The Perfect Metaphor For The 2016 Election
I don't have any profound thoughts to share today, I should admit right up front. With one week to go before the election, I'm going to take the low road instead.
From Huffington Post today comes this lovely story:
A Donald Trump supporter in Ohio let the Democratic Party know what he thinks of it by dumping a truckload of horse manure outside the local party headquarters on Saturday.
Two days later, the self-proclaimed "hardcore" Republican was arrested. He told The Cincinnati Enquirer he couldn't care less about being caught.
The Warren County Sheriff's Office on Monday charged James R. Pinell, 47, of Lebanon, Ohio, with one misdemeanor count of criminal mischief.
. . .
Pinell, wearing a Confederate cavalry officer's hat, told the Enquirer in a video interview that said he plans to frame the police citation. He claimed responsibility for a similar manure dumping at the same location in 2012.
"I figured there was security cameras and stuff, but I didn't care if I got caught because, one, it's just a minor misdemeanor," Pinell said of this week's stunt. "It's not like it's a hate crime. It's more just showing, you know, a simple gesture of frustration. ... It's a bunch of horse crap, what's going on in the presidency and with the Democratic Party."
I encourage everyone to click on that link, just to see the photo. It is indeed an impressively-large pile of horsecrap.
No matter where you stand on the election, I think we can all appreciate the metaphor: let's just dump a stinking pile of dung in the middle of the street, and call it an election.
Sigh.
Normally I shy away from using superlatives about elections -- "This election is the mostest, bestest, worstest, whateverest we've ever seen, folks!" The reason I normally eschew such language is I have a working memory and I also have studied a bit of American history. So there's always something comparable, although at times you have to reach back pretty far to find it.
Probably the most vicious election of all time was what later became known as the "Revolution of 1800" (sorry, Bernie, it's been used before...). It was the first election where the transfer of power happened between two parties in America. Up until then, the Federalists had been in charge. Thomas Jefferson's Anti-Federalists (who would, much later, morph into the Democratic Party) won the day, after an election that was the nastiest imaginable. Jefferson was the Anti-Christ, many said during the campaign (from the pulpit, even). He was going to ban Christianity, and teach America's sons and daughters to worship Satan. Think this is exaggeration? Look it up. Back then, newspapers (the only mass media available at the time) were rabidly and nakedly partisan. I mean, so partisan that Fox News and MSNBC would blush to see it.
There have been plenty of other elections which are probably equally as vicious. Andrew Jackson's first election, for instance. Jackson (and his "Karl Rove," Martin Van Buren) pretty much created our entire electioneering system out of whole cloth. He was the first to run a campaign which essentially began the day after the previous campaign had ended (look up the "Corrupt Bargain" of 1824, for details). When Grover Cleveland ran in 1884, he was taunted for having a child out of wedlock, with the slogan: "Ma, Ma, where's my Pa?" His supporters amended it, after he won, to include the response: "Gone to the White House, ha ha ha!"
We used to have voting riots as a regular feature of our presidential elections (again, look it up). Before the secret (or "Australian") ballot came into being, you had to obtain your own ballot. They were printed in different colors, which meant that your boss or anyone else could just stand there at the polling place and see who you were voting for (and then fire you, if he didn't approve). These were all regular features of our elections, for decades.
We've had unqualified candidates before, some of whom have won. We've had vice presidents with very little experience take over when presidents have died in office. We could have had President Quayle, or (shudder) President Agnew. To say nothing of President Palin. Democrats (and the rest of the world) were shocked when America voted in a B-movie actor who had co-starred in a film with a chimpanzee (Bedtime For Bonzo). Even if he had been governor of California previously, millions considered Ronald Reagan wildly unqualified for the job.
I'm sure Republicans would have their own list, as well (I fully admit that last paragraph was partisan in viewpoint, in other words).
The point is, it's hard to truly reach a superlative when describing an American election, because history is a lot more interesting than most people realize. Having a reality-television star be the nominee of a major party certainly is unusual, but it's no more than the culmination of the trend of entertainment and politics intersecting -- which has been going on for a very long time. Trump can't even claim to be the first reality-television celebrity to run for office. If Trump is unqualified due to his previous résumé, then how qualified was Al Franken to serve in the Senate, really? For that matter, how different are Trump supporters from those who propelled Andrew Jackson into office? Look up what happened at his first post-inaugural party if you don't believe this.
Still, even having said all of that, 2016 has indeed been one for the record books. No matter what happens a week from now, political science historians will study this election for centuries to come. So this is written with those future historians in mind. Because, from the view of a voter who has watched the whole thing unfold in all its majestic (and not-so-majestic) detail, one week from voting, it just feels like a huge pile of horsecrap perfectly sums up this entire election.
Donald Trump took a dump all over the American political process. I'm sure Republicans would substitute Hillary Clinton's name and say the same thing, at this point. Heck, some former Bernie Sanders supporters might even agree with them.
Perhaps this feeling is because Barack Obama's two elections were something of an anomaly for so many. For once, millions of people got the chance to actually vote for a candidate, wholeheartedly. If you're honest with yourself, most elections consist of voting against the other guy, for whatever reason. Most of us don't get an uplifting candidate from the primaries to vote for in the general election, to put it another way. Millions have already been disappointed even before the conventions happen. Voting for Obama was different. Some people voting this year have never even had the opportunity to choose between two white candidates, in fact -- that's a stunning (and uplifting) thing to think about. It's been a full 12 years since 2004, which was the last time most people weren't all that enthused about either candidate.
