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Essa Sey Blasts Critics, Calling Them Bunch Of “ Loud Mouths.”

Sey Discloses Plans To Set Up Political Party!!!

“Timing is good for them to use my name again. These are very,very,very few loud mouths who are being propelled by forces stronger than them when my name appears on any screen. When timing allows them,they pounce. The timing is all about making cheap fame for themselves when their site is dormant after months of snail-pace performance. Which name is better than Essa's to revive such fora after all? I will give them more to help boost these outlets so that they can at least be noticed. This is about propaganda not about me. I am one factor they use to get both sides. Banjul and here when it comes to endless whispers on the phone. Those who make this noise are not my targets cause it is like me being in a helicopter trying to race with someone or others riding on bikes. My helicopter is freedom of expression and their bikes are attempting to silence freedom of expression. Of course that is a non starter Mbai you know that. Me being a puppet for Yahya or a pulpit for him(laughter). You know throwing adjectives in the air like someone celebrating a festival of kites is as easy as drinking a cup of "ataya" or green tea. Lets leave it at that. My adjectives are reserved for something better not infantile jabberings like these.” These were the exact words of former Gambian Ambassador to the United States Essa Bokarr Sey. Mr. Sey in a rather unapologetic move said he owes no apology to his critics, whom he calls ‘loud mouths.” The former Ambassador also discloses his plans to set up a political party in the too distance future. He says he gathered the necessary funds to register the said party. Below is the full text of the interview. Please read on…..

Freedom Newspaper: Your recent interview with the Gainako Newspaper is attracting a controversial debate on The Gambia Post and The Gambia L. Many readers have reacted angrily against your interview. They accused you of being a former puppet to  President Yahya Jammeh. They also claimed that Gainako was bid sympathetic with you. That the reporter fails to ask the right questions. What is your stake on this?

Essa Bokarr Sey: Thank you Mr Mbai...did I hear you say Gambiapost and Gambial?(Laughter) My brother my name is no stranger in any of those fora. Essa Bokarr Sey is a name that has been "hammered","pampered","massaged" and sometimes "baked" in those outlets. You know Mr Mbai my question is this: Why now or to be more specific why wait until I granted an interview to Gainako? Does that mean I was not being interviewed by you? Didn't they see my interview on the allgambian paper with brother Bubacarr Ceesay while I was serving as consultant for a firm in New York? Binneh Minteh met me in that firm and took my picture? How did they miss that interview too? I have answers here. Timing is good for them to use my name again. These are very,very,very few loud mouths who are being propelled by forces stronger than them when my name appears on any screen. When timing allows them,they pounce. The timing is all about making cheap fame for themselves when their site is dormant after months of snail-pace performance. Which name is better than Essa's to revive such fora after all? I will give them more to help boost these outlets so that they can at least be noticed. This is about propaganda not about me. I am one factor they use to get both sides. Banjul and here when it comes to endless whispers on the phone. Those who make this noise are not my targets cause it is like me being in a helicopter trying to race with someone or others riding on bikes. My helicopter is freedom of expression and their bikes are attempting to silence freedom of expression. Of course that is a non starter Mbai you know that. Me being a puppet for Yahya or a pulpit for him(laughter). You know throwing adjectives in the air like someone celebrating a festival of kites is as easy as drinking a cup of "ataya" or green tea. Lets leave it at that. My adjectives are reserved for something better not infantile jabberings like these.

Freedom Newspaper: Your critics presented past communications you filed on the Gambia L and The Gambia Post about the April 10Th student killings. In one of your postings, you blasted the contributors of these forums for being too hasty to pass judgment against the Jammeh Government about the said killings. Do you still stand by your statement?  If yes, why?

