Where's Mitch?

Tiassa

Tiassa

Let us not launch the boat ...
Valued Senior Member
The Story So Far

wilson-20161110-mitchmcconnelldonaldtrump-detail-bw.png

Decade: Sen. Mitch McConnell and president-elect Donald Trump, 2016​

Last month, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was removed from his home by ambulance. Though some Republicans have claimed to have spoken to him, he has not been seen since. On two occasions, stillshot photos of McConnell have been released, but they actually appear to be fake. Despite any number of Republicans claiming 20-minute conversations with McConnell, there is no video, recording of his voice, or anything like that. In short, aside from two dubious photographs, there is no proof of life for Mitch McConnell at this time.

To the other, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) has received at least two separate nongovernmental claims that McConnell has died; chatter suggests this happened before the first proof of life photo that appears to be a shopjob on a 2023 image. (The second photo features the same shirt, and might be from the same period.)

Right now, we might consider three possible circumstances:

1) That Mitch McConnell has died.

2) That Mitch McConnell is alive but not capable.

3) That Mitch McConnell is alive and capable.​

It's that third that trips everyone up: If it is the case that McConnell is alive and capable, there is no reason to hide it. Everyone in Mitch's camp is acting like he's either dead or incapable.

The dubious photos, the messaging about talking to Mitch for twenty minutes, and sending known liars out among the messengers, such as CNN mouth and longtime McConnell hand Scott Jennings.

As of yesterday, Gov. Beshear reiterated that he has not heard anything from McConnell or his office, and McConnell aides, over the last couple days, are refusing even basic questions. The Daily Beast↱ reports, "His staff, led by $226,000-a-year longtime aide Terry Camack, refused to even say if the senator had spoken to any of them in recent days."

The cynical line asserts Republicans would try to hide the fact of McConnell's death for another couple weeks, at least, in order to dodge a special election. And, really, it ought to be easy enough to put such cynicism to rest, but McConnell's staff just won't do that.
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Notes:

Tomazin, Farrah. "Mitch McConnell’s Aides Launch New Health Cover-Up". The Daily Beast. 21 July 2026. TheDailyBeast.com. 21 July 2026. https://www.thedailybeast.com/mitch-mcconnells-team-falls-silent-as-security-detail-guards-hospital/

https://twitter.com/x/status/2079288827835789714
 
jackofthewood.com

Mitch McConnell & the Senators - Jack of the Wood Pub - Asheville, NC

Mitch McConnell is originally from the Finger Lakes area of New York, where he spent his teen years attending old-time jams and honing his musical skill. Now residing near Asheville NC, Mitch has performed his "New Old-Time" tunes from the East Coast to California & and back again. He's been...
jackofthewood.com

There's also buzz about a film project, working title: Weekend at Mitch's.
 
If he was conclusively in hospital - i.e. alive but still unwell - that would be one thing. But there's little evidence either way as to his actual state - living or otherwise.
The Republicans probably hope to leave his state unconfirmed for as long as possible, 'cos if he's dead then Kentucky legislation suggests the Governor - currently a Democrat - can appoint a replacement - so it would alter the Senate in favour of the Democrats. Currently having McConnell as a no-show and simply not voting is better for the Republicans than someone voting with the Democrats.
Then there's the whole timing of any special election that might be required, which again may (I say "may" as I genuinely do not know) favour not revealing that McConnell is dead until some time in the future.
It's US politics - so cynicism is to be expected. ;)
 
Sarkus said:
The Republicans probably hope to leave his state unconfirmed for as long as possible, 'cos if he's dead then Kentucky legislation suggests the Governor - currently a Democrat - can appoint a replacement - so it would alter the Senate in favour of the Democrats. Currently having McConnell as a no-show and simply not voting is better for the Republicans than someone voting with the Democrats.
Then there's the whole timing of any special election that might be required, which again may (I say "may" as I genuinely do not know) favour not revealing that McConnell is dead until some time in the future.
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In this manner, hiding the fact of his death would be legally problematic, as well. Such a GOP gamble implicitly requires that they don't expect to face any legal consequences even if they are committing crimes.

