JOE KENNEY

Joe Kenney wants the bloggers to compose a new list of enemies. He thinks we're too hard on the county judge, the mayor, the superintendent, the developers and host of other pillars of the community.  
 
Kenney is from that line of Irishmen who tried to find common ground with the British. You don't break bread with the enemy. You break their necks. Jack O'Connell is Black Irish.

Back in Philly when Kenney was going to parochial school and wondering if the nuns shaved their heads, the Black Irish were the bullies on the playground. They didn't take shit. They prided themselves on being the most despicable people on the face of the earth.

When their ancestors first found themselves in America on the banks of the disputed Rio Grande as part of Zachary Taylor's army, these Black Irish swam across the river and joined the Mexicans to fight the Anglo-Saxons. They distinguished themselves in battle and paid for their bravery at the end of a rope.

"How 'bout we make Danny 'El Loco' Loff an enemy?" we asked Kenney.

"You worthless bastards!" cried Kenney. "Why would you make Danny an enemy? He has done so many wonderful things for Brownsville with Sombrero Fest and other contributions. You can't be serious!?!"

We laughed.

"Danny runs his own private Gestapo during Charro Days. Hell, you're one of his lieutenants. Why are you arresting individuals for expressing their political sympathies by refusing to grow beards?"  

Kenney thought for a second.

"I don't know nothin' 'bout that. I'm just drinking beer and having fun."

We were making our buddy nervous.

"Those are the same words the good German soldiers used as they ushered the Jews into the gas chambers," we countered.

"Stop it!" beseeched Kenney. "You guys are breakin' my balls. You guys ain't got no respect. You would ridicule your own mothers, you sorry bastards."

We broached a compromise. We offered to scratch the county judge from the top of the list if he would nominate one enemy to replace him.

"Are you crazy?" he stammered. "I'm running a business. I know this is America, but I can't express my opinion or I'll lose money. You poor fucks ain't got nothin' to lose. You're all full of shit. You eat and drink free. The damn Irish! You love them and you hate them at the same time."