Biden Wins SC Primary; Steyer Drops Out

Joe Biden finally got one on the win board earning a decisive victory in the South Carolina Democratic Primary. With 91% of the ballots counted, Biden has earned nearly 50% of vote (48.6%) finishing well ahead of Bernie Sanders who has garnered 20% of the vote. While Sanders finished a distant second, he will add to his delegate count.

Tom Steyer broke double digits with 11.3% of the vote but it cost him $22 million and no delegates to show for it. Following the results, Steyer dropped out of the race. So much for the Steyer surge I wondered about a few days ago.

Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar round out the vote with 8.1%, 7% and 3.1% of the vote, respectively. I've a feeling that Warren and Klobuchar might be joining Steyer in 72 hours especially if Warren and Klobuchar fail to win their home states on Super Tuesday with Sanders polling strong in both Massachusetts and Minnesota. The same question might also be posed of Michael Bloomberg if fails to win anywhere.

One must also ask if South Carolina represents a second wind for Biden or if he is a one hit wonder. While Sanders will probably win in California, Biden could do well in Arkansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia and Texas. If this comes to pass, the Democratic contest could be a two way race between Bernie and Biden. But Buttigieg could come up the middle and make things interesting. But for the moment, Biden is in best position he's been in this entire campaign.

Did Trump Make Pence The Fall Guy on the Coronavirus?

Many critics are aghast that President Trump has appointed Vice-President Pence as his "czar" for the federal government's response to the Coronavirus. Some cite Pence's previous postures on smoking and HIV when he was in Congress and later Governor of Indiana.

I look at it a bit differently. From where I sit Trump is setting up Pence to be the fall guy. Of course, if the Coronavirus is nipped in the bud you can be sure Trump will take all the credit. But if America goes into recession or Americans start dying in large numbers because of the Coronavirus then Trump will tell the nation, "Don't look at me. Talk to Pence." This will give Trump all the reason in the world to drop Pence from the ticket and replace him with Nikki Haley, Tulsi Gabbard or whoever he wants to be his shadow. Why should Pence's fate be any different than that of James Mattis ("the world's most overrated general"), Rex Tillerson ("dumb as a rock") or John Kelly ("over his head")?

I understand those who object to Trump putting Pence in charge. But I believe they are missing the bigger picture. Given the inherently uncertain and volatile nature of the Coronavirus it is clear to me that Trump is setting Pence up for failure.

A Disapoointing Democratic Debate in South Carolina

I found tonight's Democratic Debate in South Carolina to be disappointing on several levels.

For starters I was supposed to attend a debate watch party at City College in Harlem. But security officials at City College told me the address on my ticket didn't exist. Perhaps if it were a nicer night I would have explored Harlem but walking on a rainy night is not what I had in mind.

So I ended up watching the debate (well, the last hour or so) at home on my iPad. While I am grateful for the miracle of modern technology I am disappointed that I didn't get a sense of how a predominantly African-American and Latino audience would have responded to the candidates. Absent that here are my impressions such as they are:

Michael Bloomberg - This guy can't debate worth a lick. The fact that he said Chinese President Xi Jinping had to listen to the Politburo as if it wasn't an entity of the Communist Party. I mean even Bernie Sanders recognizes the Chinese government is authoritarian.

Pete Buttigieg - It seemed like Norah O'Donnell and Gayle King wouldn't let him get a word in edgewise and kept talking over him. Is it their way of telling Democratic voters Buttigieg isn't to be taken seriously?

Elizabeth Warren - On the other hand, O'Donnell & King had endless patience for Warren who has turned in single digit performances and let practically filibuster the debate. But giving Warren all this oxygen could be worth it if it cuts into Bernie's support.

Bernie Sanders - There are two ways to get under Bernie's skin. A) Remind him he's a millionaire. B) Goad him into defending authoritarian regimes like Cuba and the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. This really stirs his passion. He ended up exclaiming "Excuse me!!!" enough times that he sounded like Trump. Defending Fidel Castro never mind the Maduro regime in Venezuela might go over Big with Democrats, but it won't help him against Trump for all of Trump's support of authoritarian regimes.

Joe Biden - The former VP is not very articulate, but he picked his spots such as when he pledged to appoint a black woman to the Supreme Court. He also won over his audience by not going over his allotted time and being generally affable with good humor. I don't think that will help him against Trump, but right now he needs to win South Carolina and this might do it for him.

Amy Klobuchar - She peaked in New Hampshire and is now living on borrowed time. Klobuchar might be on her way out by this time a week from now.

Tom Steyer - Of the two billionaires on stage, Steyer was far more compelling even though he had far less speaking time. He made a forceful defense of his support for President Trump's impeachment and reparations and connected with the debate audience in a way Bloomberg couldn't. But neither impeachment nor reparations will ever come to pass.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Israel. Major Garrett asked Sanders if he would move the U.S. Embassy back to Tel Aviv. Bernie said he would consider it. I was disturbed by the applause Sanders got when he called Benjamin Netanyahu a racist. With this reaction in mind while Bloomberg said he would leave the Embassy in Jerusalem he downplayed his support for Israel. For her part, Warren wouldn't answer the question saying it was up to the parties. Well, where we place our embassies is up to us. Warren's reply was an utter copout.

With Buttigieg likely to fade I am more and more resigned not only to Trump's re-election but not looking forward to seeing his opponent prevail either. Tomorrow night's convening of The Lousy Bowlers Club cannot come soon enough.

A Steyer Surge in South Carolina?

According to a CBS News poll, Joe Biden leads Bernie Sanders by five points (28% to 23%) among Democrats in South Carolina.


But that isn't the big news.


Polling a close third is billionaire Tom Steyer at 18%. This would be the same Steyer who didn't even make the debate stage in Las Vegas last week.


In a state with a significant African-American population one must wonder if Steyer's vocal support for reparations is resonating.


New York Magazine thinks Steyer will be a one hit wonder in the Palmetto state. But if Steyer does well in South Carolina it could halt Michael Bloomberg's Super Tuesday plans whilst at the same time giving Bernie Sanders (and Elizabeth Warren) another billionaire punching bag. However, Steyer doesn't have any NDAs with former female employees nor does he have to defend "stop and frisk". So Steyer might be in a better position to defend himself against attacks from the Left. Of course, he'll have to contend with Biden because he's cutting into the African-American vote and Buttigieg/Klobuchar if they don't kill each other first.


