What do you think the final Electoral votes tally will be?

[banddag]

Entrusting your portfolio to a personal friend?  I knew you were a dumbass, but that just proves you are at a higher level than I even thought.

And don't throw the CFP certification thing out either.  I have one, but that relationship is specific to  Dollars and Cents only, as it should be.    They can steal you just as blind, and you sure missed the lesson of letting friends and relatives manage your money.  But, I am not surprised.

We have two advisors.  I have had numerous clients of mine  become friends over the years. We still are. My friends financial advice has made us wealthy beyond what we  ever thought.

As for friends we do not associate every day or even every week. He would be a class c friend not a A list friend.

@catfish1957

[Bigun]

Why did every country in the world have an inflation problem after covid? Most much worse than the US.

@Bigun

Because what happens here affects EVERYTHING! Now go play in the street and NEVER ping me again!

[catfish1957]

We have two advisors.  I have had numerous clients of mine  become friends over the years. We still are. My friends financial advice has made us wealthy beyond what we  ever thought.

@catfish1957

Okay, as long as you've not only diversifed funds, but diversifed advice.  My reasons why...  5 CFP brokers, 5 different perspectives.  And honestly, I am probably better than 3 of them. 

[banddag]

Because what happens here affects EVERYTHING! Now go play in the street and NEVER ping me again!

I thought you had me in on ignore? So, you can comment on my post but I cannot give a rebuttal?

@Bigun

[corbe]

“Kamala did what Kamala always does. She put her head down and went to work.” - Doug Emhoff

[catfish1957]

Now Now Now.....   she had to get ahead in her field.

[banddag]

Okay, as long as you've not only diversifed funds, but diversifed advice.  My reasons why...  5 CFP brokers, 5 different perspectives.  And honestly, I am probably better than 3 of them.

That is why we have 2. Most of ours are in Mutual funds, Vanguard, Janus, Putnam, Morgan Stanley and many others.  Both advisors email if they are going to move money
We actually started with a 3rd guy to spread things around.
We live in a very small town. Keep  modest money at the local banks Keep our real money out of town banks. . Our accountant is an hour away in a large city.
Do not want local people know what we have. Started getting gas royal ties a little over a year ago

My wife watches each account with a fine tooth comb

[Bigun]

I thought you had me in on ignore? So, you can comment on my post but I cannot give a rebuttal?

@Bigun

I do have you on ignore! And I see no reason to change! None at all! STOP PINGING ME!!!

[catfish1957]

That is why we have 2. Most of ours are in Mutual funds, Vanguard, Janus, Putnam, Morgan Stanley and many others.  Both advisors email if they are going to move money
We actually started with a 3rd guy to spread things around.
We live in a very small town. Keep  modest money at the local banks Keep our real money out of town banks. . Our accountant is an hour away in a large city.
Do not want local people know what we have. Started getting gas royal ties a little over a year ago

My wife watches each account with a fine tooth comb

As di-opposed as we are politically, we are pretty damned similar in that respect.  I seriously doubt y'all are as obsessed as I am though.  And I know that isn't good, but Ebeneezer's got to be Ebeneezer.   Some of my kids say that I make Abe on the penny cry, because I pinch so hardly.

[libertybele]

Most of my financial advisors clients are retired or near retirement. Inflation, gas prices, jobs do not affect them.  Most are well off.  People vote what is best for their own wallet. Elon Musk said trumps policies is going to tank Wall Street. Wall Street came out and said Harris will be better for Wall Street
 

We are a year or so away from  retirement.   We have been blessed with both of us having very high paying jobs, lots of savings and inflation has not been a concern for us.

Many people out there like us.

BTW inflation was caused a significant amount by the collapse of the supply chain. Neither trumps or bidens fault. Def of inflation what you learn in econ 101 in college is "Too few goods chased by too much money". That is why every country in the world had an inflation problem after covid.

Also Steve Mnuchen Trump Treasury Sec warned trump in 2018 he needed to push the fed to slowly raise interest rates or he was going to have an inflation problem in his second term. Trump refused. It's in Mnuchens book. The artificially low interest rates (cheap money) is what led to the huge rise in housing prices in 2019-2021 which also caused inflation

Trumps 8 trillion of spending and his 2.2 trillion dollar covid act also caused inflation.

See how much you learn when somone tells you the real truth from outside your echo chamber?

@libertybele

@Timber Rattler

Sorry @banddag think what you may ... I tend not to pay attention to what you say.

