“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill.
The Andrew Cuomo and Donald Trump morality play continues to be a mirror through which we can see and judge ourselves, and figure out who we wish to be, and how we want to be.
We have a tremendous and fateful choice to make as a people, and this November, we will get to make it. These two remarkable and very different men are laying the groundwork for us, almost every day.
The real campaign in the Fall can hardly be as dramatic and revealing as this one.
When something like coronavirus comes along, I have two choices.
I can grow and learn, or I can shrink and hate and whine.
Some people rush to help out in hospitals; some people take machine guns and scream at police officers and governors; some people try to help the poor.
This is why I have been so intrigued by the riveting and very moral conflict between President Trump and Andrew Cuomo. Every day, the gap becomes more extensive, and the power and importance of leadership are more evident.
It takes some spine to write about politics these days, more so than when I first did it. The left and right were not nearly so pronounced or dominant then, and conspiracy theories and contempt for the others was muted, not front and center.
Partisanship is epidemic and destructive. But I do have a lot of spine.
It means half of the people who read me can dismiss me out of hand without thinking, and the other half perhaps already agree with me. We change very few minds these days, which is sad.
That is the whole point of people like me, and of open debate and civil argument.
To me, partisanship is reflective of the death of the American mind and the American spirit.
I don’t write from the left or the right, I write from the heart. Sorry, but it’s as simple as that. I hate labels, and never put them on other people, let alone myself.
I don’t argue my beliefs online or call other people names. I care very little about politics, but I do love my country, and as the children of refugees, I know what it means when democracy fails.
Andrew Cuomo and Donald Trump are a portrait of leadership, governance, and morality, each in their light.
My impression of Andrew Cuomo before was that he is bright, arrogant, and somewhat contemptuous of people who disagreed with him. (Like me, someone recently suggested.)
He seemed to have a moral, Jesuit-like compass that was somewhat intact, even in the face of bitter and divided contemporary politics.
He took few prisoners in his rise to power. He was good at making friends and also making enemies.
In the past two months, and in the face of the tragedy engulfing New York City, our most magnificent city, I have watched him grow every day, almost before my eyes.
He now embodies competence, compassion, and truth, as controversial as he can still be.
There are still flashes of the old Cuomo, his fangs come out when challenged sometimes, but there is also a great deal of empathy, honesty, and courage.
His daily press conferences have become essential viewing for many millions of people, the only place they can go to get a fact-based, data-centered, expert understanding of this unprecedented time and threat.
As President Trump has fled the podium in the wake of his ignorant and dangerous ramblings about death, magic pills, and bleach, Cuomo has been steady as a granite wall. He does not change from day to day; his presentation, information, and demeanor are almost always the same.
If Trump’s management of the virus as been marked by chaos, Cuomo’s hallmark is consistency and clarity.
That in itself is soothing. Melinda Gates, who has devoted much of her life to fighting Pandemics, gave President Trump a D- for his weak and chaotic and selfish idea of leadership during this Pandemic.
I have always been prepared to respect President Trump and look to his better ideas and determination. He seems to want to do what people elected him to do.
I don’t hate him now, and I respect many of the people who voted for him and support him, but I have no respect for him at this time, and that is the worst trait for a leader to lose.
By contrast, Andrew Cuomo never wavers or descends into despair or cynicism. He always speaks of hope and empathy. If the news is terrible, he shares it quickly. He doesn’t push knowledgeable people away; he invites them into the tent.
I no longer have any doubt that he feels every coronavirus death acutely; nobody can fake that much feeling for that long. As he reads the daily death toll, I can see the lines appear in his face, the pain in his eyes, as if he feels responsible for every single one.
Sometimes, he even tears up.
I have never once seen our President show anything like empathy or genuine concern for a single one of the tens of thousands of people who have died. He coyly suggests the death toll is another political trick of his opponents, or that the coronavirus is an annoyance he will soon rush us past.
It’s almost as if the virus is just another cross for him to bear while his greatness is too rarely acknowledged.
I have no doubt his selfishness and callousness has cost many lives, and that is unforgivable to me.
Cuomo is not unabashedly self-promoting, he does not lash out at real or imagined critics, he takes responsibility for what he does, admits mistakes when he makes them, respects the role of the press in helping people comprehend this awful virus.
And he loves facts and truth, at least now.
He is also a skilled politician; he knows how to speak clearly and with some eloquence. He knows how the government can work. He has without ever saying so established himself as the anti-Trump, a template on which we can understand what real leadership is, and judge for ourselves.