For much of the campaign, many (myself included) have wondered why Steyer was even on the debate stage. Well, South Carolina voters may gave us their answer on Saturday night.

Bernie Declared Winner of Nevada Caucus - UPDATE

With only 4% of ballots in Bernie Sanders has been declared the winner of the Nevada Democratic Caucus. Sanders has earned 54.2% of the vote and has a 3:1 margin lead over Joe Biden at 18%. Elizabeth Warren is in third at 10% (possibly on the strength of her debate performance on Wednesday) with Pete Buttigieg in fourth at 8.7% followed by billionaire Tom Steyer at 6.4%. Amy Klobuchar was a complete non-factor in the race.

This is Bernie's biggest win to date after narrowly losing to Buttigieg in Iowa and narrowly edging Buttigieg in New Hampshire. One week from tonight voters in South Carolina will weigh in. If Bernie wins in the Palmetto state he could clinch the nomination by Super Tuesday. But as we all know a week in politics is a lifetime.

In light of the decisiveness of Bernie's win, it will be interesting to see if he becomes the focal point of Tuesday night's debate in Charleston. With the exception of Buttigieg, the focus of the other candidates in last week's debate in Las Vegas was on Michael Bloomberg. In previous debates, the focus has been Buttigieg. Bernie has won New Hampshire and Nevada and narrowly missed winning Iowa. If he isn't the focus of Tuesday night's debate then this tells me the other candidates have thrown in the towel.

UPDATE: With 43% of the vote, Sanders still has a decisive lead over Biden (46.8% to 20.7%), but Buttigieg has leapt into third (15.1%) with Warren & Klobuchar in single digits, respectively (9.5% & 4%).

Thoughts on The #MeToo Mob at West Side Story

As I walked home this evening I noticed a large gathering of protesters outside the Broadway Theater. Tonight marks the long awaited opening night of the revival of West Side Story.

A group of predominantly female #MeToo protesters were chanting, "Be Better Broadway!!! Hold men accountable!!!" To be specific, the protesters are demanding the firing of lead actor Amar Ramasar because he sent & received explicit photographs of two women - a former girlfriend and his current girlfriend. The protests have been going on for several weeks and will likely continue until they get their pound of flesh although for now the producers are standing firm with Ramasar.

According to The New York Times, some of the protesters believe Ramasar committed sexual assault. He did no such thing. As for the explicit images of the women, he did not share them online for the world to see. Ramasar broke no law. Nothing he did rises to the level of hysteria. What we have here is a #MeToo mob engaged in demagoguery and defamation. As Americans, they have the right to protest. But they doth protest too much. Their protest trivializes the trauma of those who have endured rape and sexual assault. If they had an ounce of decency they would get off the stage and let the show go on.

Why I Went Bowling Instead of Watching Last Night's Democratic Debate in Vegas

I have spent a great deal of time going out to various venues to watch the Democratic Party presidential debates and caucus/primary results. But I opted to skip last night's debate to go bowling.


One of my goals for this year was to join a bowling league and for the past six weeks I have Wednesday evenings at Bowlero Queens to bowl in the Lousy Bowlers Club.


I'm still lousy, but am improving. Prior to beginning the league, my average was just under 70. Now it's around 88 and I roll better than 100 on a more frequent basis. Although I roll spares and strikes more often, I still get into a rut where I will roll several gutter balls in a row and I make my displeasure known. I'm not happy when I do this or when I don't roll as well as other people.


But getting better is something for which I can strive. And when you join a league you can bowl quite inexpensively. This a good thing because New York and inexpensive seldom appear in the same sentence.


I'm also gradually getting to know people.


When it comes to bowling there is fertile ground for to explore.


When it comes to politics it is the same old ground even if there are new players.


By all accounts, I missed a barnburner of a debate and things did not fare so well for Bloomberg as I suspected they wouldn't.


Don't get me wrong. Affairs of state are important and I will pay attention and make comment when I see fit. But chances are very little good is going to come of it. More likely than not Donald Trump is going to be re-elected. In the unlikely event Trump loses he will lose to a candidate I don't like either (i.e. Bernie Sanders). Even if Pete Buttigieg manages to win the damn things it's not like the world will break out into song and teenaged boys will be cured of acne. Things are likely to get worse before they get better, if they get better.


Let me put it another way. When I told one of my colleagues that I went bowling instead of watching the debate, he replied, "You chose wisely."


With that, I will be going another watch party next Tuesday when Democrats debate in South Carolina. Whether this is a wise choice remains to be seen.

The Bloomberg Factor in Tonight's Democratic Debate

Tonight's Democratic debate in Las Vegas three days ahead of the Nevada Caucus will undoubtedly draw eyeballs with the debut of former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on the stage.


And why not? This could very well be the night that determines who wins the Democratic Party nomination.


If Bloomberg performs spectacularly it could cut into the support of Pete Buttigieg and the surging Amy Klobuchar while keeping Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden as also rans. Now Bloomberg is not entered into the Nevada caucus which does make his presence on stage a curiosity. But a strong debate performance could spur caucus voters to pledge their support on Saturday night which could make Iowa look orderly by comparison.


A spectacular performance by Bloomberg could turn the race into a showdown between him and Bernie Sanders. If it comes down to Bernie and Bloomberg, I have to pick Bernie. While Bloomberg's money his launched him onto the debate stage and up in the polls, as I have previously argued there remains a critical mass of Democrats who do not believe billionaires should exist. So long as that is the case then Bloomberg won't win the party's nomination even if he has a breakout night on the debate stage tonight.


Of course, tonight's debate could all blow up in Bloomberg's face. If he can't think on his feet then all the millions he has spent on TV, radio and online advertising will have been for naught. Bernie could lay the smack down on Bloomberg. If this is the case then Buttigieg or Klobuchar could establish themselves as the moderate alternative if they don't do it on their own, particularly Buttigieg. If the former mayor of a city of 100,000 can get the better of the former mayor of America's largest city then Bloomberg's campaign could go the way of current New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. Yes, it's easy to forget that Bloomberg isn't the first New York mayor to seek the 2020 Democratic nomination.


