Sen. John Kennedy Goes Full Beast Mode on Cowardly Colleague: 'By God, Stand Up and Face the Unpaid!'

I'll say it plainly: Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) is a national treasure. I mean, I think I'm pretty fluent in the delivery of folksy aphorisms, but Senator Kennedy has me beat six ways from Sunday. More to the point, Senator Kennedy is a man with a well-developed sense of propriety, which has led him to propose that, as long as some members of the Senate (Democrats) are blocking legislation that would get Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees paid, then the Senate shouldn't get paid, either.

Seems only fair, yes? On Sunday, while the matter was being debated, and while Senator Kennedy had the floor, he moved for a motion to cut off every Senator's pay until TSA was getting paid. 

The post continues: 

It may be cynical but it's true: if I were king for a day...I would provide that members of Congress can't be PAID during a shutdown, and I would provide that members of Congress can't leave Washington DC during a shutdown! 

I can't pass the 2nd part of that. So I'm gonna try to pass the 1st part of that!

Here's where things went south. Next, there was an objection, apparently from Democrat Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) - who then fled the chamber, leaving the proceedings and Senator Kennedy baffled. Watch:

Again, the post continues:

KENNEDY, stunned: "He objected and LEFT THE CHAMBER. Is he COMING BACK?"

 "Wait, I mean, is he ill?!" "What should I do, should I give him more time?" 

He wants to BLOCK TSA pay and won't face the American people. Shameful!

It's not clear what happened exactly, as the camera was on Senator Kennedy - but you can hear, faintly, the shout of "Objection," which was recognized - and then Senator Schatz... He fled. He grew feathers. He bailed. He ran. Like brave Sir Robin, he bravely ran away.

I've watched a few House and Senate proceedings, and I have to admit, I've never seen that before.

---

Read More: Sen. Kennedy's Epic Takedown of Keir Starmer for Failure to Step Up on Iran

Sen. Kennedy Calls Out Susan Rice As Only He Can for Being Latest Dem Not Trying to Hide Their Agenda

---

That's when Senator Kennedy went beast mode, and it was glorious.

Senator Kennedy shouted:

If a member of this body disagrees with what I'm doing, they by God they ought to come down here and stand up in front of the United States Senate, and stand up in front of the American people, and stand up in front of God and stand up in front of (the) country, and stand up in front of all these people, these good people who aren't being paid, and say 'here's why.' Maybe we need to change the Senate rule, Mr. President.

Unless we later learn that Senator Schatz did, as Senator Kennedy graciously suggested, suddenly fall ill, then this was a perfectly shameful performance. This is the United States Senate. This august institution is supposed to include members who can marshal arguments and present them coherently. It is unworthy of the Senate to house a coward who yells out an objection and flees, just to halt a resolution - a resolution aimed at upping the incentive to get TSA agents, federal employees, paid again.

There are mutterings that Senator Schatz is being considered to replace Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as the Democrats' Senate leader. I can think of worse choices - but only just.