He is willing – almost eager – to be blamed for his unwavering stance when it comes to dealing with the mess we are in. That is perhaps the single highest quality in a true leader.
“You have enemies?” asked Winston Churchill. “good, that means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”
Watching him, I am calmer, better informed, and often hopeful. I see a complex person growing, telling the truth and standing firm in the face of enormous pressure to back off and open up and let the world return to normal.
Without hesitation or reservation, he refuses to trade a single life for a quicker revival of our economy. No lives for money, he says, again and again.
He is not the leader we have, but the leader we need.
Donald Trump, a huge presence in our political lives and country, has been shrinking, getting smaller, angrier, pettier, and less direct. He strikes me now as diminished by the past few years, as any aging man would be under such self-imposed and external pressure.
His ideology now is best summed up this way: hate and divide.
When he should be generous, he is small. When he should be soothing, he is cruel. When he should be honest, he lies. When he should be caring, he is cold. When he should promote democracy, he promotes autocracy. He wants to be King in a Republic built on the idea of not having one.
That is his real bete noire, the conflict he can’t make go away, the elephant that is always in the room.
President Trump is pushing aside the doctors and specialists who understand the reality of our dilemma because they might contradict his many false and self-serving positions and claims.
He has embedded the deaths of thousands of Americans directly into his campaign for re-election. Rather than comfort or guide people, as Cuomo has done, he divides, misleads, and dodges as it suits him.
His position is always the same. The virus is somewhat contrived, somewhat embellished, smaller than we believed, an economic miracle is waiting just behind the corner to return him to glory. His position changes with each press conference, but the underlying message is always clear.
The virus is really just another plot against him, another grievance, more unfair treatment at the hands of the media and his enemies. His self-pity is perhaps his most troubling quality to me at a time when so many people are really suffering in so many ways.
Andrew Cuomo’s position is also always the same. The virus is real; it is dangerous and will be for some time. We must prepare for it, learn from it, and take special care of the needy and the vulnerable, from the homeless to the poor.
Every one of us will have to make our own choice: which of these paths is the one for us. I am getting prepared by watching these two men and writing about them.
Trump can hide reality and shush truth-tellers, but the Pandemic will not come to his rallies and call for blood, or fawn over him in the White House Briefing Room. A Pandemic like this will tell its own story, reveal its own truth.
Pandemics do have their truth, and Governor Cuomo seems to be fated by the fates to tell it. Wait and see, the angels will take good care of him.
The President cannot show empathy, has no moral compass other than helping corporations stay rich that I can see. People get sick and die, but the greed of rich and powerful men and women lives forever.
The President does have a kind of honesty. He makes no bones about abandoning sick or old or poor people to the virus so that he can get to work on making the economy great again, just in time for the election.
There is no selflessness in this man, no empathy for sick or dying people, no respect for anyone who does not support him unequivocally and blindly. Empathy is said to be the foundation of “goodness.” A leader must have some.
The federal government, like a great big cruise ship, has been turned around. It’s all about the economy and the promotion of the Man Who Would Be King.
Cuomo is on a different ship. He is better than he once was, and seems to get better every day. Crises are like that, historians say, they either wreck you or make you.
Trump is smaller than he was and seems to get smaller every day, railing at old grievances, old enemies, old rivals. He is the old man in the window, shouting and tweeting at the young people out in the street.
Everyone is listening, but is anyone listening?
I don’t believe this new macro-Trump can survive, watching him I see a damaged human being eating himself alive.
That’s a tough place to be when you are 72, gaining weight, obsessed and lonely, and walking around with an orange face and a nest of some kind on top of your head.
This kind of leader can fly high, but not forever.
My sense after some time watching these two men in recent months is that the angels have reached out to Governor Cuomo, and decreed that this is his moment to shine.
He doesn’t need to run for President to do that; he just needs to be himself. There is nothing more devastating to Donald Trump than Andrew Cuomo right now, and every day; he is the other path. He is what’s at stake.
Like the rest of many of us, I believe Donald Trump has become repellent; he has outworn his welcome and left us divided and depleted, and soon enough, broke and afraid. Andrew Cuomo has helped me to see that more clearly and inspired me to write about it.
I don’t know what Andrew Cuomo’s plans for the future are, but throughout history, when the angels call, heroes rise in one way or another.
There are angels out there, I believe, and they are watching over us. That is my faith.
Wow Jon! What a beautiful, thoughtful piece. Thank you!!!
I am sorry you feel this wsy.
