I just watched Chuck Todd’s interview with our former US Attorney General Bill Barr this morning on “Meet The Press”.
Continuing in his now well known smug defensive posture, combining law, and politics. Mr. Barr fumbled his way through another interview. This most importantly included his restating that he had no evidence the ex-president would try to subvert the 2020 election, ascribing it at the time as “liberal” thought. Obviously he was wrong, and now he is forced to admit it publicly, and in his new book. The problem is that in all his arrogance, Barr completely dismissed the fact that there were a lot of smart people who had good reason to expect Trump would act exactly as he publicly stated. As such, Mr. Barr dismissed all of those individuals who could not dismiss all of Mr. Trump’s worrisome public rhetoric prior to the election. As well, Barr apparently he did not consider those knowledgeable in the medical/psychiatric world who were sounding the alarm. This was not “liberal” thought Mr. Barr, this was pragmatic medical fact borne out in front of our eyes. Shame on you Mr. Barr, and that act alone underscores your unsuitability to hold the position as the chief law enforcement individual of our land.
The interview also pointed out a tragic flaw in Chuck Todd interviewing skills. He like many commentators asked questions that were too long-winded, and too devoid of substantive pertinent follow up questions . Specifically, in response to Barr’s two statements:,one that “liberals” are deleterious for America, and two exactly what Trump decisions were beneficial. Exactly what true beliefs are your guests expressing? If we have become too generous, tell the American people how so. If you have other justification for your views state them, Have the dialogue that is so badly needed. But, to state it for political purposes, and leaving it out there without further clarification is not only incomplete, but also fuels our disunity. Shame on you Chuck Todd. So I then went online and discovered that Mr. Barr’s net personal wealth is $94 million, and his annual salary $3 million. A fact that again is probably germane, but not brought up in the interview. So I wondered just how much leeway our Attorney General gave the ex-president solely on the basis of the tax cuts to the wealthy, of which Mr. Barr probably directly benefited.
Follow up questions, whether pursuing critiques on liberals or conservatives, exposes the issues for better understanding, and clarity. It might even allow more agreement on exactly what the words “too liberal”, or “too conservative” mean. Words do matter, and their knee jerk usage only serve to confuse many amongst us. My belief is that these most important issues need better investigation, and fuller clarity. It might even surprise us that there is more mutual agreement than we realize. The next question is whether these interviewees would agree to attend these shows if they were more investigatory, and is there any prior understanding that a degree of politeness, and decorum will be exercised by the networks, and their staffs. If so, all our shows sell us short, and this includes MSNBC, CNN, and Fox. A fact that many of us accept as true, but is certainly not desirable, nor helpful given our current state of distrust. All opinions have at least a message, it is time we accept this fact, open up the forum for healthy discussion. But there is no place for bigotry, hate, threats or violence, and where it exists expose it. After all, we are all Americans. Go Ukraine, and let there be peace, and safety extended to everyone.