With the chatter of another government shutdown echoing through the halls of Congress like a broken record playing an old hit nobody wants to hear, one might wonder how America finds itself on the verge of déjà vu. But fear not, for Louisiana’s own Senator John Kennedy is ready to enlighten us, in his colorful and unfailingly direct way, on just who is responsible for this financial cliffhanger. According to him, the Democrats might want to reconsider their leading roles in this sequel, lest they repeat past mistakes. Last time, they orchestrated quite the spectacle of blame-shifting, but the curtain fell with a last-minute truce called to reopen a shuttered government. Let’s hope this time they opt for an encore in pragmatism rather than in shutdown drama.
Turning the page to a more tangible concern for Americans, their wallets, Kennedy pinpoints the economic aches and pains right at the doorstep of President Biden and his cohorts. Inflated to 9% under the Biden watch, the economy’s recovery has come down to a more manageable 3% thanks in no small part to the savvy actions of Republicans and President Trump. But Kennedy says the task isn’t complete and there’s still a way to go before the economy stops resembling a fizzy soda in need of a cap. Proposals to cut healthcare costs, reduce housing expenses, and strategically revise the tax code are ready to roll, he explains. However, they seem to gather dust, much like those weights in the gym that some Senators prefer to ignore, courtesy of the Democrat’s reluctance to flex their legislative muscles.
When quizzed about the Democrats’ promises of free rides to everything from education to the fanciful “free kittens”, Kennedy bursts that bubble with characteristic wit. It’s no secret, he points out, that every so-called freebie has someone footing the actual bill. That’s a lesson in economics 101, and it’s surprising anyone still needs a refresher. But Kennedy is confident the electorate is wise to this game of make-believe freebies and will see through these half-baked promises when heading to the ballot box.
In terms of the midterm elections, Kennedy again gets a chance to show off his flair for allegory when discussing congressional turnover and those who’ve decided to bow out of the political circus. For those not prepared to put their all into serving constituents, perhaps a graceful exit now is best, complete with a bump on the rear courtesy of the closing door. A shake-up isn’t necessarily bad, he implies, especially if it clears the way for new voices and fresh ideas, or as he says, getting the “pigs out of the creek.”
Finally, there’s Kennedy’s stance on immigration, one he delivers with the clarity of a well-placed dart. While the topic stirs fervor and righteous indignation from critics, Kennedy ties it to a simple principle: legal means legal, and illegal is, quite obviously, not. With law enforcement doing its due diligence, he shows little patience for those who want to play fast and loose with federal law. There’s no mystery, he retorts, about a president—or indeed any president—choosing to enforce the law. The only head-scratchers here are those who can’t seem to grasp that reality.
