These are my observations and opinions from my select news of the day.

ALL ABOOOARD! –  Reluctantly, I believe, Sanders, Obama and now Warren have all hopped aboard Apology Joe Biden’s “Malarkey Depress” as it slowly chugs along the campaign trail.

First came Bernie Sanders’ loose endorsement, in which he indicated that he would “stay on the ballot in all remaining states and continue to gather delegates.”  Not what I would call a full-throated endorsement by the socialist.

On Monday, however, Sanders appeared in a split screen arrangement with Biden, each from their homes.  Sanders rambled on, but you just knew a real endorsement was coming, and so did Joe.  When the endorsement came from Sanders, Biden said “Oh,” while dropping his head, seemingly moved, as if he didn’t know it was coming.

In a telling comment that followed, Biden said, “I’m going to need you.  Not just to win the campaign, but to govern.”

On Wednesday, in a video announcement, former President Barack Obama finally decided to come aboard, saying, “Choosing Joe to be my vice president was one of the best decisions I ever made … he has all the qualities we need in a president right now.”

“Joe has the character and the experience to guide us through one of our darkest times and heal us through a long recovery,” said Obama, before adding an imperative everyone has been saying – “I know he’ll surround himself with good people – experts, scientists, military officials who actually know how to run the government and care about doing a good job running the government.”

In their hearts, they know Biden is not equipped to run the country, and with Biden’s own concession to Sanders that “I’m going to need you … to govern,” you have to believe Biden knows he’ll need help.

“Barack Obama spent much of the last five years urging Joe Biden not to run for president out of fear that he would embarrass himself,” said Brad Parscale, President Trump’s reelection campaign manager.

The last of the notables to jump aboard was the school marm, Elizabeth Warren, who touted Biden as a dedicated public servant known for his empathy, which she believes is critical, particularly as the country fights the virus pandemic.

In a less than stellar endorsement, Warren said, “Joe Biden has spent nearly his entire life in public service.  He knows that a government run with integrity, competence and heart will save lives and save livelihoods, and that’s why I’m proud to endorse Joe Biden as president of the United States.”

Those endorsements may give Biden some comfort, but he’s got a lot of convincing to do, to win over the Sanders supporters.

Briahna Joy Gray, who was Sanders’ national spokeswoman until his campaign was suspended last week, is not boarding the “Malarkey Depress.”

Tweeting @briebriejoy, she wrote: “With the utmost respect for Bernie Sanders, who is an incredible human being & a genuine inspiration, I don’t endorse Joe Biden.

“I supported BernieSanders because he backed idea like MedicareForAll, cancelling ALL student debt, & a wealth tax.  Biden supports none of those.”

Regarding the Biden task forces that will include Sanders backers, “We want those task forces to be given real power in the campaign and in the party apparatus,” said Evan Weber, political director for the Sunrise Movement, an organization of young climate activists. “Not just gestures but real commitments.”

Weber and others may want to review the Obama-Biden promise of 2008 made to Hispanics.  “I can guarantee that we will have in the first year an immigration bill that I strongly support and that I’m promoting,” Obama said.  It didn’t happen, and in 2012 either, when he repeated the pledge.

PONDER THIS – I wonder if Elizabeth Warren, who cited how Biden’s “empathy” would be so important in view of the virus pandemic, witnessed the empathy of  President Trump on Tuesday, as he spoke with eight men and women who told their stories of having survived the virus while gathered around the table in the cabinet room. The meeting was televised by Fox News Channel over a 45-minute period.

MEANWHILE, Michigan’s Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in over her head in handling the virus outbreak in Michigan, continues to put any hope of being selected as Biden’s running mate, as has been rumored for days, out of the question.

Not only did she issue a ridiculous shelter at home order that included the ban on visits to other residences, like a vacation cabin, or a neighbor’s home, she expanded her order that banned sale of non-essential goods, like clothing, home improvement equipment and gardening supplies, including seeds,  and car seats for infants.  Fishing if boating with a motor was prohibited.

Playing the lottery and purchasing marijuana and alcohol is considered essential.

It doesn’t end there.  Facing a recall movement over her ridiculous actions, Whitmer attacked the DeVos and Van Andel families, founders of Amway and major contributors to Michigan non-profit organizations, claiming the family, and the Michigan Freedom Fund is behind the uprising.  She leveled a specific attack on Betsy DeVos as a member of President Trump’s cabinet.

She later praised Amway for its help in stocking up the state’s medical facilities with masks, gowns and other equipment, but there was no apology for her uncalled-for attack on Betsy DeVos and other family members.

Thousands of Michigan citizens converged on the capital in Lansing in protest. In her response, she said she recognized their exercise of freedom of speech, but expressed her disappointment in seeing so many people gathered together, ignoring social distancing guidelines.

Whitmer, a newly-elected Democrat in a state important to Trump’s reelection, was selected, for obvious reasons, to give the Democrat response to the president’s State of the Union Address in February.

In “The Worst Governor in America,” in The American Spectator, Robert Stacey McCain suggested that Trump Derangement Syndrome had warped the judgement of the Madwoman of Lansing.

I have to believe Michigan’s voters are now recognizing the mistake they made in passing up the opportunity to put the Republican John James in the governor’s chair.  James is now challenging Democrat Sen. Gary Peters in November.

May God continue to bless the United States of America.