So I see this election not so much in superlative terms, but rather as a return to a rather dispiriting norm. Sure, there are plenty of fervent supporters of both Trump and Clinton out there, and to them I apologize, but from where I sit this election resembles nothing so much as that pile of horseshit in the street.
Maybe things will change in future elections. But it might take at least eight years to get there -- because whichever candidate wins next Tuesday is sure to try for re-election in 2020. Maybe there will be a charismatic figure with concrete ideas to make the future better that excites the electorate again -- on either the left or the right. Or maybe not. Maybe Trump has done nothing so much as open the door for imitators of his substance-free style, who knows? Or maybe we'll just get boring pols who are the next in line, the way we normally do.
I will close with one superlative, though. The 2016 election has certainly been one of the most interesting in American history, that's for sure. But even that's a double-edged sword, because I am using it in the manner of the perhaps-mythical Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times."
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
He claimed responsibility for a similar manure dumping at the same location in 2012.
So Mr. Pinell dumped manure in that location in 2012, and the Democratic candidate went on to win the presidency. If the Democrat again wins the presidency in 2016 after his second dump, I would invite him and his horseshit to return in 2020 and every 4 years thereafter. :)
Just heard that 28% of registered Republicans in Florida that have already voted are casting their vote for HilRod. If this is true, then it's GAME OVER. :)
Kick: 1-2: Yep!!!
@cw,
I think this would be a good place to share some of those really juicy nuggets from the 1820s
JL
I'm with Joshua ... this would be an excellent time for a look back to those early days.
I really miss reading about all of that. In fact, I'm going to pull out those draft chapters and re-read them.
I'm also hoping that plans for the book are still in the works. Nobody writes about this period better than Chris.
Personally, I think the better metaphor to this election is this..
Local GOP office in North Carolina firebombed
http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/16/politics/north-carolina-gop-office-vandalized/
That epitomizes exactly what this election is all about. The lengths and the depth that the forces of the establishment and status quo will go to and sink to, to maintain their grip on power..
And the blase' acceptance of said tactics by the rank and file...
Pinel is a serial dumper, and shouldn't be let off with a fine. Jail time, or better still, let him shovel what he dumped, and than shovel some more. I'd respect his protest more if he did it openly in broad daylight....or at least left a note. Pinel is just a cranky bastid looking for a little attention.
Just heard that 28% of registered Republicans in Florida that have already voted are casting their vote for HilRod. If this is true, then it's GAME OVER. :)
I can assure u with complete confidence that Florida is a Trump state thru and thru...
Except for the hospital where i was at.. :D
What's up with the Enquirer's reference to a "Confederate" hat? As far as I can tell, Pinel is wearing a US Army style cavalry stetson, deep blue with the standard crossed swords, no CSA badging, not even gray or butternut. Available at Amazon priced as low as $21.76 (prime). Optional saber pin $16.99.
Confederate soldiers wore what they could get, or what they wanted to wear.
Jeb Stuart, wearing what he wanted to wear, including a plume:
http://civilwardailygazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/june8stuart.jpg
Not shown: Stuart's staff banjo player.
Is The Enquirer romancing this story just a wee bit? Pinel was wearing a hat.
Liz, 5: Yep! CW is a master at dishing up political history. I'll buy the book!
Another fitting and related metaphor would be the American political system as the Augean stables, both requiring a Herculean effort to clean up the mess.
Indeed, TS ... sign me up to help promote and sell it!
Trumpers: was wearing my Clinton/Kaine shirt I’d purchased a few weeks prior. While waiting at an intersection to cross the street, a man approached me from behind, placed his hand on my waist, and leaned in to whisper in my right ear.
“Hillary Clinton’s a fucking cunt and so are you,” he said, his voice seething with disgust.
https://rewire.news/article/2016/11/01/trump-misogyny-dangerous-precedent-set-election/
Trumpers: But Tuesday someone attached razor blades to a Trump-Pence sign, then used it to cover the official polling site sign at a polling location in Plano.
Just before sunrise at Collin County College a precinct official ordered the sign removed, and a volunteer who was taking it down cut their hands on the box cutter blades that were attached to the bottom of the sign.
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/2/1590032/-Blood-spilled-in-Plano-TX-Trump-sign-rigged-with-box-cutter-blades
Trumpers: Vandals in Greenville, Miss. set fire to a black church on Tuesday evening — and then spray painted a pro-Trump message on the side.
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/11/vandals-torch-black-church-in-mississippi-and-spray-paint-vote-trump-on-the-side/
Paula-13,14
These sorts of intimidation, even if still fairly rare, may account for why I see far fewer lawn signs this year, and almost no bumper stickers!
The news outlets tend to ratchet up the fear of intimidation. I canvassed for Obama in '08 and '12 (in a Republican dominated neighborhood) and encountered no impolite behavior whatever. An upscale neighborhood to be sure, but bullying belongs to no one class in my experience.
As FDR might have put it, we mostly have to fear fear itself. Without fear mongering, there would be (almost) no local TV news whatever...car crashes, regional shootings, regional holdups, drug overdoses. Bad news sells, good news not so much.
As far as canvassing in '16, I'm on the disabled list for at least another 4 weeks with a strained Achilles tendon - which my Dr. doesn't want me to turn into a torn Achilles. I confess this makes me more dispassionate about the risks than if I was actually hoofing it!
U see what I mean??
Every unsubstantiated nugget with a tenuous to non-existent trump connection gets airplay to the far corners of Weigantia..
Real and documented violence comitted by Hillary supporters is completely ignored and denied as relevant....
It's that blatant hypocrisy that has shied me away from commenting..
