Bernie’s Q&A: Stewart, Baier, Bolton, Wallace, and more! (6/26) — Premium Interactive ($4 members)
Welcome to this week’s Premium Q&A session for Premium Interactive members. I appreciate you all signing up and joining me. Thank you.
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Another note: Due to a scheduling issue, next week's Q&A will be moved from Friday (7/3) to either Saturday (7/4) or Sunday (7/5). Thank you.
Now, let’s get to your questions (and my answers):
You and I remember the 60's. I marched for civil rights and I tried to March with the Anti-war movement but believe the leaders where communists. Not what I wanted. But there is different Air about what's going on today that I didn't feel in the 60's. I don't believe it's about change and I believe it has a deeper direction. What's your gut? -- Tim H.
I'm with you, Tim. Today's revolution is rooted in authoritarianism. Only certain views are acceptable. Only certain opinions will be tolerated. Maybe nostalgia ain't what it used to be, but the demonstrations of the 60s were marked by idealism. Today's revolutionaries, I'm sure, also see themselves as noble idealists. But they won't be happy until you lose your job because of something you said or did ... yesterday or 25 years ago. They're intolerant. As for the deeper direction: I think the demonstrators of the 60s -- except for the left wing radicals -- wanted reasonable change. Today's demonstrators, many of them anyway, want to fundamentally change America. Count me out.
Has there ever been a more idiotic phrase than "white silence is white violence?" Or is it just another cute phrase to batter others into submission and conformity? -- Michael F.
Let's see if I understand this: If you say the wrong thing, you're one of the bad guys. If you say nothing, you're also one of the bad guys. Having the wrong opinion is a form of violence to these geniuses. Keeping your mouth shut is also violence. Heads they win, tails we lose.
Mr. G, Are Republicans & Trump now paying the price in being accused of causing mass racial divide because they did not do enough to point out the Obama administration's failures at healing (and yet some say even stoking) racial division? -- ScottyG
I don't think it would have been smart to talk too much about Obama. He was and remains very popular -- much more popular than our current president. I don't like Donald Trump but I do not think he's a racist. I think some on the left believe he's a bigot, but others will call him anything -- including a Russian agent -- to bring him down.
In a recent interview, Jon Stewart was asked about how he used to have friendly (though somewhat pugilistic) discussions with foils like Bill O'Reilly on his show. Stewart (surprisingly in my view) said it was probably the "worst legacy of The Daily Show." He said it was hard to resist the urge to eviscerate people like O'Reilly, and called his friendly tone with such individuals "the part of it that I probably most regret."
As someone with his own history with Stewart, what are your thoughts? Thanks. -- Ben G.
So Jon Stewart now believes that being friendly was what he regrets most. What a load of sanctimonious crap. If you have a guest on your show, you have an obligation to be at least civil. Does Stewart think he should have hammered O'Reilly -- for his left wing cause? Does he think O'Reilly would have folded? Or was he afraid that O'Reilly might have verbally kicked his rear end if Stewart was unfriendly? Jon Stewart, like so many other lefties, was on a mission ... to spread the liberal gospel. He had O'Reilly on for crass business reasons: to hopefully win over some of Bill's audience. Now he's regretting it? Screw him!
In regard to the Bubba Wallace story, why didn't someone step up and say what it was? A garage pulldown, it was obvious, every garage had one. No one on any pit crew knew this? In my opinion, NASCAR decided to just let it play out to show how "woke" it is. They knew pit crews knew what it actually was. Damn, this crap needs to stop! I'm so tired of some people and corporations kissing BLM's ass. Loved your "Off the Cuff" comments Bernie, in addition to the woman you spoke with, I often wonder how much of a silent majority is out there. Those who would never say out loud, or to a pollster t,hat they're voting for Trump... but don't do so in fear of being ostracized. -- John M.
You raise an interesting point, John ... one (because I'm not a NASCAR fan) I hadn't thought of: that the pit crew should have known this right from the jump that the "noose" was a garage pulldown. If you're right, then your supposition is also interesting: that NASCAR let it play out to show how woke they are. I hope you're wrong ... but I fear you may be right.
Regarding this week's Off the Cuff, you speak of a woman who despises Trump but fears for her country and says that she would consider fleeing the United States and/or possibly voting for Trump if he smashed the rebellion. A couple of things regarding the situation in my opinion:
Don’t you think that perhaps it is best that Trump refrain at this point in time from putting down the anarchists ? In this way, the nation can see how spineless and complicit the Democrats are in allowing their cities to be taken over by thugs and hooligans. Then come election time, Trump can say in all honesty, this is what the Democrats will allow. Biden and the others will allow the rebellious anarchists to destroy our communities and do nothing about it. He can accuse Pelosi and the others of being complicit, and he would be correct. If he sends in the National Guard, that could perhaps cause a bloodbath and you know how the leftists in the mainstream press would spin that. I realize this is a difficult situation, but if the republican states can put down any rebellion in their own areas and only the Democrat states are the ones that are suffering with this nonsense, perhaps that could bring victory to the Republicans. Your thoughts? --“Summer of Love MY REAR END” Regards, From The Empire
But if Donald Trump says "This is what Biden and others will allow" why wouldn't Democrats fire back: "This is what YOU did in fact allow!" Wouldn't that be a problem for the president? That said, it is a tricky situation -- because we (I) don't know how the American people will react to more chaos. Will they blame the Democrats for remaining silent and not forcefully condemning it? Or will they say it happened on Trump's watch and blame him? If the president sends in the troops and they clear out the anarchists without mass casualties, will he get credit? If there's a bloodbath, will voters blame him -- or the rioters? Saying it's a "difficult situation" is putting it mildly, Emperor.
