theory on the Internet is that Republicans are stringing this out so that happens, because they are afraid if there is a special election then Thomas Massie would win it.

        After some thought, that seems unlikely to me. Even if a special election is held, it would only be for the remainder of McConnell’s term, which is up at the end of the year. So, that would mean that Republicans are more comfortable leaving the seat vacant (and reducing their majority) for a few more months rather than risk Massie getting the job for a few months. (And although Massie is an anti-Trumper, he is still a Republican, and will likely be a reliable vote on all sorts of evil shit for them)

        • amniotic druid@lemmy.worldEnglish
          13·
          3 days ago

          It’s even more complicated than that. You’re right that the legislature passed that law but the original one (that the governor named a replacement) is still in the state constitution. They’re two literally irreconcilable laws and either scenario would have to be litigated

          • someguy3@lemmy.world
            3·
            3 days ago

            I think it’s law first until it’s challenged. So they’ll do the state election and then the challenge can play out, likely for next time because removing an elected official is a minefield.

      • Jax@sh.itjust.works
        31·
        3 days ago

        I sincerely doubt that anyone lying for the conservative party has the wherewithal to create a convincing AI video of Mitch McConnell.

        Thinking about; no it shouldn’t be that difficult to create an AI video of a man with 1000’s of hours in footage of him publically available. I still don’t think this admin could pull it off.

          • Jax@sh.itjust.works
            2·
            2 days ago

            Sorry, it wasn’t my intent to do either — I am anticipating their usage of AI for something; I just don’t see it being something like this. These circumstances are much more easily obfuscated through things like HIPAA/ privacy demands/ his wife leaving for China while having power of attorney (if there isn’t a foreign espionage case there I don’t know what to say). Why risk a spurring on a legitimate conversation by falsifying easily disproved evidence? Why not wait and try to do that as like some last ditch effort to wring a couple more days out?

            I would be more suspicious of pictures or edited videos on other topics. Like, unironically some Stalin-esque ‘delete people from pictures’ stuff. Not necessarily on the same level as Stalin, I don’t think it’s possible to totally delete people from the current information ecosystem. I do think it’s absolutely possible to take real govt footage, like the footage from aircraft thermal optics, edit that a little bit; boom, aliens. Or say, real pictures of Epstein and the other pedophile elite; seems like a good way to legitimize Trump while demonizing his enemies.

            • Ulvain@sh.itjust.works
              2·
              22 hours ago

              Fair (and well articulated) point…

              Curious to hear your opinion, what do you think their end game is with pretending that McConnell isn’t dead?

              • Jax@sh.itjust.works
                2·
                20 hours ago

                Thank you, I think the Trump admin is terrified of all the investigations that will be thrown at them should the majority in the House and Senate be taken by Dems. I think McConnell being dead means Massie has a chance back in through that seat as an independent, he will at the very least pull votes from the conservative candidate.

                I’m not optimistic that these investigations will lead to anything. I am optimistic that it will mean the Trump admin can’t continue to fuck us however they want, beyond a literal coup.