[libertybele]

As di-opposed as we are politically, we are pretty damned similar in that respect.  I seriously doubt y'all are as obsessed as I am though.  And I know that isn't good, but Ebeneezer's got to be Ebeneezer.   Some of my kids say that I make Abe on the penny cry, because I pinch so hardly.

I would encourage you @catfish1957 to watch Beck's video:  https://www.glennbeck.com/glenn-tv/prepare-lefts-chaos-trump-wins

[corbe]

   We've got a break in the rain I'm gonna go to HEB and stock up on Toilet paper.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

   We've got a break in the rain I'm gonna go to HEB and stock up on Toilet paper.

Maybe you can take advantage of the good people at HEB and walk out without paying

https://texashighways.com/culture/how-heb-became-texas-most-beloved-brand/

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Okay, as long as you've not only diversifed funds, but diversifed advice.  My reasons why...  5 CFP brokers, 5 different perspectives.  And honestly, I am probably better than 3 of them.

When I retired, a friend suggested to use his financial advisor to setup my retirement with sound financial advisement.

So I contacted his advisor who suggested  that I meet with him after preparing my information so he could review.

I met him and presented him with my workup of 15 pages of financials, timely goals and expectations, implementation strategies, portfolio diversification strategies and associated risks.

He told me he could do no better for me than I had already compiled and said goodbye.

[catfish1957]

When I retired, a friend suggested to use his financial advisor to setup my retirement with sound financial advisement.

So I contacted his advisor who suggested  that I meet with him after preparing my information so he could review.

I met him and presented him with my workup of 15 pages of financials, timely goals and expectations, implementation strategies, portfolio diversification strategies and associated risks.

He told me he could do no better for me than I had already compiled and said goodbye.

 

[corbe]

[Free Vulcan]

I don't know, but I'm encouraged by the early vote totals and the highly possible non-response bias in the last days of polling throwing these weird outliers.

[catfish1957]

I don't know, but I'm encouraged by the early vote totals and the highly possible non-response bias in the last days of polling throwing these weird outliers.

That is a wild card.  Half the country has watched in horror as the democratic masters have weaponized our justice system.  From a former POTUS to an innocent pet squirrel.   No telling how many Trump supporters or converts are keeping that to themselves. 

[banddag]

I met him and presented him with my workup of 15 pages of financials, timely goals and expectations, implementation strategies, portfolio diversification strategies and associated risks.

He told me he could do no better for me than I had already compiled and said goodbye.

.....or you came across as overly  demanding and a "trouble" client  and he wanted nothing to do with you

Every business owner I know including myself screens  prospective clients .

A friend of mine builds upscale homes.   He has multiple meeting before agreeing to build a home. And has declined builds because he found out quick the husband and or wife would be a nightmare to work with.

@IsailedawayfromFR

[Free Vulcan]

That is a wild card.  Half the country has watched in horror as the democratic masters have weaponized our justice system.  From a former POTUS to an innocent pet squirrel.   No telling how many Trump supporters or converts are keeping that to themselves.

And that's the thing. Even the NYT admits that in their polling white males are answering polling call at a far less rate than they should be. I suspect males in general are doing that as well.

I think it's reflected in the early vote. I think alot of people don't feel like being polled if they've already voted. Rats count on a 2-1 lead going into poll nite, and they don't have that margin in alot of states. If the rest of the Reps and right leaning Indies show up tomorrow, the Rats are screwed.

Let's hope.

[Hoodat]

If Glen Younkin was the VP candidate:

https://www.270towin.com/maps/NgvyQ

[catfish1957]

Update from my POV....  Trump lands huge endorsement from Joe Rogan. jill Stein has too.

Changing my  vote to Trump 280+.  This is the November Surprise.

[Lando Lincoln]

Update from my POV....  Trump lands huge endorsement from Joe Rogan.  jill Stein has too.

Changing my  vote to Trump 280+.  This is the November Surprise.

 

[catfish1957]

Update, and retraction....  i can not find an article to confirm Fox New's report last night on Hannity of a Stein endorsement.   Have no idea where he got that.

Does anyone else have a source?

But, you still can't underestimate what the most listened to person brings to Trump'z electoral bottom line.  Who knows...  Rogan's endorsement might just get 50-100K 18-35 white males off the couch today, and vote.

[MajorClay]

312 for Trump if he wins Michigan, 287 if he doesn't.

[jafo2010]

Looks like it will climb to 315 +/-.  And I thought the Democommies would cheat their *ss off.  Hmmm, didn't happen, or the folks voted to offset the fix.


                                   TRUMP IS 47..AMEN!

