Day: February 8, 2020

My view on the Democratic Candidates

Ok, here goes:

Bernie Sanders. No. Ok, if he wins he will get my vote, but my guess is that we will get blown out, nationwide.

Elizabeth Warren. No. Yes, she is a smart, accomplished, hard working lady. Yes, she understands policy very well. But, in my opinion, she lacks political aptitude; she is awful from the podium and isn’t even popular in her own state.

Yes, I prefer Warren to Sanders if those are my choices. She is a doer; he yells. I sure hope those aren’t my choices.

Mike Bloomberg: are you in or out? If you are in, I’ll give you a look. I think that he is too late, but I love his attacks on Trump.

Pete Buttigieg: I really like him..seriously, I do. He has talent, brains and charisma. Experience: well, his resume is way too thin..so we’d be taking a huge chance. Ultimately: is he the best one to beat Trump?

Joe Biden Great experience, but he has lost a few steps; he isn’t what he once was. But even in this condition: is he the best one to beat Trump? Note: he is throwing elbows at Mayor Pete.

Amy Klobuchar I like her the best of the bunch. But is she surging fast enough to stop Sanders’ momentum? It appears to me that she isn’t.

So for me, there are three big questions:

1. Who is the best D to beat Sanders?
2. Which D has the best chance of beating Trump?
3. Are the answers in 1 and 2 the same candidate?

I am still giving to Amy…..but is it time to invest in Pete or give a bit more to Joe?

So for me:

1. Klobuchar
2. Biden (for now)
3. Buttigieg
4. Warren
5. Anyone still standing who isn’t Sanders

Though Bloomberg getting serious might change my rankings a bit.

And yes, the Democratic nominee has my vote, even if it is Sanders.

Some politics: are we Democrats doomed?

I admit that I am kind of discouraged. Ok, I am very discouraged. It appears to me that we Democrats are really just a loose confederation of interest groups (GLBT, Black, Latino/Latina, feminists, environmental, labor, etc.) each with our own agenda and each clamoring to have OUR agenda placed front and center, even if it hurts our party on a national level.

And of course, I am interested in who can win; for the policy differences what we have, realistically, any D, should they win would govern pretty much the same way another D would..at least in terms of policy. Sure, Sanders and Klobuchar have different health care plans but as far as the best we’d actually get…probably depends more on the political skill than on the policy goal. And the “best case” outcome is probably pretty similar.

Unfortunately, our pandering to the ideologues might well cost us.

And so my thinking is:

1. Bernie Sandars would probably get blown out in the general.
2. Bernie Sanders also..well...has an excellent chance of locking in a plurality of delegates by the end of Super Tuesday.

So, what do I do? I like Klobuchar and think that she had a great debate last night.

But is she is in the best position to beat Bernie Sanders?

Right now, Joe Biden (who I like, but is past his prime) and Peter Buttigieg are in a better position; I wish Mayor Pete had more upper level experience.

Yep, those are some hard elbows.

But, Buttigieg has some talent..and he is growing on me.

Very, very statesman like.

More moments here.

So, for me…should I go with the person who has a stellar past but is past his prime…the very promising upstart who is talented but thin on experience, or the solid, in her prime but still not-well-known-enough who appears to be gaining momentum..but realistically, probably not enough to catch Sanders?

Decisions, decisions and I cannot make up my mind..though I back Klobuchar, for now.

I’ll leave with this quip..aimed at those who would dismiss people like Joe Biden:

And there went my resolve

It happens frequently: I go to bed with plenty of resolve to “get after it” the next day…”go and get it” at that 5K, long training walk, deadlift workout, whatever.
And then I wake up the next morning: stiff as a board and slightly achy.

My GET IT becomes “ok, don’t hurt yourself and don’t embarrass yourself too badly.” I am pathetic!

The workout itself:
4 x 133 hex bar (too difficult)
3 x 189 conventional
2 x 189 Sumo (dammit..it is supposed to feel easy)
1 x 233 conventional (still too damned hard)
1 x 233 Sumo (ok)
A couple of half hearted misses at 266 (conventional, sumo (couldn’t break it off of the ground)
1 x 266 conventional (got it past the sticking point and made the lift; best in years)
5 x 238 Sumo (hard effort…but two months ago that was my best single)
6 x 189 form (was going to try another 5 x 238 set..backed off)
5 x 220 hex
6 x 145 Romanian (so I wouldn’t be stiff the rest of the day)

Then I went outside and walked my 5.3 mile course in a slow 1:27:42; I was 1:07 at 4.15 miles. (heading and Western)
There was some snow but mostly good footing; I just walked outside in the flurries to escape the treadmill.

Deadlift progression Note: lifetime PR is 425 in the early 1980’s. In 1995 I worked by to low 300’s. Long hiatus. Just returned and these tips help me to train without killing my back.

August 5, 2019: managed a “handles up” hex dead 225 (1 rep)
August: typical sets were 4 x 175, 4 x 195 (handles up)
September: 4 x 205 head dead (handles up)
November: got 4 x 225 hex dead, handles DOWN
December: got 1 x 225 bar dead, then 4 x 225
December 20, 2019: got 1 x 230 bar deadlift
DEcember 25: got 1 x 233 bar deadlift (home)
Dec 27: got 1 x 235 dead
Dec 29: got 1 x 240 dead (bar)

2020
Jan 11: got 245 hex dead (handles down)
Jan 25: got 255, then 260 conventional dead
Feb 1: got 255, 260 Sumo, 6 x 233 conventional
Feb 8: got 266 conventional, 5 x 238 Sumo.

So December saw me advance from 225 to 240 conventional
January saw me advance from 240 to 260 conventional and Sumo
November-December: 225 to 245 hex

Note: I’ve had a tickle in my throat for a couple of days..mild cough. Mild bug, I think.

Last night

The Bradley women took a 34-25 lead at the half due to a 12-2 run late in the first half. The lead expanded to 41-27 before ISU rallied to cut it to 4 going into the 4’th quarter; basically BU had a “hot shooting streak” that gave the lead. ISU tried to rally down the stretch and cut it to 2 within the final minute. But BU kept its poise and made big free throws and came up with big rebounds down the stretch to win 66-62 at Redbird Arena. It was a very poised effort by the Braves.

Vickie and Harry drove us..it was a fun outing.