2020 Presidential Election -- Biden v Trump: Sleepy Joe vs Dopey Don [Results begin on page 409]

[Huckleberry 34,407]

7 minutes ago, Wulaw Horn said:

Yeah- the house isn’t in play it’s a done deal. 

I thought he was talking about the Texas House. 

[Wulaw Horn 19,560]

16 minutes ago, SydneyCarton said:

That’s surprising to me. Lots of houston folks and austin folks moving to Wimberley and Dripping Springs. I wouldn’t have expected it to be so stark. 

It’s part of the great sorting that’s been happening for 20 years. Those are more conservative people moving to more rural areas away from the cities. The same thing, obviously, happens in reverse with rurals moving to the cities. 

[Wulaw Horn 19,560]

Just now, Huckleberry said:

I thought he was talking about the Texas House. 

He was and so am I. It’s a done deal. The Texas house will be blue. Probably comfortably so. 

[miguelito 11,449]

What I want to know is: how do you go to the bathroom when you're in line for 5 hours?  Do they let people into the building, and save a spot in line?

I can't even sleep for 5 hours without having to piss.

[conVINCEd 21,477]

1 minute ago, miguelito said:

What I want to know is: how do you go to the bathroom when you're in line for 5 hours?  Do they let people into the building, and save a spot in line?

I can't even sleep for 5 hours without having to piss.

Depends

[Biff Tannen 46,061]

1 hour ago, miguelito said:

I can't even sleep for 5 hours without having to piss.

Lol, you're old.  I can almost go a full 7 hours.

[Beau Vine 55,824]

23 minutes ago, SydneyCarton said:

That’s surprising to me. Lots of houston folks and austin folks moving to Wimberley and Dripping Springs. I wouldn’t have expected it to be so stark. 

They're rich people, DS, especially.

[SubliminalHorn 6,995]

13 minutes ago, conVINCEd said:

Depends

On what?

[conVINCEd 21,477]

2 minutes ago, SubliminalHorn said:

On what?

It’s open to interpretation.

[Herpa Derpa 6,317]

1 hour ago, Loch Ness Monster said:

Amazes me where states like West Virginia and Alabama year after year are one of the poorest and least educated states in the country and the people are still are like yeah, sign me up for more of that.

[Brisketexan 106,619]

1 hour ago, Loch Ness Monster said:

Amazes me where states like West Virginia and Alabama year after year are one of the poorest and least educated states in the country and the people are still are like yeah, sign me up for more of that.

[StassneyHorn 6,755]

Get comfortable with the name, pundits will be talking about the “blue spine” of Texas deciding elections in the future. there’s been a 700k vote flip from 2014 to 2018.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/balance-power-texas-politics-interstate-35/

[Pancho 46,054]

KPRC reporting Ft. Bend Early Voting is extended an extra hour for the rest of the week due to the glitch this morning. 

Y’all might want to double check that if you’re in that area.

[Willfully Horn 8,204]

13 minutes ago, SubliminalHorn said:

On what?

On your choice of sheets.

[cactusflinthead 27,626]

He's got empathy. He knows what it is like to be a grandfather. They know he knows. You can't fake it. 

[Huckleberry 34,407]

1 minute ago, cactusflinthead said:

He's got empathy. He knows what it is like to be a grandfather. They know he knows. You can't fake it. 

Donald Trump's greatest ability is the ability to make a normal empathetic human being seem like some sort of supernatural people person. 

[TexasEd 8,248]

On 10/11/2020 at 6:56 AM, Hefeweizen said:

Basically dumb vs not.  Sorry to be so blunt, but low education racist whites is what's left for Trump.

 

On 10/11/2020 at 6:50 AM, Dark Horse said:

 

 

I'll bet the over racist gap is a big win for Trump.

Edited October 13, 2020 by TexasEd

[Brisketexan 106,619]

1 minute ago, Huckleberry said:

Donald Trump's greatest ability is the ability to make a normal empathetic human being seem like some sort of supernatural people person. 

Very much this.  See the elevation of Obama that has happened in the past four years.  A good enough man, an utterly mediocre president.  And I look back on his decency in comparison and it's hard not to shed a tear of admiration.  I didn't feel that way about him at the time (again, he is a decent man, but it's not like he was a saint who blew me away -- I know lots of decent men), but SWEET LORD, the contrast.

[Huckleberry 34,407]

3 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

Very much this.  See the elevation of Obama that has happened in the past four years.  A good enough man, an utterly mediocre president.  And I look back on his decency in comparison and it's hard not to shed a tear of admiration.  I didn't feel that way about him at the time (again, he is a decent man, but it's not like he was a saint who blew me away -- I know lots of decent men), but SWEET LORD, the contrast.

Yep. Obama was a mediocre President. I have so many serious issues with his policies. 

I would kill you to have had him for a 3rd term. 

[JimmyJames 12,271]

2 hours ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

A guy I know with access to very good data and intel is putting the O/U at ~15 D pickups, with a low end of about 12. 

This is fantastic news.

Its why I voted for Biden over Bernie in the Texas primary. Too many people who know more than me told me Bernie would be a disaster for down ballot Texas races. Looks like they knew what they were talking about.

[Bozo_Casanova 26,773]

1 hour ago, UncleSonny said:

Anecdotally, Tyler remains Trumpy as hell. Tons of very enthusiastic and vocal support around town. Even the less enthusiastic ones I talked to a few weeks ago have adopted the line, "I just can't believe these two clowns are our only options. I'm going to vote for Trump because at least Oil and Gas/the economy will be better under him". 