Stig [9] : don't dismiss the possibility that the subject of the interview might believe that the hat is a confederate hat, and told that to the Enquirer, who printed it without, obviously, looking at the hat. Parts of southern Ohio are just that stupid.
Michale [17]: It depends, in some part, on where you live: I can tell you that in my neighborhood, nobody dares to put up a Hillary sign in their yard or sport an "I'm with Her" bumper sticker on their car for fear of vandalism.
Hey CW
Hillary being in danger of even just possibly losing to Trump at this point is too funny.
Was it the ABC national poll that was 46-45 for Trump?
I don't see how an electoral college loss can happen, but the agonizing and hand wringing is fully deserved.
The idea that we will be subjected to this bitter dance on an ongoing basis regardless of who wins is dispiriting though.
There's a reporter who writes "the nightmare is almost over" at the end of every column... but he is fully delusional.
A
This is tightening, as many of us expected, into a fairly generic D-R race with a more obnoxious R than is usual.
Demographics are coming into play - Latino voting share is increasing, Black voting share is waning with Obama not being on the ticket. Also there are more Millenials and fewer WW2 generation voters, all resulting in a slightly muted swing to D from 2012.
The Blue Wall (https://goplifer.com/2014/11/06/a-reality-check-on-the-2014-results/) is holding, with Virginia becoming a firm part of it, taking the total, as predicted by Chris Ladd, to 270. Game over for the GoP until they start to reverse their decline with educated white voters (hint: denying science isn't the way to go).
So the result on Tuesday is all about how many more states does Clinton get than she needs, and will the D's get 50 seats in the Senate.
The amazingly short life cycle of "news" this election is the big lesson I'm taking away. The emails are going to be so "October" by the weekend, and who knows if Hillary's "Russian smear" deflection will become the latest "revelation" for the 24-hour news cycle or some other "scandal" will generate a pixel explosion.
I remember in 2008 wanting Obama to win just so we could start the "forget Palin" process (it took until this year, and it is one thing we have Trump to thank for). By 2018 I never want to hear Trump's name again.
CW:
Trump can't even claim to be the first reality-television celebrity to run for office.
You missed Shirley Temple in your list of political celebrities in 2014 (Run, Clay, Run). I know, because my grandmother would definitely have voted for her if it had been possible :)
Balthasar,
Michale [17]: It depends, in some part, on where you live: I can tell you that in my neighborhood, nobody dares to put up a Hillary sign in their yard or sport an "I'm with Her" bumper sticker on their car for fear of vandalism.
And yet, there is absolutely no factual documented non-propaganda reports of ANY violence committed by bona-fide Trump supporters against Hillary supporters.
All ya'all have is Huffpoop and DailyKOS crap..
i'll go into more detail on this with my AA reports of exactly why Hillary lost, but the gist is this..
Ya'all ONLY look at the "news" and reports that support your Party ideology..
For ya'all NOTHING else exists...
The only 2 exceptions to this are JL and Liz... I am curious as to how much LESS glib JL is since the relevation of almost 3/4 of a MILLION new emails have been uncovered. Emails that it was SWORN that they were turned over...
Ya'all IGNORE that because you Party slavery doesn't PERMIT you to assimilate it...
Michale
I am curious as to how much LESS glib JL is since the relevation of almost 3/4 of a MILLION new emails have been uncovered. Emails that it was SWORN that they were turned over.
I'll be so amused when that turns out to be gross hyperbole.
I'll remind you that:
The State Department was hacked
The Defense Dept was hacked
The FBI was hacked
The DNC was hacked
Hillary wasn't hacked, otherwise all of these email 'revelations' wouldn't be necessary.
Wikileaks would already have them.
So Hillary, the only one in the whole story who WASN'T hacked, is the 'careless' one. Right.
Admit it, the only real reason the GOP wants to see more Hillary emails is in the dwindling hope of finding some gun, still smoking, somewhere in the pile.
https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=8338
NO ONE here acknowledges the violence committed by Hillary supporters against Trump supporters..
NO.... ONE....
And yet, ya'all claim this is a "reality based" forum...
Ya see the incongruity??
Hillary wasn't hacked, otherwise all of these email 'revelations' wouldn't be necessary.
You still don't get it, do ya B??
If Hillary had come clean at the start **NONE** of it would have made a damn bit of difference....
THAT's the point you refuse to see...
THAT is reality you refuse to accept..
If Hillary had come clean at the start **NONE** of it would have made a damn bit of difference.
Translation: if Hillary had allowed the endless partisan investigation into Benghazi unrestricted access to rifle through all of her correspondence two years ago like they wanted, we could have dispensed with all of these bothersome things like warrants and due process, and gotten straight to the business of looking for dirt. Then, we wouldn't have complained so much.
Well Chris Ladd beat me to my #21 comment and was, as usual, far more articulate:
http://politicalorphans.com/everybody-calm-down/
And if Trump had released all of his Tax Returns, the Democrats would be treating him much more nicely today.
"Hillary is doing great!! Awesome!! Perfect!!!"
-The Weigantians
"Hillary Clinton added a stop in Michigan and her campaign is pouring more money into advertising there and three other states once considered safe amid concerns among some Democrats that a new FBI review of a top aide’s e-mails may erode her electoral firewall.
The decision by Clinton to return four days before the election to a state that supported her husband in 1992 and has backed every Democratic presidential nominee since then suggests growing concerns about a tightening race with Republican Donald Trump.
-Reality
I can do this all day....
Till my arm falls off anyways...
Interesting trading patterns on the Betfair Exchange.
Trump's implied probability has increased by almost 15% since the Comey press release. Three sharp spikes of trading are largely responsible for this uptick. Some big time trading is going on in unusual bursts. A few people betting big, or a lot of little bets all at once.