[Wingnut]

Now Now Now.....   she had to get ahead in her field.

Now, with her epic loss, she will be out standing in a field.

[Free Vulcan]

Looks like it will climb to 315 +/-.  And I thought the Democommies would cheat their *ss off.  Hmmm, didn't happen, or the folks voted to offset the fix.


                                   TRUMP IS 47..AMEN!

I also think some timely interventions by the GOP and candidates put a stop to some of their cheating shenanigans and left them with no backup plan.

So what happens when you fight RNC?

[Smokin Joe]

I'm going to call BS on that.

 

Nah, they are likely idiots not realizing that the (probably less than) 50% gains they are seeing have already been eaten by inflation.

[Cyber Liberty]

So, the final votes are in...312 Electoral Votes for Donald J. Trump!  Exceeded my guess....

[cato potatoe]

I voted Trump by 270+ because of Wisconsin early vote, but it looks like the rust belt voted in tandem as usual --- should have known.

[Wingnut]

So, the final votes are in...312 Electoral Votes for Donald J. Trump!  Exceeded my guess....

Under promise over deliver!

[Lando Lincoln]

I was standing on my head with my fingers crossed when I predicted 280+ for DJT. I’m pleased! 

[catfish1957]

I started at Cackles 270+, but switched to Trump 280+ after the Rogan endorsement.

I heard a funny one yesterday, which would be a hilarious trolling from the other side.   25th Amendment on Biden, making Cackles 47, and causing Trump to lose all that Merch money, since he'll become 48 instead of 47

[Cyber Liberty]

I started at Cackles 270+, but switched to Trump 280+ after the Rogan endorsement.

I heard a funny one yesterday, which would be a hilarious trolling from the other side.   25th Amendment on Biden, making Cackles 47, and causing Trump to lose all that Merch money, since he'll become 48 instead of 47

The "Trump 47" memorabilia will become valuable collector's items in a few years time.

[Ghost Bear]

I picked Trump at 280+, so he did better than I expected.  I didn't think he would win Michigan or Arizona, and I thought Pennsylvania was iffy.

[Bigun]

I was standing on my head with my fingers crossed when I predicted 280+ for DJT. I’m pleased!

IIRC I voted for 300+! Ecstatic doesn't quite cover my joy at present.

[Free Vulcan]

And while 312 was almost beyond my wildest expectations, it's winning the popular vote that is the triple bonus score.

The Rats can say nothing, absolutely nothing as they watch the sand of 'Democracy' pour thru their fingers.

It's got to scare them that there aren't these hidden masses of Rats that just got undone by the EC.

[Bigun]

And while 312 was almost beyond my wildest expectations, it's winning the popular vote that is the triple bonus score.

The Rats can say nothing, absolutely nothing as they watch the sand of 'Democracy' pour thru their fingers.

It's got to scare them that there aren't these hidden masses of Rats that just got undone by the EC.

 

[catfish1957]

The next time a next left wing whacko claims that there are sexist reasons for repudiating Harris.  Tell them give us a Margaret Thatcher, and we'll be  "all in"

[LMAO]

I have not posted on this form for quite a while and promised I wouldn’t come back because of the hostility towards limited government conservatives who do not support Donald Trump, but he pulled it off and congratulations to him. I voted Republican in down ballot races(Hovde lost, unfortunately) but I voted for the guy who is truly for free-speech and truly for the second amendment for president. You can figure out who that is

I have been reading some of the comments on here , and I did not think he would get reelected. But the reasons are understandable, despite his many character flaws. For starters, you don’t tell people that the economy is good if they don’t see it in their personal lives. Secondly, you don’t tell people that they must accept your social norms. A perfect example it is the trans issue. And you don’t cause a border crisis and then try to pretend you’re going to fix it in an election year.

Donald Trump did expand the demographic base in the Republican Party this year and for that he deserves a lot of credit. If that  remains so in 2028 remains to be seen. But the belief that demographic shifts in this country will always favor the Democratic Party has been proven a myth. Ultimately, even though people may switch their votes from Democrat to Republican, we still are a center to center right country.

Going forward, this is what I see. I do not believe we will see cuts at the executive branch level. But if they happen, I will be glad to be wrong. If the only job they do is to get rid of the department of education, I’ll do a nonstop dance. I’ve been asking liberals for years if they can name any reason why we need a department of education and if it has improved education in this country and I’ve never
gotten an answer

Government economic numbers will now be accepted as real… Lol. That’s providing that they’re good, of course.


