PBC News & Comment, 3.2.20: In Suicide Pact, Dem Leaders Rally Around Biden

2016 redux, as Obama’s “hidden hand” leads Democratic establishment to close ranks behind another obviously flawed candidate, as Berniephobia rules….--voters will have first chance to support Bloomberg vs. Biden scrum
--Warren is staying in, but doesn’t expect to win a state tonight
--Bernie faces crucial test—do enough Dems want radical change?
--party leaders have bet large on a lame, tired horse, again
--Biden disses “revolution” and misreads young voters
--Jeremy Scahill disses neocons 
--Sanders campaign releases memo that only focuses on policy differences with Biden
--Warren goes light on Sanders, but knocks Pete and Amy for endorsing a “fellow Washington insider”
--from Australia, Caitlin Johnstone unloads on the “dementia-addled warmonger”
--and from New Zealand, a report on Obama’s “hidden hand” in the sudden convulsions intended to help Biden
--WashPost opinionist Paul Waldman sees risks in Biden and Sanders
--progressive activist Sam Husseini readies response if Sanders is blocked
--with Biden’s media-driven “surge”, expect to hear more about Ukraine
--NY Post unloads on Biden’s 5 family members who got rich off Joe
--Bloomberg has hidden emails on private server from tenure as mayor
--Boss Bloomberg admits he can’t win without contested convention
--WashPost reporter went to Oklahoma to check on Pete and Amy, but had to settle for Mike’s staff operation
--voting in Tennessee disrupted by tornadoes that killed 22
--offering reassurance while peddling fear, WashPost reports no signs of Russian hacking….so far
--a left-right coalition is emerging in Congress, in opposition to extension of surveillance law
--US death toll from coronavirus reaches 9, as markets slide again despite Fed intervention
--the Chris Matthews PBC once knew wasn’t cranky, interruptive or arrogant
--refugees are used as pawns by Turkey in war with Syria, Erdogan will ask Putin to broker cease-fire
--despite facing criminal corruption charges, Crooked Bibi appears to be close to winning another term
--Apple negotiates settlement that will give $25 to some iPhone owners over planned obsolescence