Is the Trump Campaign or maybe just Trump Nation, engaging in a little market manipulation? By accepting a low payoff on Trump, they inflate his implied probability of winning the election. They stand to lose money by doing this, but it may be good psychological warfare: it makes his campaign look more likely to win, as some prognosticators factor prediction markets into their calculations (notably Predict Wise). This could have a ripple effect on polls. This gambit has been discussed in the academic literature of prediction markets.
Pure speculation on my part, but it might be a better use of campaign money than YouTube late in the game, and there is nothing illegal about it. The Clinton Camp might want to counter bid in the opposite direction.
As Lilly Tomlin puts it: "if you're not cynical, you aren't paying attention."
And if Trump had released all of his Tax Returns, the Democrats would be treating him much more nicely today.
Bullshit....
But, as usual, your partisan blinders refuse to allow you to concede the point..
If Hillary had come clean, ALL of this would have been old news and no American would have paid any attention to it...
I had returned to Weigantia in hopes that the huge dose of reality that is the FBI re-opening the email case against Hillary would have jolted ya'all back to yer senses and allow you to see the world as it is, not as you wish it would be..
But, apparently, ya'all are too far gone for even THIS bombshell to jar ya'all from yer delusion that there is nothing to worry about, that Hillary has this in the bag..
I'll be back when Trump is the President-Elect and go over with ya'all, in GREAT DETAIL, exactly where ya'all went wrong...
I expect 70% of ya'all simply will not survive...
if hillary had made all this available to begin with then it wouldn't be an issue at all.
-nypoet22, http://www.chrisweigant.com/2016/10/28/haunting-halloween-nightmares-for-left-and-right/#comment-87228
Do you get it now, Balthasar???
Or do you need a brick wall to fall on you???
Jeeesh.....
neilm [28]: the best part of that article is the final paragraph. It truly is frightening that so many Republicans can support this man who makes Steve King look like a liberal and Sarah Palin sound like a Rhodes scholar. There is apparently no need on the right anymore to be considerate, coherent, or even remotely christian.
When Michale accuses Dems of 'blindly' backing anyone with a 'D' next to their name, he is in the deepest depth of denial: his own party has nominated a complete charlatan; a man perpetrating the greatest fraud in the history of politics, and they act as though he were just some variation on Mitt Romney. It's insane, and scary.
I wrote: And if Trump had released all of his Tax Returns, the Democrats would be treating him much more nicely today.
And Michale wrote: Bullshit.
And that's my point. It's every bit as much bullshit to believe that as it would be to believe that if Hillary had given GOP Republicans emails that they weren't entitled to, that they'd have gone away and stopped making up conspiracy theories about her. Bullshit.
And that's my point. It's every bit as much bullshit to believe that as it would be to believe that if Hillary had given GOP Republicans emails that they weren't entitled to, that they'd have gone away and stopped making up conspiracy theories about her. Bullshit.
And you have a hat trick.. For the THIRD time you (intentionally obviously) miss my point..
Who gives a flying frack what Republicans do or don't do.. I sure as hell don't. Apparently YOU do...
I am talking about Hillary's place in this election..
Like Joshua said, "if hillary had made all this available to begin with then it wouldn't be an issue at all."
Do you get it now???
Or are you blinders permanently welded to your eyes that you can't see reality even if it runs you over???
Hillary is to blame...
Not Comey.. Not Trump... Not Bush... Not Putin... Not Gabriel... Not Raphael... Not Castiel.. Not Dean... Not Sam....
H I L L A R Y
Do you get it now???
Troll
23
"The only 2 exceptions to this are JL and Liz"
I was almost nice to you when I found out about your near death experience, and this is how you repay me?
A
I think this phrase is perfect: "moral immunity". That is what white people who vote for Trump want. Unless they are literally brain-damaged they know Trump is dishonest and evil and is perfectly comfortable encouraging white supremacists to threaten and potentially hurt or kill women and people of color. But they have grievances and they think they should be given a pass.
No.
No pass.
Trumpers: White Supremacist Cop-shooter in Iowa has a big fat Trump/Pence sign in his yard.
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/11/2/1590110/-Iowa-Police-Shooter-a-Confederate-Flat-Waving-Racist
Al,
I was almost nice to you when I found out about your near death experience, and this is how you repay me?
I stand corrected.. You also have my sincerest apologies..
You also definitely hold Hillary accountable the most here of all...
Trumpers: White Supremacist Cop-shooter in Iowa has a big fat Trump/Pence sign in his yard.
A perfect example of what I am talking about..
DailyKOs drevel that has NOTHING to do with facts or reality..
THAT is ya'all's entire basis of reality....
You also definitely hold Hillary accountable the most here of all...
I dare say more than I myself do...
Michale
You also definitely hold Hillary accountable the most here of all...
I dare say more than I myself do...
Michale
Before I bid adieu for a sabbatical until we have President Elect Trump, let me also say a very special thank you to Mopshell for her kind words..
I like to think that we could argue like siblings over the least little thing, but would give a kidney to the other if needed... :D
Michale
CW,
You mentioned painkillers..
theworleys.net/temp/pills.jpg
Welcome to my world.. :D
To all..
Word has it the FBI is leaving no stone unturned in the search for Hillary emails..
theworleys.net/temp/emails.jpg
Ni ni all...
[17]
Michale,
Real and documented violence comitted by Hillary supporters is completely ignored and denied as relevant....
Back with the same lame shit... well surprise, surprise! Hey, snowflake, why don't you just admit that you're never going to get it through your thick skull that people don't have to post about "both sides do it" in order to make a valid point. It's long past obvious that you're stuck in that deep ditch, and it's going to take one hell of a long rope for you to ever climb out of it.
