I totally agree with your statement, @Lois Winters. The move to 18-year olds voting was based in the Vietnam War. Harry Truman fought Korea with mostly regular military and reserves and filled in with draftees to fill the mostly "occupation" duties performed by the regular military at the time. Lyndon Johnson decided to fight Vietnam with mostly draftees since they could not vote at the time and he feared being voted out. The safest place to be during the Vietnam Era was in the reserves, as they usually avoided combat and generally stayed at home, as G.W. Bush and many of my friends knew at the time. That no longer is the case since the reserves now get to fight in all our little wars around the planet although they get recruited as "Stay-At-Home Soldiers". The military (all branches) seem to now be having a terrible time filling their quotas, and my 17-year old grandson was recently told by a Navy recruiter that he could be a fighter pilot if he signed up, even though the kid is barely hanging on in high school and is not college material. They are using the recent Tom Cruise movie as a recruiting tool and lying through their teeth. The Founders thought a 21 year old was suitable for voting, as they are less easily manipulate and have the maturity to make good decisions. Unfortunately, those are not the qualities desired by today's politicians.
I checked the betting on the house and senate races for today, Nov 2. BetOnLine.com says the house will be a blowout victory for the Republicans. Here is the betting line for house control: What the above means about house control: Republicans: A successful bet of $3000 will win only $100. This is a huge odds-on favorite. Probability of winning = 97%. Democrats: A successful bet of $100 will win $900. This is a very long shot. Probability of winning = 10%. On the closer issue of Senate control, here is the betting line: What it means about who wins the senate: Republicans: A successful bet of $350 will win $100. This is the odds-on favorite. Probability of winning = 78%. Democrats: A successful bet of $100 will win $225. This is in the running. Probability of winning = 31%. Bottom line: The senate is too close to call.
When I was in Washington, I was shocked at how much money the Democrats were spending on ads in districts that should be shoe-ins for them. Our "Republican" senator Murkowski is campaigning for the Democrat in the House race here. Strange.... The Senate Democrats are running ads supporting Murkowski as well. She may be switching parties, but not if the Republicans take the Senate. As I have said before, Senate races are easier to "fix" than House races due to the number and location of those races. Presidential races are by far the easiest to fix or rig.
Don, I checked the betting line for yesterday. It was -300, equivalent to 75% senate win probability for the Republicans. Today, the moneyline is -350, equivalent to a 78% probability. If the offshore betting is a reliable guide, the Republicans are moving in the right direction as election day gets closer.
Newt Gingrich's opinion on the midterm elections is that the Republicans will take both houses of Congress. Here is his forecast as of yesterday, Nov. 4. If he is right, then I believe Trump will announce that he is running for President soon thereafter. Let the games begin.
Back on the subject of Trump running, I read that he called the Florida governor "Ron DeSanctimonious" last night. Calling people out like that is, IMHO, stupid, aside from being juvenile, moronic and unnecessary. As a major political figure who may (or may not) be running for president, he should focus on issues, not personalities, especially those who could help or support you. I am sorry but this isn't the stuff of mature, presidential timbre.
Wow, you nailed this one @John Brunner I wonder if Paul Pelosi was warned that he was to be the guinea pig?
I'm sure that every, true American that heard Newt's opinion is just as hopeful as I am, that he is right!! It's hard to hear, and watch the Left that are spitting out what I would call satanic lies. I guess it's true that they have nothing left to do but lie.
Seriously, who else do we have that is competent enough, and his record proves it, to run against these criminals? I don't see anyone that would run against President Trump that's on the right side
I agree here . Frankly, given his propensity for this kind of thing, Desantis might be the better consideration.
It may be interesting to note that I made a similar remark on a "conservate" forum and got met with this kind of response. You epitimize Republican stupididy. We want results and Trump wil give them to us you jerk wad. I wish those of you TDS a$$wipes would get a clue My response was as follow: "jerk wad"? "a$$ wipes"? Is pubescent and adolescent behavior the hallmark of Trump supporters, a clever ruse by progressive trolls or children playing with a computer? My reply resulted in a picture of, you guessed it, butt wipes: begging the question as to the makeup of Trump's "MAGA minions".. Trump has now alienated just about every conservative I personally know at this time.. Stupid, stupid and stupid!
Well, I think Desantis just re-upped for Governor. We will see how that horse race goes. The left is saying the right are the ones spitting out satanic lies. I have found headlines that were half truths from both sides. And the political ads--don't get me started!
All the name calling and hate speech are just one more reason that I'm very glad to be affiliated with neither political party. I have conservative views but I would NEVER call myself "a Republican." I will never again vote for Donald Trump; if he gets the republican nomination I will abstain from voting. I'm so tired of having NO CHOICE in the voting booth... just the lesser of two evils. Is this the best we can do, truly?
There is an interesting article by Rich Lowry, a very conservative writer, who I would rarely agree with in the past. I would like to think this article is a good assessment. Frankly I never heard of Ron DeSantis before Covid. It's a good read, imo. Opinion | Liberals Should Welcome Ron DeSantis’ Rise " DeSantis is reassuringly normal. In a better world, this would win him some grudging praise from unexpected quarters."
Hi Denise, I agree. We need to reset the direction our country is going in. I hope the voting results exceed Newt's numbers. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think I can hear a red tsunami heading our way.