So, we don’t do a lot of politics here, but occasionally will weigh in on what is going on or an important event. Â Today is one of those important events – the US Elections. Â I thought it might be fun to ask around a few of my family members what their predictions are going into today and also share a few thoughts of my own. Â You will note I have family with widely divergent views to my own, but in the spirit of this great nation, and the true purpose of debate… Â “not victory, but progress” – I share a few of them here with permission:
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First, my prediction:
Romney wins in a landslide. All those normal folks who were afraid of the drone slinging pres/gov and would not answer pollsters, actually vote their conscience.  That is, for a smaller, less intrusive government led by a moderate smart successful caring  person, who did what he had to do to get the nomination.  The country moderates back to a post ww2 equilibrium of about 20% fed gov spend of GNP and taxes. Balanced.  This fixes the problem. Yes there are some sacrifices re various worthy spending causes.  But alas, my parents retire with full current benefits, and those of us under 50′, buy into a new social pact whereby we know gov is there for a certain amount, but not for everything we need.  The gen x and later generations have to make the hard choices that the free spending baby boom generation of bill Clinton and our parents did not make.  Instead we focus on personal responsibility, hard work and innovation to get us to the place we need to be as a nation.  No more blaming the past or others for our predicament.
There is a complete rethink in academia…. Ayn Rand was right. Â Hayek is the new Jay-z. Â As a people, we recall what made us revolt from the British empire and create the greatest nation in history. We will remember Ben Franklin.
This will unleash an unprecedented burst of entrepreneurial activity fueled  by the billions and trillions of money on the sides lines during these dark times.  This will create opportunity for all. Women, Hispanic, Black, American Indian, Asian, all of us will benefit as a result.
Life will be grand. Â 🙂
“The president is re-elected by comfortable margins in the popular vote and the electoral college.
The senate and house remain as they were.
In the coming year many republicans copy the strategy of “say anything.” However, it doesn’t work. This causes PhD dissertations to be written on why it worked for Romney but not for others. When the first of these works comes up for oral defense, a faculty member points out that “it didn’t work.” The thesis is rejected and all the others are quietly tossed as new topics are floated.
Chris Christie leads the party back toward moderation. This brings a war with the Tea Party, backed by the Koch brothers. Karl Rove backs Christie. Outcome too close to call.
The NRA HQ disappears in a flash of light.
Somebody said they thought they saw a drone.
What say you?”
“I predict a narrow Obama victory… almost certainly a victory in Ohio.
But he certainly could lose and I don’t pretend that it’s out of the realm of possibility. Â Indeed, with the hurricane disruptions of voting in NY, NJ, CN, Obama may lose the popular vote and still win the College. Â I hope this isn’t the case.
If Obama loses, it will be a sad thing not because he’s the greatest president, but because it will make cynics out of his supporters and cynics out of the citizens of the world who witness America fire the young man they chose to rescue us from the most catastrophic presidency in history. Â People like to say that after 4 years, you can’t blame Bush anymore. Â Well, I blame a lot of people and two parties, but Bush changed the world forever and wrecked a lot of things with draconian, expensive policies.
If Obama loses, it says that Americans really don’t have an ounce of patience and give up on promising individuals.  Barack still has lots of potential… after 4 years, I think he has learned what works, what doesn’t, and will approach governance more forcefully in the second term.  What kind of people are we to not even give him the chance to succeed.  As the economy improves, as the occupation of Afghanistan winds down, and as the recovery in Sandy-effected territories gets underway, what kind of sense does it make to fire the Commander?  With all the legislative nonsense that has occurred of recent, I think people blame Obama way too much–Congress is to blame for the vast majority of our problems.
With respect to foreign policy, Obama acts with a restrained neo-conservative strategy full of violence but less stupidity.  He is a scholar of the world with empathy, but unafraid to fire missiles and send in the SEALS…and go to war.  He has adopted responsible Republican tactics, so any argument that he’s soft on terror is entirely cynical and political.
WIth respect to the Supreme Court, it goes without saying that a more liberal court is a good thing. Â If you are socially liberal, you understand that the Court is where those decisions get made at the end of the day. Â Romney will nominate a smart, but potentially draconian conservative justice with lasting implications for civil rights and other important topics.
In the end, these men are not all that different and to assume there is a fundamental divide just isn’t true. Â THe question is, do we fire our guy after his first try? Â Just as things seem to be improving? Â Or do we throw it all away and let Romney take the credit for someone else’s leadership?
Again, Obama wins Ohio.”
  