It's that blatant hypocrisy that has shied me away from commenting..
Oh, gee... I see you've located your straw man AND your soapbox. *LOL* :D
Michale -
I'm relieved to see you as feisty as ever. :-) This tells me that you're recuperating but I'm telling you - do NOT get your blood pressure up!!!! Take a sabbatical by all means but please be here on election night because, honestly, it just won't be the same without you.
I too have a dicky ticker but it's controllable - not anywhere near as scary as your nasty episode! We want you well.
My kindest regards to Mrs Michale too. That woman is a saint! :-) xx
[33] Michale,
I had returned to Weigantia in hopes that the huge dose of reality that is the FBI re-opening the email case against Hillary would have jolted ya'all back to yer senses and allow you to see the world as it is, not as you wish it would be..
It's always a treat to hear those in the Breitbart bubble explaining "the world as it is, not as you wish it would be." :)
But, apparently, ya'all are too far gone for even THIS bombshell to jar ya'all from yer delusion that there is nothing to worry about, that Hillary has this in the bag..
Yep... it is official... snowflake has located his straw man. :) Nothing has changed... as long as Trump is on the ballot in 50 states, he does have a chance to win... SSDD. I would generally say 50 states and the District of Columbia, but Trump hasn't got a snowflake's chance in hell of winning DC. :)
I'll be back when Trump is the President-Elect and go over with ya'all, in GREAT DETAIL, exactly where ya'all went wrong...
President-Elect of what... the United States? I am guessing you'll be back even if Trump isn't the "President-Elect." :)
The answer to whatever bullshit you think you need to go over in "GREAT DETAIL" is most likely going to be... pretty sure I have mentioned this a few dozen times... PENNSYLVANIA.
There... I saved you some time, snowflake... time you should be spending recuperating. :)
FACT: If Trump loses Nevada, he is down to a 9% chance of winning the presidency. Of course, 9% is not nothing. Trump loses Florida? Dead Trump... and we'll have Michale's state... Michale's neighbors... to thank for it. :D
My kindest regards to Mrs Michale too. That woman is a saint! :-) xx
Preach! Seriously, glad you are recovering nicely from your recent medical scare.
Russ
Gonna try something new... :D
Trump loses Florida? Dead Trump... and we'll have Michale's state... Michale's neighbors... to thank for it. :D
Early vote trend favoring GOP in Florida
Adam C. SmithAdam C. Smith, Times Political Editor
Six days before Election Day in 2012, Democrats in Florida had cast about 39,000 more votes than Republicans. Today, six days before Election Day 2016, Republicans have cast about 17,000 more votes than Democrats.
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/early-vote-trend-favoring-gop-in-florida/2301035
Mopshell,
My kindest regards to Mrs Michale too. That woman is a saint! :-) xx
Oh you have no idea! :D hehehe And can you imagine she's been doing that for almost 35 years!!! :D
Russ,
Preach! Seriously, glad you are recovering nicely from your recent medical scare.
Thanx, Russ. Much appreciated... I am not worried about the ticker. With as much drugs as they are having me take, I am hoping for some mutant gene to spring forth and give me a super power or two.. :D
But the arm is my biggest impediment right now... It hurts like hell to type so, while it won't seem like it, I will be posting a LOT less than normally.. :D
The answer to whatever bullshit you think you need to go over in "GREAT DETAIL" is most likely going to be... pretty sure I have mentioned this a few dozen times... PENNSYLVANIA.
Outlier or Harbinger? Pennsylvania Poll Shows Trump Up by One Percent
http://www.breitbart.com/2016-presidential-race/2016/11/02/outlier-or-harbinger-pennsylvania-poll-shows-trump-leads-by-one-percent/
Remember... Breitbart is JUST as "reliable" a source as HuffPoop and DailyKO$
Independents leaning toward Trump in polls after FBI furor erupts
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article112106442.html
http://theworleys.net/temp/arm.jpg
"It looks worse than it feels."
"Oh, my God... it looks like Hell.
"Oh, well then it looks exactly like it feels."
-The Replacements
:D
If ya'all won't go to reality.....
White House Watch
White House Watch: Trump Takes The Lead
Daily Presidential Tracking Poll
Clinton Isn’t Helped by Being First Major Party Woman Nominee
Sex Charges Against Trump Haven’t Changed Many Minds
Most Still Say Clinton Should Have Been Indicted
What America Thinks: Is a Third Party the Way?
Republican Donald Trump has a three-point lead in Rasmussen Reports’ White House Watch survey. Among voters who are certain how they will vote, Trump now has over 50% support.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2016/white_house_watch_nov3
I'll bring reality to you.. :D
Bret Baier: FBI Sources Believe Clinton Foundation Case Moving Towards "Likely an Indictment"
1. The Clinton Foundation investigation is far more expansive than anybody has reported so far and has been going on for more than a year.
2. The laptops of Clinton aides Cherryl Mills and Heather Samuelson have not been destroyed, and agents are currently combing through them. The investigation has interviewed several people twice, and plans to interview some for a third time.
3. Agents have found emails believed to have originated on Hillary Clinton's secret server on Anthony Weiner's laptop. They say the emails are not duplicates and could potentially be classified in nature.
4. Sources within the FBI have told him that an indictment is "likely" in the case of pay-for-play at the Clinton Foundation, "barring some obstruction in some way" from the Justice Department.
