Award-winning novelist Ted Dekker once wrote: "Most people die twice: first when they give up on life, and finally when death comes to take what's his." New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has not been able to lay claim to the first part of that saying – but he should -- because his governorship now stands at the Pearly Gates.
Political lives can often overcome one ugly scandal, but two or three is another matter. Currently, Cuomo is facing two political predicaments, and one involves a Department of Justice investigation. Hanging on for dear life will gain Cuomo nothing, at this point, except more humiliation and disgrace. It seems rather apparent to everyone save the governor that it is all over but the shouting.
Oh, how the mighty do fall.
Stick a Fork in Him
A couple of things need to happen before a politician should call it quits; wrongdoing must become widespread, his or her people must show signs of running for cover, and his friends in the media must jump ship.
Andrew Cuomo's scandals – both personal and professional – have met all three criteria.
A report in the Wall Street Journal alleges that two of Cuomo's minions altered or omitted data regarding the number of deaths resulting from the governor's mandate to put COVID patients into nursing homes. Backtracking and prevaricating by one's servile dependents is evidence that they believe their heads are next on the chopping block. In other words, they can see the handwriting on the proverbial wall even if the big boss does not recognize it.
Regarding Gov. Cuomo's other scandal, the Democratic State Senate majority leader has threatened to jump the Cuomo ship should one more woman come forward and allege sexual harassment. Currently, three women have accused the governor of inappropriate behavior while in office. Four – says State Senator Andrea Steward-Cousins – would put the nail in Cuomo's coffin.
Next comes the parade of media types who appear to be working overtime to distance themselves from Governor Cuomo. Fox Media Analyst Howard Kurtz penned an article on March 5 headlined: “How Cuomo's media boosters are jumping off the bandwagon." Exhibit A, says Kurtz, is Molly Jong-Fast, who wrote an article gushing and crushing about Cuomo for Vogue magazine last year. Citing her recent piece in the Daily Beast, Jong-Fast admitted: "My Cuomo' Crush' Turned Out to be Stockholm Syndrome." Kurtz quipped: "I guess they've broken up."
The Sound of the Fat Lady Singing
Publicly, Gov. Cuomo claims to have "no plans to resign." However, politics can be a tricky game. One minute you are up, the next, down – and with his star taking a nosedive, Cuomo will have to conclude what his friends and enemies recognize: There is nowhere for the good governor to go but out.
Thus, a political eulogy is in order: The son of the late Mario won an Emmy and made poor decisions while serving as the governor of New York that killed thousands of innocent people. He then tried to cover it up. Mr. Cuomo is survived by three women who accuse him of sexual harassment and a brother who is a television host on CNN. The epitaph on his headstone was taken from the book of Daniel: “mene mene tekel upharsin” which means numbered, measured, found wanting, and your kingdom divided. Thus, Cuomo’s kingdom, like that of Belshazzar of Babylon, was split asunder.
In lieu of flowers, the Cuomo family requests donations be made to #metoo to help those suffering from sexual harassment.
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Read more from Leesa K. Donner.