I find President Trump’s attitude indicative of a businessman impersonal attitude towards substantiated death count. I’m I’m very big fan of yours and reading this has given me only one Google I’m here you away from Bedlam Farms. There’s 7 billion people on this Earth, 266000 people is barely a drop in the bucket. We need to get on living Our Lives and let Darwin take its course.
Your Gov. C is a self-absorbed political hack I’ve been confident of leadership. He doesn’t know where to turn for the facts like everyone else. So why is he so great. Just another Rich Bose Island office that’s all. My heart goes out to New York City
Ray, I don’t argue my beliefs online with strangers, I’ve not found it useful or productive. I do not feel sorry for you for differing from me. It’s called democracy, and it’s supposed to be fine If you are Googling away from (I’m not sure what you are trying to say here then go in peace.) I have no need for you to agree with me, I’m not taking a poll or running for mayor. I think my thoughts about Cuomo were pretty clearly stated, I don’t have anything to add. Take care.
“He doesn’t know where to turn for the facts like everyone else. ” You’re not paying attention., Ray.
You feel sorry that people put others’ lives above profit? Which of your family are you willing to donate to the pandemic? Name their names.
Well done !! Thank you for writing this.
Mr. Katz,
After years of enjoying your writings and staying with you as we grow into our golden years, I find I must go now. You are a good writer and photographer, a good husband to Maria, and, as you put it, an able quartermaster to your farm. Your blog has grown and with it, a loyal following and a power of influence over your readers. I do not want to get into an argument or criticize you at all. You can write anything you want. You opinion is yours and you are entitled to it. Lately, though, with your focus on politics and comparisons between Trump and Cuomo (who is no saint either) repeatedly, I find I can’t read your posts anymore without getting upset and actually losing sleep. Because of that, I must bid you adieu . I do not agree with most of what you post about politics, politicians, the media, both social and main stream, but often it is the tone that upsets me as if I can’t think for myself. I had enough of that growing up. Once again, we all have our own beliefs and opinions. We are all different and are not cookie-cutter humans. Your opinions don’t make you a bad person just because you don’t feel as I do and vice-versa. I feel that folks should think through things and come to conclusions by careful consideration of truth and understanding of the whole picture. I am one to consider as much of an issue as I can and have changed my opinions often when I mull both sides. Without stooping to name-calling or negative descriptions, I feel so much disdain (hatred is too harsh) in your writings of late, that I sense an underlying frustration (rage is too harsh) simmering in a man who seems such a calm, level-headed person. If writing helps you process it, so be it. You are taking on noble causes to help refugees and old folks in a nursing home, to name a couple. That’s something to be admired- not everyone steps up for his fellow man. I will never tell you what to write about, as some do. But I must tell you, I cannot read it any more- the negativity and your unhappiness with the political scene. Maybe I am suffering with Pandemic fatigue, but I must take a break. I am tired of political conflict, corruption, and lies from both sides of the aisle. I despise political parties, but that won’t change any time soon. Our societal conflicts began years and years ago and is not anything new. I just find I need to focus on the present, take care of myself and my loved ones, and pray that the angels that you speak of will take care of all of us, and Satan and the evil that is present in this world disappears for our future and our future generations. My grandchildren deserve a chance at a good life. I have lived my life, for the most part, but for them to face this and not know what to expect is frightening. I could go on about a lot of issues, but this is my long attempt at farewell. Perhaps it makes you happy to put your writing out on the internet and know you make a difference. Good for you!
I found this excerpt from a Teddy Roosevelt speech, called “The Man in the Arena” that is another view that I thought could be applied to our President:
THE MAN IN THE ARENA
Excerpt from the speech “Citizenship In A Republic”
delivered at the Sorbonne, in Paris, France on 23 April, 1910
” It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. ”
Stay well during this difficult time in the world. I also am a “person of risk”, being 73. I am living this time pretty much like I do every day. Not much change for me, except mask and gloves. I will think and act from my heart and respectfully move on. Life is way too short to get riled about what other people think or opine. I know you won’t miss one of your readers (me), especially since you don’t even know me. I met you once on one of your book tours many years ago, at the point when you were “cracking up”, as you say. I felt bad- you looked bad and tired, but I was so hopeful for you as you were looking so forward to getting home and seeing Maria again (before your marriage). Love wins again.