You’re probably not going to  see mass deportations  but you’re probably not going see a Biden/Harris migrant crisis either.

I do think they’ll be budget fights, even with the Republican Congress. Donald Trump’s natural instinct is to borrow and spend. But I think they’ll be enough Republicans and Congress that’ll resist that over the protest of Donald Trump’s MAGA base

 I also predict  that the only lesson that the Democrat Party will learn from this is that America is a racist/misogynist/xenophobic country despite the fact that Donald Trump expanded his minority and female vote. And I predict that the Democrats will believe that they didn’t go left enough, and they didn’t call Donald Trump Adolf Hitler enough

Anyways, I will still judge a second Donald Trump term through the prism of my Goldwater conservative eyes. I will not post anymore, and I probably will not see anybody’s response as I have moved on to other forums as this has become more of an echo chamber as of late and I don’t want to spend anymore time fighting some who’ll defend everything Donald Trump does. I spent the last several years doing that and I don’t want  to keep repeating the same arguments. Those of us who tend to favor a more limited, fiscally responsible government lost, which we were going to lose either way, but  we’ll see

That’s all I have to say

So again, congratulations to President elect Donald Trump. And I am going to watch with great interest to see how his second term is going to be compared to his first term.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

The next time a next left wing whacko claims that there are sexist reasons for repudiating Harris.  Tell them give us a Margaret Thatcher, and we'll be  "all in"

I lived in UK during the Thatcher Falklands war years and she is the only person I would vote for over Ronald Reagan if both were running for President.  She is indeed a fierce conservative fighter with an independent 'I don't give a damn' spirit, and delivered a dramatically sharp uturn of a disastrous economy even better than Reagan was able to achieve.
She did it by bucking the unions and forcing a free society with less government interference

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Under promise over deliver!

That I have found over my years is a recipe to be well liked and trusted, and damn difficult to do if you are in politics

[Bigun]

https://twitter.com/VeBo1991/status/1854562044973830208

[Hoodat]

I have not posted on this form for quite a while and promised I wouldn’t come back because of the hostility towards limited government conservatives who do not support Donald Trump, but he pulled it off and congratulations to him.

@LMAO

I have noticed a marked reduction in hostility towards Conservatives here, most notably from two posters in particular.  While there have been nasty interactions here and there, that pretty much goes with the territory.  As a limited government Conservative myself, I believe that no insult can withstand the truth in any reasonable setting.  While we may perceive that our points are going unheard, I can guarantee you that they are not.  People do listen here, even if they don't respond.

I do think they’ll be budget fights, even with the Republican Congress. Donald Trump’s natural instinct is to borrow and spend. But I think they’ll be enough Republicans and Congress that’ll resist that over the protest of Donald Trump’s MAGA base

You have more faith in Congress than I.  I'm hoping for someone like Elon Musk being put in charge of the cash register - someone with a solid NGAF attitude who has no qualms about saying 'no'.  The borrow-and-spend battle cannot be won at the Congressional level.  It can only be won by the Executive Branch refusing to go along, combined with a Fed that refuses to print any more money.

Anyways, I will still judge a second Donald Trump term through the prism of my Goldwater conservative eyes. I will not post anymore, and I probably will not see anybody’s response as I have moved on to other forums as this has become more of an echo chamber as of late and I don’t want to spend anymore time fighting some who’ll defend everything Donald Trump does.

Please don't go.  We need you around to say 'See?  I told ya so!' from time to time.  At least I do.  I don't want to be the only one.

We at least have a few things to enjoy over the next four years.  A better foreign policy.  A leader who isn't afraid to go up against the White House press corps.  And a guy who through all his flaws does have compassion and a desire to do what's best for the country, not the party.  Let's hope he learned some things from his last stint, and that he recognizes the greatest threat this nation faces today - deficit spending.  But the one thing we do not need here is an echo chamber.  Which is why I want you to stay.

Don't make be break out the '70s music.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_hBXvvTjvM

[Smokin Joe]

@LMAO We may agree or disagree, but one of the beauties about this forum is that you are free to do either. If we stay civil (which can be hard in an election year with blood running high), we might even give each other points to ponder: such is discourse.

I don't think anyone here is looking for an echo chamber, unlike sites we fled, and in this last election, the question for many of us resolved to be: Which of these two people would you want representing the Untied States as POTUS? Any other vote (or none at all), while perhaps more principled, would not alter the fact that one of them was going to be sitting behind the Resolute Desk come Jan 22, 2025.

