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Algernon Moncrieff

(5,780 posts)
Sun Aug 26, 2018, 11:55 AM Aug 2018

538 What John McCain's Death Means For The Senate

John McCain’s political legacy is likely to be the subject of conversation and reflection for quite a while after his death on Saturday. But his Arizona Senate seat probably won’t stay vacant for long. Gov. Doug Ducey of Arizona will appoint McCain’s replacement, and the Republican can select someone as soon as he wants. I expect him to land on a replacement within the next two weeks, maybe even sooner (it has been clear for months that McCain was close to death and might need to be replaced). Ducey’s choice is likely to be sworn into the Senate within a few days of being chosen — and then become a fairly reliable vote for initiatives backed by President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

So what kind of politician should we expect Ducey to land on for McCain’s replacement, and what will that choice mean for the future of the Senate, President Trump’s Supreme Court nomination and national politics in general?

...

Some (journalists and pundit types) have floated the idea of Ducey picking McCain’s widow, Cindy McCain, for the seat. According to the Arizona Republic, the past few months, Cindy McCain, 64, has been speaking on behalf of the senator at events he could not attend because of his health. We don’t know much about Cindy McCain’s political views. And that uncertainty is why I don’t expect Ducey to choose her. I think Ducey is likely to pick someone who is a reliable Republican vote — picking someone without a clear record on many issues is an inherent risk.

Ducey is not a McCain-style Republican himself and has no incentive to appoint someone who occasionally breaks with the GOP’s priorities, as McCain did. To sum up the governor’s politics briefly: Ducey is a fairly traditional Republican on policy (he is a strong backer of cutting taxes, limiting abortion rights and expanding gun rights), doesn’t have a record of bucking his party on major issues and has built some fairly strong ties to President Trump and the White House. He seems to have presidential aspirations, so choosing a replacement for McCain who is liked by key party activists and donors could help him there.


https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-john-mccains-death-means-for-the-senate/
6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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1. So The Senate Becomes The Supreme Court
Sun Aug 26, 2018, 12:00 PM
Aug 2018

Moderate Kennedy leaves, and we get someone far more partisan and conservative.

Same happens here.

The Fucking Continues.

SharonClark

(10,005 posts)
2. "Some (journalists and pundit types) have floated the idea of Ducey picking McCain's widow,"
Sun Aug 26, 2018, 12:00 PM
Aug 2018

Pundits floating ideas and journalists reporting them as if they were real news makes me scream.
Why do I think Chris Mathews is behind this?

lapfog_1

(29,166 posts)
5. It's not unheard of... but I think in this case Ducey will pick someone even more conservative
Sun Aug 26, 2018, 12:17 PM
Aug 2018

Cindy probably would vote to uphold the ACA when the repukes AGAIN attempt to kill it. And you know they will between now and the midterms.

Remains to be seen if Flake or Corker will go against party and maintain the legacy of McCain (and vote a "thumbs down" on the repeal).

riversedge

(69,727 posts)
3. With the addition of a reliable McConnell ally, the Senate's partisan breakdown returns to 51-49,
Sun Aug 26, 2018, 12:01 PM
Aug 2018

just in time for SC vote. damn



.......What will the new Arizona senator mean for national politics?

A new occupant of McCain’s seat is good news for McConnell, Trump and Republicans who want the party to largely follow the edicts of those two GOP leaders. McCain was largely absent from public life while he was receiving treatment for brain cancer, and during that time, the Senate was split 50-49 in favor of the GOP. That meant one Republican defection could kill any bill. With 51 active Republicans, one defection still left room for Vice President Mike Pence to cast a tie-breaking vote in favor of McConnell and the president. With 50, Pence’s vote isn’t enough as long as one Republican sides with the opposition.

With the addition of a reliable McConnell ally, the Senate’s partisan breakdown returns to 51-49, giving Republican leadership some breathing room. Retiring Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, a Trump critic who occasionally bucks party leadership, will have less power to stall Senate GOP initiatives. That could help the party get more federal judges appointed, a big priority for Trump and McConnell. (I don’t think the return to full strength in the Senate will mean much for other issues, because the Republicans aren’t really trying to push through major initiatives before the midterms.)

MiniMe

(21,677 posts)
4. I think he will appoint Kelli Ward who said McCain timed his announcement to ruin
Sun Aug 26, 2018, 12:14 PM
Aug 2018

her campaign for Flake's Senate seat.

LenaBaby61

(6,965 posts)
6. I think he will appoint Kelli Ward who said McCain timed his announcement to ruin.
Sun Aug 26, 2018, 12:59 PM
Aug 2018

Yeah, she's evil, rotten AND bat-shit crazy.

OF COURSE she fits right in with an evil, bat-shit crazy thuglican party, as Arizona's new Senator.

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