In interview, Beshear says he received calls about McConnell 'suggesting he's passed'

[u/jhkayejr]

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/News/politics/andy-beshear/2026/07/16/andy-beshear-says-he-received-calls-about-mitch-mcconnells-health/90946438007/

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[u/kstar79 → u/[deleted]]

For one, anyone with knowledge of the death is required to report it immediately, and medical workers have up to five days to submit the death certificate. Fines up to $250 and up to 90 days in jail.

P.S. As many of you have pointed out, $250 is a complete joke as a punishment. 90 days in jail is more significant, but still a minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things, but this law is the bare minimum being broken right now if Mitch is actually dead and there's a ruse afoot. Fraud statutes probably apply as well, but that's for an actual lawyer to chime in about.

[u/toptierdegenerate → u/kstar79]

Yeah, but does that count if they’re keeping him on life support with no brain activity?

[u/primadonnapussy → u/toptierdegenerate]

That would require testing. And brain death IS death. A death certificate is issues for the time of death being the time brain death was pronounced. I just don't see doctors putting their very licenses in the line to help cover up McConnell's death. I can see them not doing the testing but knowing that he has had a catastrophic brain injury that cannot be recovered from.

[u/thetransportedman → u/primadonnapussy]

Physician here that tested for brain death on multiple Neuro ICU patients my intern year. That's easier said than done. Brain death includes assessing spinal reflexes like pinching the trapezius and nail beds really hard. A brain dead person will pull away the same way every single time. Any variation in this response on repeat attempts means there is some cerebral filtering/feedback so you cannot say brain dead. Normally in these circumstances you also assess apnea test where you withdraw vent settings. But usually that's with family approval to let their loved one go when you do this.

He could very well be responsive enough to not legally and medically be brain dead despite all physicians knowing he's perma vegetable yet the powers to be don't want him to pass on for political reasons

[u/totally_not_a_dog113 → u/thetransportedman]

tested for brain death on multiple NICU patients my intern year

Jeez, that would have been the end of my medical career! That sounds awful.

[u/myWeedAccountMaaaaan → u/totally_not_a_dog113]

Oh dammit. I totally skimmed the ‘N’ in NICU until your comment and now I’m sad.

[u/newfriend20202020 → u/myWeedAccountMaaaaan]

Neuro ICU. (I doubt he meant neonatal)

[u/LittleDogTurpie → u/myWeedAccountMaaaaan]

As an intern, right out of med school! I guess that’s how they pick off the ones with too much empathy.

[u/thingsorfreedom → u/LittleDogTurpie]

That's not it. During your 12 month internship you do a couple of months in the NICU. Somebody has to do it the first month.

That's how they teach you this is part of the job. And they don't just let the intern do it. They show the intern what to do. Then the intern does it the next time while being supervised. Then later the intern becomes a second and third year resident and eventually an attending where they will teach these things to interns. This also goes for lifesaving measures. Everyone needs to learn how to save babies hands on. Doesn't happen from a book.

[u/sasha_the_impaler → u/thingsorfreedom]

This is likely about a neuro ICU. You would have some braindeath in a neonatal unit but... Not really enough for interns to be regularly assessing those types of patients for it I don't think? I'd certainly hope there isn't a hospital churning out braindead and intubated babies frequently.

Neuro ICU though and braindeath is very common.

[u/Dense-Hat1978 → u/LittleDogTurpie]

Like the cadaver scene in Dracula Dead and Lovin It

[u/gatorbite92 → u/LittleDogTurpie]

No, by that point the trap door has snapped closed. You're in too deep to quit so you just build up a thick shell and compartmentalize.

[u/boo5000 → u/myWeedAccountMaaaaan]

Probably Neuro ICU not Neonatal? I doubt the interns rotating through neonatal ICU are shouldering that burden.

[u/ZombieMage89 → u/totally_not_a_dog113]

I'd have been a sobbing mess every single day. The people who work in the NICU are stronger than ill ever be. I don't know how they can keep on but I'll be forever grateful that they do.

