Folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one. A bipartisan effort to protect the Kennedy Center from demolition was blocked by a lone Republican senator, Mike Lee of Utah. I mean, who doesn’t love a good bipartisan effort, right? It’s not every day you see Democrats and Republicans coming together, but I guess that’s just not enough to get things done in Washington. The bill, which was introduced by Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley, aimed to prevent the demolition of any presidential memorial, including the Kennedy Center, without congressional approval.
The bill’s supporters tried to pass it through a fast-track process, but any single senator can object to such a request. And, boy, did Sen. Lee ever object. He didn’t even give a statement on his opposition, which is just peachy. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the fact that President Trump was photographed reviewing a poster that said “Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED” earlier this month. That’s just a coincidence, right?
The whole thing started when the Trump administration told a judge that the Kennedy Center had to be closed due to “structural deterioration.” But, of course, that was just hours after Trump was seen with that poster. I’m no expert, but it seems like someone might be trying to send a message. Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley and his co-sponsors, including GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski, were trying to prevent just that.
Merkley had some strong words on the Senate floor, saying that Trump wants to “wipe Kennedy’s name off” the center and take it over for himself. He also said that the bill is about “standing up for the rule of law, the separation of powers, and the fact that we are a republic.” You can’t make this stuff up, folks. It’s like a bad soap opera, but with more politics and less romance.
The bill’s sponsors are trying to protect a memorial that’s important to a lot of people. As Merkley said, it’s a place where people go to remember John Kennedy, and it’s a part of our nation’s history. But, I guess that’s not enough to get Sen. Lee on board. Somewhere in Atlanta, a producer thought this sounded terrifying, and now we’ve got a big ol’ controversy on our hands.
In the end, it’s just another day in Washington, where nothing seems to get done, and everyone’s just trying to score points. But, hey, at least we’ve got a good story to tell. And who knows, maybe someday we’ll get to see the Kennedy Center demolished and replaced with a big, shiny Trump Tower. Just kidding, folks, I hope that never happens. The thought alone is enough to make me need another cup of coffee.
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
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