Answering questions from readers

Why are people so stupid that they refuse to wear masks to protect themselves and others?

This is really a tough one. We see incredible numbers of Americans dying from COVID-19. It is an awful, painful way to go. Of course, some folks can’t help getting exposed to the disease. There are people who have to feed their families and work in unsafe places. BUT there are people who can’t stop themselves from being stupid. They gather in groups. They celebrate football games en masse. They don’t wear masks, often as a political statement in support of a defeated scoundrel of a president who is responsible for so many deaths because he refused to follow the science. To some degree, the refusal to wear a mask has to be seen as suicidal. There are always people who like to gamble and are excited by the opportunity to challenge the Grim Reaper. I sure wouldn’t want to go rock climbing on the sheer side of a cliff. I wouldn’t swim where I know there are sharks. I guess there are those who will. Often, they express regret on their death beds.

Why do people hate Andrew Cuomo?

I recently wrote a column in which I said some nice things and some critical things about Andrew Cuomo. A few people responded in the unkindest words possible. They suggested that I was doing some anatomically impossible things with the governor. I suppose that the guy I call “Tough Guy Andrew” brings some of it on himself. We know that he’s a tough boss. There are reports of people working for him that say that he’s too tough. Now I admit that I have had my own fights with the governor, yet I find him to be fun. I like him. I certainly don’t admire his pushy fund raising but I suppose that the Supreme Court and their Citizens United decision leave him few options. I saw him in one of his press conferences on the COVID threat and I thought he was brilliant. He got the Yankees to open up their stadium for vaccinations and since the Bronx has a high positivity rate, one could only admire Andrew for how he is handling it.

Why is Liz Cheney one of the few Republicans with the guts to vote for presidential impeachment and to call out her Republican colleagues for their inability to bring Trump to justice?

Okay, so let’s just get this straight. Cheney is the daughter of Dick Cheney, a former George W. Bush Vice President. Him I did not like. That means that Cheney is what we can call a “Bush-ite.” The Bushes were among the old-style Republicans. You know, the screw the poor people Republicans; the people who don’t know how much a quart of milk costs. The Bushes come from money — old money – unlike the nouveau riche Trump money. They are embarrassed about just about everything they see in Trump. He’s like Uncle Irving who you have to put up with at big holiday dinners. It has been clear for quite some time that the Bushes hate the Trumps. So as a daughter of a Bush Vice President, Liz Cheney was honor bound to carry the fight on. As a result, she has been chastised by her own political party but not by her fellow Republicans in the Senate. When the history books are written Cheney, will be seen as a hero.

Does New York State Attorney General Letitia James face blowback from Andrew Cuomo for criticizing his actions on New York State nursing homes?

The answer to this one is, “Does a bear walk in the woods?” Are you kidding? Cuomo will take his time but when the time is right, he’ll certainly strike back. You can write down that I said it. Cuomo will have to be very careful, lest he aggravate black voters.