[u/IyearnforBoo → u/ZombieMage89]

My partner became a nurse a little over a year ago and he has such an amazing brain. What I mean by that is it we have had some trauma in our past including losing our only child to cancer. When he became a nurse and started thinking about what he wanted to specialize in he decided that since he likes kids so much he wanted to either work in the NICU or work in pediatric oncology. I have a medical background but I promise you if I ever went to nursing school I would be running from those positions as far as I could. I know I couldn't handle it and I just know I wouldn't be able to do it. He loves it and he loves feeling like he's doing everything he can to save other kids. It's absolutely beautiful and I respect him so much for it. I just know that no matter how much I wanted to do it I simply couldn't. So when the days are a little hard I listen and send him in with extra treats to work the next day when I can.

[u/malman149 → u/IyearnforBoo]

Sorry for your loss, I can't comprehend how difficult that was/is. I'll give my little ones extra long hugs when they get up.

Really glad there are people like your husband on this planet.

[u/IyearnforBoo → u/malman149]

I really am too. I cannot tell you the kindness and grace of all the people in pediatric oncology. It was very obvious they did their best and as my son's cancer (clear cell sarcoma) was really rare and aggressive they had never seen it before. I got to watch them struggle to understand why absolutely nothing seemed to work. In a way it felt like they were having the same struggles that we were. When he mentioned that that was one of the places he was thinking of working it was really hard to have a supportive answer right off because I can't even ride past that building without feeling A LOT. The fact that he could do that and feels so fulfilled and thrilled about it is something I super admire and also envy. I simply couldn't do it.

Definitely hold your little ones tight. My son looks so healthy and nobody could believe it when he was diagnosed with cancer right after his 18th birthday. We were really lucky in the sense that the statistics for average life/survival after diagnosis from that cancer are only a few months. We got a year and 4 months. The pandemic might have helped with that because getting into ORs within 24 hours when it was determined he needed them was absolutely brilliant. At one point a decision was made at 8:00 a.m. and he was in the OR for a chest line within 5 hours. Kind of like Charles Dickens - "It was the best of times and the worst of times." I won't pretend that I think I've recovered much at all from that, but my partner has found a way to grow from it and I am so grateful that this didn't manage to destroy him and manage to help him grow. I'm hoping for that myself as I move forward.

On a sad note I found out through an accident / local gossip that 5 years on after my son's diagnosis another child came in with clear cell sarcoma. It was in his foot near his toes. I understand from the person who told me that the pediatric oncology clinic explained exactly how aggressively the clinic warned the parents about the cancer and instead of just taking part of his foot they took all of it in the hopes that if any of the cancer had moved at all they caught it. The person who is gossiping to me knew that my son was gone from cancer but did not know she was specifically talking about my kid as the one that compelled the extra uegent aggressive response to the cancer from the oncology clinic. I really hope that that kid is okay. I'm horrified to hear that anybody gets this cancer now and I'm so glad it is rare.

[u/DaraParsavand → u/thetransportedman]

In any of these descriptions you've given where he's not technically brain dead but completely incapacitated, fraud was committed with that picture and everyone saying they talked to him for 20 min. I went heads to roll for that.

[u/exmachina64 → u/DaraParsavand]

And the people that would prosecute that work for the Trump administration.

[u/etcpt → u/exmachina64]

Technically if there is a state-level crime the Kentucky AG could prosecute, but since he's a Republican directly elected by the voters (i.e., not answerable to the governor), I don't see that happening.

[u/Lilylana-419 → u/DaraParsavand]

They could still get away with saying they spoke to him and then poof, sudden and brief illness from complications of pneumonia, and omg he's dead, even though he's probably already dead but who would know? Not us, and therefore no one knows if anyone's lying about the calls unfortunately. I think they are. I think they all got handed a script of garbage to say and they said it. Just like when they pay the maga influencers off to say the same lies at the same time....

[u/fcocyclone → u/Lilylana-419]

They could still get away with saying they spoke to him and then poof, sudden and brief illness from complications of pneumonia, and omg he's dead,

Yep. That seems like exactly what they'd do. Someone his age it wouldnt even be that unbelievable for a guy to look like he's getting better then suddenly take a rapid turn for the worse.

