Democrats' lose grip on Senate while Leahy recovers from fall

[riversedge]

Source: yahoo



Thu, June 30, 2022 at 7:42 AM·1 min read






WASHINGTON (Reuters) - .......................

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Leahy, who is third in line to the U.S. presidency given his role as Senate president pro tempore, broke his hip at his house in the northern Virginia suburbs outside Washington, his office said on Thursday, adding that he is expected to make a full recovery.


"Having been born blind in one eye, the Senator has had a lifelong struggle with reduced depth perception. He has taken some remarkable dingers over the years but this one finally caught up with him," his office said in a statement.

While Leahy has said he will not seek re-election in the Nov. 8 midterm elections, his vote is critical in the 50-50 split Senate where Democratic U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris holds the tie-breaking vote.
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Democrats are seeking to maintain their hold on the chamber in November, and the seat Leahy has held since 1974 is still seen as leaning Democratic...................

Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/democrats-lose-grip-senate-while-124215783.html?ncid=twitter_yahoonewst_sjwumo1bpf4

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I wish Leahy well but it takes a long time to heal elderly bones. I know--my very elderly mom took a tumble a few years back, it was a summer of nothing but problems for her.. Yes. she has recovered and is toddling around the house with her walker.

[bottomofthehill]

1. Yep, it's that close

[CentralMass]

2. Prayers for a speedy and full recovery for Senator Leahy.

[tetedur]

3. He can't call in his vote?

I thought since Covid 19 the legislature could do things like that. . . .

[rso]

5. Leahy

In the House yes, but not in the Senate.

[tetedur]

6. Thank you I did not know that.

[dchill]

4. Then maybe Cruz and Hawley should be arrested for...

...sedition. That would more than even things up.

[Xoan]

7. +2

[Hassin Bin Sober]

9. .

[Lulu KC]

11. LOVE n/t

[questionseverything]

16. 8 repub senators were in on the planning of the overthrow of our government

They all need arrested

[dchill]

26. I'll take it!

[Rebl2]

21. I agree

[Traildogbob]

8. Please Please

Some one post one good news story today. All the Court hell passed today and our tiny little majority rule being threatened by our senior leader health, plus Manchinema clown show, I need one good thing. The country and democracy is dependent on the tiniest of threads. Hell make something up. Why can’t that fat old physical disaster have a health take down. Maybe while senators are on the July 4th Moscow Jamboree, we could hold session and vote. Maybe a Ukrainian hero could use a surface to air missile we provided and shoot down the plane flying Ron Johnson (while on his phone to trump) et al into Moscow this weekend. I feel like the wicked witch of the west after a bucket of water was thrown on me. Or the Fly…….heeelp Meeeee!

[Magoo48]

23. OK

https://fb.watch/dZDpTOXaKD/

[jimfields33]

12. They mean no bills can come to the floor until he's back

Good news is summer recess is coming and they won’t be back in session until after Labor Day when he may be back to the senate.

[Lulu KC]

13. I'm looking for teeny-tiny rays of sunshine

There can be no nominees confirmed/not confirmed while he is gone unless a GOP member is also gone.
I hate to think of the mischief that can happen during this time, but am really missing Eric Boehlert as I read headlines.

[jaxexpat]

15. Isn't the "grip" on the senate the purview of the majority leader?

That's how I remember Mitch handling it. He never let anything through unless it was in his interests.

It does, however, place Vermont's Republican governor in a potentially powerful place. Possibly in control on the senate, at least until November's winning candidates are sworn in, January 2023.

[karynnj]

18. Scott was on record before the last election that if Sanders were to leave for an administration

position, he would honor the Vermont voters by replacing him (until the next election) by a similar independent. Given that statement and Vermont, I suspect that he would follow through if Leahy needed replacement. He is up for re-election, but the Democrat is not all that viable. Viable Democrats opted not to run in that race.

I hope that Senator Leahy will be able to return (obviously in a wheel chair soon after his surgery.

[867-5309.]

17. Does this just mean he's unable to vote?

We're still considered the majority party, right?

[elleng]

25. Right, still hold the majority.

I suspect he/we'll come up with mechanisms to address the issue, when his vote is critical; this happened @ his house in Virginia, NOT in Vermont.

[jaxexpat]

30. Patrick will fit on a gurney.

There's a way to get him wheeled onto the senate floor if necessary.

[Marthe48]

19. Wouldn't think Sen. Leahy is the one with a vision problem

The r.w. traitors and criminals are the ones turning a blind eye.

[slumcamper]

20. We need some younger blood in leadership ranks, folks.

I'm old myself, but our party leadership is near-fossilization. This is really getting bad.

[Rebl2]

22. Absolutely!

[DownriverDem]

27. Please focus

on winning elections in November. We don't need the "old folks" complaint over and over. It's up to the voters who serves.

[elleng]

24. Darn!

Didn't know about his partial blindness. Seems to have done well in spite of it.

[Omen78]

28. We should start thinking about

Electing a younger group of democrats. 3rd in line in succession to the President, breaks a hip at 82. 2nd in line is also 82 years old.

JMHO...

[Vinca]

29. The Senate's a giant stalemate anyway, so it won't make much difference.

Leahy isn't running for re-election and Peter Welch is the favorite to win that election so the seat will stay in Democratic hands. I wish Senator Leahy a speedy recovery. He could be back at it sooner than you think what with the advances in orthopedic surgery.

[Icanthinkformyself]

31. Elders

have much to offer the next generation of (fill in the blank) in the way of institutional knowledge that only comes with experience. There comes a time, however, when the current leaders need to step back, give the next in line the opportunity while staying around to offer guidance in the background. There's the bubble wrap problem as well. Politicians tend to hang around long past there use by date. Elder Democrats, IMHO, are in a bubble wrap and don't perceive the danger Republicans pose to democracy. They need to take a step back and let the new leaders emerge.
Good luck Senator.
PS Retirement can be very rewarding.

[karynnj]

32. I have seen many 70/80 year Olds recover well from hip replacement

Per today's news, that is what was done. The hospital said it went well and he can start physical therapy. Clearly, it is likely he will be able to walk. He is in far better shape to come in to vote when needed than either Kennedy or Byrd in 2009. So many of these issues have been important to him over a lifetime.