I’ve previously expressed the thought that my watching the most recent debate left me with the feeling that the Democratic candidates spent the lion’s share of their time criticizing each other. A letter to the editor in a recent Providence Journal echoed that observation adding that those Oval Office aspirants are paving the way for another Trump four years. I agree..

The latest debate featured the addition of Tom Steyer. CBS supplied the moderators, no better than the previous NBC crew, also failing to take control  thereby promoting an accusatory atmosphere among the candidates throughout the evening. I thought Joe Biden came off well, Mike Bloomberg somewhat better than his previous appearance, Warren was obnoxious, again bent on destroying the NY former Mayor, I think Sanders lost some ground, Klobuchar was okay, as was Buttigieg. Biden and Bloomberg seemed to be the only ones who did adhere to the time limits. The remedy for any who don’t, shut off their mikes.

How about us taxpayers picking up the tabs for members of congress to flit around the land trying for the Dem nomination while continuing to draw hefty salaries and health benefits for the jobs to which they were elected but currently aren’t fulfilling.

Sleep well America, Donald Trump assures us that the coronavirus is “very much under control” as the World Health Organization claims that all countries should prepare for a pandemic. He also claims the stock market looks “very good” despite it plunging nearly 2000 points in the past pair of days, the biggest drop in two years. Seems Washington should be renamed “Fantasy Land”.

The White House has announced that Veep Pence will lead a task force on the coronavirus. This is the same person who called global warming “a myth”, dismissed the dangers of smoking and as Indiana governor put his state into an HIV crisis by cutting Planned Parenthood funding and opposing needle exchange plans. He further possesses no medical experience. Sounds like a perfect choice !!

No!!

The consensus seems to indicate that the winners of the latest Democratic debate were Biden, Warren and Klobuchar. The losers Bloomberg (big), Sanders and Buttigieg. The next drop out?  Your guess probably better than mine.

My further displeasure with John Henry and Red Sox brass is the loss of Brock Holt, probably the best utility guy in the majors.  He’s been an invaluable member of the team, can play practically all positions, good hitter and positive influence in the dugout. He’ll certainly be missed by both players and fans.

Longtime supporter of Donald Trump, Roger Stone was sentenced to 40 months, convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering.  Prosecutors were going for seven to nine years but the A.G. William Barr disagreed.  How much, little or none of the 40 month sentence Stone will serve depends on his pally Trump who recently earned the title The Poo-bah Of Pardons”.

Hearing again another endless diatribe from “The Mouth That Bored”, Fox News host Tucker Carlson. He yapped that U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman should be impeached for Stone’s sentencing and called her a “Democratic activist wearing robes”.

Elizabeth Warren has apparently dubbed herself “Bloomberg Detractor in Chief”. This is the same tap dancer who claimed she was a Cherokee Native American but not until after she was 30 and then denied by the Cherokee nation.   

News to “gladden” our hearts: Twenty seven permits have been granted to hunt Alaskan grizzly bears, one of them going to Trump Jr.  Seems an Alaskan Safari Club has also raffled off a “dream hunt” with Junior along the Tongass National Forest coastline. Still waiting to see if this guy ever does or says anything worthwhile.

Bernie Sanders continues to attack Mike Bloomberg concerning his wealth and his homes while he claims but “a summer cabin”.  Wrong....actually Bernie owns three homes.  Seems the Democrats need to cool attacking each other and aim their remarks at the current office holder. As it stands now, it looks like another four years for the blonde coiffed one.

During a recent interview, Anderson Cooper made a direct, ear catching comment seldom heard on the visual medium. While talking with disgraced but recently White House pardoned former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich who indicated he had been “a political prisoner and was unfairly targeted” the longtime CNN host replied “bull****”. A word that doubtless also fits regarding much of the massive eleven person pardoning.

Oh?

We’ve heard how the lack of person to person communication has grown over recent years. A prime example of same greeted us recently at a restaurant. Nearby sat a pair of 20 somethings. It was difficult not to notice that both were wedded not to each other but to their cell phones. Our glances recorded no conversation between the two, the only spoken words were relegated to ordering their food. If they could have texted that they probably would have. Sorry state of affairs.

