Author: coastcontact

I am a somewhat cranky but mostly optimistic 65 plus who refuses to give up on this maddening world. The purpose of this BLOG is to express my feelings, thoughts.

Best of luck Joe


Joe Biden was and is a very decent human being, despite some mistakes, and an effective legislator and later Vice-President. But his time has passed and I agree with those who feel he’s running out of duty and concern for country. He has lost his spunk and I honestly believe he does not have it in him to come back with a quick punch when the Orange Hulk starts stalking him on the debate stage (as he did with Hillary) while hurling insults and threats of locking him up.

You see, I believe Biden made a huge tactical error in not forcefully fighting back when attempts to smear him and his son on Ukraine came to light. Faint denials were not enough, he should have gone on a media blitz demanding that Trump present proof, demanding that an open and public investigation be initiated and even suing Trump for defamation. He did none of those things thus allowing the cloud of malfeasance to fester and grow. In addition, as a politician Biden should have known that being pure and innocent is not enough because one has to give the “appearance” of such. Thus, he should have anticipated that the optics of Hunter Biden joining Burisma were not good and could be exploited for political gain by a corrupt opponent in the future and he should have warned Hunter, such as it’s happening now.

Biden’s inability to see the optics lead to him refusing to appear on Sunday morning political programs while other Democratic presidential hopefuls jumped at every opportunity to appear. Pete Buttigieg appeared on five of those programs of Sunday February 9.

That Biden was grieving is understandable but not a good enough excuse. Best of luck Joe and many thanks for your service to this country.

What Me Worry?

The choices for the Democratic Party nominee for president are mostly between flawed candidates. Could any of those appearing at the eighth debate stand up to Donald Trump and win?

Knowing that Trump will be calling his opponent names and portraying him or her as unfit and corrupt it is almost impossible for me to select the appropriate candidate that could win.

Alfred E Neuman in the guise of Pete Buttigieg is the smartest candidate, a combat veteran and a Rhodes scholar. At 38 years old he would definitely connect with younger voters. I personally have no problem with his sexual orientation but would Americans vote a gay man into the presidency? The E in Alfred E Neuman stands for Enigma. I am not alone in recognizing the similarity. For me the enigma is how do you sell this smart gay man to the American public?

Then there is former Vice President Joe Biden. This is his third time trying for the nomination. He has a long history in the Senate. He supported the invasion or Iraq and opposed busing to integration of schools. It is unclear what he stand for today but says he will bring people together. How he would bring Democrats and Republicans together in today’s fraught environment has not been explained. His appears frail. Just do not see him able to physically cope with the demands of the presidency. He would be 78 years old in a 2021 inauguration.

Bernie Sanders would be 79 years old on inauguration day. He recently had a heart attack. He is a declared socialist who calls himself a “democratic socialist.” He would try to remake American society. How many Americans want a socialist society? We all like Social Security and Medicare but the word socialist does not sit well with most Americans.

Elizabeth Warren is Bernie Sanders light and Amy Kobuchar seems to be a moderate with no specific agenda.

Michael Bloomberg represents Hillsborough, Bel-Air, Scarsdale, and Cherry Hills Village. People living there and similar communities need no help.

I have until March 3 to select my choice. As of today it is Alfred E Neuman. Oops I mean Pete Buttigieg.

The Ostrich Wins – America Looses!

Is this the end of the American Republic? Too many Americans have chosen to hide their heads in the sand. Too many have chosen to cover their ears. The very last thing they want to hear is testimony from John Bolton, Mick Mulvaney, Mike Pompeo or anyone else. Like any ostrich, the truth might hurt.

Donald Trump faced charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Sadly the Senate has decided that while his actions were inappropriate they do not rise to removal from office.

Donald Trump contends that the second article to the Constitution gives him power to do whatever he wants. The Republican controlled Senate agrees. They choose to ignore his high crimes and misdemeanors. This leaves us with a toothless congress.

If he wins a second term as president will he attempt to overturn the constitution? Could he run for a third term as president? Who would stop him?

Text of the 22nd Amendment. “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once.”

I am really frightened. We appear to be following the gullible in places like 1930 Germany, today’s Russia, Philippines, Venezuela, and Turkey.

Impeachment trial of the president could lead to an Unexpected Outcome

Trump angry over impeachment inquiry

John Bolton just tore up the impeachment script.

The NYT on Sunday night reported that JOHN BOLTON has written in a draft of his book that President DONALD TRUMP ordered aid to Ukraine held until it investigated the Bidens — reminds the United States Senate and the American people of a reality that was, until now, easy to forget: BOLTON is going to tell his story, it’s just a question of what medium it appears in first — a book, a television segment or a sworn testimony.

According to CNN Senator Mitt Romney is saying that more Republicans are likely to vote for witnesses.

Once Witnesses are called to testify in the impeachment trial the Trump defense will be difficult to make.

Holding an overwhelming GOP majority in the Senate, Trump believes he will be acquitted.  It might be a stretch to expect Trump to be removed from office but compelling testimony will be difficult for senators to ignore.

The Impeachment Trial of Donald J. Trump

Senators have a duty to conduct a fair and full trial. The Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, is trying to make sure they don’t. The strategy is obvious. Let’s get through this impeachment trial as quickly as possible. The senate finds the president not guilty and he will have another reason for re-election. Trump will point to his exoneration as proof of the great job he is doing as president.

Are the American people likely to buy this strategy? Of course I don’t know the answer but if we look at history we all can see that Americans know when the country is on a wrong path.

The best example is the presidency of Jimmy Carter. Two situations denied him a second term. The inflation rate rose from 6% to 12% rates while unemployment remained at 7.5% and 52 hostages were taken from the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran and held for over a year before the 1980 election. Those nightly updates on ABC’s Nightline about the hostages only reinforced public opinion that Carter was ineffective.

There is also a remote possibility that Republican senators will take a hard look at the constitution and realize that Mr. Trump is a threat to this American democracy.

Grizzlies Saved

Court Stops Trophy Hunt of Yellowstone’s Iconic Bears

Judge rules Trump administration unlawfully removed federal protections

It has been 35 years since I visited the park. It is a fabulous place and the bears have thrived.  I was there three times.  First I worked one summer in the park while attending college.  I took my wife and children there twice.

The bears blocked the roads begging for food and people would feed then through slightly lowered windows.