By Columnist Bob Bridge
During a recent conversation with friends, someone expressed exasperation over the inability to ascertain what is actually transpiring among the powers-that-be.
“All we hear today is a slanted narrative regarding that person’s prejudiced perspective of a multifaceted issue. I usually just switch channels and enjoy an ‘Andy Griffith’ rerun. It’s less exhausting.”
A few minutes later another friend sent an old BBB column he believed had aged well.
The topic was press conferences. This is what I wrote:
Those are interesting. I’ve sat through - and participated in - too many to count. Many were government related. Others had to do with the realm of sports.
Several of my most memorable press conferences were with Indiana basketball legend Bob Knight. The guy could light up a room.
First, he is extremely intelligent. He also is blessed with an incomparable wit. Yet there were evenings ... well, let’s just say Bob clearly didn’t want to be there.
It was obvious.
He didn’t take kindly to stupid questions. He considered it a waste of his time.
There was a period when he refused to attend them. We were handed a brief explanation of the game.
Eventually, Bob returned to the microphone.
Just recently I watched a press conference on a cable news network. The speaker was New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He was addressing his controversial decision to move elderly citizens with Covid into nursing homes.
New York Attorney General Letitia James reported nursing home deaths had been undercounted by more than 50 percent.
Inquiring minds wanted answers. Cuomo was anything but contrite.
Some consider him overconfident. Arrogant is a more precise description.
An expert noted sending Covid patients into nursing homes was like pouring gasoline on a fire.
Cuomo deflected blame to the federal government and the CDC.
Then, with the cameras rolling, he deadpanned, “Whether a person died in the hospital or died in a nursing home, it’s ... people died. People died.”
Later, he added: “Why did God do this? I don’t know. I don’t know. But it was cruel and it was terrible. And, it still is.“
Who is to blame?
The federal government, the CDC or ... God?
You be the judge.
Contact Columnist Bob Bridge at 812-276-9646 or bbbbbridge@gmail.com.