Pardons are really as popular with the Oval Officer as cheeseburgers. As you may have heard he just doled out eleven of them including former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojerich who attempted to sell a U.S. Senate seat previously held by Barack Obama. “I don’t know him very well. He was on for a short while on ‘The Apprentice’ years ago. He seemed like a very nice person” commented the red tie advocate. Also pardoned were former N.Y. Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik who pleaded guilty in 2009 to felony tax fraud, former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr. who was convicted in a gambling fraud scandal and Michael Milken who was convicted of racketeering and security fraud.  Certainly a motley group for which there may be future avails in the current administration.

As we all saw, the other candidates did quite a job on Michael Bloomberg during his initial debate appearance. Hard to imagine he can recover sufficiently enough to continue as a viable candidate. Apparently my picking him as the likely and best person to face Donald Trump seems to be off the mark. Considering my prediction success rate usually resides in the basement I should have declined comment.

Former Fox News analyst Bill O’Reilly has made a, thankfully, rare twitter appearance with reflections of the latest Democratic debate. He said Bloomberg “looked weak”, Warren was “desperate”, Biden “was babbling” and referred to Sanders’ “bulging eyes”.  O’Reilly, you may recall, is the one who forked over $32 million to a Fox News staffer for alleged sexual harassment allegations. Hey, Bill, you made your one public appearance, now do the Punxatawney Phil thing and disappear.

Oh Yeah

We all recall Donald Trump criticizing President Obama for playing too much golf. Well, check this out, seems the current White House occupant has played 2 ½ times more. His total cost to us taxpayers for chasing the small white ball thus far is $133.8 million.  He headed for yet another stay at his Mar a Lago resort this weekend, his 29^th.  By the way, sources indicate that the secret service is charged $650 a night there, more than three times what federal employees are allowed to spend.  

Now that Michael Bloomberg has made his intentions known regarding running for the presidency the other “Grand Old Party” hopefuls are naturally doing all they can to destroy him. Probably Bloomberg being the only candidate who could defeat the incumbent, his own party opposition will likely insure another four years for Donald Trump.

 Congress just held its annual Talent Show. It lasted a minute and a half.

Question of the week:  If the President was sent to jail, would the secret service go with him?

Throughout his 52 years in the media Sam Donaldson never endorsed or contributed to a political candidate.  He’s now put his stamp of approval on Michael Bloomberg while referring to Trump in these terms, “He’s me

We all recall Donald Trump criticizing President Obama for playing too much golf. Well, check this out, seems the current White House occupant has played 2 ½ times more. His total cost to us taxpayers for chasing the small white ball thus far is $133.8 million.  He headed for yet another stay at his Mar a Lago resort this weekend, his 29^th.  By the way, sources indicate that the secret service is charged $650 a night there, more than three times what federal employees are allowed to spend.  

Now that Michael Bloomberg has made his intentions known regarding running for the presidency the other “Grand Old Party” hopefuls are naturally doing all they can to destroy him. Probably Bloomberg being the only candidate who could defeat the incumbent, his own party opposition will likely insure another four years for Donald Trump.

 Congress just held its annual Talent Show. It lasted a minute and a half.

Question of the week:  If the President was sent to jail, would the secret service go with him?

Throughout his 52 years in the media Sam Donaldson never endorsed or contributed to a political candidate.  He’s now put his stamp of approval on Michael Bloomberg while referring to Trump in these terms, “He’s mean, he’s corrupt and if we don’t get this right, we may lose the things that have made this country the best place to live in the world and that shining city on the hill that Ronald Reagan used to talk about which was the envy of the world,”

A space is regularly dedicated here to the quote of the week, sometimes meaningful, other times absurd. The one I note today is one which endures forever, spoken by a true hero who led other heroes in preventing terrorists from destroying Washington landmarks and killing many of our citizens. September 11, 2001 saw Todd Beamer lead fellow passengers in thwarting the intended destruction by plane hijackers. His two word quote will live forever as will he and the action he initiated that day when he said “Let’s Roll”.

Oh, Yeah

 Former press secretary Sarah Sanders has emerged like the groundhog stating that Michael Bloomberg will have problems with women and African Americans, also stating that his language is offensive. I suggest Sanders make herself scarce as she did when she was in the administration. Meantime, we can always locate her in the dictionary under “Obnoxious”. “Annoying” and “Repulsive”

Another example of how dreadful the current Washington scene remains is the possibility of Trump pardoning his former political operative Roger Stone. It could be partially the influence of Fox tongue flapper Tucker Carlson who has repeatedly called on the Oval Office to pardon Stone, a Republican consultant and Nixon supporter. It’s disturbing to realize that the White House resident often turns to Carlson for info and advice.

