Bernie’s Q&A: The Brothers Cuomo, Abbott, Trump hatred, and more! (3/5) — Premium Interactive ($4 members)
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Now, let’s get to your questions (and my answers):
Bernie, I don't feel safe visiting New York City and Chicago anymore. The crime is way too high for me. Living in the Chicago area, I'm a Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) governing member and subscriber, but last year, I didn't subscribe (and it wasn't because of Covid-19 although the CSO ended cancelling the year's concerts). The crime just makes me uncomfortable. I like my little town of Libertyville, because things seem to be safe here. Am I wrong to feel this way? --Jerry G.
You are absolutely NOT wrong, Jerry. Common sense demands that we not pretend what's happening isn't really happening. I don't blame you one bit. Stay safe, my friend.
Since I’m convinced the Media is the biggest cause of all the wokeness, canceling and allowing minority voices (not racial) that force societal change; what would be your foundational building blocks if you could establish one Journalism syllabus that had to be followed in all our colleges & universities? --ScottyG
Either be impartial and put your opinions aside or find another class to attend.
There's recently been news about unprovoked racist attacks against Asian-Americans; some resulting in the deaths of the victims. I'm also hearing the usual virtue signaling from the usual suspects about how "Trump's xenophobic Asian Flu and Kung Flu" rhetoric has fueled the white supremacists in this country into attacking Asian people in bigoted displays of violence. However, I'm also noticing that the most recent attacks have been occurring in New York City, Oakland, and San Francisco — you know, bastions of blue voters with their public embraces of diversity and tolerance. In other words it's not just those "racist red states" where these attacks are occurring. Also, not all the suspects are white. In fact, several incidents involved Black and Latino suspects. Funny but I keep hearing from the elite left wing scholars who know better than us knuckle dragging rubes that "people of color can't be racist," but I digress. On the one hand, the much-hated Trump has inspired people of color and even white people in heavily blue areas to attack Asian Americans, at least that's what Chuck Schumer and others have implied. On the other hand, the left (especially the MSM) want to continue blaming white supremacy for all these attacks while ignoring the fact that a large number of "people of color" are actually the perpetrators of these hate crimes. Your thoughts? -- "Enter The Dragon & Blame White Supremacy For It" Regards from The Emperor
My thoughts, Your Holiness, are pretty much the same as yours. Liberals both in an out of the media are uncomfortable (and that's an understatement) when describing criminals who are not white. When black men attack elderly Asian women the criminal's race does not become an issue. Okay. But it DOES become an issue when the criminal is white. Then, they can use the Trump is responsible storyline. I've said this before: There's no hope in getting a fair shake when journalists are heavily invested in identity and racial politics. And the same is true for politicians. We know the truth because we can see the videos of those Asians being assaulted. That may have to be good enough for now.
Bernie, are you certain these “suburban voters” will come back to the GOP once Trump is out of the picture? A lot of these suburbs that used to be Republican havens are becoming awfully woke. It seems like John and Jane suburbanite are more interested in social media likes, which come by embracing liberal lunacy, than they are low taxes, responsible government spending, and sensible law & order. -- Joe M.
No, Joe, I'm not certain that suburban voters will return to the GOP if Trump fades away. But I'm pretty certain that they'll stay away from the Republican Party if Donald Trump continues to make a lot of noise. What I'm saying is the GOP won't have a shot at winning them back if Trump gets in the way -- but Republicans might have a chance if he shuts the hell up. But you're onto something important: Suburban voters are becoming "Woke" which works in the favor of Democrats. But when the revolution adversely affects them, they may look for comfort in the GOP if Trump doesn't screw things up.
Can these be considered examples of Systemic Racism in this country?
35-40% of the abortions in this country are done on black fetuses (while Black Americans make up only 12-15% of the population).
Black precincts are increasingly eliminating cash bail, disproportionately placing law abiding black lives at risk, just as defunding police campaigns seem to do.
Failure of inner city schools and resistance to charter schools disproportionately effect Black communities. You can pump billions into HBCU schools, but if the kids can’t read, write or do arithmetic, the money will not have the desired effect.
Minimum wage laws have historically displaced Black Americans from the workforce
The media and institutional perpetuation of Black victimhood is hurting Black teens. I know some who don't want to get a drivers license because they're certain the police will one day kill them.