5. FBI sources say with 99% accuracy that Hillary Clinton's server has been hacked by at least five foreign intelligence agencies, and that information had been taken from it.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2016/11/02/fbi_sources_tell_fox_news_indictment_likely_in_clinton_foundation_case.html
Reality. Up close and personal...
Some Who Saw Change in Obama Find It Now in Donald Trump
Many of those interviewed said they felt duped by the president and frustrated by their personal circumstances. They said Mr. Obama had not done enough to create jobs, unfairly pushed through the Affordable Care Act, and damaged the international reputation of the United States with his handling of foreign affairs. Some also complained that the first black president had bungled his response to racially charged killings.
Susanne Murphy, 63, of Gettysburg, Pa., voted for Mr. Obama twice but said she now supported Mr. Trump. The Affordable Care Act led her and her husband to fire five employees from their electrical company because they could not afford to provide them benefits, she said. “It made us feel like we failed,” she said while waiting for the start of a rally featuring Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana, Mr. Trump’s running mate.
Chuck Linton, 69, of Baltimore, a retired military veteran, described Mr. Obama as “condescending” and said that as a black man, he was fed up with Democrats telling him how to vote.
“Have you ever seen somebody that talks so good and makes you feel that he is in your favor, he’s in your corner, but the truth of the matter he’s not?” he asked. “That’s Obama.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/03/us/politics/obama-donald-trump-voting.html?_r=0
That's the reality that no one here acknowledges...
[52] Michale,
Six days before Election Day in 2012, Democrats in Florida had cast about 39,000 more votes than Republicans. Today, six days before Election Day 2016, Republicans have cast about 17,000 more votes than Democrats.
Republicans voting early for HilRod is not exactly a bad thing. Take a deeper dive into the data.
https://www.scribd.com/document/329698329/TargetSmart-William-Mary-Florida-Poll-of-Early-and-Likely-Voters
If... repeat IF... the data is correct, there's an unusual amount of GOP crossover voters in Florida who have already voted for Hillary.
Florida is always close. Now is the time that the GOTV kicks in... the ground game or lack thereof. :)
If Americans in Israel were to choose the next president of the United States, Republican nominee Donald Trump would win the election, according to the results of an exit poll taken among absentee voters in Israel obtained exclusively by The Jerusalem Post.
http://www.jpost.com/US-Elections/Exclusive-Trump-beats-Clinton-in-Israeli-absentee-voter-exit-poll-471561
Reality.... Whether ya like it or not.. :D
"We don't win this election, potentially, if we don't win North Carolina. I hate to put a little pressure on you, but the fate of the republic rests on your shoulders. The fate of the world is teetering."
Well, I am sure relieved that Obama and the Democrats haven't stooped to blatant fear-mongering... :^D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_dJRaBLAdg
I honestly don't think we have to worry about Republicans in Florida voting for Clinton...
Your premise is flawed and un-proven, therefore your conclusion is, albeit desirable, is nothing more than wishful thinking..
Florida is Trump and Trump is Florida... :D
Michale,
I honestly don't think we have to worry about Republicans in Florida voting for Clinton...
http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2016/10/27/republicans-voting-hillary-clinton-kaye-pkg-ac.cnn
I agree that you "honestly don't think." :)
Your premise is flawed and un-proven, therefore your conclusion is, albeit desirable, is nothing more than wishful thinking..
It's not my "premise," snowflake; it's polling data from Florida voters. Yes, it could be wrong
(like EVERY other poll), but there are always crossover voters both ways. That particular polling data shows R crossover of 28% with D crossover of 6% in Florida.
Florida is Trump and Trump is Florida... :D
I agree that Trump and Florida are the penis of America. :)
See there, snowflake... you sometimes spew stuff I can kind of actually agree with. *LOL* :D
FBI finds emails related to Hillary Clinton's State Department tenure
The FBI has found emails related to Hillary Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state on the laptop belonging to the estranged husband of Huma Abedin, Anthony Weiner, according to a U.S. official.
These emails, CBS News’ Andres Triay reports, are not duplicates of emails found on Secretary Clinton’s private server. At this point, however, it remains to be seen whether these emails are significant to the FBI’s investigation into Clinton. It is also not known how many relevant emails there are.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-finds-emails-related-to-hillary-clintons-state-department-tenure/
Someone is DEFINITELY going to jail.. There is absolutely NO REASON for ANY DoS emails to be on Anthony Weiner's Laptop..
Hillary is toast..
Michale
I agree that Trump and Florida are the penis of America. :)
And who will be sucking up to that Florida penis if it means a Hillary win?? :D
The learned author, Ernest Hemingway was at a dinner party being hounded by an incessant fan. Finally, Mr Hemingway turned to the lady and said, "Madam, would you have sex with me for a million dollars??".. The woman, all a flutter said, "Why yes!! Yes Mr Hemingway!!! Yes I would!!!"....
Hemingway then asked, "Would you have sex with me for a dollar??" The woman cried out indignantly, "Of course not!!! What kind of woman do you think I am!!??"
Hemingway replied, "We have already established that. Now we're just negotiating the price."
Mr Hemingway enjoyed the rest of the dinner party in peace.
:D
Hillary Clinton traveled to Winterville, North Carolina today for a rally.
She kept calling it Greenville.
This was not lost on her Winterville audience.
The comments were hilarious
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2016/11/oopsis-hillary-goes-winterville-nc-keeps-calling-greenville/
Definitely early onset of Parkinsons or Dementia...
"As long as I am captain of this ship, we will remain in orbit around Gamma Hydra Two!!!!!"
"Captain. That's Gamma Hydra Four."