Essa Bokarr Sey: Past communications I filed? Why not they get past videos bearing my name from the GRTS as well? That I would at least appreciate. You see sometimes I think some of these people make me wonder if anyone amongst them has ever been closer to an oasis of communication? This noise being made makes a name for me and that is what they do not need in anything against me. I have never ever denied serving under Yahya or knowing him. Did they really read the contents of my interview and understand it. Having a "reservoir" of untested vocabulary does not make one a sound speaker or writer Mr Mbai. You know what? All these geezers shouting here and there are the very ones who know the plight of the amputated student who is still alive. Have they even raised a single cent for the benefit of the helpless child? Have they ever tried helping Omar Barrow's children? Have they ever tried helping Deyda Hydara's family? Many will come back here shouting their lungs out but they did nothing for the affected parties. Nothing for that matter. Aren't some of these people the ones who blamed you Mr Mbai for derailing NADD? NADD was handicapped not because of anything but funding and unity. Did they send in enough funds? Do they know how much I sent? They do not care knowing because for them it is a struggle where there are the "decent" and the "framed". That in my book makes me stronger!!! I do not care the least about such. If anyone here thinks Essa Bokarr Sey will ever send him or her an apology asking for what? Forgiveness? From who? People who did worse to the country before and after Yahya came to power? If we are to be tested by time I swear by the holy books most of those shouting today would keep quiet right from this minute. We are all from The Gambia,our parents are from there,we know one another. I am not the type who coils back and say "Am Sorry bro or sis" because one man or some few inexperienced people in the field of administration or politics are making me look bad?  Never! Let them eat the future cakes of achievements and see if I care about such childish "represailles"(French). Me going against Yahya has nothing to do with their stand. Who asked them to invite me or at least receive me in their presumably "GOOD HANDS"? Did I ask anyone to do so? Camon in fact the only reason why I am talking is because you have asked me the question. Mr Mbai I went to Atlanta during the past Ramadan month. I saw good people and spoke to good people. I was highly welcome by Gambians. Believe it or not I know the husk from the rice now. I saw some of those making noise but they did not see me. I swear Mbai like Bob Marley said:"If night was to turn to day many would run away". If my future or life is in the hands of a person then where is Allah? These are the very characters who attacked others and others only coil back and wait for another prey to help make a name for themselves. My question has always been this:Who are these "WE"? Look at the way these few loud mouths write..."WE" You who? This is a national cause instead why not use "OUR" or "US". Diversity and inclusion period!

Freedom Newspaper: Your critics are also demanding an apology from you for making what they call such an "irresponsible" statement against Gambians? Will Essa Sey apologize?

Essa Bokarr  Sey:  Well how about if I in return demand a GRAND APOLOGY from those critics? How about that? Apologize to who? For what? Are those critics sane my friend? Apologizing to some people whose own parents served under Yahya for having served under Yahya myself? Pa this is exactly why I see another "fight" in The Gambia even after Jammeh goes. That fight will be about the politics of "peer pressure". I care less about that and I will never lose a minute's sleep over that. If they so wish to take over the government let them do so. Then I will be sleeping in my new house in Dakar! (Laughter).

Freedom Newspaper: Why is Essa Sey an issue in Gambian local politics? What crime have you committed to warrant such harsh criticism?

Essa Bokarr Sey: Essa Sey is not an issue for the silent majority. I receive so many emails of good people who are arch opponents of Yahya Jammeh. Most of those people were on the L and used to go against me while I was serving the regime. Some of those saw genuine reason in working with me now. These are the ones who care for the nation not those who think they can cause rain where they cannot even freeze ice cubes! I have been discussing off and online with certain individuals who command a lot of respect in the Gambian political arena. Like I said these are very very very few loud mouths. Who instead of identifying the snake and chop its head do constantly follow the traces in the bush acting as brave men whereas they are simply out of touch. Crime? The only "crime" I committed is this...I AM NOT FOOD FOR PEER PRESSURE! That’s it!

Freedom Newspaper: Are you worried that these people are picking on you? What's your message to them?

Essa Bokarr Sey: Worried? Mr Mbai many of these people dare not travel to New York cause they always say Yahya is following them the "WE"(LAUGHTER). I have been to places including South Africa etc. I do my thing and live my life Pa Nderry. Worried? A believer sins when you worry where God or Allah is.

Freedom Newspaper: Do you regret your past writings in support of President Jammeh? Are you ready to defend yourself,  when called upon one day by any future Government to defend your statement on the student killings?

Essa Bokarr Sey: Not all of them! No no no! There are things that I wrote they were inline with what any sane person or genuine citizen would have written. Ok lets say lately didn't Jammeh write supporting the contents of the book written by Halifa Sallah? If I were still working under Jammeh I would have expanded and supported that point in a positive way. That means I do not regret all I wrote. There are things I had written before I would have written the same if I were to be serving him again! Some of these things were not presented online. These are official positions I took to search for good avenues while thinking that I was doing so for the nation only to discover that it was going into a private account of someone. Things like supporting the loans, grants from Taiwan or other places only to realize that most of those projects never made it to a genuine plateau. Those are things I would not have written again without the prior approval of public accounts committee at the house of parliament or independent bodies like it. Therefore no regrets. The only thing is that I missed a target thus would prepare to shoot again when the chances arise now or later.

