Trump's alibi, Bernie on the ropes

Well, folks, we have had another busy week. Consequently, there are a few housekeeping items to be addressed.

I should begin with an apology to my friends in the aviation community. As you are aware, the 737 Max is Boeing’s problematic “stretch” airliner. The term, “Supermax,” on the other hand, is a slang term for a super-maximum security prison. The 737 Supermax that I so cleverly referenced in last week’s article is, as they say, “not a thing.”

Then there is the Coronavirus, designated as COVID-19; Just as I was becoming comfortable with dismissing it as no more threatening than the common seasonal flu, I noticed that the officials being interviewed on the Sunday morning talking head shows had assumed a distinctly different, more serious tone than what we had heard in weeks prior. The flu has now, in fact, reached enough people (more than 118,000 cases) in enough countries (110 at last count) to be declared a “Pandemic” by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has transitioned from a “containment” strategy to one of mitigation.

The term “mitigation” carries a broad, but specific meaning to public health officials that includes tracking, testing, treatment protocols, etc. To the rest of us, it signals the rise of “Social Distancing.” The suspension of travel, possible closure of businesses, schools, theaters, and other public gatherings is increasingly becoming a reality because the problems seen in China, Europe, and Washington State could someday, become our own.

So I’m back on the cusp again. Is this a big deal or isn’t it? There are still plenty of folks who urge us to maintain perspective, comparing the infections and fatalities with suicides, car accidents and other forms of illness that happen in far greater numbers than our latest virus. Others are not only sure that the virus is cataclysmic, but they are quick to lay blame at the feet of Donal Trump.

I find those arguments particularly entertaining. Whether it originated at a “wet” food market or at a neighboring biohazard lab, most experts track the origin of the virus to the City of Wuhan, in the Hubei province of China. Mr. Trump has had a reasonably solid alibi for most of the past four years and if he had been spending any significant amount of time in Wuhan, I’m pretty sure we would know about it. Having said that, if the virus were traced back to a McDonald’s in Palm Beach, the American public would demand answers and the President would have some explaining to do.

Last, we have the ongoing saga of the Democratic Primary. A few short weeks ago, Joe Biden was being counted out and Bernie Sanders looked unstoppable. Now the tables have turned and Joe is ahead of Bernie by some 150 delegates. The very same pundits who predicted Joe’s demise are now discussing Bernie’s exit from the race.

Initial polling indicates that Bernie’s best states are behind him, but the polling has not been entirely reliable and there are still a few wild cards in play. First and foremost is Uncle Joe’s cognitive state. He has always been known for his gaffs, but more recently, he has seemed fatigued, irritable and confused. Bernie, in spite of a recent heart attack. remains comparatively articulate and energetic, and the drama will play out on Sunday when the candidates will meet for one more debate.

One wonders if Joe learned anything from Mayor Bloomberg’s debate experience. I don’t know what he hopes to gain from his participation in the debate. Bernie, on the other hand, can only help himself by debating and potentially force an upset. If Uncle Joe has a bad night, the race could turn back in Bernie’s favor. The announcement of running mates can also make a difference in the coming weeks, as well as news events that have yet to happen. The race is not quite over.

So here’s the math: There are a total of 4,051 pledged delegates to the Democratic Convention. Currently, 2,311 delegates are still up for grabs. Of those 2,311, Joe needs another 1,127 to clinch the nomination. Bernie needs 1,281. Neither is out of the race yet, but a 50/50 split for the remainder of the primary would result in a Biden-Trump contest in November.

There is more of course. Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison, the stock market is still volatile and our local stores are out of toilet paper. We’ll have more to deal with next week, but in the meantime, I think I’ll try to tune into that debate on Sunday. It might be interesting.