Governor Beshear rightfully is requesting that McConnell's office give him some sort of update. It's unfair to Kentuckians to not know or not have representation.

HIPAA applies to health care providers, not to citizens. We're not asking the hospital or doctors to respond - we are asking his office and the people who work for him.

my point is Democrats can't demand answers. Governor Beshear certainly has a right to know but he can't force anyone to give him an answer.

Republicans are effed up people. How long was that Rep. mia with no information at all? That Rep. was probably there test run for McConnell to see how long they could hold out without giving any information.

... and published in newspapers. They say he is there; prove it! How would that violate HIPAA?

That supersedes any claims of personal privacy. They don’t even need to give details about who’s changing his diapers and swapping his catheter; a simple, on-the-record and verifiable “he’s dead” or “he’s not dead.”

A special election won't change anything.

Concentrate on Trump's corruption, deep friendship with Epstein, and guilt of sexual abuse, and the Republicans' covering up of all this. And Trump's failed war that has driven up prices, and empowered the Iranian regime.

*** At your calls and insistence ***

All of the staffers barely knew what I was talking about and just said, "I'll pass it along."

but they are certainly not going to respond for their bosses as you would want.

Not to mention, not having a special election means one less Republican Senator for about 6 months. A special election in Kentucky would go to the Trump endorsed person. It is a fantasy that Massie, who was killed in his primary would win, much less a Democrat

Holding a press conference basically saying "bring out your dead" is crude. It won't actually change anything. It's red meat for parts of the internet but has no impact or useful value.

The odds of Republicans doing the WRONG thing are very high.

I’m really not understanding the point you’re trying to make or what you think this “press conference” would accomplish.

Well, it isn't their state, and they most likely have other things to do?

Come up with something that pertains to their actual, you know, job - before demanding new leadership.

They know that pushing the issue results in atleaast a 50/50 chance thay republicans would pick up a vote in the senate they like better.

McConnell for all his bullshit was atleast a thorn in their efforts this past few months.

Weren't demanding?

All Mitch need to do is call Beshear and talk for 20 minutes like he’s doing with his Republican colleagues.

Too many people here believe everything is a Republican conspiracy. In this case, Democrats are better off with McConnell remaining a member of the Senate without being aable to vote.

He should invite a news team to join him in a trip to the hospital to pay his respects to Mitch and have the cameras running when he gets turned away at the door. It would be on every nightly news show in America.

He should invite a news team to join him in a trip to the hospital to pay his respects to Mitch and have the cameras running when he gets turned away at the door. It would be on every nightly news show in America.

A special election almost certainly would benefit Republicans, NOT Democrats.

The current situation is VERY BAD for Republicans and a GREAT SITUATION for Democrats. Democrats are the ones who should not want a special election. Republicans should want McConnell gone ASAP. An incapacitated McConnell means Republicans have only 52 votes in the Senate instead of 53. With only 52 votes, now only 3 Republicans need to vote with Democrats to kill any legislation or nominees. For example, Democrats now need only 3 Republicans to vote against Blanche as AG to kill his nomination. With McConnell present or another Republican elected in a special election taking his place, Democrats would need 4 Republican votes to kill Blanche's nomination.

Even if a Democrat won a special election it would at most be minimally worse for Republicans than a vacant seat or an incapacitated McConnell. Having a Democrat in that seat only really helps Democrats during votes where one or more Republicans are absent. Whether it's 52-47 or 52-48, Democrats still need 3 Republican votes in the senate to kill Republican legislation or nominees. A special election which would almost certainly be won by a Republican, would give Republicans back that 53rd vote for several months.

Worst case for Republicans with Special election, Democrats win but it has no real effect on Senate votes. However, if a Republican wins a special election , they get their 53rd vote back which is extremely significant.

A 53rd Republican in the Senate is an enormous advantage for Republicans (4 Republicans would need to join Democrats to kill legislation or nominees instead of the current 3 with McConnell not present), while a 48th Democrat effectively doesn't help Democrats at all (Democrats would still need 3 Republican votes to kill legislation or nominees - just like now).

Why is this so hard for so many to understand?

BTW, Andy Barr, the Republican candidate for the seat in Novembers general election is considered to have over a 99% likelihood of winning the seat. The chance of a Democrat winning a special election is only a tiny bit better. Before you say "but Kentucky has a Democratic Governor", Kentucky last elected a Democratic Senator in 1992. On the other hand, Kentucky has had only 2 Republican Governors (both for a single term) in the past 55 years. A Democrat winning the Governership in Kentucky is routine, having happened in 12 of the last 14 elections. Republicans have won 10 straight Senate elections.

https://www.racetothewh.com/senate/26#google_vignette

They are the only people who might have a claim to know his health. Even then, they might have to wait until he is undeniably on his death bed to demand answers.

...that rightly deserve the questions, criticism, and mockery for.

Democrats really only need to follow the old rule: never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.

It really would not be a good look for Democrats to pull a stunt like showing up at the hospital, and it would very likely be one that came back to haunt them down the road.

Best to let "sleeping" turtles lie.

The truth will come out, and unless Democrats make it about themselves somehow it will likely look very bad for Republicans.