There are always chances to serve my country again. They exist even where I am working at now. Yes they do exist. If I were to be helping The Gambia even after Yahya leaves I would apply more balanced approaches than blinded zeal to serve a nation without knowing the real intensions of the regime in question. Who says after Yahya Jammeh all politicians after him are going to be Prophets so "immaculate"? Anyone who believes that must be very naive. There must be checks and balances now or after Yahya. This is not about who one likes or deeply trusts, this is about a national interest. Neither is patriotism a piece of cake to be shared among few people who think THEY ARE THE BEST JUST BECAUSE THEY NEVER SERVED UNDER JAMMEH. That is absolute nonsense!

Freedom Newspaper: It was interesting to see an Ambassador participating in online discussion forums. What inspired you at the material  time to take part in such debates? Were you trying to counter or silence Jammeh critics by doing that?

Essa Bokarr Sey: Exactly! That is one of the myths surrounding our body politics in sub-Saharan Africa. President Putin reserved a whole day in a few years back answering to questions from private citizens online live and direct from the Kremlin. Barak Obama's campaign management tirelessly replies to emails etc from private citizens. In fact as recent as yesterday we all saw messages on the net  quoting political figures here in the USA asking the Delta Rebels of Nigeria to resolve their differences with the authorities in an amicable way. Didn't we all see President Ahmadinejad run a bloc where he addresses questions and answers? You know in The Gambia we have a "queer" breed that will always shout louder pretending to be "sabi-sabis" just because they have key boards in their apartments in the west? No. We cannot dictate what obtains on the ground by playing big in our heads. I chose to be on the net because in wolof there is this proverb:"Noro sa jamano mugen noru sa jamanoi bai" "it is better to draw lessons from one's generation than trying to forcefully draw lessons from one's daddy's" Look at that! Is this not a beautiful lesson from African traditional teachings? LAUGHTER!

Freedom Newspaper:  Who is Alieu Keita? Who is Yero Mama Pullo?

Essa Bokarr Sey:  Alieu Keita? You know Mr Mbai wishful thinking is bad. There are people who think all they say is right and biblical. Those are the ones who have been and are still urging me to accept that I am a character I have never been! Alieu Keita? I think I have more in my pool of pseudonyms to use than a name like that. Infact Yero Jallow himself forwarded some of the emails to me from the gambiapost. In those I saw the sender missing a lot of lope holes against him or herself! These emails being forced on me as mine make me really laugh. Do you think I care about such infantile methods? Do you Mr Mbai? As for Yero Mama Pullo he is a former warrior who has earned himself a lot of praises from the old griots of Maasinah Toro. In fact the real name is Yero Mama Pullohrih Gallo Haawa. Yero Mama? Well why not you ask Baba Maal or Mansour Secka the current fulani singers in Senegal? They will expand more on who Yero Mama Jambarr is-LAUGHTER.

Pa Mbai go and eat your benachin. Essa is at ease if anyone isn't that is not my choice!

Freedom Newspaper: Your critics claimed that you have been using multiple pen names to attack opponents of President Jammeh online. How true are these claims?

