Who does this guy think he is and why does he believe his sh*t doesn't stink?
RFJ, Jr.'s performance yesterday is an indictment of the idle rich, the class system wherein those with a pedigree and wealth think they're above the rest of us.
I don't care what you think about vaccines, one thing we can agree on, or at least I thought we could agree on, is how to behave.
But NO!
Maybe it started with Trump interrupting people at debates. But whatever your thoughts, CAN YOU LET ME COMPLETE MINE?
We were watching this series "Confession" on BritBox, the true story of a killer of two women and without giving away too much of the story, the investigating detective is called on the carpet for not giving a PACE warning, which is akin to a Miranda warning.
So, there is a disciplinary action. When the complaint is first filed the officer confronts the detective with the charge and the detective says he's kidding and gives his perspective. But then...
Said detective is brought in front of the big boss and told he is being suspended. And what does the detective say in response, when he is asked if he has anything to say? NOTHING! Because he realizes there is no upside, all he can do is piss off the boss, it's not going to advance his case, the boss has already decided.
And when there's the ultimate hearing the detective answers questions briefly sans passion, because this is how you behave.
A lawyer knows that with a tribunal of experts it comes down to the law (let's forget about juries), that's how the case will be decided, on the law, not histrionics. Which is why these hearings are relatively dry.
BUT NOT IN CONGRESS YESTERDAY!
It's not like RFJ, Jr. is going to lose his job. He was confirmed and it's Trump's decision. The hearing yesterday was just an exercise. But rather than sit there and listen to what the senators had to say, RFJ, Jr. kept interrupting, attacking them, asking the interlocutors themselves questions. A performance so combative and out of control that the only person who can right the situation is Jon Stewart, who famously questioned the combative nature of "Crossfire," said it accomplished nothing, and then the program was canceled.
Do you think you're endearing yourself to us by arguing to the point where you look like a jerk?
And if you're going to be so diffident, at least have your ducks in a row. As pointed out by a senator, RFJ, Jr. seemed to know a lot about certain things and very little about others. Facts when they supported his anti-vaccine agenda, nothing when numbers were contrary to his beliefs.
I mean let the senators have their say. It's kind of like being called on the carpet by your parents. You're going to get slapped on the wrist or hit and anything you say in your defense will only make matters worse.
Then again, unlike in the fifties and sixties not only do parents not hit their kids, the kids have rights and standing and can argue back. How did it come to this? I'm against corporal punishment, but the kid is the kid and the parent is the parent.
And RFJ, Jr. tragically grew up without a father in a very large family. Who was teaching him right and wrong, how to behave? The Kennedys of this generation have a long history of heinous behavior. As for going to Harvard...like he would have gotten into the college if his last name was different.
Then he trades on his name to make his money, unlike those with unknown monikers, and he even gets hooked on heroin but since he's a Kennedy, HE GETS A PASS!
Unlike RFJ, Jr., the senators were elected. And it ain't easy to do so. But RFJ, Jr. couldn't make it as a candidate and was appointed by Trump to his position and is skating just like he has his whole life.
You can put the boy in a suit but that does not mean he knows how to behave.
If RFJ, Jr. had just STFU yesterday's hearing wouldn't have dominated the news, with video after video illustrating his bad behavior. And it wasn't only major news outlets, these videos were all over TikTok. And what conclusion should viewers take from them?
RFJ, Jr. is a fighter. But like a six year old. He's going to battle everything that doesn't go his way, irrelevant of the truth. He's going to say his accusers are wrong.
This is why criminals have attorneys in court, so they don't behave like this.
But we live in a world of no consequences. Nothing will happen as a result of RFJ, Jr.'s bad behavior. Yes, Trump may cut him loose, that's his style, when things get too hot he takes action with no forewarning, but we haven't reached that point yet, not even close. Furthermore, by arguing like this and making news, raising his head, giving oxygen to the issues, RFJ, Jr. is doing nothing for his cause. Trump doesn't want the Epstein files out so he creates diversions, he doesn't want attention drawn to that which is not a winning strategy.
Maybe you don't believe in vaccines, maybe you don't believe in science. Maybe you believe more people were killed by the covid vaccine than were saved. Maybe you even believe the mRNA vaccine was not tested enough. Factually, all of the preceding are false, but good luck trying to convince believers otherwise. And it's not only right wingers, but people on the educated left too. Like Kennedy, they believe if they just eat right they'll be immune, read the analysis in today's "Wall Street Journal."
"RFK Jr. Is Dismantling Public Health. A Fringe Theory May Explain Why. - The Health and Human Services secretary has long embraced anti-scientific ideas that run counter to germ theory, the basis of treating infectious diseases"
Free link: https://www.wsj.com/health/rfk-jr-what-is-terrain-theory-66b4c660?st=ZGyGPS&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
But this has nothing to do with how you behave in public. The decorum of a hearing. RFJ, Jr. should have sat there and taken it. And responded quietly, if at all. The senators have no real power over him at this point. Why is he adding fuel to the fire, evidencing emotion and a lack of grasp of the issues and facts all the while. You don't help your cause by appearing emotional and uninformed.
It was like he was being personally attacked, like he was on trial for his life. RFJ, Jr. was so emotional, so out of control, that all you could do was cringe and then laugh. Has this guy never played at this level before? Does he really not know how the game is played?
Just because others are out of control and have no sense of decorum that does not mean you should too. We live in a society, if called on the carpet you take your lumps and if a defense is required you do so straightforwardly with facts, not emotions, and you don't attack those in charge.
But that's America today.
But really, it's an indictment of the rich and privileged. This is how RFK, Jr. grew up, believing the rules don't apply to him, that if he just yelled loud enough things would go his way.
How sad. For both him and our country.
Can't we have a little dignity?
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
Listen to the podcast:
-iHeart: https://ihr.fm/2Gi5PFj
-Apple: https://apple.co/2ndmpvp
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=828178025010391a0f83cf7802ae715b
To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=828178025010391a0f83cf7802ae715b