CENTRAL VIEW for Monday, March 16, 2020

Tough times require tough leaders

Clearly, the Democratic Party Establishment does not want to be represented by Senator Bernie Sanders, the old-line Marxist who thinks government should take most of what you earn and redistribute your money as the government sees fit.

But, as Comrade Bernie fades from view, this is a good time to slay the myth that the Scandinavian nations operate socialist economies. The wealth that the Scandinavians are so willing to share with each other is the product, pure and simple, of capitalism.

The Scandinavians spill out a cornucopia of cargo and cruise ships, cell phones, computer devices, automobiles, aircraft, iron ore, food delicacies, and wood products. A prime example is the great success of IKEA.

Back to the present: Now, Democrats should ask if Biden has the physical stamina and the mental acuity to withstand the rigors of a hard-fought presidential campaign. And, if elected, will Joe Biden have what it takes to do what is, arguably, the world’s toughest job?

Some speculate that Joe Biden is merely the Democrat Establishment’s place-holder to get the party from now until July 13-16 and the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee. Assuming Joe Biden is destined to join Comrade Bernie under the Democrat bus, who will be the Plan B nominee? Who among the Democrats can tough it out with Donald J. Trump and go on to win in November?

And who will be the vice-presidential nominee? Too bad the Democrat Establishment despises Tulsi Gabbard, the young, female, ethnic-minority, religious-minority, Iraq war veteran who might calm fears of a Joe Biden White House collapse.

Re: Coronavirus. The E.U. failed to ban travel from China back in January when President Trump did so. Travel from Europe is now banned. Also, bio-aerosol diseases spread more quickly among Continental Europeans because they do a lot of air-kissing, hand-kissing, hugging, handshaking, and conversing within breathing range of each other.

Americans are more stand-offish. As we were taught in intelligence and language school, Anglos sometimes give offense to our Europeans counterparts when we step back. We were taught to stand close and smell the garlic. Not now!

Recall, a tough-minded General George Washington saved his army from small pox by ordering his medics to open tiny wounds in the arms of healthy soldiers and rubbing in some of the pus from the pox developed by already infected soldiers. Likewise, the anti-bodies developed by Coronavirus survivors can be injected into Coronavirus victims and save their lives. That can be done right now -- even before a vaccine is developed.

Come November, the toughness-factor may well decide this election.

©2020. William Hamilton.

William Hamilton is a laureate of the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, the Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame, the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame, and the Oklahoma University Army ROTC Wall of Fame. Dr. Hamilton’s latest book: Formula for Failure in Vietnam: The Folly of Limited Warfare can be ordered toll free at: (800) 253-2187 Or, go to Amazon.com.

Dr. Hamilton can be contacted at:

Email: william@central-view.com