For some, it would make no difference. Predictably enough, my State went nearly 70% for Trump, and my one little vote really made no difference in the eventual assignation of Electoral College Votes, no matter how I cast it. Perhaps your State was similar, perhaps not, and depending on where you are, that not making much difference could go either way. 

Admittedly, I gave in to voting against, because I figured one of the candidates to be that much worse than the other, especially for a guy who hopes to pick up some more oil patch work. A Democrat usually means higher oil prices and more work, but if fraccing was going to be banned, the rig count would look like the height of COVID. There's be a very few rigs punching exploration holes for Helium ($390.00/MCF vs $15/MCF for Natural Gas), and that would be about all. Unfortunately, the company I am working for presently does not have the portable Mass Spec equipment, nor is it likely to acquire such, even on a temporary basis, to effectively work those wells.

Anyway, I'd love to see you hang around. It's good to have dissent in the ranks, and reasoned opposition is-and should be-more welcome than you seem to feel. There will always be those who disagree, and that is an opportunity to dust off your rationale, present it, and even polish it.

In the end, the data sources end up being pitted against one another, and that's good, too.

Whatever you decide, I wish you well, and hope to see you around.

[corbe]

   Ditto @Hoodat and @Smokin Joe on @LMAO leaving.  I always considered a voice of Reason on TBR.

[bigheadfred]

   Ditto @Hoodat and @Smokin Joe on @LMAO leaving.  I always considered a voice of Reason on TBR.

Same here @LMAO

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I have not posted on this form for quite a while and promised I wouldn’t come back because of the hostility towards limited government conservatives who do not support Donald Trump, but he pulled it off and congratulations to him. I voted Republican in down ballot races(Hovde lost, unfortunately) but I voted for the guy who is truly for free-speech and truly for the second amendment for president. You can figure out who that is

I have been reading some of the comments on here , and I did not think he would get reelected. But the reasons are understandable, despite his many character flaws. For starters, you don’t tell people that the economy is good if they don’t see it in their personal lives. Secondly, you don’t tell people that they must accept your social norms. A perfect example it is the trans issue. And you don’t cause a border crisis and then try to pretend you’re going to fix it in an election year.

Donald Trump did expand the demographic base in the Republican Party this year and for that he deserves a lot of credit. If that  remains so in 2028 remains to be seen. But the belief that demographic shifts in this country will always favor the Democratic Party has been proven a myth. Ultimately, even though people may switch their votes from Democrat to Republican, we still are a center to center right country.

Going forward, this is what I see. I do not believe we will see cuts at the executive branch level. But if they happen, I will be glad to be wrong. If the only job they do is to get rid of the department of education, I’ll do a nonstop dance. I’ve been asking liberals for years if they can name any reason why we need a department of education and if it has improved education in this country and I’ve never
gotten an answer

Government economic numbers will now be accepted as real… Lol. That’s providing that they’re good, of course.


You’re probably not going to  see mass deportations  but you’re probably not going see a Biden/Harris migrant crisis either.

I do think they’ll be budget fights, even with the Republican Congress. Donald Trump’s natural instinct is to borrow and spend. But I think they’ll be enough Republicans and Congress that’ll resist that over the protest of Donald Trump’s MAGA base

 I also predict  that the only lesson that the Democrat Party will learn from this is that America is a racist/misogynist/xenophobic country despite the fact that Donald Trump expanded his minority and female vote. And I predict that the Democrats will believe that they didn’t go left enough, and they didn’t call Donald Trump Adolf Hitler enough

Anyways, I will still judge a second Donald Trump term through the prism of my Goldwater conservative eyes. I will not post anymore, and I probably will not see anybody’s response as I have moved on to other forums as this has become more of an echo chamber as of late and I don’t want to spend anymore time fighting some who’ll defend everything Donald Trump does. I spent the last several years doing that and I don’t want  to keep repeating the same arguments. Those of us who tend to favor a more limited, fiscally responsible government lost, which we were going to lose either way, but  we’ll see

That’s all I have to say

So again, congratulations to President elect Donald Trump. And I am going to watch with great interest to see how his second term is going to be compared to his first term.

Great but IMO this place isn't an echo chamber, furthest thing from in my opinion. I will forever speak my mind on Trump and politics and I don't give a shit who it offends. The truth will set you free.

[Bigun]

Great but IMO this place isn't an echo chamber, furthest thing from in my opinion. I will forever speak my mind on Trump and politics and I don't give a shit who it offends. The truth will set you free.

It never has been an echo chamber but many who used to be here no longer are because THEY couldn't turn it into one.