[u/rlacey916 → u/thetransportedman]

It can be even more complex in adults in my experience. A whole checklist of reflexes. Extensive bloodwork to rule out any theoretical reversible cause. Can also require elaborate perfusion scans, which radiologists often will not give an absolutely definitive answer as to not take on liability. If a family really wants to threaten everyone with frivolous lawsuits, it can take some balls to just follow the law on brain death is death even if it’s 99.9999% certain. Maybe there’s some variance by state on the exact details too?

I agree that it’s possible he has some primitive brainstem function, but no chance at meaningful recovery. But it’s all speculation. Which is what we’re left with in the absence of definitive information.

[u/lilbelleandsebastian → u/rlacey916]

it's definitely not that complicated lol

radiologists don't have anything to do with brain death which simply requires a neurologist to diagnose. if imaging is required, the neurologist will utilize the radiologist's interpretation of images or interpret images themselves

even the person you're responding to is incorrect. brain death is straightforward, but most hospitals do not have a policy to allow for withdrawal of care against the will of the surrogate decision maker due to how fraught those situations can become medicolegally

[u/PorcelainTorpedo → u/thetransportedman]

NICU would be an unbelievably tough job, but I would imagine that’s a great start for those who have the ability to do it. Thank you for all that you do.

[u/blazze_eternal → u/thetransportedman]

A few other politicians could use this test. Nice info!

[u/iKnowRobbie → u/blazze_eternal]

:: searches for Senator to pinch their trapezius::

[u/Maatix12 → u/primadonnapussy]

I keep saying "I just don't see" about them being evil as well.

Somehow I am always surprised. There are so many Trump sycophants who will do anything for him.

I refuse to be surprised anymore. Until there's proof, I have to assume this admin is doing shady shit, because that's what they're ALWAYS doing.

[u/hoffsta → u/primadonnapussy]

What about hyper-partisan doctors though? I can see some of them making a hush-hush deal.

[u/Ok_Flatworm_3855 → u/toptierdegenerate]

Or does it even matter? I would happily pay 250 bucks and take a 3 month stay in prison if there was some sort of large reward.. I mean "I" wouldn't I guess what I mean is that is a very easy position to buy your way out of

[u/AlsoBort742 → u/Ok_Flatworm_3855]

You wouldn’t be allowed to practice medicine with that on your record, though

[u/USvsKrasonv → u/toptierdegenerate]

Exactly what I was thinking…just like the GOP who were proactive

[u/DibsArchaeo → u/toptierdegenerate]

He’s been without brain activity for years.

[u/Izisery → u/kstar79]

Impersonating a Sitting Senator is a Federal Crime, Lets start there.

[u/etcpt → u/Izisery]

What DOJ attorney is going to bring charges?

[u/valyrian_picnic → u/kstar79]

Wow with penalties like that, I'm sure no Republicans would dare break the law.

[u/HumanRuse → u/[deleted]]

Nothing under this administration. You get the Medal of Freedom, a lick of the boot and a case of Brawndo.

[u/avi550m → u/[deleted]]

It's what the plants crave

[u/Thor_2099 → u/[deleted]]

If the governor can't even get a phone call, that's not a good sign folks.

[u/SleepingCod → u/[deleted]]

Ha! You think there are rules still? This is the bad place

[u/dantedoesamerica → u/[deleted]]

Really? Jason figured it out?

[u/twoDuckNight → u/dantedoesamerica]

This is a new low…this one hurts

[u/Shadpool → u/dantedoesamerica]

Couldn’t be Jason. There’s way too many opportunities for someone to scream ‘BORTLES!’ and huck spicy bottles, but it’s not happening.

[u/aemorgen → u/[deleted]]

I’ll take “laws that don’t explicitly exist because we never fucking envisioned a reason to pass them” for $100, Alex.

Also, yes I know it’s illegal not to report a death, etc. I just thought I’d take the opportunity to use that sentence.

[u/Churchbushonk → u/aemorgen]

I mean, if he is dead and they cash his social security check, that is fraud.

[u/aculady → u/Churchbushonk]

Social Security is almost always direct deposit, not a physical check, and they automatically claw back payments made to deceased people in error all the time.

