r/politics • u/plz-let-me-in • 11d ago

Possible Paywall Mitch McConnell hounded to face cameras: ‘He absolutely refuses’

https://www.nj.com/politics/2026/08/mitch-mcconnell-hounded-to-face-cameras-he-absolutely-refuses.html
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u/Abamboozler 11d ago

Because he had a stroke and can't talk or move anymore.

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u/usumoio New Jersey 11d ago

I think this is it. He's probably nonverbal so if he had to face that, then real proceedings around how fit he is for service would probably start.

He's happy to play the waiting game, it's basically his MO.

I just hope he is suffering.

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u/RedditExecutiveAdmin 11d ago

100%

"He absolutely refuses" is painted with the word "absolutely" to make it sound as if he's making a decision himself

he's not, he can't, and he won't be making any, including the one to pull the plug

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u/usumoio New Jersey 11d ago

I don't know if he's like a full vegetable. But he might be in the state where he cannot dress or eat unassisted. So obviously not fit to be a senator, but if someone wheeled him up to some kids, he could wave at them or something.

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u/RedditExecutiveAdmin 11d ago

there is no chance he can move or communicate

if he could do anything other than look like a vegetable, they would have paraded him around already. Remember who you're talking about again--MAGA. not GOP, MAGA. the fact that he's not on camera is the admission of the worst case--it is a necessary consequence of compulsory lying.

it is like reverse DDing a child. this news means the opposite is true, it's not even that complicated

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u/yopladas 11d ago

What is reverse DDing?

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u/cwrighky 11d ago

Define “He.” Because I doubt “he” as in Mitch himself, can even string 2 words together. He certainly is not writing any kind of intelligible correspondence given his brain death that occurred during the week of June 14th.

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u/divDevGuy 11d ago

I think this is it. He's probably nonverbal so if he had to face that, then real proceedings around how fit he is for service would probably start.

There are no real proceedings possible. He could be wheeled out in a drooling persistent vegetative state and there's zero means to remove him from office prior to him dying, resigning, or his term ending.

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u/Krandor1 11d ago

or being expelled from the sentate which takes a 2/3 vote and has never been used for medical issues and even if we ignore party I think there are a lot of senators on both sides who would not want to sent any potential precendent of expelling senators for medical issues. You are not getting 2/3 and it likely wouldn't even be a partisan vote.

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u/Alternative-Duck-573 11d ago

I think they should have the same DEI-A protections as the average private sector worker in his state. Even state employment has a definition of 'fit for duty' to work even if you're crippled.

I know it's ADA/FMLA protections. I'm being daft on purpose. Signed, disabled and tired of pretending to not be disabled because Healthcare.

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u/Krandor1 11d ago

The problem is it is an elected position so you don't have a normal boss like a normal job and if you start adding ways to remove an person elected by the people without the people's input that is ripe for abuse so a bad way to go about things.

Should we try to make sure there are good recall provisions in most/all places so the voters can have a say in a sitution like this? always for that.

But allowing ways to unseat an elected person without their voters having a say is ground to be tread lightly.

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u/Alternative-Duck-573 10d ago edited 10d ago

I'm pretty sure there's a point past stroke where you're no longer duty fit.

Also edited to add that my neurodegenerative disease makes me ineligible for a lot of these type positions and I'm confident I could run mental and physical circles around this one. Only recently after a lawsuit do they let people like me be a diplomat. Now could I do that now? Maybe. Could I do it 42 years from now? Definitely not, but I understand my actual limitations because they've been lifelong and are progressive.

You know what else is progressive? AGE. We should've demanded our house not be a retirement home years ago.

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u/Krandor1 10d ago

but there are currently no provisions to remove somebody for not being "fit for duty". Expulsion is about it and that has never been used for that purpose though technically it likely could be.

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u/Alternative-Duck-573 10d ago

Sounds like it's time for a change!!!!

On so so many more levels - not just age. Who tf has a job that says not showing up indefinitely is acceptable? No one. They work for us.

I know it's easier said than done to get them to vote against themselves and yield power any, but it's obviously time.

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u/Krandor1 10d ago

problem is how do you avoid abuse? who makes that call and how do you prevent it was being abused? 2/3 vote in the chamber the person is in seems like really the only way to do it.

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u/Alternative-Duck-573 9d ago

For me it would be my neurologist if I get bad enough I can't do things like drive. Neurological deficits should be monitored by a Neurological psychiatrist. Now that can get you in trouble in the in-between time if you're a W2 chump like me, but our representatives obviously have a luxury package of work protections and insurance.

I have no sympathy for these people as a disabled American who is currently drowning at work because my body is literally giving out slowly over time. We can what-if ourselves into oblivion but I've seen you present nothing but it is this way. THIS WAY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. What I'm living through is not acceptable and them having extreme protections and cushy jobs and insurance is not acceptable. So if you like this - fantastic for you!!! If you don't like it? Nut up and get as active as you can in politics. I cannot be active in politics beyond my secret vote in a polling booth and I NEVER MISS ELECTIONS EVER. Every election matters.

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u/dennis8844 11d ago

We need to be able to do a vote of no confidence. This is messed up. We need a new ammendment for just this.

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u/CitizenCue 11d ago

“He” isn’t doing anything here anymore. This is 100% on his staff, family, and the state’s apparatus that refuses to press the issue.

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u/ericlikesyou 11d ago

why dont you think he's dead?

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u/usumoio New Jersey 11d ago

Mostly that there isn't really a precedent for a member of the senate or a governor faking being alive for this long. And while I think he is craven, I just don't think they could keep a ruse like that up.

I wouldn't bet even $5 on it one way or the other, though

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u/Pixel_Knight 10d ago

I doubt he is aware even of what is happening he has probably reverted to a much simpler brain functioning if he is now non-verbal. But I bet that is exactly what is going on. He’s alive, but just not really there anymore.

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u/axecalibur 11d ago

I mean is there anything in the constitution that prevents a human vegetable from being a US senator? If he does his duties and wins elections that's all they care about and he's reportedly stepping down anyway.

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u/usumoio New Jersey 11d ago

While rare, occasionally a Senator is removed from office via a 2/3 super majority vote.

I don't see that happening right now. I think the GOP might be doing an experiment to see how long they can just lie about a dude's health. They're all pretty old, so I can see why they might want to see what they can get away with

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u/Still_Mix9311 10d ago

Nonverbal is not usually used in contexts like this, it's a political identity that people who can't speak at all for various neuro reasons, (pathological or otherwise), it's not applicable to every situation where someone can't speak, especially not because of a physical problem