Bernie’s Q&A: Morgan, Markle, Mudd, Trump, and more! (3/12) — Premium Interactive ($4 members)
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Now, let’s get to your questions (and my answers):
What is your view of what’s going on with the Durham report? Do you think we will ever see it or get the truth? It seems so unfair that the corrupt FBI that lied & broke the law are not going to be held accountable & have tarnished our FBI forever if nothing gets done. I do not trust them to do what’s right for our country anymore & was wondering what your thoughts are on this. I’m just so disappointed that the report is not out. --Blessings, Jean G.
I keep wondering what's taking Durham so long. And if he concludes that no crimes were committed, that no one will be prosecuted for anything, this will be a great big plus for Democrats and Republicans will come out looking like jerks. The report should have come out a long time ago. This delay is crazy.
My golf friends and I were discussing writings outside of politics which influenced us to read more. I was quite surprised at our discussion. For me it was Romeo and Juliet, The Iliad of Homer, and the Diary of Ann Frank. Just curious; you write about bias and journalism. But are there writings outside of the political spectrum that influenced you? -- Tim H.
First, I think you and your golf buddies are on to something important. Politics has consumed too much of our lives. We need something more. That said, I spend several hours a day reading news, opinions, and essays -- time I could use reading both fiction and non fiction about subjects other than politics.
My favorites over the years have been Ayn Rand's two classics -- the Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. In my youth, I liked John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath in which he captured beautifully the hardships of poor people during the Great Depression. 1984, of course, is an all-time favorite, especially now that a lot of what he wrote about is pretty much happening in real life. The little reading I do these days outside of the few hours each day on politics and the like have been on fiction. I like Brad Thor's thrillers. But while Ms. Rand and Mr. Steinbeck have had an influence on my thinking, not so much for those who write page-turning thrillers.
Recently I witnessed the backlash from an interview by a Billionaire Media Mogul (Oprah Winfrey) and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, complaining about the social injustices they have endured. Now there is a real California Governors recall effort. States are increasingly dropping Covid restrictions (including Connecticut) while the Biden Administration continues to warn against such activity. Are liberals losing their moral authority (been reading Shelby Steele)? And if so, will the liberal coalition break apart and start cannibalizing itself? -- George A.
I hope so. It wouldn't be the first time the revolutionaries turned on themselves. To use just one example, it happened during the French Revolution. After the purists got through with the royals and their allies, they went after each other. It'll be fun to watch here in America if/when the left has had enough of progressive sanctimony and turns on the most sanctimonious among them. I can hardly wait. (Note I said "if" it happens.)
What is your opinion on the progressive Democrats H.R. 1 voting rights package and what do you think is in store for the country if it becomes the law of the land? -- “Get Out The Vote And Change The Voting Laws To Benefit The Democrats Only!” Regards From The Emperor
Unless the Dems nuke the filibuster it won't become law. That's a good thing. It takes too much authority regarding voting away from the states and gives it to Washington -- in order to help Democrats.
I saw that Roger Mudd just passed away. I remember him from back in the day. Did you work at CBS News when he did? If so, any thoughts or stories on the man? -- Alex D.
I did work at CBS when Roger did. He was a great journalist and a good guy. I was much younger and asked him for advice once on covering a political campaign. He was very helpful.
Hi Bernie, Any reaction to Piers Morgan storming off the set of Good Morning Britain and quitting the show after being called out for his criticism of Meghan Markle? --Anthony A.
Let's just say, Anthony, it was good television. I watched it on the BBC. He knows more about Meghan than I do, but if she was telling the truth in that interview, especially about getting the cold shoulder when she said she needs help with mental health issues, I'm on her side. This business that she lived in a palace and was complaining rings hollow to me.
What are your thoughts on Trump sending a cease-and-desist letter to Republican committees, telling them not to fund-raise for the GOP using his name and image? Trump is also now asking his supporters to donate directly to him instead of the GOP. -- Ben G.
As I've said many times before, Donald Trump is a great big MINUS for the GOP. But, I think the GOP on its own should not use Trump's name and image to raise money. He hurts the party more than he helps it.
I used to like going to movies in the theater but not anymore. Some of it is being concerned about being shot by some looney toon, but most of it is because when I see these elitist actors and actresses on the screen, I can't help but see them and not the characters that they purport to portray. When I see Captain America on the screen, I really see the elitist liberal loon Chris Evans. When I see the Hulk on the screen, I really see the elitist liberal loon Mark Ruffalo. I was interested in seeing Ford & Ferrari a while back, but Matt Damon and Christian Bale played the leads. Yes, the Christian Bale who once thanked the devil for helping him play the role of Dick Cheney in Vice. Ha, Ha, really funny. I can't see the guy on the screen anymore because it makes me think of that, what I consider, lewd, hateful humor. I could go on but I won't bore you except to mention that liberal loon Scarlett Johansson whose movie that I won't see coming out this Spring. Some may say well you are missing out on entertainment, but they don't get it. Watching these people on the screen is not entertainment to me. I entertain myself by reading, etc. I don't have an entertainment problem, and a problem with keeping myself busy, even though I am retired. And, I don't need to go to the movies to pay for watching people who make a lot of money and hate others to the level that they do. What are your thoughts on this? -- Jerry G.