Essa Bokarr Sey: Refer to the last answer. How about if they could tell me how many pen names they used supporting the same Jammeh while pretending to be opponents? If they I will be more than happy. Pa some of these loud mouths are committing political suicide by trying me. You know I still have a list of these so-called opponents who called or came to my office while I was Ambassador in DC saying a lot of bad things against their own peers. Yes I seriously mean this my good brother. Some people in this so-called camp of "WE" are so treacherous but when they write many think they are the saints. Far from that my brother far from that. I have been in a public office at a very young age. I have blended with young people, elderly and prime aged ones for so long. I swear if I were to release some names here online most of those yapping online as if they are saints would melt like candle wax. Pa Nderry do your job and raise your head high up. One of the few I respect is Karamba Touray. He is related to me through my wife's family but he never used that to relinquish his principles. Karamba never came to my office or called saying anything against anyone. I do also respect a people like Saihou Mballow,Ablie Njie Atlanta,Saloum Njie,Banka Manneh,Musa Jeng etc. These are guys who did not praise me for anything but respect my position when I express my views genuinely. That has never changed them from being opponents neither did they ever say a bad word against others only to appease me during a conversation. I still maintain that I respect men like Sheikh Omar Faye of the world bank. Even whereas he is not in for the system he never shied away from agreeing to disagree. If people like Mr Faye are there to use reference it means a lot to me. There are many others I can mention here who are people these loud mouths never expect that I  know. There are most of those who shout here today but we know who is who? That is why Yahya does not respect some quarters as a threat. He knows how certain people in the so-called camp of "WE" are worse than the NIA we are pointing fingers at. Mr Mbai this interview is what we call "tell it all,then stand to be counted". I have been in that office in DC,I have been receiving calls from so many so-called opponents, I know who is who? They better keep quiet!LAUGHTER.

Freedom Newspaper: What's the objective of your opponents? Are they trying to portray that you are a former Jammeh boy boy or what?

 Essa Bokarr Sey:  A former WHAT? boy-boy? What is boy-boy? I would at least expect "man-man". I am a man am not a boy! Or do I sound too literal here? LAUGHTER. Anyway Pa like one of our contributors said here. These are people who use adjectives without even knowing what they mean. Thinking they are street smart when some of them are not even "path-smart". You judge if  I would make a good boy-boy for  anyone. At least you have worked with ME even if not on a pay roll per se. Would you recommend me to serve as anyone's boy-boy if the company appointing boy-boys was hiring? I don't think so!

Freedom Newspaper: I read a  letter of yours, in which you congratulated President Jammeh for his birthday celebrations. You also congratulated the President during the July 22ND military revolution celebrations. Do you consider your actions  legitimate or wrong? Will these letters hunt you in years to come? Do you see anything wrong with that?

Essa Bokarr Sey:Legitimate within a protocol stand point? Yes! I was appointed to serve as an Ambassador in a political culture where such letters are part of the established fine traditions of the foreign policy. I did not say foreign policy codes! Please I said traditions. Traditions are not laws but meant to refine expected protocols. I accepted to serve in that capacity thus did what was to be done and what is being done all over the world. Would we ask former Ambassadors under Jawara if similar letters they wrote were expected of them? I hope one day I will see a question like that? Yes I wrote to congratulate him based on the above. Along the way when I saw I could no longer maintain that position for him,we parted. Some say I was FIRED!!!  Was I fired? If so why did the APRC regime deny it on the Washington post? Others say if I was not fired why didn't I go home? Well for those also I will refer to the daily observer's article when a replacement was appointed to take over my position. In that article the paper said.."Sey who was replaced for undisclosed reasons" The archives are there I am not making up stories here. Legally speaking can't I sue so many people to court over these controversial jabberings? (LAUGHTER) Making noise is one thing,understanding the terrain is completely different.

Freedom Newspaper: What make you oppose President Jammeh now? Is your opposition justified or fake?

Essa Bokarr Sey: My stands within a political perspective have never been fake from Armitage High School (when I started being so vocal as debator in the then French club or as Kunda Alkalo) to date. Ask people who really know me from those days? People like Binneh Minteh,Saihou Mballow and co. You know these people matter because they saw my past and present as well. I am not using their names to score points am using their names to pose a balance between references and judgements from subjective quarters.

Freedom Newspaper: Is it true that you and Malafi Jarju were coordinating online to promote Jammeh's agenda online?

Essa Bokarr Sey: Yes it is absolutely true! What was wrong in coordinating with brothers and sisters where ideas converged? I said I was working under Jammeh as a political partner not in crime but in interest. This interest makes all of us call ourselves citizens! We were not promoting Jammeh's agenda,we were promoting a political era we thought could have been given a chance to redress certain issues. Now Mr Mbai after Manlafy and I left how many came? You know why I keep on seeing the loud mouths as "enemies" but not opponents? Because they cannot see bad in others even if they did worse things. They have certain people on their radar that they dislike period. This is why I do not respect their stands in the field of political opposition.