While it could also be an opportunity for Biden or Warren to reclaim lost ground at Bloomberg's expense, Buttigieg and Klobuchar would be the big beneficiaries because the focus wouldn't be on Buttigieg and Klobuchar can escape scrutiny for one more night. Of course, this might not stop Klobuchar from taking another swipe at Buttigieg. In which case, if Klobuchar touts her experience while patronizing Pete then he might want to point out that Klobuchar has a lot of experience in throwing things at people. But whatever sparks might take place between Buttigieg and Klobuchar, the focus at least for tonight will be squarely on Bloomberg.

Tony Fernandez, R.I.P.

Former big league infielder Tony Fernandez, who played four different stints with the Toronto Blue Jays, passed away yesterday of complications of polycystic kidney disease which he was diagnosed with in 2017. He was 57.

Fernandez hailed from San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic and was signed by the Blue Jays in 1979 at the age of 17. He made his big league debut in 1983 and would supplant Alfredo Griffin as the team's everyday shortstop in 1985. That year the Blue Jays won their first AL East pennant. Between 1986 and 1989, Fernandez became the AL's premier shortstop winning four straight Gold Gloves and earning three All-Star Team selections.

After leading the AL with 17 triples in 1990, the Blue Jays shocked the baseball world by trading Fernandez and Fred McGriff to the San Diego Padres for Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter. Fernandez was named to the NL All-Star Team in 1992, but Alomar and Carter were wearing World Series rings. A year later, however, Fernandez would earn a World Series ring of his own when he returned to Toronto after struggling for less than half a season with the New York Mets. Fernandez had 9 RBIs against the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1993 World Series.

Fernandez would sign as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds in 1994. Because future Hall of Famer Barry Larkin was at short, Fernandez moved to third base. Fernandez would return to his natural position when he signed with the New York Yankees in 1995. Late that year, he became the first Yankee to hit for the cycle since Bobby Murcer in 1972.

It was to be a two year deal in the Bronx, but Fernandez fractured his throwing elbow during spring training in 1996 forcing him to miss the entire season. The injury to Fernandez forced the Yankees to call up a young shortstop named Derek Jeter. It would be nearly 20 years before the Yankees needed another shortstop.

In 1997, Fernandez joined the Cleveland Indians. With Omar Vizquel at short, Fernandez played primarily at second base. Fernandez's 11th inning HR in Game 6 of the ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles gave the Tribe their second AL pennant in three years. He nearly became a World Series hero when he drove in the Indians' only runs in Game 7 against the Florida Marlins. Instead he became a World Series goat when in the 11th inning, a ground ball hit by Craig Counsell slid under Fernandez's glove. It should have been an inning ending double play. Minutes later, Counsell would score the game winning run on a single by Edgar Renteria.

Fernandez returned to the Blue Jays for a third time in 1998 and put up his best offensive numbers of his career finishing in the Top 10 in the AL in batting both seasons. In 1999, at the age of 37, Fernandez hit a career high .328 and knocked in a career high 75 RBIs while earning his 5th All-Star Team selection.

In 2000, Fernandez played a season in Japan for the Seibu Lions. Fernandez returned to MLB in 2001  splitting the season between the Milwaukee Brewers & a fourth and final stint in Toronto. In 17 MLB seasons, Fernandez collected 2276 hits for a lifetime batting average of .288 with 94 HR and 844 RBI. Upon his retirement, Fernandez was named to the Blue Jays Level of Excellence. While receiving less than 1% of the vote in his only year on the BBWAA ballot in 2007, Fernandez was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. I leave you with Fernandez's 5 RBI performance in Game 4 of the 1993 World Series. R.I.P.

MLB's Proposed New Playoff Format Rewards Mediocrity

MLB is proposing a new playoff format which would take effect in 2022 which would expand the number of teams in the post-season from 10 to 14 (7 in each league). From The New York Post:


In this concept, the team with the best record in each league would receive a bye to avoid the wild-card round and go directly to the Division Series. The two other division winners and the wild card with the next-best record would each host all three games in a best-of-three wild-card round. So the bottom three wild cards would have no first-round home games.


The division winner with the second-best record in a league would then get the first pick of its opponent from those lower three wild cards, then the other division winner would pick, leaving the last two wild cards to play each other.


To use the AL last season as an example, the Astros, with the best record, would have received the bye. The Yankees, with the second-best record, would have had the choice to pick from among the Rays, Indians and Red Sox. Boston had the worst record of that group. Would the Yanks pick them or avoid the baggage of a series with their rival? It would create a ton of strategy and interest, and this is what MLB wants to sell. The Twins would then pick next as the other division winner, and then the A’s with the best wild-card record would play the team not chosen by the Yankees or Twins.


The plan is to have this all play out on a show on the Sunday night the regular season ends and have representatives picking teams on live TV — think the NCAA selection show, but just with the teams making the selections. The rights to that show is part of the enticement to potential TV partners.


Dear Lord.


Until 1969, only two teams made the post-season. The World Series was the post-season. Under this proposal nearly half of all MLB teams would make the post-season. We've gone from teams having a 1 in 8 chance (and later a 1 in 10 chance of making the post-season in the early expansion era) to teams having a 1 in 2 chance of earning a post-season berth. The playoffs are in danger of being a glorified participation trophy. Having teams handpick their opponents doesn't make things interesting. It turns MLB into yet another bad reality show.


While I agree that the Wild Card should be a best of three, I am still troubled by the fact that the team with the better record hosts all three games. I'd rather see the Wild Card team with the worst record host Game 1 with the team with the better record host Game 2 and if necessary the deciding Game 3. Let's say the Cincinnati Reds are one of the three bottom NL Wild Card teams. What are you telling Reds fans when you say they can't watch one game in their own ballpark?


I am encouraged that Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer and Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Didi Gregorius have voiced their opposition to the proposal. But if the MLBPA sees money like the owners do then it is a fait d'accompli. I can only hope more players speak out against this proposed playoff format like it was New Coke.

Thoughts on The Red Sox Naming Roenicke Interim Manager

Ron Roenicke was widely expected to be named the new manager of the Boston Red Sox a week ago.  With spring training about to get under way, Roenicke's hiring was announced but on an interim basis. However, Red Sox CEO Chaim Bloom states the interim tag will be removed once MLB completes its investigation of the team engaging in electronic sign stealing under Alex Cora's watch.

