Columbus: Senator Sanders has edged ahead in the race for the Democratic nomination. South Carolina may tighten the race leading up to March 3 elections across the country. Naturally anyone in front wants to brag about a lead and momentum. But if this was a football game, Bernie would have the ball on his own 3-yard line. A long, long way to go to score the nomination.

Mike Bloomberg found out his $60 Billion could not protect him from being beat up in his first debate. Senator Warren clobbered him on behalf of the thousands of women he employs and young minority males who like to carry guns in New York City. Joe Biden is performing better in the debates, so perhaps Bloomberg will also improve in his second one Tuesday night.

Farmers were probably surprised that Bloomberg was berated for his previous comments about women and gun-toting urban minorities, but not for insulting American farmers. I figured Senator Klobuchar from the farming state of Minnesota would confront him for claiming all a farmer has to do is dig a hole, drop a seed, cover it up and add a little water and then watch the corn grow. But it was not a surprise because, for these candidates, the farm vote is insignificant compared to women and minorities.

Senator Sanders is drawing his support from the half of the voters who expect to come out ahead with free stuff while the other half are pondering the fate of their wealth and income. Maybe Bernie should convince Bloomberg to be his VP and donate his $60 Billion to the government. That might cover the first week of free stuff.

Senator Warren is pushing her so-called “2 cent” tax on wealth. If you happen to have a million dollars invested in stocks, bonds, farmland or a mansion in Vermont, that “2 cents” means you owe $20,000. Every year. Well, not every year. If she takes away her “2 cents” per year, in 50 years you won’t owe anything because you won’t own anything.

Television commentators are speculating that unless the 14 primaries on March 3 produce a clear winner, the Convention in Milwaukee will be brokered. That would be a donnybrook. Several are comparing it to the 1924 Democratic Convention in New York City. That convention started on June 24 with 20 candidates. It took 103 ballots to get a winner, finally ending on July 10. (Will Rogers covered that convention and wrote 18 daily newspaper articles on it.)

If 2020 promises to be like 1924 I’ll hook on with a newspaper syndicate, if there’s any newspapers left. I have friends in nearby Brookfield so maybe I can bunk in their basement for the duration.

Historic quotes by Will Rogers:

          “Sure, the Government can help us on everything, if we just furnish ‘em the money to do it with.” Notes

“Everybody’s asking, ‘What about all this money the Government is spending?’ It’s pleasing the fellow that’s receiving it, but it’s driving the guy who thinks he is going to have to pay for it about nuts.”  Feb. 4, 1934