Actually, Kentucky is a special case, as the heavily Republican legislature passed a law (over the Democratic Governor's veto) specifically removing the right of the Governor to pick a replacement. Now, in the case of any vacancy, the Governor's only role is to schedule the special election.
But, if it's too close to the General Election, then the governor is obligated to fold the special election in with the General. The current theory on the Internet is that Republicans are stringing this out so that happens, because they are afraid if there is a special election then Thomas Massie would win it.
After some thought, that seems unlikely to me. Even if a special election is held, it would only be for the remainder of McConnell's term, which is up at the end of the year. So, that would mean that Republicans are more comfortable leaving the seat vacant (and reducing their majority) for a few more months rather than risk Massie getting the job for a few months. (And although Massie is an anti-Trumper, he is still a Republican, and will likely be a reliable vote on all sorts of evil shit for them)
It's always dangerous when we try to apply technical solutions to what are essentially social problems. Because then the task isn't necessarily "how can I improve my behavior", but it's "how can I get around this tech".
I have long believed that this interlock nonsense is really just a way to punish poor people for DUIs while making sure that rich people can still continue to not face consequences for them by paying to get out of jail. After all, it would be cheaper for all involved to just suspend someone's license entirely (and impound their car), even after they get out of jail. But then there is no opportunity for rich people to use their connections and wealth to get around the rules.
Just wait until it gets integrated into that database ICE is using that can tell them who is a citizen and who isn't, just by looking. Then it will shut the car off if the driver looks drowsy, drunk, or the wrong shade of brown.
The primary elections for the normal election cycle have already happened. Massie did not run for a Senate seat in those because he ran for his House seat, and lost.
This special election would be a different electio under different rules, and now that he knows he's not going to his old seat he is available to run.
So, if they delay, they leave no opportunity for that special election, and Massie has nothing to run for. It definitely seems fitting that Republicans would scheme to leave a seat vacant, rather than there be a chance of it going to a Republican that Trump doesn't like.
But he's the Next One Up, he's already got the nomination. The primary is a formality.
The last time the DNC let a grassroots candidate take over and ruin the plans for the Next One Up, we got 8 years of a young, transformative President. They're not gonna let that happen again under their watch!
Six years is too short a term. I think you want a longer term length, because you want change to happen, just not all at once. The real problem with the SCOTUS is that it's all up to chance when a spot opens up, and since appointments are currently lifetime appointments if you get a judge on the court who is in their 40's they could serve 40+ years. Republicans were able to engineer a Majority on the Court, in spite of only holding the Presidency for six years since 2008.
If we had term limits, though, then SCOTUS seats would come up for appointment regularly. The impact of filling one sudden vacancy isnt as great if each President was guaranteed to be able to nominate a few every term.
If the Court stays at 9, I would be in favor of 18 year terms. Or, we could increase to 13, and make the terms 13 years. Both scenarios with strict one-term limits. This makes it so a one-term President can't nominate enough judges to totally remake a court, and if would take about a decade for the Court to really turn over to the point that it might make different rulings.
This shouldnt surprise us. This is how Oligarchs like Musk intend to turn the US into an oligarchy like Russia. They don't need to hack the vote counts if they can hack voters' minds and do their thinking for them....
Why are they using public transit? Isn't that what communists use? Should be they be driving their private, gas-guzzling vehicles, complete with Truck Nutz?
If we ever do get a Democratic President again, he* should do all the same shit to Republican states. Only, he should be transparent about it: "I am only doing this because Donald Trump set the precedent that it can be done. Send me a bill to constrain Presidential powers, and I will sign it. Also, send me a bill to add 4 more justices to the Supreme Court and I will sign that too, so the corrupt fucks there don't undo it."
= Yes, it will be a "he". If the last three elections have taught me anything, it's that Americans are too misogynist to elect a woman as President right now. Democrats ran three essentially identical candidates againt Trump after all, and only one won. This is why, if AOC is as smart as I think she is, she will wait 20 years before running for President....
Beshear is a politician, he's already most of the way there