Roenicke served as Cora's bench coach for the past two seasons, but is not expected to be named in the report. (If he is then the Red Sox have a real mess on their hands). But Roenicke is already acting like a full time manager having tapped Brandon Workman to be his closer in 2020.

Of course, Roenicke has previous big league managerial experience with the Milwaukee Brewers from 2011 through the early part of the 2015 season when he was succeeded by current manager Craig Counsell. Roenicke guided the Brewers to their first NL Central title in 2011.

Despite his credentials, Roenicke is nearly in as unenviable a position as Dusty Baker is with the Houston Astros. This will especially be the case if MLB's report against the Red Sox is worse than expected. The departure of Mookie Betts and David Price to the Dodgers certainly won't help matters much. It's going to be a long season in Fenway.

Nearly 14,000 Voted for Bill Weld in the NH GOP Primary

Although President Trump earned a decisive victory in the New Hampshire GOP primary last night with 85.6% of the vote earning all 22 delegates.

But Trump's victory in the Granite state is far less than the 97.1% of the vote he received in Iowa last week. Nearly 14,000 people voted for Bill Weld in the NH Republican contest who received 9.1% of the ballots.

Now Weld was a former governor in the neighboring state of Massachusetts and was on the Libertarian ticket in 2016. So he is not an unknown quantity in those parts.

And yes New Hampshire has an open primary system. So Independents voted and I'm sure more than a few Democrats also cast ballots for Weld.

Nevertheless, these results are worth noting. New Hampshire Governor Chris Sunnunu believes that Trump can carry his state in the fall. But it must be remembered that Hillary Clinton bested Trump in NH by just under 3,000 votes in 2016. I suspect that a vast majority of those 14,000 people who voted against Trump last night were Republicans and Independents. I also suspect that most of those 14,000 people won't be casting ballots for Trump in November. In which case even if Trump should be re-elected I don't think he'll get much help from New Hampshire.

If Sexism Doomed Warren Then Why Did Klobuchar Surge in NH?

In the days before and in the hours after a horrid, single digit fourth place finish in the New Hampshire Primary, there have been suggestions that sexism did in Elizabeth Warren.




But if that is the case then how does one explain Amy Klobuchar's surge to third place last night?


You would think that if there was a bias against a female candidate it would come from people over the age of 65, but this was the group with which Klobuchar did best. Frankly, Warren's fall from grace had nothing to do with her gender. It had to do with her lack of honesty whether it concerned her Medicare For All policy and sheer desperation in her wild accusation in which she alleged Bernie Sanders of telling her a woman could not be elected President.


As for Klobuchar, it remains if New Hampshire is a one hit wonder or if it is a springboard to the Democratic nomination. But if she fails to win the Democratic nomination or fails to defeat Donald Trump in November it will be because of a lack of organization, finances, greater scrutiny of her record and personal shortcomings (namely her temper). But it won't have a single thing to do with her gender.

Elizabeth Warren Had An Awful Night in NH

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren tried to put the best possible spin on the things by saying only two states have weighed in on the Democratic presidential race.

But let's face it she had an absolutely awful night in New Hampshire. With 76% of precincts reporting, Warren stands in fourth place with 9.6% of the vote and will not be earning any delegates. To put this matter in perspective, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar is in third place with nearly 20% of the ballots and more than twice as many votes as Warren (44,051 to 21,470).

The only consolation for Warren is that she finished ahead of Joe Biden (who was smart enough to be in South Carolina). Finishing ahead of Biden might have been good if she finished first, second or even a close third. But this is really, really bad.

If a Massachusetts Senator cannot break 10% of the vote in New Hampshire or come away with a delegates then how can she expect to fare well anywhere else?

Warren might say she is in it for the long haul and she might stick around through Super Tuesday. But I'll say it here and now. Stick a fork in her. She's done. Let Elizabeth Warren go back to the Senate where she can finish the job she was elected to do all the while assuring voters she would never run for President.

Robert Conrad, R.I.P.

Actor Robert Conrad, best known for his portrayal of Jim West in the 1960's TV series The Wild, Wild  West, has passed away of heart failure. He would have turned 85 on March 1st.

Conrad was a fixture on television for several decades. Before his success on The Wild, Wild West, Conrad starred in Hawaiian Eye which ran on ABC between 1959-1963. After two unsuccessful series in the early 1970's (The D.A. and Assignment Vienna), Conrad made a critically acclaimed appearance as the murderous Milo Janus in the 1974 Columbo episode "An Exercise in Fatality". Conrad's last hit TV show was Ba Ba Black Sheep (later renamed Black Sheep Squadron) in which he played WWII flying hero Greg "Pappy" Boyington.

In 1979 and 1980, Conrad reunited with Ross Martin for two TV movies - The Wild, Wild West Revisited and More Wild, Wild West. More movies were planned but Martin's death in 1981 put the series to an end. Conrad would spend the 1980's in a string of TV movies most notably Will: The Autobiography of G. Gordon Liddy. 

Conrad's acting career effectively ended in 2003 following a car accident which left him partially paralyzed. He would also be convicted of drunk driving and was sentenced to five years of probation including six months of house arrest and alcohol counseling.

The last decade of his life was spent in radio hosting The P.M. Show with Robert Conrad, a two hour weekly program in which he would discuss his career and interview his contemporaries.

In the late 1950's & early 1960's, Conrad recorded for Warner Brothers as Bob Conrad. Have a listen to "Bye Bye Baby" which bubbled under the Hot 100 in 1961. R.I.P.

Orson Bean, R.I.P.

I was horrified to read that actor Orson Bean was killed after being hit by two cars trying to cross Venice Boulevard. He was clipped by the first and then killed by the second. What an awful way to die. Bean was 91.

Now one can make the case (as I did with Kirk Douglas less than 72 hours ago) that Bean lived a full,   rich life. But Douglas died of natural causes. Bean's life ended as abruptly as Kobe Bryant's life did nearly two weeks ago. Bean was an active 91-year old having just appeared in an episode of the Netflix series Grace & Frankie. He had also recently been in a play with his wife Alley Mills. This man was leading an active, healthy life. That is until yesterday.