Believing that a group of Americans are incapable of negotiating through our society without help, resulting in the unintended consequences as above.
Unlike Jim Crow Laws, these policies, at least on face value, want to help, but seem to do the opposite, but just like Jim Crow, these policies are becoming institutionalized and disadvantage my fellow Black Americans. Then again I might be just over thinking it! -- George A.
Your analysis if both interesting and I believe original too, George. You can certainly make the case -- as you do -- that "well meaning" initiatives of the left are hurting the people they say they want to help. But let's remember that a lot of these liberal initiatives are primarily designed to make white liberals feel good about ... themselves. It's their way of showing that they're good white people -- not like those white bigots. Shelby Steele has written a lot about this. He calls it white racial manners -- the way white liberals show black people how good, how innocent they (the white liberals) are. Thanks for the question and the analysis, George.
What are your thoughts on Governor Abbott removing ALL covid restrictions in Texas including the mask mandate inside public places? It's his right to do it, but with the projection that there will be enough vaccines for everyone by the end of May (barely over two months away), it seems like a really good way to usher in a new and totally unnecessary spike in infections an even deaths just as we're approaching the finish line. -- Jen R.
President Biden agrees with you, Jen, but honestly ... I don't know. Consider this: California and New York pretty much shut down their respective states while Florida went in the other direction. And Florida doesn't have a higher death rate than either. Is it possible that lockdowns may not be as effective as we've been led to believe. If Texas has a spike in infections, the governor will have to answer for that. But if there's no spike, President Biden will have to deal with his "Neanderthal" remark about the Texas decision -- that is if his friends in the media decide to hold him accountable.
Bernie, do you think NY Gov Cuomo will end up resigning? Just about everyone is turning on him at this point. -- Brian M.
I don't. But if he loses this battle it'll probably NOT be because of how he handled COVID, but rather what he said or did regarding the women who have made accusations against him. Not necessarily because that's more important than COVID, but harassing women will get you in a lot more trouble these days than sending old people with the virus into nursing homes where they died. Go figure!
I had to laugh when Chris Cuomo said on CNN this week that, because his brother is at the center of some big news stories at the moment, it's not appropriate for him (Chris) to cover those stories. Ha! Chris has been covering his brother and bringing him on his show for interviews all throughout the pandemic. Now, when the news for his brother is BAD, he can no longer cover him? -- Ben G.
I was a correspondent at CBS News for 28 years. The idea that a reporter would be allowed to cover his brother-the-governor is beyond belief. But all they care about today -- certainly on cable news -- is ratings. And if chatting with his brother got people laughing and watching, CNN was OK with it. But, as you say, once the news turned south, Chris had to start behaving like a real journalist and CNN had to start behaving like a real news organization. Again, this is why I can't take cable news seriously.
I hope you can sleep nights better now that Trump is no longer in office, and hopefully let go of some of the hatred you have for him. Maybe knowing now that we have a more politically correct, and far superior leader in Joe will also help you get past your hatred. -- Daniel A.
Daniel, my friend ... I have no hatred for Donald Trump. None at all. The times I've talked to him he could not have been more gracious. We got along very well. He even called me once to get my opinion on whether he should run for president. I told him I'm a journalist and don't give opinions to people thinking of running for president. He understood. It's not even his policies that I have trouble with. It's him. He has a toxic personality -- unlike the one I saw in Scotland and New York when I interviewed and chatted with him. He cost the Republican Party the House, the Senate and then he pulled the trifecta -- losing the White House as an incumbent. Why do you suppose that is? I say it's because most Americans don't like the nastiness they saw in him. So be assured I wish Mr. Trump well. I hope he's happy. But I also hope he stays out of politics -- for the sake of Republicans. As for our current president: I'm not a fan.
Bernie, the New York Post reported this week that China is now requiring foreign visitors to their country to submit to an anal-swab COVID-19 test before being allowed entry (no pun intended). Being that the virus originated in China, do you believe this was their endgame (no pun intended) all along? -- John D
I have no time for questions like this Mr. John D. I have a plane to catch. Going on a very special vacation -- to Shanghai. I can hardly wait.
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