Freedom Newspaper: In a posting to the Gambia Post Yusupha Jow said"Yero and other proprietors of Gainako.com, I must say the soft interview you gave to Essa Bokarr Sey was despicable and frankly an embarrassment to your website. The man is a fraud period based on the awful things he did under the Yero Mama Pulo and Alieu Keita names. Nothing Essa Bokarr will do will change my opinion that he is simply a chameleon, changing colors when the occasion suits him.If Yaya had not fired the man, he would still be serving him obediently. To say that I am disappointed in this farce of an interview is to put it lightly."  What is your reaction?

 Essa Bokarr Sey: Mr Mbai I am really not going to refer to particular names here. I care less about who says what when it comes to people searching for easy targets. That said all I can say here is this. Why attack gainako? After all these same people were the ones constantly pouncing on you for no reason. You see Mr Mbai what I realise in this whole endless rivalry amongst blinded camps is that there is a set of a "gang" who think they own the cyber space. That makes me look low upon such characters. I am in fact disappointed that a person calling him or herself educated would be "scavenging" on this stinking garbage of trivialities for over a decade. Obsession is not a good card in politics. After all with all the noise from old forumites, it is Bubacarr Ceesay(allgambian.net),You Pa Nderry(freedomnewspaper.com,Yero Jallow(gainako.com),Ebrima Sankareh(thegambiaecho.com)and Mbaye Sarr and/or Ndongo Sillah(thegambiajournal.com) who started the most effective internet journalism for Gambians. Give credit where it is due. It is only after these papers came to existence that we saw hackings,bogus laws related to security and other "nooses" coming from the Jammeh regime. It is also after these papers started hitting the screens that reuters,CPJ others and others started mentioning most cases that are affecting journalists back home. In fact the NIA are using a piece Fatou Jaw Manneh wrote on the allgambian.net against her not those she wrote on Gambia-l. Why didn't they use the latter? The answer is their's.  This very trend forced the government to strengthen the daily observer's engine as well.  I will say it loud and clear. I do not care if anyone thinks he owns the net. My feelings do not need a visa from anyone anyway.

Freedom Newspaper: If our memory serves us right, Mr. Jow's  mother served the Jammeh Government as a cabinet Minister. She resigned honorably. What fraud is he talking about? Is it a crime to serve one's country? Are you a chameleon?

 Essa Bokarr Sey: You Know Mr Mbai people always know journalist as a breed that forces words out of someone's mouth! LAUGHTER. Am really between catch 22 here LAUGHTER. I do not want to mention names because am not a petty name-trader. However, the nature of your questions has squeezed me to do so. Lets say Mrs Jow was a SOS under Jammeh. Was it a crime? Not at all. I do not care appeasing Yusupha Jow at all. In fact I do not even know who this person Yusupha is. In 2003 I drove past Tuscan and I think the last time I remember on the net I read he was in Phoenix? That was the first time I came close to Jow in my life. Is that what closeness means? LAUGHTER. For the mother well I met her in Paris while I was serving there. We even went to a market called Barbez with her to buy a leather purse. In her face I saw respect and responsibility that much I can say about Aunty Satang. Other than these words I have no comment about her and her past. She is older than I am therefore in our traditions I respect exactly as I respect my mother. On Yusupha well Mr Mbai let him continue spewing all he has and she if I care. He will come to really know me as time goes on. If  any of these people think they can design Essa's public image then they are really into a big match. My name could be there score board. I remember Yusupha Jow changing my middle name to Bokassa but I will never play with his mother's or father's name.These characters are just so funny! Fraud? Well Mr Mbai didn't Maba Jobe resign before our eyes? Didn't Sedat Jobe resign? Why our we accepting this creation of special breeds before our eyes is beyond me Essa Bokarr. I am not a chameleon in my eyes neither am I one in the eyes of those I call the silent majority. I know there are other chameleons inside this very camp that is constantly pointing fingers at others. I can relay their names live here on the net. Mr Mbai these are people who call themselves opposition but they called me while I was Ambassador implicating each other. I have witnesses for goodness sake. Let them talk time will tell.