Bean's TV and movie career spanned nearly 70 years. He was in everything from Westinghouse Studio One and Anatomy of a Murder to Being John Malkovich and Desperate Housewives. Bean was also a mainstay on TV game shows like To Tell The Truth, Match Game and Super Password. He also co-founded the 15th Street School here in New York City in the 1960's. Bean was also a frequent visitor on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson appearing more than 200 times including this appearance on December 31, 1975.

Yes, Orson Bean led a full, rich life. But he had more to give. R.I.P.

A.J. Hinch's Self-Serving Interview

I saw former Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch's interview with Tom Verducci of the MLB Network and found it to be self-serving.

My impression of the interview was that of someone angling for some team to hire him as a manager in 2021 - perhaps even the Astros.

While Hinch claimed he was taking responsibility he also repeatedly said he wanted to move on. When asked about what he regretted most about the scandal and role in it Hinch said he would leave that to others. It's safe to say he didn't want to answer the question.

If anything teams should be more wary of Hinch after the interview. He claimed he didn't feel confident in his leadership skills in 2017. Why not? He had been their manager since 2015 leading them to the AL Wild Card. At the very minimum, it is clear Hinch wasn't running the show. Perhaps Alex Cora and Carlos Beltran were. In which case, their terminations are all the more justified.

As for Hinch, hesaid he twice broke the video monitor used to steal signs. Either he didn't do it front of the team or if he did the club didn't listen to him. Neither scenario inspires my confidence.

Yet the MLB Network panel of Verducci, Robert Flores, Dan O'Dowd and Dan Plesac bought Hinch's claim hook, line and sinker. In which case, I think Hinch will be managing in 2021 - possibly in an Astros uniform.

Why Did Democrats Schedule a Debate on Friday Night & Why Did I Watch It?

With the New Hampshire primary four days away, Democratic presidential candidates squared off in Manchester.

What struck me as odd is why they did it on a Friday night when very few people were going to bother to watch. So why did I watch it? Well, I had nothing better to do tonight. 

I also thought the debate would be a little different than the other debate watch parties I've attended. The debate watch party I attended was at The Artist Co-op which is situated on the third floor of a red brick building on West 52nd Street just off 10th Avenue. I had been under the impression the theater group would be performing the debate either as it happened or at its conclusion. This did not come to pass. Rather at the conclusion of the last debate they will have a political analysis meeting and from that write a script which they will perform in April. I might or might not attend that performance.

With no theatrical piece to review, I shall instead review the debate.

Andrew Yang - After missing last month's debate, Yang proved rusty and was a non-factor except for his closing statement on poverty. The Yang Gang might soon break up.

Pete Buttigieg - Although there was no winner declared in Iowa, Buttigieg got the frontrunner treatment from nearly all his opponents and the panel particularly Linsey Davis who pressed him on the number of African-Americans arrested in South Bend for drug possession during his tenure as mayor. Davis then asked Elizabeth Warren if she thought Buttigieg's answer was adequate. Well, how do you think she answered?

But I think Buttigieg kept his cool and gave as good as he got and was the most Presidential of any of the candidates.

Bernie Sanders - The Senator from neighboring Vermont was his usual ranting self. While favored to win in New Hampshire, Sanders did make a point of sparring with Buttigieg over getting donations from billionaires. Clearly Bernie now sees Buttigieg as his biggest threat as do most of the candidates.

Joe Biden - When the former VP keeps his answers short and sweet he's fine. But his tendency to ramble on and on doesn't inspire confidence. It certainly didn't in Iowa where he finished fourth and I don't think he did much to advance his case tonight.

Elizabeth Warren - Unlike the conclusion of last month's debate when she refused to shake Bernie Sanders' hand, she now told Democrats she and Bernie were good friends. But Bernie has stolen her thunder and she did nothing tonight to get it back. 

Amy Klobuchar - The Minnesota Senator gets better with every debate. She connected with the debate audience at St. Anslem College and at the Artist's Co-op though it was a largely pro-Bernie crowd. It didn't hurt her that she was chummy with Bernie even while disagreeing with him. It also didn't hurt that she mentioned New Hampshire Democratic Senators Jean Shaheen and Maggie Hassan on multiple occasions. While the ratings for this debate might have been low I suspect they were a lot of eyes tuned in the Granite state. If that is the case this debate could help her at least in the short term. If she pulls an upset or finishes a strong second we will be hearing about her temper in short order. But if she finishes lower than third on Tuesday night then her campaign is done despite her best efforts.

Tom Steyer - This was also the billionaire's best debate. He got his biggest cheers when he said the only way to beat Trump would be on the economy, not health care. But I think it's too little, too late. And what happens should Michael Bloomberg make the debate stage?

The next Democratic debate is scheduled to take place on February 19th in Las Vegas. I'm going bowling that night. Unlike tonight, I'll have something better to do.

Joe Walsh Ends GOP Presidential Bid

After receiving only 1.1% of the vote in the Iowa Republican caucus (as compared to 97.1% for President Trump), Joe Walsh announced today he is ending his quixotic challenge for the GOP nomination. When Walsh announced his entry back in August, I reacted in this manner:


Bravo!!! Three cheers!!!

Of course, he will be even more despised by Trump supporters while many on The Left views him as no different than Trump. The former is understandable, the latter is not. If you're a Democrat or a socialist, you don't have to like Walsh. But they must understand that Walsh's presence in the Republican primary will harm Trump. Even if Walsh doesn't defeat Trump, he can harm him enough to lose the general election. The Left would be wise to sit back and enjoy the fight and worry about the quality of their own candidates.

Should Walsh (who follows me on Twitter) still be on the ballot by the time of the New York Primary (whenever that might be scheduled) then I shall cast a ballot for him.


I still applaud Walsh for undertaking the challenge. Yet needless to say my optimism was undue. I failed to take into account how various state Republican parties would simply cancel their primaries and caucuses thus preempting any challenge to Trump. But Walsh was on the ballot in Iowa and, well, Republicans have made their position loud and clear.


Former Massachusetts Governor William Weld fared marginally better with 1.3% and actually earned a delegate. I expect him to do better in New Hampshire on Tuesday. But when better is 2% there's little sign of discontent. Republicans have got the man they want.


