Is the reference to “Weekend at Bernie’s,” the silly cult hit from 1989 about two guys lugging a corpse around, too obscure now? Remember?
But I digress. In addition to that awful film, the current machinations of the Republican Party to conceal the presumably dire and maybe even Bernie-like condition of former Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell is disturbingly redolent of how the Democrats humiliated the late Senator Diane Feinstein in her dotage in 2023.
“The party’s reduction of Senator Diane Feinstein, 90, once a sharp and professional Senator from California, but now a sick, mentally-diminished shell, to its marionette is particularly ugly. Last week, Feinstein relinquished the power of attorney to her daughter, a tacit admission that she was no longer competent to handle her own affairs. Yet she remains in a position that requires her to participate in decisions regarding the affairs of the United States and its many millions of citizens. How could she be incapable of acting in her own interest but still qualified to do the job her constituents (foolishly) elected her to do? Obviously, she can’t.
“Feinstein had already begun to display disturbing signs of age-related cognitive decline before a series of health issues sent her into medical earlier this year. She was missing from the Senate for months, and when she returned appeared frail and confused. Since returning to Washington DC, she has appeared frail and has shown the public several alarming mental lapses. She should resign, of course, but may no longer have the requisite mental acuity to understand that she should resign. Her party, meanwhile, is perfectly satisfied to allow her to embarrass herself and scar her reputation as a distinguished public servant as long as she allows it to pull her strings so Democrats can maintain their filament-thin majority in the Senate…”
McConnell is arguably worse off than Feinstein, since he may be dead. From the Washington Post:
Ethics Alarms 
Senator Mitch McConnell should have retired from the Senate as soon as he was replaced as the Republican Senate Leader.
I’ll finish the obvious- His remaining vital organs are merely catching up to his already dead brain!
I’ve always liked Barrasso and have been pleased with him in the Senate. I certainly hope he’s being honest, that he did actually speak with McConnell, and that McConnell is actually recovering.
If McConnell is dead, and the Republicans are hiding it, the question is why? Cui bono? Dead or alive, McConnell is not voting. Is the problem that a special election would have to be held so close to the general election? In reading Kentucky HB622, which took away the Governor’s limited power of appointment in favor an election, notice of a special election has to percolate 56 days prior to the election. If the announcement went out today, the special election could not occur until September 1st. Whoever would be elected would then, presumably, have to campaign again for the November election. Is this just too messy? Too quick?
If the concern is the proximity of the special election to the general election, maybe the silence is bipartisan. Maybe neither party wants to fight the legal battle and divert even more funds to the campaign. Maybe it is neater and less of a distraction if McConnel remains in critical condition until November, when he can then sadly, finally, pass away?
I was strongly tempted to send this story to you. I refrained for one simple reason: it appears, at this point, that the Senate is in recess. Right now, there is no business to do. General updates (“he’s recovering”), if true, are, in the words of Baron Von Raschke, “all the people need to know!”
Caveats: if he is dead, that must be disclosed; if there is work to be done (an emergency session is called) and he can’t do it (it sounds like he missed some votes), an explanation is warranted; once recess is over, if he is not able to return to duty and has no reasonable expectation of doing so, he should step down.
Further caveats: Yes, elected officials should be held to a higher standard for disclosure. But, the public is not entitled to know everything. If he had a heart attack and is recovering, does the public need to know that? Sure. If the doctors say it is too early to tell when he will be able to resume his duties, does that need to be disclosed? I would say no, all you are doing is reporting an unknown.
To me, a lot depended on the Legislature being out of session right now.
-Jut
Per report on MSN, Scott Jennings of CNN spoke to Mitch McConnell this morning. He was alive as of then.
But is Donald Trump sleeping in meetings? Inquiring minds want to know.