You make a very interesting point, Jerry. If these actors want to weigh in on politics, they do so at their own risk. They're entitled to do it. And on truly important issues, I can understand why they would use their platforms to make points important to them. But, as I say, they may pay a price. I see your point very clearly, Jerry ... and understand it. I'm with you.
I think Joy Reid perfectly illustrates American progress; no discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender assignment, sexual orientation - and most importantly, no discrimination on the basis of ability. -- Gregg H.
Good one, Gregg. Listen to my Off the Cuff about Joy Reid.
Maybe you have been asked this before, but if not....what do you think about Sharyl Attkisson? -- Tony P.
I like her a lot.
Meghan Markle is extremely annoying to me. If she is on TV, I can't watch it. Where does she get off saying that she is a victim? And, I'm sorry but I'm sick of rich elitists, who are Black, playing the race card. Cue in Michelle Obama. And, does she really believe that we believe that she was surprised when the the royals treated her the way that they did? Is she that clueless that she didn't know what happened to Lady Diana? Now she was a class act. I'm sorry, but Meghan Markle, in my book, is a classless act. She should take the cue from Lady Diana and use her position to help others. But, instead it is all about her. Woah is me! It's disgusting. And, what is just as disgusting is when a class act like Piers Morgan criticizes her for it, he gets cancelled and now she is threatening a law suit. And, further, there are actually a lot of people who support her position. I think that is a microcosm of our society. What is happening to us? Please let me know your thoughts on this and hopefully, it will help me to handle it better. -- Jerry
Meghan Markle says she was suffering from depression. She says he asked the powers that be in the palace for help. She claims they said no, presumably because it would look bad if one of the royals was either in a hospital for care or was seeing a mental health therapist. If she's telling the truth, I have no problem with her complaining about the treatment she got. If you have such a visceral reaction whenever she's on TV -- when her very appearance makes you change the channel -- then there's not much I can say to change your mind.
I was brought up (and lived my life accordingly) to treat others with dignity and respect. Now I am told (in not nice terms) that doing so is not enough. A few rhetorical points and questions if you will indulge me (they are not meant to be answered individually): How does one "be less white" ( I noticed that "arrogance" is a white trait: NBA anyone) ? Don't those who repeat this "demand" really mean "be less American" given their disdain for this country, its people, its history and its Constitution? Has Tom Brokaw asked the term "Greatest Generation" be retired and his book be de-listed from Amazon? Or were white people back then more anti-racist than they are today? Isn't the term "multi racial white" quaint? It is unkindly meant to apply to people like Clarence Thomas, Larry Elder and others who dare to exalt character over skin color. How can a country survive in the long run when half of the country (or more) has utter contempt and hatred for the other half of the country and itself and its grandparents? When we will have that serious "DIALOGUE" about race? And back to the beginning, if treating others with respect and dignity is not enough then are we not hopelessly lost? Now on to the serious question for you and John Daly as this may come up in conversations when I am trying to create more premium members for your website: what are your preferred pronouns or are you on board with eliminating pronouns altogether except when one is talking or writing about themselves? --Michael F.
Here are my favorite pronouns, Michael: If it's a guy, he or him. If it's a female, she or her. Pretty simple. This other pronoun nonsense makes me want to throw up. As for a serious dialogue about race, forget it. If you say the "wrong" thing in a supposedly "honest" conversation about race, you'll be branded a racist. Once again I will say that I hope for a backlash -- a response from all those people who are fed up with the woke culture. I can't wait, actually.
Editor's note: John Daly prefers the "his majesty" pronoun in reference specifically to him.
This week, Lou Ottens, the inventor of the audio-cassette tape, passed away at the age of 94. This brought a question to mind...
Do you believe, as some do, that you were robbed of a Pulitzer for your 1981 CBS News report on the intense cultural battle between walkmans and ghetto-blasters? Also, which side did you come down on at the time, walkmans or ghetto-blasters? My guess would be ghetto-blasters, based on that break-dancing championship you won a year later. -- John D.
Editor's note: We've located the footage:
Are you the same John D who just escaped from the lunatic asylum?
If not ... I was a big fan of the walkman. Even had one of the very first ones on the market. I am now and always was very much anti-ghetto blaster. I hope this doesn't make me a racist.
If you are the same John D who escaped from Hotel Nutcase, please go back. For your good and for the good of Western Civilization. Thank you!
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