The same cannot be said of Democrats who are unable to declare a winner in Iowa although Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders each earned 11 delegates.


As for Walsh, I guess he'll go back to talk radio, but what conservative network would want him? Perhaps a book or a show on CNN or MSNBC is in order. Meanwhile, barring a miracle or two, President Trump is well on his way to a second term.

Kirk Douglas Lusted For Life

Actor, producer and writer Kirk Douglas has passed away at the age of 103.

While his passing is sad we can take comfort that he lived a full life. He was not robbed in the prime in the way Kobe Bryant was 10 days ago.

Kirk Douglas lusted for life. It was a lust born of poverty living as Issur Danielovitch Demsky growing in upstate New York, the son of a wayward ragman whilst living with his mother and six sisters. The lust took him into the Pacific with the U.S. Navy during in WWII to Broadway in New York City and the silver screen in Hollywood. Douglas reached the peak of his success in the 1950's with films like Champion, Young Man with a Horn, Detective Story, The Bad & The Beautiful, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Lust for Life. Although he was thrice nominated for Best Actor, Douglas is probably best known for the 1960 film Spartacus directed by Stanley Kubrick. It was the film that brought Dalton Trumbo from exile and smashed the Hollywood blacklist.

In 1988, Douglas published his memoirs "The Ragman's Son" which I highly recommend reading. In an interview with Johnny Carson to promote the book he said, "Growing up in abject poverty was an advantage because it meant I had nowhere to go but up."  It was the first of 10 books over the next 25 years including several written after sustaining a stroke in 1996.

Kirk Douglas lived a life of beauty, creativity and intensity that burned bright for more than a century. A case a point is his portrayal of a man who never lived to see the fruits of his labors namely Vincent Van Gogh in Lust for Life. R.I.P.

Douglas is survived by Anne Buydens, his wife of 65 years who is also a centarian and three sons including Michael Douglas. When Michael Douglas became a success in his own right, Kirk Douglas began to refer to himself as "Michael Douglas' father."

Conservatives Give Romney The Benedict Arnold Treatment For Voting to Impeach Trump

Utah Senator Mitt Romney was the lone Republican in the Senate to vote to impeach President Trump today.


Notwithstanding the fact Trump is going to be acquitted, conservatives vented their outrage towards the 2012 GOP presidential nominee by calling him "Benedict Romney" and "traitor" as per Matt Vespa at Townhall:


This is Trump’s party. Period. And it’s an election year. Get in line or get out of the way. So much for the “severely conservative” Mitt Romney. He’s been taken over by the pod people.


Full disclosure: I voted for Mitt Romney in 2012. He was the best person to beat Obama at the time. He was the GOP nominee. And now he screwed us royally. He deserves to be primaried and thrown into the trash. We need people who will be on the team that will keep the Great American Comeback going. And Mitt Romney decided to switch sides. So long, Benedict Romney.


Brigitte Gabriel (who I met more than 15 years ago at a pro-Israel rally at City Hall Plaza in Boston) seconds Vespa's motion tweeting, "Patriots!! We need to get #BenedictRomney trending!! Senator Romney is worse than a RINO, he’s a traitor to this nation!"


Last I checked being "a traitor to this nation" is an offense punishable by death. Voting to impeach a President for abusing his power is not an act of treason. On the contrary, Romney fulfilled his duties as a United States Senator instead of acting like an auxiliary of the White House.


Those who liken Romney to Benedict Arnold or call him a traitor for daring to cross President Trump no nothing of treason. Those who don't know the meaning of the term are the ones most likely to use it casually.


However, Vespa is right about one thing. The GOP is Trump's party and they brook no dissent. I found this out nearly three and a half years ago. When presented with the choice of getting in line of getting out of the way, I chose to leave and think on my own terms.


It isn't to say Romney is above criticism. I've criticized him plenty over the years as have many other conservatives and no one ever called them traitors. Why is it that Donald Trump and only Donald Trump is above any and all criticism up to and including breaking the law?


Whatever it is it is something of which I want no part. When it comes to voting to impeach President Trump, Mitt Romney has committed no treachery much less has anything for which to apologize. On this, Romney is more George Washington than Benedict Arnold.

A Quibble With Ramesh Ponnuru on Why Trump Faces No Serious GOP Challengers

Yesterday afternoon, conservative thinker Ramesh Ponnuru wrote this piece for Bloomberg View making the case why the signs are pointing to President Trump's re-election in November.


While I largely agree with Ponnuru's argument where it concerns GOP unity, the economy and the state of the Democratic primaries, I do quibble with his argument where it concerns the lack of serious GOP challengers:


Since 1930, every incumbent president who has lost re-election first faced a serious primary challenge. By governing as he has, Trump prevented one from materializing. Impeachment has solidified his base further.


While there is no question that impeachment has greatly helped to close ranks around Trump, Ponnuru is imprecise when he claims a serious GOP challenger has not emerged due to Trump's governance. Ponnuru omits the fact that various state GOP apparatuses have seen fit to impede the access of former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld and former Illinois Congressman turned talk radio host Joe Walsh to gaining ballot access. Last month, Wisconsin became the 10th state where Republican officials have cancelled their primaries.


If neither Walsh nor Weld are serious challengers then why has the GOP in these states seen fit to cancel their primaries? If Republican support for Trump is so strong then why not give him the opportunity to crush Walsh and Weld in the primaries? Or is 95% of the vote not enough? Is the GOP afraid of competition and support is a mile wide but an inch deep? Why is the Trump campaign so concerned about Walsh and Weld staging a floor protest at the Republican National Convention in Charlotte this August?


I would make the case that neither Walsh nor Weld are "serious challengers" in no small part because the Trump campaign and various state GOP bodies have seen fit to nip their challenges in the bud.

3 Thoughts on Trump's SOTU Address

I watched President Trump's SOTU address and would like to share three thoughts with you.

First, Trump made effective use of visual images such as Melania Trump placing the Presidential Medal of Freedom on the terminally ill Rush Limbaugh, the show of support to Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, the 100-year old Tuskegee airman with his 13-year old great grandson who wants to join Trump's Space Force and especially the surprise reunion of Afghanistan veteran Sgt. Townsend Williams with his family. While the reunion is certainly heartwarming it is of cold comfort to the thousands of migrant families who the Trump Administration has seen fit to rip apart because they deny them their basic humanity for the crime of seeking a better life for themselves. The images of kids in cages was nowhere to be found tonight.