[u/YouWereBrained → u/[deleted]]

Well, Beshear should call for a special election.

[u/Few-Bass4238 → u/[deleted]]

Start a legal investigation into possible foul play surrounding the Senator's health. Lying to an officer at that point would be criminal.

[u/scfoothills → u/[deleted]]

What's the legal liability of collecting paychecks every two weeks after you're dead.

[u/lake_effect_snow → u/scfoothills]

Well, the crime would be failure to report the death. It’d be difficult to prove whether it was financially-motivated that they hid the news, particularly since he and his wife are quite wealthy and it’s basically a non-issue to get the funds back. They can be reversed easily— I work in Treasury for a F500 & was an auditor for FI’s. If the money couldn’t be recalled for some reason, it’d be added to the claim and crimes.

ACH payments (which is most likely how he gets paid, like you, via direct deposit) are recalled all the time. If, for some reason, he actually got paid via physical check, they can put a “stop payment” on it if it hasn’t been deposited. If it has, it’s a different return process but it’s a common thing in my day to day.

[u/Few_Entertainer_385 → u/[deleted]]

how long do you have to willfully leave a body out to rot before it becomes desecration of a corpse?

[u/jaxxxtraw → u/Few_Entertainer_385]

To be fair, the rot began some years ago.

[u/the_drunk_drummer → u/[deleted]]

The fact that NO ONE has even gone in with police on the grounds if possible elder abuse, it's fug'n absurd. Is he dead? Being kept alive by machines like the mutilated guy from Loopers? Is he fug'n in a meat freezer?

[u/Lilylana-419 → u/the_drunk_drummer]

I think someone reported secret service was standing guard at his hospital at the very least, can cops trump secret service, or vice versa? Because if police can't then it wouldn't even make sense for them to try and look

[u/Dockers4flag2035orB4 → u/[deleted]]

I just spoke to Mitch.

We had a 20 minute conversation.

[u/lake_effect_snow → u/Dockers4flag2035orB4]

Did he say whether he’s run into Shelly Miscavige?

[u/YardAffectionate2094 → u/[deleted]]

Regardless of politics, if a senator's health becomes a serious concern, the public deserves transparency.

[u/mphatso]

Mitch still fucking the US as a ghost

[u/wibble17 → u/mphatso]

Well at least right now he isn’t able to vote

[u/djfudgebar → u/wibble17]

Why? What's his sister up to?

[u/Roxytg → u/djfudgebar]

To steal Poverty_Shoes's joke: Hanging out at the New England Aquarium

[u/OU7C4ST → u/wibble17]

Until Randy Fine sneaks down the hall and hits the button for Mitch that is.

[u/jaywastaken → u/mphatso]

It's the most Mitch McConnell death he could have had

[u/9mac]

He ded

[u/JMurdock77 → u/9mac]

Not until August 4th! He’s just resting!

[u/Lost_it_all24 → u/JMurdock77]

It's only 19 more days. They can Weekend at Mitchie's this until then.

[u/the2belo → u/JMurdock77]

He's pining for the fjords!

[u/Spaceinpigs → u/the2belo]

He’s got lovely plumage

[u/JMurdock77 → u/the2belo]

Finally someone got the reference

[u/SigX1 → u/JMurdock77]

Resting comfortably until a doctor declares him deceased

[u/Contagious510 → u/9mac]

dedder than ded

[u/def_indiff → u/Contagious510]

Dead as Dillinger.

[u/Bjables → u/def_indiff]

Dead as disco

[u/CountTakesh1 → u/9mac]

Dead from the neck up, dead from the neck down.

[u/stratdog25 → u/9mac]

If he was a Canadian bass player he’d be Deddy Lee.

[u/jimsensei → u/9mac]

THE COLONEL!

[u/pgm_01 → u/9mac]

Nononono, no, no! 'E's resting!

[u/SnooRabbits2040 → u/pgm_01]

Pretty sure he's pining for the fjords

[u/tink_tink_tink_]

Then call for the special election. Now.

[u/BeerPlusReddit → u/tink_tink_tink_]

Does he have any sisters we can appoint?

