(thursday Po) Mitch McConnell appears to freeze again while talking to reporters in Kentucky

[GuideToACrazyWorld]

https://www.npr.org/2023/08/30/11968349 ... ezes-again

Sen. Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze momentarily at an event in Covington, Ky., after having been asked by a reporter about running for reelection in 2026.

It's the second time that the 81-year-old Republican seemed briefly unable to speak in public in a little over a month.

At Wednesday's press conference in Northern Kentucky, McConnell trailed off and paused after he was asked whether he would run for reelection. A staffer then joined McConnell at the podium and repeated the question for him.

In all, the six-term senator silently held on to the podium silently for about 30 seconds and failed to answer the posed question.
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McConnell then fielded two more questions. In response to a question about Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron's bid for governor to unseat Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, he said he thought it would be a "very close race." When asked about former President Donald Trump's indictment in Georgia he said he "wasn't going to comment on the presidential race." Both times, an aide repeated the reporters' questions for the senator.

According to McConnell spokesperson Stephanie Penn, the senator was feeling "momentarily lightheaded" during the news conference. A member of McConnell's office said he would consult a doctor before his next engagement.

At a weekly news conference in the U.S. Capitol in late July, McConnell appeared to suffer a similar incident. He froze mid-sentence for roughly 30 seconds and then was led away. He returned to answer more questions afterwards.

When reporters asked him about that incident and whether it was related to his health issues after a fall earlier this year when he suffered a concussion, he said, "I'm fine," and told reporters he was able to do his job.

McConnell has appeared and spoken at several events since then, including the raucous Fancy Farm political picnic in western Kentucky, where he promised that it wouldn't be his last appearance.
Sen. Mitch McConnell's health issues spotlight Kentucky's succession process
Politics
Sen. Mitch McConnell's health issues spotlight Kentucky's succession process

In a news briefing later Wednesday, President Biden said he had just heard about McConnell's latest episode when asked about it by a reporter.

"We have disagreements politically, but he's a good friend," Biden said. "So I'm going to try and get in touch with him later this afternoon. I don't know enough to know."

McConnell's health concerns have come amid increased scrutiny of the aging members of Congress. It also raised questions about changes to how Kentucky replaces its U.S. senators in the event of a vacancy.
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While the U.S. Constitution allows legislatures to empower governors to appoint replacements, a select few states have placed additional restrictions. In Kentucky, the state legislature passed a law in 2021 requiring the governor to choose from a list of three potential appointees selected by the party of the departing senator. That change happened in 2021, shortly after McConnell won reelection.

[GuideToACrazyWorld]

Something isn't right and this doesn't look like age related decline. I'm actually worried about him. And no, I'm not a fan, but I hate to see anyone go through this.

[Tarmaque]

Something isn't right and this doesn't look like age related decline. I'm actually worried about him. And no, I'm not a fan, but I hate to see anyone go through this.

I think the real problem here is the denial that age related illness hits everyone. It's time for McConnell to retire. Hell, it's long past time. But the real issue here is should anyone be able to hold office into their 80's and 90's? This isn't ageism, but practicality. I've personally known at least one person who was active and mentally with it right up to a few months before his 105th birthday, but he is the exception rather than the rule. I know quite a few people in their 80's and none of them as as mentally acute as they were in their 60's.

Should we take a chance on our elected officials who are approaching 80 that they will be one of the incredible minority who retain their faculties? I say no. I am strongly in favor of a mandatory retirement age of 75 for all federal officials, from President to Senators and Representatives, and including Supreme Court Justices.

Will we be forcing some individuals who are still vibrant and still have sharply acute thinking processes? Almost certainly. However I'm willing to take that chance in order to keep the clearly no longer suited to the job out of the decision making positions.

What happens when Joe Biden wins the election, and starts drooling and is unable to answer questions? This is a very real possibility. Sure he may be just fine and make it another 5 years from today, but the odds are against him. I don't want to chance it.

[GuideToACrazyWorld]

But the real issue here is should anyone be able to hold office into their 80's and 90's?

The fact that they still want to work at that age should be evidence enough that something isn't right...

I kid. I kid

[Tarmaque]

The fact that they still want to work at that age should be evidence enough that something isn't right...

I kid. I kid

No you don't. No you don't.

Realistically though, it isn't about wanting to work so much as it is being addicted to power. These people never wanted to work; they wanted to be in charge. Particularly McConnell.

[GuideToACrazyWorld]

Realistically though, it isn't about wanting to work so much as it is being addicted to power. These people never wanted to work; they wanted to be in charge. Particularly McConnell.

The best no show job available.