-Star Trek TOS, The Deadly Years
Michale
Fox News Electoral Scorecard: Key states tilting toward Trump after FBI's October surprise
The FBI’s October surprise appears to have improved Donald Trump’s overall standing in the electoral map, with the latest Fox News Electoral Scorecard showing several states shifting in his favor since last week.
The Fox News Decision Team announced updates to the scorecard Thursday afternoon, reflecting the following changes based on recent polling and other factors:
New Hampshire moves from “lean Democrat” to “toss-up”
Ohio moves from “toss-up” to “lean Republican”
Indiana moves from “lean Republican” to “solid Republican”
Missouri moves from “lean Republican” to “solid Republican”
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/11/03/fox-news-electoral-scorecard-key-states-tilting-toward-trump-after-fbis-october-surprise.html
Hillary is toast... :D
http://interactive.nydailynews.com/2016/11/op-ed-case-against-hillary-clinton/
There is simply no logical or rational rebuttal to this op-ed....
Which is EXACTLY why we won't see one....
Michale,
And who will be sucking up to that Florida penis if it means a Hillary win?? :D
Hillary doesn't need Florida to win and never has while Trump has never had a path without it... so I'd say the answer to your question is that Trump should have been doing a lot more "sucking up to that Florida penis" rather than blowing it on Day 1 of his campaign. *LOL* :D
Looks like Trump has already blown Nevada: Democrats have built a firewall in Clark County of 60,000+ votes... hopefully 70,000+ by the end of last day of early voting today. It will take a massive turnout on Tuesday to overcome that number. GOTV! :)
Hillary doesn't need Florida to win and never has while Trump has never had a path without it... so I'd say the answer to your question is that Trump should have been doing a lot more "sucking up to that Florida penis" rather than blowing it on Day 1 of his campaign. *LOL* :D
Which, as usual, completely ignores the question because the only possible answers exposes the partisan hypocrisy for all to see... :D
You gonna be around Tuesday night??? Even if your chosen one is mashed to the ground early?? :D
Michale
Looks like Trump has already blown Nevada:
Seriously, what planet are you on???
8 News NOW - Las Vegas Tie
CNN/ORC 10/27 - 11/1 Trump +6
Remington Research (R)* Trump +4
Emerson* 10/26 - 10/27 Clinton +2
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/nv/nevada_trump_vs_clinton-5891.html
This is EXACTLY my point..
Ya'all are in a La La Land of cherry picked polls and ignore the reality that shows Hillary is going down and going down big time..
Ya'all are in a La La Land of cherry picked polls and ignore the reality that shows Hillary is going down and going down big time..
Trump is having rallies of 10,000, 20,000 and more.....
Hillary is lucky if she pulls in a couple hundred.......
And yet ya'all glibly and hysterically affirm that the Empress is dressed in the finest of livery.......
Again, I have to ask.. What PLANET are ya'all on???
EXCLUSIVE: Trump Surging, Now Tied With Clinton In Michigan
Republican nominee Donald Trump is tied with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in Michigan, according to a Strategic National Poll.
The Michigan statewide poll revealed Trump is now dead even with Clinton, in a state that has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1988.
http://dailycaller.com/2016/11/04/exclusive-poll-trump-clinton-tied-in-michigan/#ixzz4P4i7YU1s
Ya'all better prepare yerselves for some major disappointment on Tuesday....
I am taking wagers for T-Shirts.....
Anyone?? Anyone??? Beuhler??? :D
Michale,
This is EXACTLY my point..
Ya'all are in a La La Land of cherry picked polls and ignore the reality that shows Hillary is going down and going down big time..
I just gave you the data of actual voters in Nevada, and you're whining about stupid polling... seriously? Those are the actual numbers of the only poll that matters.
Please prattle on and on about polling while I supply actual early voting totals from Nevada. If you don't mind looking like a complete and utter moron, I certainly have no problem whatsoever with it! *LOL* :D
I just gave you the data of actual voters in Nevada
And if ALL the voters had voted, then you would have a point.
But they haven't, so you do don't..
No, the fact is, you can't quote the ONLY acceptable poll here in Weigantia because it doesn't say what you want to here, so you move the goal posts and a different parameter, a parameter that DOES say what you want to hear and you go with that...
COLORADO: TIED
MICHIGAN: TIED
NEW HAMPSHIRE: TIED
NEVADA: TIED
PENNSYLVANIA: TIED
Trump has the momentum, JUST like he had the momentum going into the end of the primary...
It's going to be President-Elect Trump on 9 Nov 2016
Michale
Looks like Trump has already blown Nevada: Democrats have built a firewall in Clark County of 60,000+ votes...
But, hay.. I'll be yer huckleberry...
Where's your proof of this alleged Clark County firewall???
:D
Michale
Didn't you say to wake you up when Trump is threatening Clinton in Pennsylvania???
http://harperpolling.com/polls/pennsylvania-statewide-poll--11-2-3#PresidentTIE
Wakie Wakie, hands of snakie... :D
Michale
And if ALL the voters had voted, then you would have a point.
But they haven't, so you do don't..
I did ask you to prattle on, and you prattled. :) You're doing a marvelous job of proving you have no clue about polling of hypothetical voters versus actual data in key state counties like Clark County, Nevada.
I can only provide vote totals for early voting in Clark County up until the time of my post. How does that invalidate the real data? Why would I make up the data? I don't get all worked up about who does or does not believe what I post. :)
So Friday was a record day in Clark County, Nevada... what happens in Vegas... The Democrats have built a wall for Trump and made him pay for it... a firewall... of 73,000+ ballots in Clark County. To put that in perspective, Obama had a firewall of 71,000 in 2012 when he won Nevada by 7 points.