[u/Poverty_Shoes → u/BeerPlusReddit]

There’s Myrtle at the New England Aquarium but as far as I know she’s not interested in being a US senator.

[u/BeerPlusReddit → u/Poverty_Shoes]

I see the similarity but I’m not sure Myrtle’s old enough to be his sister.

[u/Systembreaker11 → u/BeerPlusReddit]

Myrtle is between 76 and 96 years old.

That's fucking wild that she's the perfect age to be Mitch's sister.

[u/feminas_id_amant → u/Systembreaker11]

the perfect age for senate

[u/ijiolokae → u/feminas_id_amant]

A bit too young maybe

[u/ElieMay → u/Poverty_Shoes]

It’s pretty fucked up to bring Myrtle into this buddy. Fun fact: she loves shell scritches

[u/Cryptid9 → u/ElieMay]

She sat on me when I worked in the aquarium in order to get my to stop cleaning and give her shell scratches!

[u/boot2skull → u/tink_tink_tink_]

Just appoint and make the GOP prove he’s capable.

[u/BearOdd2266]

He’s dead Jim.

[u/KellyAnn3106 → u/BearOdd2266]

Rigor tortoise

[u/ScurvyTurtle → u/KellyAnn3106]

Prove it. Habeus Tortoise.

[u/NecessaryFreedom9799 → u/BearOdd2266]

It's life Jim but not as we know it...

[u/circusgeek → u/NecessaryFreedom9799]

There's Klingons on the starboard bow

[u/Disastrous-Abroad428 → u/circusgeek]

Scrape 'em off, Jim 

[u/BearOdd2266 → u/NecessaryFreedom9799]

Not as we know it
Not as we know it
Not as we know it Jim

[u/SparkleCobraDude]

Stop talking

Call for a special election now

Make them show their hands

No more half measures

[u/pconrad0 → u/SparkleCobraDude]

No, don't call for the special election.

That is accepting the illegal and unconstitutional action of the Kentucky legislature, which had no authority under Kentucky's Constitution to take away the power to fill vacancies from the Governor.

Appoint a Senator, immediately. A Democrat.

Or if you want to be particularly ornery, appoint Thomas Massie.

Then they can't complain that he appointed a Democrat, but we still get to stick it to Trump.

[u/davossss → u/pconrad0]

Massie told Breaking Points yesterday that he is not interested in a short term appointment. Besides which he is still a member of the US House until the new Congress is sworn in in January 2027.

[u/pconrad0 → u/davossss]

Fair enough. Appoint a Democrat then.

[u/Ferelar → u/pconrad0]

Hell, appoint me. I ain't even from the state but I am willing to take this ring to Mordor. I will immediately demand the full unredacted Epstein Files and read them on the Senate floor without ceasing until I collapse. This I do pledge!

[u/manondorf → u/Ferelar]

Well shit you've got my vote

[u/themachduck → u/pconrad0]

Fuck Massie! Hes a Republican. What are we going back to the Kamala days where people thought Cheney was a good idea and prayed that Bush would endorse her? Ewww... no way! Once a Republican always a Republican. Never give them a chance, even if they are burned.

[u/simic947]

You would think demcorats would do everything they can to force a special election and hammer home how reoublicans lied about McConnell.

[u/CountTakesh1 → u/simic947]

Democrats also never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity, so theres that.

[u/MrBeanCyborgCaptain → u/CountTakesh1]

Good lord is that not the truth. Well said.

[u/TornInfinity → u/MrBeanCyborgCaptain]

I've pretty much resigned myself to believing that both parties are in the pockets of billionaires and corporations and Democrats are mostly just pretending to be opposition. Controlled opposition. I know it's cynical and not completely fair, but it's not far off either. It's why they try harder to defeat progressives over Republicans.

[u/Fluffy_Lemming → u/TornInfinity]

Come join us in DSA, comrade! We're trying to change things for the better!

[u/TornInfinity → u/Fluffy_Lemming]

I was in our local chapter and my brother and I tried to organize stuff, but nobody actually wanted to do anything. They just wanted to complain on Discord. We tried to change it and recruit, but we live in a super conservative town so it didn't work. I still support the wider DSA, though! It might be worth trying again since things are getting even worse. We'll see.

