Senator John Kennedy has his events. One of those moments came on Friday when a Gen Z “pretty boy” witness came before a panel to discuss the” crisis” of climate change.
The strange spectacle of Senator Kennedy lightly obliterating the “expert see” — a charming but foolish expert skier — with his trademark elegant Louisiana manner has to be seen to be believed.
The text of the strange trade follows beneath. This actually happened in the U. S. Senate.
Kennedy: What is carbon monoxide?
Schumacher: I went to high school, but carbon monoxide is a oil.
Kennedy: Okay.
Schumacher: I’m not a specialist to talk about carbon monoxide but little, but …
Kennedy: Also, you want us to prohibit it, right?
Schumacher: No.There’s usually going to be carbon monoxide.
Kennedy: Best? So what is it you want us to do? Let me back up because you’re here as an analyst. Show me more about what carbon monoxide is.
Schumacher: I’m here as an expert cross country skier who sees the changes in my seasons and the environment that I live in Alaska. And so carbon monoxide is what I see it as is it’s a fuel that exists in our environment. And …
Kennedy: Is it the major part of our environment?
Schumacher: It’s a big part of our environment, yes.
Kennedy: It’s really a very small portion of our surroundings.
Schumacher: Well, okay. But yeah, I do n’t know. What are you asking precisely?
Kennedy: Well, you say we need to lower carbon dioxide emissions. I’d like to know first if you know what it is you want us to dismantle fossil energy.
Schumacher: I never said that.
Kennedy: You always have said that?
Schumacher: No.
Kennedy: Okay. What do you think we ought to do with fossil energy?
Schumacher: What will we do with geological energy?
Kennedy: Yeah. If we make any changes?
Schumacher: I would like to see a lower in the use of fossil fuels. I think there’s a chance to use more energy technology.
Kennedy: Okay, over what period of time? 10 years, 50 times, a hundred times.
Schumacher: That’s certainly, I would like to see it come as fast as possible while continuing.
Kennedy: How quickly?
Schumacher: Sorry?
Kennedy: How quickly?
Schumacher: I’m not — I do n’t have an answer for that.
Kennedy: No. Okay. You really think, how much will it cost for us to become carbon neutral in the United States by 2050?
Schumacher: I’m not a specialist on that. I do n’t have an answer.
Kennedy: You do n’t have any idea?
Schumacher: No.
Kennedy: You really believe we ought to spend the money.
Schumacher: I’m hardly an analyst.
Kennedy: Yeah, but it’s going to charge money. You realize that.
Schumacher: Yeah, but we’ve also talked about the business off of what the cost of culture change as crises may cost in the future also.
Kennedy: Right, but it’s going to charge trillions of dollars to be carbon neutral by 2050, best?
Schumacher: I do not know.
Kennedy:  , You do n’t know. You only think we ought to do it.
Schumacher: I do n’t have a great answer for you, but I think I..
Kennedy: If we spent those trillions of dollars and became coal neutral by 2050 in the United States, which you advocate, how much will it minimize world conditions?
Schumacher: I do n’t have an answer for that.
Kennedy: You do n’t know?
Schumacher: No.  ,
Kennedy: You really think we’re had to spend the money and then see what happens.
Schumacher: I think as an athlete, I think if we spend that money and participate in our future, maybe those conditions stop rising and maybe the frost at least stabilizes where it is for me. But yeah, I do n’t think anyone knows for sure. I do n’t know. Yeah.
Kennedy: Well, when my colleagues ask testimony to come to us to show us, guide us on passing policy, I always check out the history of our testimony. I’d like to hear who I’m talking to. I checked yours out in a Schumacher, and I want to be sure I understand it as I analyze your evidence.
On June 8th, 2020, you tweeted, I’m going to price,’ The War on drugs was consciously created to prosecute black folks en mass.’ The war on drugs, you said was’ consciously created to prosecute black folks en masse’ who willfully created the war on drugs to throw black people in prisons. Who were you talking to?
Schumacher: I do n’t remember typing that.
Kennedy: You do n’t? No. It’s on your Twitter feed.
Schumacher: Maybe a retweet. I do n’t know. I have n’t used that in a while. It does n’t seem …
Kennedy: Well, even if a retweet it shows your support, right?
Schumacher: Maybe. Yeah. But it’s not the topic of this conversation. Right?
Kennedy: Right. But it has to do with, you’re here giving us advice and I just kind of like to know a little bit more about your…
Schumacher: I mean, I’m here as an athlete giving you my story and what I’ve seen in my field.
Kennedy: On August 27th, 2020, you tweeted this quote, I’m going to quote,’ police are paid with taxpayer dollars. If they are not answerable to us, we can demand new service, and that’s what this is. Abolish the police in favor of that new service.’ You think we ought to abolish the police?
Schumacher: Again, not the topic I’m here to talk about today.
Kennedy: I know, but you tweeted it. Do you think we ought to abolish some police?
Schumacher: That’s not what I’m here to talk about.
Kennedy: Should we do that before or after we get rid of fossil fuels?
Schumacher: I’m not going to address that.
Kennedy: You do n’t want to address it. Okay. Let me ask you about one more of your tweets. On August 26th, 2020, you tweeted, there’s a picture, I’m not going to describe the picture, but you said quote your words, not mine. It’s on your Twitter feed, quote,’ This is what systemic racism looks like. The Los Angeles Police Department is literally policing only the Black Lives Matter side.’ What’d you mean by that?
Schumacher: This is still off topic.
Kennedy: No, it’s not. You’re here as an expert telling us, advising us, and I’m asking you about your background.
Schumacher: I’m here as an athlete to talk about the effects of climate change on my sport.
Kennedy: Okay. Let’s go back. Well, I’m almost out of time.
Whitehouse: Well out of time, and we have other senators waiting, so please wrap up when you have a moment.
Kennedy: Alright. Thank you all for your testimony. Excuse me.
*End scene. *
There were some great reactions to the spectacle on X.
” Senator John Kennedy vs Pretty Boy Gen Z ‘ Expert Witness.’ This is like watching a movie”, remarked Dinesh D’Souza.
” None of these climate activists do cost- benefit analyses, nor do they care about the ramifications of putting into place their destructive policies”, added political commentator Kyle Becker. ” If it kills millions of people and ruins the economy, so be it. All they really care about is their narcissistic virtue- signaling”.
” Well, if you did n’t buy into the’ climate emergency, narrative before, surely listening to this ski bro has brought you around”, quipped Fauxmaha.
Follow Kyle Becker on X @kylenabecker. You can also read his work at thekylebecker.com.