Barring a miracle on Tuesday, Nevada should be all locked up for HRC. There simply is no substitute for a ground game, which Trump thinks you don't need.
How do I know this? I got a phone call asking for people to go to Vegas and help out... so I went to Vegas and helped out. :)
Michale,
I see what you did there. You cherry picked the Harper poll because the other ones didn't give you the outcome you wanted. *LOL*
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/pa/pennsylvania_trump_vs_clinton_vs_johnson_vs_stein-5964.html#polls
Not trying to alarm you, but in 2012, Obama was up by 1 point in the polls in PA and went on to win it by 5 on election day. So there's that. :)
They have a really old-school style get out the vote in Pennsylvania. It will take a miracle for Trump to win in Pennsylvania, but he is on the ballot... so... :)
Not trying to alarm you, but in 2012, Obama was up by 1 point in the polls in PA and went on to win it by 5 on election day. So there's that. :)
And if this were 2012 and Obama was running, then you would have a point.
But it's not, so you don't...
Michale
Indeed.
Michale,
And if this were 2012 and Obama was running, then you would have a point.
But it's not, so you don't...
As I have said before, it certainly doesn't bother me in the least if you choose to appear clueless... proceed governor. :) I'm discussing past performance in Pennsylvania in the context of polling versus their old-school style get out the vote operation. Polling in PA can show a practically nonexistent lead, and then the massive numbers come in from Philadelphia and the burbs and blows up the statewide polling projections.
They don't have early voting in Pennsylvania, and they damn well know they are the firewall of 2016 and aren't messing around. Do you think the wonks that crunch the numbers for GOTV in PA are just pulling random numbers out of their asses based on nothing? Because they aren't. :) It's a get out the vote operation designed around one day only.
If the Trump campaign can actually go into Pennsylvania and get a win against the Philly machine, that will be a huge deal. I believe I heard the Democrats are expecting a firewall of somewhere between 450,000 to half a million voters this year in Philly alone and that Trump is also having issues with educated white female voters, which should drive that firewall tally even higher when you factor in Bucks County, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery.
But, get out the vote notwithstanding, Trump is on the ballot... so... he does have a chance to win. :)
I'm discussing past performance in Pennsylvania in the context of polling versus their old-school style get out the vote operation.
I know you are.. But it's not the point..
The only reason you are making up a new point is because the facts of my point prove you wrong....
But, get out the vote notwithstanding, Trump is on the ballot... so... he does have a chance to win. :)
Not only does he have a chance, he is BEATING Hillary in Pennsylvania.. :D
Like I said. You only look at what supports your agenda... You ignore all other facts..
And that will be your downfall...
Unfortunately, you have made it clear that you will bail if Hillary loses, so I won't even have the fun of saying to you, "TOLD YA SO"..... :^(
Oh well.. It will be sufficient for me to know that YOU know that I was right and you were wrong.. :D
Indeed.
I know, right!..
Thank you, Teal'c :D
I'm also hoping that plans for the book are still in the works.
Hear, hear.
[85] Michale,
I know you are.. But it's not the point..
The only reason you are making up a new point is because the facts of my point prove you wrong....
M'kay, snowflake! You can't handle the truth... I hear you loud and clear. :)
Not only does he have a chance, he is BEATING Hillary in Pennsylvania.. :D
If they could keep Philadelphia residents and educated white women from voting, I think you might be correct, but they can't... so... :)
Like I said. You only look at what supports your agenda... You ignore all other facts..
Said the guy who cherry picked the Harper poll in [79] because all the other PA polls didn't support his agenda. :D
And that will be your downfall...
Just call me "Death's Door Kick." :D
Unfortunately, you have made it clear that you will bail if Hillary loses, so I won't even have the fun of saying to you, "TOLD YA SO"..... :^(
Oh, you are so correct! I continue to post daily [even though I am as busy as a one-arm man in a paper hanging contest] which... "unfortunately" for you makes it "clear" that I "will bail."
Oh well.. It will be sufficient for me to know that YOU know that I was right and you were wrong.. :D
Okay... whew... good! Because my entire life is centered around what you're thinking and whether or not you were right and I was wrong. :D *LOL*
Not for the first time by a long shot, but your peevish neediness is duly noted! :D
M'kay, snowflake! You can't handle the truth... I hear you loud and clear. :)
And, once again, lines of communications have broken down..
Who gives a rat's patooey about "truth"???
I am only interested in FACTS....
"If it's 'truth' you're after, Professor Tyree's philosophy class is right down the hall.."
-Indiana Jones
Okay... whew... good! Because my entire life is centered around what you're thinking and whether or not you were right and I was wrong. :D *LOL*
I know, I know... Rest assured.. :D
YOu gonna be around Weds?? :D
Michale
Michale,
Okay... whew... good! Because my entire life is centered around what you're thinking and whether or not you were right and I was wrong. :D *LOL*
I know, I know... Rest assured.. :D
Uhhhhh... that was sarcasm. :)
YOu gonna be around Weds?? :D
You needn't keep asking if I'm going be around. I'm going to ALWAYS be around. I just can't say when because presidential elections are always my busiest time. :)
You needn't keep asking if I'm going be around. I'm going to ALWAYS be around. I just can't say when because presidential elections are always my busiest time. :)
Fair enough.. I'll stop asking.. :D
I'll give ya a little heads up..
The BEST way to shut down my soon-to-be gloating is to concede the point OF my gloating.. :D
A sincere and heartfelt "You were right, Michale. I was wrong" goes a LONG way to shut me up...
That's how STIG did it after the Great Democrat Nuclear Shellacking Of 2014.. Really bummed me out. Heh :D