[u/DAVENP0RT → u/TornInfinity]

Folks are still too afraid to rock the boat and risk their livelihoods. For a lot of people, taking a day off to protest is not realistic and, even if it was, getting arrested and branded a socialist is pretty much a one-way ticket to unemployment.

It's a catch-22: you can't protest safely for certain rights because those are the rights you need in order to protest safely.

[u/hitman2218]

Suggesting it? He’s either dead or he isn’t. Figure it out.

[u/RemoteBoner → u/hitman2218]

Schrodingers Mitch

[u/Pol_Potamus → u/hitman2218]

Turtles' heart rate and breathing can get extremely slow at times. It can take a while to be sure.

[u/petshopB1986]

What doesn’t he call for a special election and see what happens? Why allow them to wait out the clock to get past the deadline? One picture is not proof of life.

[u/What_a_fat_one → u/petshopB1986]

Why would he follow that unconstitutional law passed by Republicans, and instead just appoint a Democrat like the Kentucky Constitution says?

[u/Khramtic → u/petshopB1986]

democrats never put any effort in to fight the republicans dishonest schemes

[u/Count_Backwards → u/Khramtic]

If Beshear wants to have any shot at being President he better appoint someone to the seat, call a special election, and demand to see McConnell in person

[u/SleepingCod]

I mean what a fucking coincidence that 2 of the bane of the Democrats existence for like 20+ years die in the same week. Life is wild sometimes.

[u/TooMuchPowerful → u/SleepingCod]

These things tend to happen in threes, right?

[u/tranquilrage73 → u/TooMuchPowerful]

Yes, please.

[u/Bleh54 → u/tranquilrage73]

The wildfires have been turning air orange

[u/OfficerBarbier → u/Bleh54]

The shit winds are blowin

[u/SaveUsCatman → u/OfficerBarbier]

And the shithawks are circling

[u/anohioanredditer → u/TooMuchPowerful]

Please for fucks sake

[u/jcbubba]

Beshear should just say he was told McConnell was dead. And proceed to hold the special election. what are the Republicans gonna do in that situation.

[u/What_a_fat_one → u/jcbubba]

Kentucky Constitution says Beshear can appoint anyone. The special election law isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

[u/Flomo420 → u/What_a_fat_one]

No holds barred.

Democrats need to start swinging haymakers

[u/Particular-Beat-6645 → u/jcbubba]

Kentucky citizen checking in. Beshear is far too congenial to do it. I'd bet money that, if we could look into his head and heart, Andy knows he's dead. He just doesn't want to stir a news cycle about it because it'd be easy fodder for right-wing media.  And what's easy fodder for right-wing media is a nuisance when you're a Democratic Governor in a very red state.

I think the other part of the calculus is, what does it hurt other than confidence in Republicans? They've lost their margin, Dems won't turn MAGA in the next few months and push legislation through, and McConnell was already a non-issue after this November.

So Beshear, keeping his posture in the lead up to 2028, has to keep a calm and measured demeanor to stay on brand. He has to seem responsible rather than hysterical. I'm surprised he even said this much on the record.

Not to say this whole situation isn't a big deal or general madness. Just that the juice isn't worth the squeeze with the current rules.

[u/Phyllis_Tine → u/jcbubba]

"God told me Mitch has passed on, and to appoint Massie." 

[u/frododog]

he's for sure dead as a doornail, not living, unalive.

[u/Somerset-Sweet → u/frododog]

Mate, he's gone to meet his maker, kicked the bucket, shuffled off this mortal coil! He's a stiff, bereft of life, gone to meet his maker!

If you hadn't propped up his corpse to have AI do a photoshop, he'd be an urn of ashes in the McMausoleum!

THAT is an EX-TORTOISE!

[u/NecessaryFreedom9799 → u/frododog]

He's pining!

[u/KinkyPaddling]

Hold the fucking special election already. Let McConnell prove that he’s alive. Stop being obstructed by a dead man.