Second, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a visual image of her own by tearing up Trump's speech at the conclusion of his address. Obviously this image was angrier than those displayed during his speech. On its own, it might look petty and unbecoming. But Trump looked equally petty and unbecoming when he refused to shake Pelosi's hand prior to the speech. Perhaps two wrongs don't make a right, but I don't blame Pelosi. She's had to endure his bullshit more than most of us and was just fed up. Of course, there is the not so small matter of impeachment. My Dad, on the other hand, had very unkind words for Pelosi. 

Which brings me to my final Thought. At the risk of stating the obvious, if you love Trump then you loved his speech. If you hate Trump then you hated his speech. If you love Trump then you accepted his word at face value. If you hate Trump then every word was a lie including is and it. My Dad falls into the former category. When that happens you accept things that simply aren't true and the facts be damned (i.e. ISIS has been 100% defeated, the wall is being built on the southern border and our economy is the best it's ever been). It is my concern that support for Trump is based on a false premise and false premises keep us from the truth. This tends to make matters worse than they need be.

Now you might ask, "Aaron, don't you fit into the latter category?" I come very close. Indeed, I fundamentally disagree with Trump on most things and think him a foolish man who comports himself with cruelty. Nevertheless, I am realistic enough to know that while the economy is not the best it's ever been it's good enough that people are more likely than not to give him a second term. 

I might not like this outcome but I am aware that there's a good chance it will come to pass. It must also be remembered I spent a decade being skeptical of Barack Obama. Nevertheless, I never lost sight of his appeal even if he never appealed to me. His re-election came as no surprise to me and was well prepared for the result. As one gets older one recognizes that things rarely turn out the way you want. If one can recognize it then one can learn to cope with disappointment and even disaster. 

Overall, it was a good night for President Trump. But a good night for Trump doesn't equal a good morning for America.

Red Sox Trade Betts & Price to Dodgers In 3 Team Deal With Twins

The deal everyone in Boston was waiting for the entire winter has happened. The Boston Red Sox have traded outfielder Mookie Betts and pitcher David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers for outfielder Alex Verdugo. The Red Sox also get pitching prospect Brusdar Gaterol from the Minnesota  Twins who also acquire pitcher Kenta Maeda from the Dodgers.

Betts, who won the AL MVP in 2018, saw his batting average fall more than 50 points but maintained his production and once again led the Junior Circuit in runs scored and earned another Gold Glove. But the Red Sox are seeking to cut payroll. This desire grew exponentially when the 27-year old outfielder won $27 million in arbitration late last month.

So the Sox unloaded both Betts' contract and that of Price who is owed $96 million over the next three seasons. The Red Sox will send the Dodgers cash to facilitate this transaction. The 34-year old southpaw was inconsistent in his four seasons in Boston. In 22 starts in 2019, Price went 7-5 with a 4.28 ERA. While Price could get a new lease on life in L.A., but he is well past his prime. But I'm sure Dodgers fans love the sound of Bellinger and Betts. The question is whether the Dodgers will be able to get Betts to sign a contract extension or if he is determined to test the free agent market next winter.

This leaves Verdugo in the unenviable position of replacing Betts in the outfield. He's got promise, but I think he'll be eaten up in the fanatical, frenzied world that is the Boston sports media. That's a lot for a 23-year old to handle. I think Gaterol has the potential to be the Red Sox closer in a couple of years. But now that they have jettisoned two of their star players as well as their manager 2020 will be their summer of discontent.

Meanwhile the Twins get a serviceable pitcher in Maedawho can either start or relieve. While he's no Dallas Keuchel, the 31-year old Japanese hurler comes relatively inexpensive at just over $3 million a season and is under contract through 2023 and could help the team in the long term.

To make room for Betts, the Dodgers also traded outfielder Joc Pederson to the crosstown Los Angeles Angels for utility infielder Luis Rengifo.

I have a gut feeling this could be one trade which benefits none of the three teams. There are no sure bets even if it involves Mookie Betts.

Buttigieg Narrowly Leads Bernie in 1st Iowa Caucus Update; Biden in 4th

Nearly 24 hours after polls closed in the Iowa Democratic Caucuses, the first results were finally released about half an hour ago.


With 62% of votes in, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg has a narrow lead over Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders with 26.9% of the vote as compared to 25.1%. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren follows with 18.3%.


Perhaps the most shocking result of all is Joe Biden in fourth place with 15.6%. That's just above the threshold, but now he will really need to fare much better in New Hampshire and Nevada and win big in South Carolina at month's end. Joni Ernst might be tempted to brag, but having attended Democratic debates for more than six months now I can tell you that he garners very little enthusiasm.


Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar comes in fifth at 12.6% of the vote. It's double digits, but shy of the 15% threshold. It remains to be seen if Klobuchar will compete in New Hampshire as she is in single digits in the Granite state although she has made the stage for this Friday's debate in Manchester.


Andrew Yang finished with 1% of the vote. Everyone else were also-rans.


If Buttigieg manages to hold this lead it will justify the tone of what could only be called a victory speech he delivered just after midnight Iowa time. No doubt he will have benefitted from all having all the time he wanted in Iowa with Sanders, Warren and Klobuchar having to spend considerable time in D.C. for President Trump's impeachment trial.


If an Iowa victory is the high water mark for Buttigieg then he will have far exceeded anything anyone imagined for him when he entered the race more than a year ago.


Naturally, Buttigieg won't be content with just Iowa. He's come this far. Why not go all the way to Milwaukee and from there to the White House?

Trump Will Be Gleefully Insufferable at the SOTU

We are just under 4.5 hours away from President Trump's delivery of the SOTU before Congress.


I think it would be safe to say he will be gleefully insufferable. Here is a man who is about to survive impeachment proceedings while his opposition can't even run a caucus election in a state with less than half the population of New York City. If that wasn't enough he has reached the high water mark of approval of his presidency. If he is at this level of support on Halloween then he will get to enjoy a lot of candy even as things get more and more horrific.


