New Developments III

[dws1982]

A few observations about the election today:
- Two ladies who I know, who were definite Trump supporters, were still undecided about this vote today before they left work to go vote. My parents, who voted Trump because they just couldn't bring themselves to vote D, and saw a third-party vote as a throwaway (my thought was, that may be true, but where better to throw it away than in a safe state?), didn't vote. No one is excited about voting for Moore.
- I voted for Jones. Not crazy about either of the options, and also not crazy about the direct election of Senators in general, but that's another post, but I don't feel that sitting this one out was a viable option. Although I do believe that the right to vote also includes the right not to vote.
- Turnout was HIGH. At least at my place, it was probably on par with a mid-term election. And there were no other things on the ballot. (Well that's not exactly true, but you had to go through another line to get a separate ballot, which almost no one was doing.)
- A loss for Moore tonight would be, on a state level, a big loss for Governor Ivey. She was the only person who could've changed the date of today's election (which would've been irregular, but she still could have) and decided not to. She said she believed the allegations about Moore, and then supported him in the election. Outside of the candidates themselves, no one has more to lose based on the outcome tonight. If Moore loses, this absolutely will be used in the primaries against her next year.
- I don't think that Moore or Jones survives beyond 2020 either way. Barring a high demographic change, Jones will face a tough road in a high-turnout Presidential election, and if anything, the allegations against Moore have provided perfect primary fodder.

[Greg]

People are taking out mortgages to buy bitcoin, says securities regulator:

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/11/people- ... r=sharebar

[Big Magilla]

McCain is supporting the tax bill, so...that’s it? We’re all fucked, right?

Almost, but not quite yet. The bills from the House and Senate will have to go to reconciliation where it might fail, yet. Should it pass, however, it's the Republicans who will likely be fucked in the 2018 elections, if they aren't already.

[Sabin]

McCain is supporting the tax bill, so...that’s it? We’re all fucked, right?

[Greg]

Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are "going to be the biggest bubble of our lifetimes:"

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/28/novogra ... times.html

[Greg]

Bitcoin futures approval sparks fears: 'The financial crisis all over again':

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/31/bitcoin ... peaet.html

[Greg]

Astronomers discover 7 Earth-sized planets orbiting nearby star:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/22/world/new ... very-nasa/

[mlrg]

The next Un Secretary General will be Antonio Guterres, born in my country (Portugal)

He was the UN High commissioner for refugees during the last 10 years. Prior to that he was Portuguese prime minister from 1995 to 2002. Although not from the same political family as mine, he was not a bad prime minister. He benefited from a good economic environment during the late 90’s but was unable to maintain his political reforms (mainly based on social welfare) during the last two years of his government. He resigned in December 2001 after his party lost local elections (curiously the prime minister that followed him was Jose Durão Barroso, who later became European Union Comission president).

Guterres is a true humanitarian so he is a very good choice for this role.

[Greg]

Texas Youth Football Team to Continue Protesting Anthem Despite Death Threats:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-youth-fo ... d=42082211

[Greg]

Colin Kaepernick jersey sales have skyrocketed since he began his protest:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/colin ... s-protest/

[Greg]

Sex Toy-Wielding Students Protest Gun Law at University of Texas:

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/201 ... y-of-texas

[Greg]

Stephen Hawking could finally win Nobel prize after scientist 'PROVES' black hole theory:

http://www.express.co.uk/news/science/6 ... -radiation

[OscarGuy]

And Sanders officially endorses Clinton, meaning the convention will not be a clusterfuck.

I find it amusing that one of the people interviewed in the CNN article talks about Bernie's integrity and honesty and that she'd follow him anywhere except to Clinton. So, either he has integrity or he doesn't. You don't get to pick and choose which part of his personality and rhetoric are filled with integrity and which aren't because if he doesn't have integrity in one area, then he cannot be a candidate of integrity.

[Big Magilla]

Speaking of Giuliani...

http://www.nydailynews.com/ne<em>ws/pol ... -1.2707601

[Big Magilla]

Trump is not a law and order candidate although he may bellow like one. Anything can happen in the next few months, but I think most rational thinking people, and even some irrational ones, see through him.

Most of my close friends and family members are died-in-the-wool liberals and Democrats, but even the hard-nosed, gun-toting Republicans among them, the ones who wish George W. or Reagan were still President, see Hillary as the lesser of two evils. They won't vote for her, but they won't vote for him either. Let them stay home, which bodes well for the down ballot. I just wish if the Democrats do regain control of both Houses that they've learned their lesson well and won't do what they did the last time in trying to appease the Republicans by watering down bills that they won't vote for anyway.