The 411mania Douchebag of the Week

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the latest edition of The 411 Douchebag of the Week. I’m Bryan Kristopowitz.

Alec Baldwin’s new interview show on ABC, The Alec Baldwin Show, was recently removed from its Sunday night timeslot and has been moved to Saturday nights, which is likely not a shock to anyone who has actually bothered to watch the show. It’s not a bad interview show, but I can’t say that it’s good, either. It’s, at best, mediocre.

I mean, who is the show meant for? What specific demographic is ABC trying to get to watch Baldwin interview celebrities? I don’t get it. Did Baldwin and ABC figure that since Baldwin’s version of Match Game is somewhat popular that that audience would tune in for Baldwin interviewing Robert DeNiro? Why would anyone think that?

And what the hell is the deal with the smooth jazz theme? Is that supposed to mean that the show is “classy?” The animation segments are also a little too weird for their own good.

ABC and Baldwin might have had something worthwhile if the show, instead of being a weekly enterprise, had been a two hour holiday special. That way, ABC has new, easy to watch programming during the slow holiday season. ABC could have aired the most interesting interviews first and, if the special was a hit, could have put together another special with the other interviews for a later holiday date.

Anyone plan on watching the remaining episodes of The Alec Baldwin Show? Anyone at all? I doubt I will. I do wish ABC did more Match Game episodes, though. I love that show.

And now onto this week’s Douchebag of the Week.

This week, the 411 Douchebag of the Week goes to Bernie Sanders, independent U.S. Senator from the state of Vermont, for his recent claim that white people who refuse to vote for black candidates because they’re black isn’t necessarily racist. Senator Sanders recently made the claim while speaking with The Daily Beast about races for governor in both Georgia and Florida where black candidates narrowly lost each contest. According to the Senator, “there are a lot of white folks out there who are not necessarily racist who felt uncomfortable for the first time in their lives about whether or not they wanted to vote for an African-American.”

What? How is not voting for a candidate because he or she is black not racist? Isn’t that situation a perfect example of what it means to be racist or harbor racist attitudes? Unless the definition of racist and racism has changed, I would say that what the Senator claims isn’t necessarily racist is incredibly fucking racist.

Look, I get that a portion of “the Left” is trying to “reach out” to rural, white voters in “red” states and, as a part of that outreach, “the Left” doesn’t want to be seen as elitist or condescending, but calling out racism is not either elitist or condescending when the behavior in question is racist. And not voting for a candidate because he or she is black is racist. How else should you explain it? Should you just ignore it and talk about “bread and butter” issues, like jobs and healthcare and all that shit? What’s the point of talking about any of that to people who have already made up their mind and said they would not vote for a black candidate because the black candidate is black?

Exactly. You can’t reach out to people who aren’t going to change, who believe what they believe and that’s it. You can speak to them, you can make your case, but you can’t expect them to listen or vote for you. It’s just not going to happen. You’re going to have to come up with some other strategy.

The Senator’s comments are unfortunate for his potential national political future, as Senator Sanders had major issues with black Democratic voters in the 2016 election. He likely added another issue to deal with. Not exactly the smartest thing to do.

There’s nothing wrong with trying to reach out to people who may not agree with you politically. There’s nothing wrong with attempting to expand your base. But ignoring racism is not cool at all, and refusing to call out what’s painfully obvious is just ridiculous. If they’re not going to vote for you, they’re not going to vote for you. It’s that simple.

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And now for this week’s honorable mentions…

-Douchebag Hall of Famer, 2017 Douchebag of the Year, and (Jesus Christ) 45th President of the United StatesDonald Trump, for that fucking press conference last week. Why is it so hard for this guy to have a press conference or TV interview that doesn’t make news and make him look like a total idiot and unhinged lunatic? And why do people continue to work for him? It just makes no sense at all.

–The Trump White House, for revoking the press credentials for CNN’s Jim Acosta. It’s ludicrous and wrong but not unexpected, as the White House and President Trump have a perpetual hard on against both Acosta and CNN. And the White House’s “video evidence” justifying Acosta’s removal from the White House Press Corp is manipulated garbage. Again, it isn’t surprising, but it’s still terrible and shouldn’t be allowed.

I’d also like to know why Fox News isn’t standing shoulder to shoulder with its fellow media members and protesting this removal. When President Obama tried to remove Fox News from the press pool CNN and others protested and it didn’t happen. What the hell?

–The Democrats, for for once again running a lazy ass campaign. There was supposed to be this massive “blue wave” that was going to be a repudiation of President Trump and everything he stands for. It was going to be an electoral reckoning. Trump was fucked. The reality, of course, was that while the Democrats won the House of Representatives, they lost seats in the Senate and are now stuck in a position where they will have power but are already sending out a message that they’re afraid to use it. This is one of the many reasons why people hate the Democrats. They’re too scared to fight and too lazy to do the work. They need to be “inspired” and “in love” before they do anything. It’s ridiculous.

–The people who protested outside Tucker Carlson’s house in Washington D.C. , for protesting outside Tucker Carlson’s house in Washington D.C. Look, if you think professional weasel Tucker Carlson is a horrible person and terrible media personality, send him an e-mail or piece of mail telling him how you feel. Start a website or Twitter account that explains how awful you think he is. Stand outside the Fox News studios and make your voices heard. But leave his family and his home out of it. You have no right to go there. Protesting outside of a news personality’s home is just bullshit.

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