Spring must be on the way. The Red Sox have arrived at Ft. Myers but to less enthusiasm on my part and that of others. Missing Alex Cora, Mookie Betts, not so much David Price, lends support to a decrease in the “it’s time for baseball” ecstasy. Neither the choice of manager nor players received in trade have less than thrilled. The execs only move that’s benefitted the front office is the one raising ticket prices which now further proves that family attendance at Fenway requires a bank loan.

Seems Attorney General Barr states that Trump’s tweets hinder his ability to do his job. Barr told ABC News, “Whether it’s Congress, a newspaper editorial board, or the president, I’m going to do what I think is right. I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me.” Could we see a forthcoming swing of that ever in motion White House door that will put Barr on the road to the unemployment line?

Dem candidates Biden and Warren are now attacking Michael Bloomberg as their chances for nomination fade.  The past Veep who folded in the New Hampshire primary accused the former New York Mayor of “buying” the nomination. Meantime, Warren whose numbers are in decline blasted Bloomberg for his 12 year old comments regarding a discriminatory housing policy. Certainly they both are hoping to rekindle lost enthusiasm for themselves but it seems to me that Biden and Warren need to put a sock in it as Michael Bloomberg is the best chance they have to defeat the glowing faced one who, by the way, has rekindled accusations of prejudice by labeling Mayor Bloomberg “Mini Mike” and “a 5’4” mass of dead energy”.in referring to his height. Trump has previously tabbed Senator Marco Rubio as “Little Marco” and Senator Bob Corker as “Liddle Bob”. Perhaps he should consider that there are a lot of voters who also don’t “measure up” to the Trump “height requirements”. 

Former press secretary Sarah Sanders has emerged like the groundhog stating that Michael Bloomberg will have problems with women and African Americans also stating that his language is offensive. I suggest Sanders make herself scarce as she did when she was in the administration. Meantime, we can always locate her in the dictionary under “Obnoxious”. “Annoying” and “Repulsive”

Another example of how dreadful the current Washington scene remains is the possibility of Trump pardoning his former political operative Roger Stone. It could be partially the influence of Fox tongue flapper Tucker Carlson who has repeatedly called on the Oval Office to pardon Stone, a Republican consultant and Nixon supporter. It’s disturbing to realize that the White House resident often turns to Carlson for info and advice.

Spring must be on the way. The Red Sox have arrived at Ft. Myers but to less enthusiasm on my part and that of others. Missing Alex Cora, Mookie Betts, not so much David Price, lends support to a decrease in the “it’s time for baseball” ecstasy. Neither the choice of manager nor players received in trade have less than thrilled. The execs only move that’s benefitted the front office is the one raising ticket prices which now further proves that family attendance at Fenway requires a bank loan.

Seems Attorney General Barr states that Trump’s tweets hinder his ability to do his job. Barr told ABC News, “Whether it’s Congress, a newspaper editorial board, or the president, I’m going to do what I think is right. I cannot do my job here at the department with a constant background commentary that undercuts me.” Could we see a forthcoming swing of that ever in motion White House door that will put Barr on the road to the unemployment line?

Dem candidates Biden and Warren are now attacking Michael Bloomberg as their chances for nomination fade.  The past Veep who folded in the New Hampshire primary accused the former New York Mayor of “buying” the nomination. Meantime, Warren whose numbers are in decline blasted Bloomberg for his 12 year old comments regarding a discriminatory housing policy. Certainly they both are hoping to rekindle lost enthusiasm for themselves but it seems to me that Biden and Warren need to put a sock in it as Michael Bloomberg is the best chance they have to defeat the glowing faced one who, by the way, has rekindled accusations of prejudice by labeling Mayor Bloomberg “Mini Mike” and “a 5’4” mass of dead energy”.in referring to his height. Trump has previously tabbed Senator Marco Rubio as “Little Marco” and Senator Bob Corker as “Liddle Bob”. Perhaps he should consider that there are a lot of voters who also don’t “measure up” to the Trump “height requirements”.