No doubt I will check into the blog now and then, but, for now, I need positivity and peace for my soul. Keep doing what you must. I understand. You are a good person, Jon. I’m sorry, as I will miss Bedlam Farm for now. Let’s live our best lives and I wish you the best in everything. Give the dogs pats for me, especially Bud. I’m a Boston Terrier girl and he is kinda like “The Man in the Arena”- he gets credit for trying against all odds, no matter what. Love him.
Hey- it does feel good to put your feelings on paper! Kinda like takes a load off. I pray for peace and resolution for our country. And for all of our conflicted souls. We need to focus on the good- find good even in the face of despair. Otherwise, I feel we die a little each day and lose hope.
Be safe,
Mary
Thanks, Mary, you be safe too.
Mary, nice writing, but I am curious as to why you felt the need to make a public announcement about your decision to take some time off from the blog. It seems a wise and reasonable position for you, amidst your empathy and encouragement of me to do precisely what you say is causing you to leave. You are a thoughtful and interesting person, but I really have no idea what I’m supposed to do with the message. You know I won’t stop writing what I want, so why not just take some time off without the manifesto?
Thank you. I will never understand the need to announce a departure in such dramatic fashion. If you want to go, then go. Period. The diatribe she shares only proves that she really thinks that it is all about her.
Satan is in the White House and there is evil present. We fight on for our children and your grandchildren. We fight for a better future.
I have just begun following your blog. The first post that I read was the first one comparing the president and the governor. I have been reading ever since. Today the governor spoke about the need to test in low income and minority areas to document the higher rates of the virus in these areas. I wonder (and hope) that this is a beginning of an honest look at how our state is divided. Could this be a moment of real change as the governor suggests… Coming back better than before?
Well done..we will overcome this unprecedented situation and the truth will rise to the top.
Well said, Mary Catherine! I agree with you.
Martin, do you have a message for us here, or are you just popping in? Mary said a lot. What do you agree with?
It’s not my business what other people do, but I am curious why the readers who don’t like political posts but do like the Bedlam Farm posts, don’t just fast forward, or scroll past the ones they don’t want to read. You don’t have to read what you don’t like just to get to what you do. Maybe I am naive. 🙂
It’s an interesting question Carolya. If I don’t like something I read, I just move on, it would not occur to me to write a letter to the writer announcing it. I’m not sure what the point is except to punish someone for saying what they believe. Some people (too used to marketing) expect me to apologize and stop writing what they don’t like. The sad things I love civil argument and have no problem being disagreed with. But to be honest, people who feel they must leave the blog because I wrote something I believe are best off going somewhere else. If they are that fragile, it’s only a matter of time before they go. Because of the way corporations work, I think people expect me to wet myself if they are leaving. But if they can’t let me be honest, then we are both better off if they go. You are not naive, I have the same reaction and thanks for your note.
I started reading your blog several days ago when my son sent me your essay, “why hating president trump is not good for you or anybody else.” Those words were exactly what I needed to read and think about and my perspective has changed for the better. Thank you!! In spite of some negative feedback about delving into politics, I applaud you for expressing your honest and sincere beliefs. I found this quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson which is what I believe to be true:
“You think that your silence on certain topics, perhaps in the face of injustice, or unkindness, or mean-spiritedness, causes others to reserve judgement of you. Far otherwise; your silence utters very loud: you have no oracle to speak, no wisdom to offer, and your fellow people have learned that you cannot help them. Doth not wisdom cry, and understanding put forth her voice? We would be well to do likewise” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Thank you, Jon Katz, for your words of wisdom.
Can’t resist good, honest, heartfelt writing. I wasn’t going to add another comment, thinking what does one more opinion really mean or matter? But guess my writing instinct can’t resist. You are a good writer, Jon, keep on digging with that pen.
Mr. Katz, thank you once again for your excellent commentary about Cuomo and Trump. I find your writing to be right on and important for others to read.
As I read the other comments to you essay, I am reminded of what Michael Schudson wrote in “The Power of News” (1969), p. 3, “Everyone in a democracy is a certified media critic, which is as it should be.”
I read in the NY Times of 5/7/20 the following: Peter Baker, the Times’s chief White House correspondent, writes in a news analysis: “Confronted with American’s worst public health crisis in generations. President Trump declared himself a wartime president. Now he has begun doing what past commanders have done when a war goes badly: Declare victory and go home.”
You may wish to read in the May issue of Harper’s magazine an article by Thomas Frank, which is entitled “The Pessimistic Style in American Politics: And its eternal war on reform.”
This is the first time I’ve read your blog.
Honestly I am thankful. I’m thankful to hear someone else saying how I feel.
Thank you.