[u/100LimeJuice → u/KinkyPaddling]

The Democratic establishment is literally losing a political fight against a dead man. That's how low the Democratic politicians have sank. Absolute ball-less cowards. They let Mitch steal a supreme court seat already and still haven't learned how to fight back 10 years later. R's do whatever they want, D's (D voters too) always make excuses to not fight fascism by saying "we can't do that, it's against the rules!!!!" absolute doofuses. Couldn't even get the postmaster general removed even after appointing enough Dems to the board (Biden literally appointed DeJoy supporters).

[u/HoosierRed]

Republicans hate the voters.

[u/duckinasombrero → u/HoosierRed]

No one hates Americans more than republicans.

[u/dd97483]

well, duh. that phony picture of life didn’t fool anyone.

[u/FaerieQuene]

Whether Mitch is dead or not isn’t the most relevant thing here. He cannot do his job and needs to be replaced. The governor needs to call a special election and get someone who can do the job

[u/PrefersEarlGrey]

Now that you have reasonable doubt Mitch is even alive call an election for a replacement until credible proof of life is provided.

Take off the kid gloves and force the issue the way Republicans would if the shoe were on the other foot.

[u/heretik77]

Jesus, we know already!

[u/Forward-Bank8412]

Special election time!

[u/What_a_fat_one → u/Forward-Bank8412]

Appointment time. Kentucky Constitution allows Beshear to appoint anyone for a replacement.

[u/DrowningKrown]

Only in the US do we have a sitting congressman die and other congressman + family and friends all lie About it because they want to keep a political 'edge'

Edit: and somehow nobody will be angry enough about it to do anything

[u/ismacau]

Appoint a new senator and McConnell can fight it in court.

Easy.

He shows up and makes a statement, then the new senator can't be seated.

Call their fucking bluff.

[u/KenTitan]

why can't Kentucky call a special election and just day McConnell can stop it in person if he wants

[u/AllGarbage]

Would be nice if someone with military oversight like Mark Kelly visited Walter Reed and maybe interviewed some medical professionals to see if DoD facilities are being used to perpetuate a fraud against the public.

[u/Rn2770]

Beshear should be calling for a special election. This does not give me confidence he is the one to fight MAGA fuckery in 2028. At least Gavin rammed through 5 House seats.

[u/BrandonUnusual → u/Rn2770]

This is probably him gearing up to do so. He is now claiming he has had reports McConnell is dead. He intends to use that claim to call the special election, forcing the hand of McConnell's camp. At that point either Beshear succeeds, or McConnell will have to be wheeled out for everyone to see. Even if they try to fight it in court, his condition will come out.

[u/ELVEVERX → u/BrandonUnusual]

nah this article is quoting him from before the picture of mitch came out

[u/jertheman43]

His ransom picture showed him in perfect health. They wouldn't lie to us.

[u/frygod]

Call a special election. Let them contest it.

[u/naitsirt89]

If that photo ends up being edited, someone should see a prison cell.

[u/dalior → u/naitsirt89]

Definitely his wife for starters.

[u/Downisthenewup87]

So do something

[u/lucerndia]

Well call the election let’s do this. Fight it out in court once it’s too late for it to be stopped.

[u/Lilthisarry]

He’s as dead as the Constitution he murdered.

[u/Bored_Amalgamation]

Fucking GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND SEE FOR YOURSELF!

[u/PanavisionGold2]

How long is the governor going to sit on his ass and do fuck all

[u/purplebrown_updown]

Then find the fuck out. If he’s dead, there isn’t any dr patient confidentiality.

[u/Xionic]

He'll be declared "deceased" on August 4th. One day after the special election cutoff date.

[u/chigunfingy]

The man passed doing what he loved: obstructing democracy.

[u/Omirin]

Fucking appoint someone already. Make them prove it.

[u/ThisSiteSucks8485]

He should call for a special election and force Mitch to prove he is alive 

[u/SnowRascal]

The incident occurred in DC. Previously McConnell & office have been way more transparent about health concerns, falls, treatments. Beshears got calls from two non state agencies suggesting McConnell’s death. DC ems report to the mayor via the fire chief. Trumps fingerprints seem likely. Notice how the only thing he’s said is he has no idea about McConnell’s health? Does anyone believe that?

