Honestly, I wish they wouldn’t. This motherfucker is not just holding his general Senate seat vacant, he’s also holding a couple of very powerful committee seats he has vacant, robbing the Republicans not just of his floor vote but of his committee votes. He’s chair of Rules and a member of Appropriations, as well as holding a number of lesser assignments that are still important as the orange chancre is actively destroying whatever still allows us to have a functioning government.
Legislation has to go through committee before it ever hits the Senate floor for debate, meaning that McConnell is and has been absolutely crucial to moving forward legislation enabling Trump and stopping any checks on it before it even gets to a vote. Appropriations is possibly the most powerful committee in the Senate anyway, but pay very special attention to the kind of legislation that has to pass Rules first, for example:
Corrupt practices (this refers to US election law);
Credentials and qualifications of Members of the Senate, contested elections, and acceptance of incompatible offices;
Federal elections generally, including the election of the President, Vice President, and Members of the Congress;
Nominations to fill a vacancy in the Vice Presidency;
Presidential succession;
United States Capitol and congressional office buildings, …the Smithsonian Institution (which is under direct fire right now as the Republicans are desperately trying to rewrite American history and erase the record of slavery wherever they can)
Again, McConnell is chair of Rules. You really want that motherfucker’s committee assignments filled? Not to mention that it is the Senate that confirms presidential appointments, such as Attorney General and Director of National Intelligence, both of which are filled right now with incompetent (and worse) men actively seeking confirmation.
So for as many people want McConnell to prove he’s alive, and for as much as I’d like to see his handlers sweat as they continue to enable his fraud of pretending he will ever return to his position, I say let the motherfucker rot. I know Gov Beshear is trying to do right by Kentuckians who deserve to be represented in the Senate, but for myself I’m not entirely sure McConnell ever represented anyone beyond himself.
Yes, for every chair there is a Ranking Member of the minority party, and committee assignments are readily shuffled. This is true of both the House and the Senate.
Usually it’s not a big deal. But nothing can be done by anyone until and unless there is a formal vacancy. That would be created by either McConnell himself announcing he will not be back, or he is somehow proven dead or incapacitated. That seems to be what his party is trying very hard to hold off.
Thanks. I almost wonder if Beshear is thinking along the same lines because anything he does to address the practical absence is going to be litigated far beyond the election itself, so maybe (I don’t know, this is just a guess) he’s doing just enough to be able to prosecute the fraud when the dust settles. It’s as viable a course as any other.
Honestly, I wish they wouldn’t. This motherfucker is not just holding his general Senate seat vacant, he’s also holding a couple of very powerful committee seats he has vacant, robbing the Republicans not just of his floor vote but of his committee votes. He’s chair of Rules and a member of Appropriations, as well as holding a number of lesser assignments that are still important as the orange chancre is actively destroying whatever still allows us to have a functioning government.
Legislation has to go through committee before it ever hits the Senate floor for debate, meaning that McConnell is and has been absolutely crucial to moving forward legislation enabling Trump and stopping any checks on it before it even gets to a vote. Appropriations is possibly the most powerful committee in the Senate anyway, but pay very special attention to the kind of legislation that has to pass Rules first, for example:
Again, McConnell is chair of Rules. You really want that motherfucker’s committee assignments filled? Not to mention that it is the Senate that confirms presidential appointments, such as Attorney General and Director of National Intelligence, both of which are filled right now with incompetent (and worse) men actively seeking confirmation.
So for as many people want McConnell to prove he’s alive, and for as much as I’d like to see his handlers sweat as they continue to enable his fraud of pretending he will ever return to his position, I say let the motherfucker rot. I know Gov Beshear is trying to do right by Kentuckians who deserve to be represented in the Senate, but for myself I’m not entirely sure McConnell ever represented anyone beyond himself.
Let his chairs remain vacant.
Is there a way for the Senate to reassign those committee seats to someone else? Do chairs have deputies or similar?
Yes, for every chair there is a Ranking Member of the minority party, and committee assignments are readily shuffled. This is true of both the House and the Senate.
Usually it’s not a big deal. But nothing can be done by anyone until and unless there is a formal vacancy. That would be created by either McConnell himself announcing he will not be back, or he is somehow proven dead or incapacitated. That seems to be what his party is trying very hard to hold off.
Woah, good to know. Thanks for the response!
Interesting perspective that I hadn’t considered. Excellent points.
Thanks. I almost wonder if Beshear is thinking along the same lines because anything he does to address the practical absence is going to be litigated far beyond the election itself, so maybe (I don’t know, this is just a guess) he’s doing just enough to be able to prosecute the fraud when the dust settles. It’s as viable a course as any other.