The emperor of the Empire state was on the television. He had on a blue power suit as he preached to his consistory in his discernible cocksure audible. For the last few years New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has been a regular on the boob tube keeping his constituents informed with daily briefings. His flock views him as some sort of Messiah who can enlighten them on all things ranging from how many masks he recommends you wear to sharing his mommy’s recipes for meatballs. Mr. Cuomo had become the pied piper of the one time epitome of all states, New York.
He was the darling of the main stream media, the great leader among all those who lead. He has been lionized by the minions for his smooth tongue and overall suave persona. He was recognized by the leader in news (CNN) as the best candidate to be the future President of the United States of America. He has been touted by the newly elected President as the standard bearer for how state leaders should guide their people through the complicated maze of the Covid Pandemic. Throughout the land women swoon over the Great Leader and call themselves Cuomosexuals. His brother, Chris Cuomo, the voice of CNN, had him on his prime time show as a regular guest. The two brothers bantered about their prowess as Casanovas, giggling with each other like two school boys after the middle school spin the bottle party. In the height of the Covid crisis Chris Cuomo, on national television, referred to his brother as “Single, and ready to mingle,” proclaiming his older brother as the “Love Gov.” Now on this Tuesday afternoon as I turned my head to the telly there was Governor Cuomo speaking to a world wide audience. The volume was off but I could look through the face of a man I had seen the face before in my youth. It was the face of former President Richard Nixon. The same blank stare that couldn’t hide the pain of a person who was free falling from grace.
I turned the volume up to hear what this modern day Wizard of Oz was going to say now that the curtain had been pulled back. I was attempting to feel empathy with this badly wounded mortal whose back was now pinned firmly against the wall. A man whose eyes were screaming “all of my dreams are going up in the smoke of scandal.” A man who understood that his actions had pushed the “Cuomo Family Legacy” to the brink of destruction. The Attorney General of New York State’s Investigative Report into the Governor’s inappropriate behavior of using the state capital as a sexual grooming ground for young female staffers was now in print. The report verified that 11 female salaried state employees had been sexually abused while in direct contact with Cuomo in their place of work. It was now the Great Leader’s opportunity to explain himself. He chose to go it alone on national television as his adamant admirers awaited his defense. Before I reluctantly began to listen I speculated as to how such a powerful man had prepared to present himself in the most crucial moment of his 63 year life. He had been a prince, his father had been a King, and today he was the King. Their legacy was on the line to say the least. How was the slick salesman going to dance around the accusations of 11 woman claiming their dignity had been violated in the work place by the most powerful man in the state of New York? Was it possible he could reach into his bag of tricks and dance around his character to discover contrition?
For men like Andrew Cuomo contrition is hard to come by. It could be argued that people who are born with a silver spoon in their mouth struggle with apologies. But now it was time for Cuomo for summons all his power to find a way to atone for abhorrent behavior. “First, I want you to know that I never inappropriately touched any woman that works under me,” so much for contrition. The emperor, who was now naked, went on to say that the accusations were part of a political witch hunt designed to bring him down. In the next sentence it was time to throw his family under the bus. He claimed his handsy approach to young woman staffers was a style taught to him by his father as an affectionate gesture towards the elderly, children, colleagues and friends. He insisted it had nothing to do with sexual advances. Cuomo went on to call one of the accusers of completely fabricating her story, “It didn’t happen,” Cuomo pleaded. Finally the King attempted to make himself the victim. “These accusers have sabotaged all the great work I have done for victims who have been sexually assaulted in the workplace.” I had heard enough. The Great Leader was telling his worshippers that 11 women, including a state trooper, who he personally broke the rules of the state by putting on his duty, and the 162 page report with interviews of 179 different people were all liars. Pay no attention to all that documented evidence said the man pulling the levers.
Indeed, the curtain had been pulled all the way back and the Love Gov. was totally exposed. What does the King do when his reputation, character, and legacy are crumbling before his eyes? What does the King do when all his allies, that took years to cultivate, turn their backs and tell you to surrender to the gathering mob? My guess is, through the channels of Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, and Nancy Pelosi a deal was attempted to be cut with the man who used to be their favorite son. “Resign immediately, be contrite, and we will do our best to see that you live to fight another day.” But this King is not ready to give up his crown. Assuming he never has before, King Cuomo should be looking in the mirror trying to make sense of the errors of his ways. It is past time for the man who obviously believed himself to be invincible to come to terms with the narcissistic predator he has become. The first step to going forward is acceptance. If King Cuomo wants to recover his self-respect in this lifetime he must admit that power corrupted whatever sense of integrity he ever had in the first place. It is evident he used his crown to harass and manipulate young staffers who were merely trying to make a career in government. From every personal account I have heard he was a smiling pied piper in public settings and a vindictive bully behind closed doors. From my personal experience this is generally true with most politicians. Sadly, it appears Cuomo was the gold standard for bullies.
Now that the cat is out of the bag time will tell how this great Shakepearean tragedy plays out for the disgraced emperor. Saturday new criminal charges for sexual abuse were filed against the Governor by the Albany County Sheriff’s department. It is likely Cuomo will not take the hypothetical deal offered by the standing president of the United States. As of today Cuomo refuses to resign, denies all charges, and plans to take on City Hall all alone. Looking in from the outside I find Cuomo’s personal demise a very interesting look into human character. What does a self anointed hero do when Rome is burning? What does the architect of the Titanic say to himself as his masterpiece is sinking to the bottom of the North Atlantic? Richard Nixon had trouble coming to terms with his corrupted soul before seeing the light and resigning the presidency in 1974. I remember the speech he made as president immediately after the evidence against him had been presented. “I will not Resign,” was Nixon’s initial reaction to the wolves outside his door. I was only 14 years old but I could see the weight of the world in his expressions. I was confident I had seen the face of a man who was trying desperately to hold on to everything he had built in his life, yet could feel it all crumbling away right before his eyes.
Andrew Cuomo was finishing up his despicable defense on the charges that had just been brought in by New York State Attorney General Letitia James. I couldn’t help think back to that day 48 years ago when Nixon was still insisting he was not a crook and would not initially let go of his throne. The King of New York was displaying the same demeanor as Nixon all those years ago. “It’s you, not me,” pleaded the pathetic fallen idol. When Cuomo feels he is completely out of friends he will hopefully have a Nixon moment of accepting the errors of his ways. If his narcissism doesn’t allow him to find contrition he will be forced out by impeachment and legal proceedings. Since Nixon, this is the most powerful person in government to fall from such towering heights. Cuomo should look take a lesson from Nixon. The first step to recovery is acceptance. The King is dead. The soon to be former Governor of New York needs to go deep inside himself and try to find a humble Andrew Cuomo.
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