Now it's possible that Trump will stick to the script and reserve his snidest comments for Twitter later tonight and subsequent rallies. But how can he resist taking a shot at Nancy Pelosi while she is sitting right behind him? Or his presidential rivals sitting in front of him namely Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar? He wouldn't be Donald Trump if he didn't.


The only thing Democrats could do to upstage him would be if they were to stage a mass walkout during the SOTU address. (It's the sort of thing I used to advocate Republicans do with Obama and annoy The Village Voice in the process.) But I doubt they would do it. Democrats would probably get more flak for a rude act than the illegal and unlawful acts of a rude President. It is the country in which we live. Barring a complete economic collapse and an act of God this country will re-elect Donald Trump in less than 9 months. The labor pains will be unbearable. Tonight is only the beginning of the contractions.

Scenes From an Iowa Caucus Watch Party in Midtown Manhattan

I spent Monday evening at an Iowa Caucus Watch Party at RPM Underground on West 54th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue.

Back in July I had been turned away from this establishment during one of the first debates due to my backpack. This time there was no backpack. But there was also no security. So I got in without incident.

There were a myriad of rooms downstairs. Some were set aside for the candidates great and small. Others were set aside for undecided voters while others still were devoted to comedy and trivia. Here is how I spent my evening.

6:55 p.m.: Room 9 is for undecided voters. I was all alone. I decided to leave the room.

7:02 p.m.: The rooms for Joe Biden, Deval Patrick, Amy Klobuchar and Tom Steyer were empty. The same could not be said for Pete Buttigieg. I enter Room 14 and yet I am still alone. Again I leave the room.

7:09 p.m.: Room 16 is for undecided voters. Again I am alone. This room was decorated was Playboy magazines. I feared women might get the creep vibe if I entered the room. You guessed it. I left the room.

7:15 p.m.: I enter a larger room which will be devoted to comedy and trivia.

7:32 p.m.: I am interested in ordering Mayor Pete vegetarian dumplings. I check to see if the dumplings have dairy in them. The bartender asked at least four different people. But he kept asking until he got an answer. Unfortunately there was dairy. I had to settle for orange juice.

7:59 p.m.: Rachel Maddow interviews Amy Klobuchar. The image is blurred and fading. A sign of things to come.

8:10 p.m.: The comedy show begins. The comedians are almost entirely Bernie supporters. They are universally funny.

8:46 p.m.: I correctly answer that Joe Biden was first elected to the Senate in 1972. For this I was awarded a Fireball. I decline.

9:18 p.m.: I return to Buttigieg's room to give them a second chance. No dice.

9:26 p.m.: I return to Room 16. This time I meet a couple named Luigi and Shannon who have recently moved to NYC although Luigi was worked here for five years and used to commute from Connecticut. We are later joined by a fellow named Patrick from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan who has lived in NYC for the past five years.

In the six plus months that I've been attending these debates this is the most prolonged conversation I've had with anyone. Never mind six months. Try the 16 plus months I've been in NYC. It might be among the two best hours I've spent in the city. Even if I never cross paths with them again it was a positive experience that will keep me coming back for more.

11:30 p.m.: Patrick stays behind with an older fellow named Mike while I leave the premises with Luigi and Shannon before going our separate ways. Had I not met these people I'd have been gone by 10 p.m.

We leave the establishment without a single result being released.

1:05 a.m.: Back at home. Still no results much less a winner. The only winner tonight might be Donald Trump. So this is what democracy looks like.

Chiefs Rally in 4th Quarter to Win 1st Super Bowl in 50 Years

The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl champions for the first time in 50 years defeating the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in front of a capacity crowd in Miami.

Down 10 points, the Chiefs rallied for 21 unanswered points in the 4th quarter on three touchdown drives by QB Patrick Mahomes, Jr. It was a remarkable reversal of fortune for Mahomes who struggled after throwing back to back interceptions in the 3rd quarter. The comeback earned Mahomes Super Bowl MVP honors. At 24, Mahomes becomes the youngest player to win Super Bowl MVP honors.

The victory gives Andy Reid his first Super Bowl title after 20 seasons as a head coach (most of them with the Philadelphia Eagles). As I stated a couple of weeks ago, it was pretty hard to root against the Chiefs.

Kansas City sports fans also gets even with San Francisco after the Royals fell short against the Giants in the 2014 World Series.

But this is the Chiefs' moment. And with Mahomes and Reid at the helm, it probably won't be their last.

GOP Has Turned The Senate Into An Auxiliary of The White House

President Trump hasn't yet been acquitted by the Senate of impeachment charges, but it is only a matter of days.

When it does so, the Republican majority led by Mitch McConnell will have succeeded in turning the Senate from the world's greatest deliberative body into nothing more than an auxiliary of the White House.

Most Republican Senators turned a blind eye to the facts and were instead governed by a combination of fealty and fear of Trump. Others like Lamar Alexander don't deny that Trump acted improperly but won't vote to convict because a) no Republican in the House voted for impeachment and b) what Trump did doesn't rise to the level of impeachment.

Alexander's first line of reasoning is a cop out. The only Republican Congressman who ever went on record as being in support of impeachment was Justin Amash last spring following the release of the Mueller Report. Within two months, Amash was out of the House Republican Conference. No House Republican was going to dare vote to impeach Trump.

His second line of reasoning leads to this question. If withholding Congressionally approved military aid to an ally unless they announce an investigation into the President's likely opponent in the next election doesn't warrant impeachment then what does? Shooting people on 5th Avenue?

When it comes right down to it, Alexander's refusal to hear John Bolton or any other additional witnesses is every bit a profile in cowardice as his GOP colleagues who refuse to acknowledge what he did.

In less half a century, Senate Republicans have gone asking, "What did the President know and when did he know it?" to asking if Iowa caucus voters will still support Joe Biden.

It was Barry Goldwater who led a contingent of Republicans to the White House to tell Richard Nixon he had to go. The only reason the current Arizona GOP Senator will go to the White House will be to receive praise from Trump for calling a CNN reporter "a liberal hack."

As long as Republicans insist the U.S. Senate be nothing more than yes men for President Trump then they are not worthy to be a majority party. Should Trump be re-elected despite impeachment, I would take some measure of comfort if Democrats were to regain control of the Senate in conjunction with another Democratic majority in the House. The road to authoritarianism would be slowed down by a speed bump.