Which, yeah, isn't the worst wager they might make.
https://twitter.com/x/status/2079605529542828409
 
Sarkus said:
If he was conclusively in hospital - i.e. alive but still unwell - that would be one thing. But there's little evidence either way as to his actual state - living or otherwise.
The Republicans probably hope to leave his state unconfirmed for as long as possible, 'cos if he's dead then Kentucky legislation suggests the Governor - currently a Democrat - can appoint a replacement - so it would alter the Senate in favour of the Democrats. Currently having McConnell as a no-show and simply not voting is better for the Republicans than someone voting with the Democrats.
Then there's the whole timing of any special election that might be required, which again may (I say "may" as I genuinely do not know) favour not revealing that McConnell is dead until some time in the future.
It's US politics - so cynicism is to be expected. ;)
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If he has died surely his family would never tolerate the lack of respect in concealing the fact?

I guess he may be recovering from some condition.

Talking of disrespect, he is very ghoul like at the best of times so anything could be possible.
 
geordief said:
If he has died surely his family would never tolerate the lack of respect in concealing the fact?

I guess he may be recovering from some condition.

Talking of disrespect, he is very ghoul like at the best of times so anything could be possible.
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Thank you for this blast of common sense. I think it is a ridiculous conspiracy theory to imagine if had died it would be kept secret from the world, just to help the Republican cause in Congress.

Anyway, wasn’t there a recent video of him sitting up in a hospital bed and talking to his wife?
 
exchemist said:
Anyway, wasn’t there a recent video of him sitting up in a hospital bed and talking to his wife?
Click to expand...

No, there was not.

Once again, you went and did the thing↗: Of course you assert a commonsense outlook based on inaccurate information. (There was no video; there are, however, two stillshots, one from 2023, and the other believed to be from the same period whlle people are arguing about details suggesting a shopjob.)

So, once again: Ceteris paribus is not in effect.

To answer your common sense, we might simply shrug and say, it should be a ridiculous conspiracy theory.

So, sure, whatever. But compared to the bit with several Repulicans all saying the same thing, it suggests McConnell spent a couple hours, one day, in conversations with Republicans, around twenty minutes at a time acording to the GOP messaging, but nobody could be bothered to spend ten seconds on a verifiable record. Combined with the faked stillshot and untenable comms from McConnell's office,

Moreover, your judgment overlooks a practical point: There is a question of fraud upon Congress, and fraud upon Kentucky. If Mitch McConnell is dead, and the GOP is maneuvering to deny the state of Kentucky its own process, that is a problem. Furthermore, if Mitch McConnell is incapacitated, Kentucky may take steps to replace him with someone who is not.

Thus, the question is not just whether he's dead, but, as we considered↑, there is the possibility that he is alive but incapacitated.

Please remember, sir, that swindlers depend on people like you carrying their credibility for them.
 
exchemist said:
Thank you for this blast of common sense. I think it is a ridiculous conspiracy theory to imagine if had died it would be kept secret from the world, just to help the Republican cause in Congress.
Click to expand...
"Died" as in "dead dead", sure, I'd find it hard to believe it was being covered up, if it is the case that he had died. But "otherwise incapacitated", such as stroke, coma, meaning that he is no longer able to fulfil his duties? Hmmm. That's where it might get less difficult. ;)
exchemist said:
Anyway, wasn’t there a recent video of him sitting up in a hospital bed and talking to his wife?
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"Talking"? It was certainly a photo of a man's body sitting up in bed (if that's the one you are referring to?). But it was a photo of him looking at the camera. How much "talking" can you evidence from that? I've been at nursing homes and seen non-communicative "inmates" looking just as capable. And, yes, there are suggestions the photo is a rehash of one from a couple of years ago, but I think there are just as many reports debunking that idea.

But, here's the thing: why is there any secrecy around it at all? Why have there not been reports from people beyond reproach in this matter confirming that McConnell is alive and capable? Why has, say, Chuck Schumer not been to see him and then come out and confirmed that his Senate colleague is alive and well, etc? I get that there is the question of privacy, but he's a Senator, and he has duties to perform. Why has there been no irrefutable proof that he is alive, and that he is recovering? It is not so much the underlying state of McConnell that is the story, but the apparent secrecy and lack of information around whatever that state is.
 