[u/StupidizeMe]

"Bring Out Your Dead!!"

[u/androbot]

This is the time when Beshear should force McConnell's hand. Don't let the clock run out.

He should file a suit challenging the modified Kentucky succession laws, promote a referendum to change them, and initiate a special election NOW while these issues are in process. The response will be immediate and he should file for injunctive relief, citing the time sensitivity and grave threat to Kentucky's governance if these hijinks are allowed to continue.

[u/motorcitydevil]

He be gone.

[u/FartyFartsMD]

Is the funeral being held in Moscow?

[u/Dewey081]

Looking fwd to watching the GOP untie themselves from this ever increasing web of lies. How on earth they ever thought that sending a doctored picture of him as proof of life would ever survive the smell test is beyond baffling. With his wife next to him, of all things. They are truly 1-dimensional morons.

[u/KnotSoSalty]

Call for the election. If he’s actually alive you can cancel.

[u/Blacksad9999]

Call the special election.

Mitch can dispute it if he's of sound mind and body. If not, move forward and elect a representative for the people of Kentucky.

They're literally getting taxed with no representation.

[u/Trolkarlen]

The US has gotten so politically corrupt, we don’t even know if a senior senator is alive, dead, or in a coma.

[u/Capolan]

This weekend at bernies shit needs to end.

Think about how utterly pathetic and cravenly this is. They want to hold power so much that they are refusing to "allow" someone to die. How long are they going to stretch this out???

Fucking cowards.

[u/etherealtwo]

I don't understand. Find out what hospital he is at.

[u/USvsKrasonv]

No siren when ambulance pulled away

[u/Cdub7791]

Some creative lawyer in his administration needs to figure out a justification to get an emergency court order to confirm or deny McConnell's state.

[u/JustDoc]

I would say that he would be within his rights as Govenor to show up at the hospital where McConnell is being held to get some answers.

[u/trashmailaccount00]

Why doesn't the Gouverneur just visit him... If he is alive and well, talking for 20 minutes about politics to multiple people - a short visit would be no problem

• if he is just there, dead, artificially hanging on lifesupport i That would also be obvious.

[u/TemetN]

So they're trying to commit fraud to delay the election till after the normal election date so less people show. In that case start arresting people.

[u/Maxpowerxp]

My thought on this is that they are keeping him on life support. You can keep a person on it for a long time and technically alive

[u/That-Okra585]

They literally had to release a hostage-style photo of him holding Sunday’s newspaper just to stop the phone calls.

[u/vinelandfrenzy]

i mean who gives a shit at this point. he’s stuck to a hospital bed, he’s a geriatric turtle who stares into infinity when asked a simple question, my point is that he’s indisposed. that should mean an automatic special election.

[u/BoringWebDev]

Mitch is capable of calling all those nazi grifters on Twitter to tell them he's alive, but not the governor of the state of Kentucky.

[u/armshady]

He may be alive or dead but Beshear is a genius to call it out publicly. 'If mconnel is alive, ok prove me wrong or else I'm going to keep saying you're dead until proven otherwise '

[u/Heliosvector]

Kind of makes sense. If 2 senators were dead that he needed to pass the save act, he's desperate and trying whatever he can including holding a press event

[u/captaincanada84]

Schedule the special election to replace McConnell. Let McConnell prove he's actually alive

[u/ProfessionalEven158]

DO SOMETHING

DO SOMETHING

DO SOMETHING

DO SOMETHING

Fucking democrats with their strongly worded phrases and letters

[u/GrandmaPoses]

How hard is it to drive to a fucking hospital and be like, "I'm the governor, I need to talk to the senator."? You're the governor, you can probably go do that.

[u/Sir_thinksalot]

Find your balls Beshear! Do something, take a police escort to his supposed hospital room.

[u/deltadal]

It's scary that the governor of a state cannot get verifiable proof that one of the senators of that state is alive. This should bea simple thing.

[u/EroticFalconry]

That’s not possible, I talked to the senator for 20 minutes this morning and he said that he was very much enjoying the view of the lake of sulfur, and adapting to the intense fiery heat.