After watching the past few weeks of protests and mobs, it seems to me that there are a few forces at work: 1) a sincere desire for better policing, 2) vengeance pure and simple, 3) massive wealth redistribution. It also seems clear that there is extreme hatred for America and American values like free speech and assembly that does not kowtow to the mobs. Appreciate your reaction and also your prediction as to what to expect in NYC and DC on July 4. -- Michael
I'm with you, Michael. It's not simply a desire for better policing. It's also, as you say, vengeance against a country they just don't like. Here's what I don't know: Whether the American people are as disgusted as we are ... or whether we've moved so far to the left that they're on the side of the anarchists. I'm serious about that by the way. I'm sort of hoping the demonstrations move to the neighborhoods where the liberal enablers and sympathizers live. Let's see how long the enabling continues then. As for July 4 in NY and DC: I expect fireworks. And not only the kind we're used to on the 4th.
As a resident of a former slave and Confederate state (Texas), I'm in favor of removing local statues and other monuments that honor this cause. The Civil War ended, and we lost (thank goodness). Let's move on and be modern Texans in a pluralistic, diverse society. I am also very much opposed to mob rule at any time and in any place. As governor, Nikki Haley considered and decided to remove the Confederate flag from the SC state capitol. Here in Dallas, a statue of a Texas Ranger, the subject of which definitely had a less-than-stellar history of protecting minorities, was removed from Love Field by city workers. But these removals were done as a result of dialogue and careful consideration. What right do private citizens have to just topple statues on a whim, committing felonies in the process? And more astoundingly, why do the Democrat politicians allow for this mob rule without prosecution? -- Steve R.
First, what right does the mob have to topple statues on a whim? NO RIGHT WHATSOEVER. Second, why do the authorities allow the mob to rule without prosecution? That's the million dollar question. If you throw a chewing gum wrapper on the street, you'd be in more trouble than these criminals are in. It's absolutely astounding. And the real danger is ... if you can get away with tearing down a statue with no fear of a penalty being imposed, what's next?
I'm curious if you saw Bret Baier's interview with John Bolton on Tuesday. I thought Baier was fair (no real objections to his questions), but I was taken back by how hard he came at Bolton (especially in comparison to his interviews with active members of the Trump administration, including Trump himself). It seemed like his goal was to try and discredit (not just challenge) Bolton, though I don't think it worked. Maybe I'm off base. What do you think? -- Jen R.
I came away with the same impression, Jen, but I was not taken back by his style. Baier is an honest journalist, but let's remember the interview was on the Fox News Channel. The audience doesn't like Bolton and even Bret Baier is aware of that ... and his questions reflected that concern, I believe. Now, Bret might say, the questions were tough but legitimate. Okay. But then, as you point out Jen, why was he tougher on Bolton than on Trump himself? Even the good guys on cable play by cable rules, Jen.
Bernie, what do you think about NASCAR and the "noose" found in Bubba Wallace's garage at Talladega? A few commentators have said the entire situation shows that there is an unlimited demand for racial tension stories by our media and, thankfully, a very, very limited supply of real stories that fill this demand. I wonder if NASCAR, given the current climate, believed it had to jump to the worst conclusion about the "noose" because if it did not, it would be seen as insensitive. I guess telling people not to jump to conclusions and to wait on the facts is way out of style these days. I guess now it is more hip to let the masses believe that one of your employees (because only employees had access to that garage) would act that way and perform such a heinous act. I guess it is no longer cool to stick up for your brand, or your workers, and tell the Twitter mob to wait for the facts to come out. -- Joe M.
There's a narrative in the liberal media -- on all sorts of subjects, including race. And the noose fit the narrative. Just as Jesse Smollett's BS story fit the narrative. Too many journalists wanted the noose story to be true so they played it up. I'm not suggesting that they should have ignored the story. It was legitimate news. But caution should have prevailed.
Senator Marco Rubio is currently working on legislation to open up the U.S. government's data records on UFOs. Two questions:
1. Being that our nation is already dealing with a health crisis, an economic crisis, and a race-relations crisis, do you believe it's a wise move, at this time, for the senator to potentially spur an intergalactic crisis?
2. Do you think this initiative will result in the classified footage of your landmark 1987 interview with space alien, Oderus Urungus (at Area 51), finally seeing the light of day?
Thank you. -- John D.
Great questions, John. On the first one, I think it's just the right time to spur an intergalactic crisis. It would take our minds off the other crises. And, as everyone (apparently except you) knows: We'd kick the alien asses. We're Americans, John D -- you might want to remember that.
As to your second question, about my landmark interview with Mr. Urungus. We made a deal at the time (over a hamburger and fries) that the interview would not be made public until American voters elected a president who campaigned from a basement in Delaware. So the interview may finally be seen soon.
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