Sarkus said:
"Died" as in "dead dead", sure, I'd find it hard to believe it was being covered up, if it is the case that he had died. But "otherwise incapacitated", such as stroke, coma, meaning that he is no longer able to fulfil his duties? Hmmm. That's where it might get less difficult. ;)

"Talking"? It was certainly a photo of a man's body sitting up in bed (if that's the one you are referring to?). But it was a photo of him looking at the camera. How much "talking" can you evidence from that? I've been at nursing homes and seen non-communicative "inmates" looking just as capable. And, yes, there are suggestions the photo is a rehash of one from a couple of years ago, but I think there are just as many reports debunking that idea.

But, here's the thing: why is there any secrecy around it at all? Why have there not been reports from people beyond reproach in this matter confirming that McConnell is alive and capable? Why has, say, Chuck Schumer not been to see him and then come out and confirmed that his Senate colleague is alive and well, etc? I get that there is the question of privacy, but he's a Senator, and he has duties to perform. Why has there been no irrefutable proof that he is alive, and that he is recovering? It is not so much the underlying state of McConnell that is the story, but the apparent secrecy and lack of information around whatever that state is.
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OK, take your point about incapacity. But why doesn't some reporter go sniffing round the sanatorium then and find out? It can't be that hard.
 
Former GOP Congressman Says ....

Adam Kinzinger↱, formerly a GOP congressman from Illinois Eleven, earlier today: "Really think that Gov of Kentucky needs to demand answers or declare the seat vacant".

Hey, does anyone remember the time doctors Texas broke the law in order to keep a corpse on life support as an anti-abortion political stunt?¹ Keeping a corpse on a ventilator in order to tamper with election law seems, by comparison, almost an easy call for, well, who? Republicans?

And therein we find a crux, an intersection of rudimentary decency with a history of indecency. That is, yeah, it kind of speaks poorly of conservatives, but compared to their track record, is it really such an extraordinary suggestion?

To wit, ceteris paribus is not in effect; what ought to sound ridiculous does not stand out so much according to track record.
____________________

Notes:

¹ Hint: 2013-2014↗.​

https://twitter.com/x/status/2079961040649887963
 
exchemist said:
Thank you for this blast of common sense. I think it is a ridiculous conspiracy theory to imagine if had died it would be kept secret from the world, just to help the Republican cause in Congress.

Anyway, wasn’t there a recent video of him sitting up in a hospital bed and talking to his wife?
Click to expand...
I once thought it ridiculous that this country would elect Donald Turnip, twice, and let sizeable chunks of the Constitution be shoved down a well by a grifter/felon. While I agree that overt death, room temperature and sporting a toe tag, is unlikely, I no longer see a GOP (and an enabling nation) where some concealment of a coma/vegetative state can be ruled out.


I think Kinzinger, as Tiassa referenced, is spot on. Mitch needs to wave from a balcony or something, or be considered as having withdrawn from public service.
 
exchemist said:
OK, take your point about incapacity. But why doesn't some reporter go sniffing round the sanatorium then and find out? It can't be that hard.
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And therein lies the rub... as it seems (or seemed) to be just that hard. Which begs the question... or the conspiracy theory. ;)
 
Dems are too busy trying to put out dumpster fires started by MAGA.

The Schrodinger's Cat of Kentucky will eventually be observed by someone and then we'll know if he's dead or alive or vegetative.
 
Doctors are now stating that McConnell has not yet been medically cleared to leave the morgue.

His wife Elaine has reported that Monday he had a lively conversation with Ted Williams' head.
 
"
TheVat said:
Doctors are now stating that McConnell has not yet been medically cleared to leave the morgue.

His wife Elaine has reported that Monday he had a lively conversation with Ted Williams' head.
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According to

www.bbc.com

Trump administration bans new Chinese humanoid robots

The US and China are locked in a race to the lead the world in robotics and artificial intelligence.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
"Trump administration bans new Chinese humanoid robots"

​

What will they replace them with?
 
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