Most of these loud mouths have nothing to teach anyone here. How many of those former Gambia-L "fuming lions" joined the Jammeh regime they were castigating after I left? They are there they know themselves very well. How many of them were fired and rehired. They are there. How many of them are currently sneaking to act as advisers,consultants etc? They know themselves. They are here in the states some are in Banjul we know them. How many of them wanted to get contracts from the APRC through aunties. I met some when I was there and many are still behind the scenes working under ground. They know that I know them that is why most are making so much noise. I cannot be intimidated by whirling accusations. I will also be releasing their unknown secrets as time goes on. We must weed the loud ones who have not yet been discovered. No need to judge oneself time will judge everyone. Pa I will ever be defiant before most of these people because I know them so much. Some of them do not even know how much I know what they do in Banjul. These people who are using the bia of not having served Yahya could be worse than any state agent out there. I swear this is a fact.

Freedom Newspaper:  Do you regret serving Jammeh's Government?

Essa Bokarr Sey: I do not regret and will never regret. I regret why I did not leave it earlier though. The pain and noise my family went through while working to help maintain the backbone of A Republic under these circumstances was too much. In fact I have been warned by family members ie if I were to choose to return they would also leave me alone! To all those who are obsessed in making people believe that Essa misses his position I say good luck! Most of those who say so are very power hungry in their own beings. This is a fact of life my friend.

Freedom Newspaper: Are you impressed with the way the Gainako editors responded to your critics?

Essa Bokarr Sey: With reference to some of the specifics..I was disappointed! But I have no qualms over the general concept of things. My expectations are that, a journalist should be a referee not a player. Including you Pa Nderry Mbai. Yousou Ndour said it all:"Journalist amut parr-parr-loh" Meaning they  (journalists) are not to take sides. However,Brother Yero sent me an email asking if I am still a member of the gambiapost or L? In it he also suggested a second interview. I did respond. I will NEVER turn down an interview from him at all cost. He has done nothing wrong to me in person. He is respectful man I strongly adore.

Although there is one thing I will not entertain here. That is, trying to appease peer pressure. If I get questions and see a REFEREE in the journalists asking me those questions I will reply. If I see otherwise I reserve the right to turn down the interview.

In fact one thing I will clear here right now is the way I came to contact the gainako. This idea came to me via a nephew in NC called Omar Jallow. I honoured his idea then started sending poems to Yero's paper. Omar is a son of my elder cousin. Omar is a staunch APRC supporter and he still is one. This is what I call mature politics. When I was with the APRC my own nephew Buba was a staunch supporter of PDOIS. He lived in my residence by then! Would you expect the same from those making this loud noise all over the place? Of course not! People who are yet to attain power, denying others the right to freedom of expression? What would they do if they were to replace Yahya? Ask yourself the question. Pa Nderry I do not need anyone's blessings in my political life. I know my rights therefore Yahya or the opponent will not become "nuisance" for Essa. Not at all.

Freedom Newspaper: Are you a sellout as claimed by your critics?

Essa Bokarr Sey: I never saw the term used against me anywhere. In fact a sell out is a person who claims to be an opponent then calls me an Ambassador at home back stabbing his or her own peers in the "WE" struggle. Me  a sell out? Well my political stand speaks for itself now and before. When I was with Jammeh I was not scared to speak my mind and today I am equally using the same nature in me. Pa Nderry Mbai you personally know that I am far from being a sell out!

Freedom Newspaper: Any last words?

Essa Bokarr Sey: I want to inform all and sundry that I will create my own political party when the going gets tougher. I swear to the creator if anyone thinks I will not make it let them think again. I Essa Bokarr SEY am not a loser. I have always proven myself in anything I start from childhood days to now. Look at my track and see for your self. Why are people talking about me today? Because I rose from Kuntaya Village to see the towers of the world. Now I am doing a job that none would have ever imagine could feature on my resume. I have confidence that I can get the funding, the contacts and surprising things to put on the plate. My party can be formed in absentia but can still shake the base so very well. That’s my new word today Mr Mbai. I am currently consulting brains who are so serious and dedicated. I may also start it then give the flag bearer position to someone else. I have the contacts and I will use them with all my might Allah willing. I like being tested!

Freedom Newspaper:  Thanks Mr. Sey for granting us this interview.

 Essa Bokarr Sey: Mr Mbai well you are the "lion" as usual LAUGHTER. After all these accusations levied against you as my pal, you are the first journalist who diagnosed my past in this extensive and deep way. I admire your impartial position as a journalist. In The Gambia if you are not Larry King then you are our Anderson Cooper LAUGHTER.