Totally, but there's a dampening effect that happens in rural places where those in the minority are too dispirited to come out. The real lesson of the Beto campaign (other than Beto not being a great candidate) was that just a few points in rural counties make a BIG difference in a statewide race and on downballot races. it's roughly the same logic as Howard Dean's 50 state strategy that worked beautifully in 2008. 

[jimmyjazz 46,976]

2 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

Very much this.  See the elevation of Obama that has happened in the past four years.  A good enough man, an utterly mediocre president.  And I look back on his decency in comparison and it's hard not to shed a tear of admiration.  I didn't feel that way about him at the time (again, he is a decent man, but it's not like he was a saint who blew me away -- I know lots of decent men), but SWEET LORD, the contrast.

I think you have to judge Presidents in contrast to others who held that office.  Who would you rather have, Obama or

W?

Clinton?

GHW Bush?

Reagan?

Carter?

Ford?

Nixon?

LBJ?

Kennedy?

 

I think Obama comes out real high on those measures.  Clinton might have been more intelligent, but clearly lacked the moral compass.  W was a dumbass and a puppet for evil men.  GHWB had the federal chops, but he had his own issues in terms of policy.  Reagan?  Get the fuck out of here.  Carter?  Great man, terribly ineffective.  Ford?  Hard to judge, pretty much "eh".  Nixon?  Well, that's obvious.  I think it's LBJ and Kennedy who give Obama a run for his money or topped him, and they fell short in some areas, too (Viet Nam, #cough).

I don't think Obama was "mediocre", in the context of other Presidents.  He was higher than that.

[cactusflinthead 27,626]

6 minutes ago, Huckleberry said:

Donald Trump's greatest ability is the ability to make a normal empathetic human being seem like some sort of supernatural people person. 

The best thing that I ever heard of W was when the mother of a soldier that died confronted him. He stood there and took it. When she finally ran out of words and broke down in tears he hugged her. 

He's a dumbass. He was an awful president, but he has some basic humanity that is severely lacking in the office at present. 

Joe has that basic level or better of humanity that the job requires. 

[Beau Vine 55,824]

nm

Edited October 13, 2020 by Beau Vine

[G650 14,421]

5 minutes ago, Huckleberry said:

Yep. Obama was a mediocre President. I have so many serious issues with his policies. 

I would kill you to have had him for a 3rd term. 

Fucking truth right here

[Brisketexan 106,619]

2 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

I think you have to judge Presidents in contrast to others who held that office.  Who would you rather have, Obama or

W?

Clinton?

GHW Bush?

Reagan?

Carter?

Ford?

Nixon?

LBJ?

Kennedy?

 

I think Obama comes out real high on those measures.  Clinton might have been more intelligent, but clearly lacked the moral compass.  W was a dumbass and a puppet for evil men.  GHWB had the federal chops, but he had his own issues in terms of policy.  Reagan?  Get the fuck out of here.  Carter?  Great man, terribly ineffective.  Ford?  Hard to judge, pretty much "eh".  Nixon?  Well, that's obvious.  I think it's LBJ and Kennedy who give Obama a run for his money or topped him, and they fell short in some areas, too (Viet Nam, #cough).

I don't think Obama was "mediocre", in the context of other Presidents.  He was higher than that.

I think you're generally right on all of those metrics, but you omit one important one -- astute politician who could get shit done.  Obama was downright poor in that respect.  Yeah, yeah, intractable GOP opposition, I get it.  But still, he was ineffective both domestically and internationally.  Again, I say mediocre -- not terrible.  Just....mediocre.

[Ghost of LL 15,664]

2 hours ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

The big cities are encouraging, but for Texas to be in play, picking up numbers in second and third tier cities are where the flip will play out -  Ft. Worth, Waco, Tyler, Lubbock, Witchita Falls, San Angelo, San Marcos. I'm not saying those places will flip, but Democrats need to drive up numbers there and use places like Austin and Dallas to run up the score. Especially Ft Worth and Waco. McClellan county might actually be the key to the election. 

So because I know how much Surly loves yard signs, I thought I'd share with you my thoughts and reflections on my trip today from Austin to Montgomery County.

It's Trumpy out there.  Like reaal fucking Trumpy.  But that doesn't surprise you, does it?

What surprises is when you get into the towns--Giddings, Brenham, Navasota--just how many Biden signs you see in people's front yards.  Like, a lot of them.  

"Now, GOLL," you say, "you must've been driving through the Black part of town."  And I imagine that Giddings, Brenham, and Navasota are probably pretty damned segregated.  And I will admit that one of the thoroughfares on which I was driving through Brenham was Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

But, at the same time, let's be real fucking honest here--in years past, Black people in Navasota didn't/couldn't vote.  They sure as shit didn't feel emboldened to put a sign in their yard (lest it be joined the following night by something else of the more flaming variety).  

As I have always said--yard signs don't vote.  So take from those observations what you will.  But as pointed out up-thread, every vote counts the same, whether it's in Travis County, Harris County, or Washington County.  And don't go thinking that the Trumpublicans are going to get to run up the score in some of those rural counties to the degree that they have done in the past.

[TexasEd 8,248]

2 minutes ago, cactusflinthead said:

The best thing that I ever heard of W was when the mother of a soldier that died confronted him. He stood there and took it. When she finally ran out of words and broke down in tears he hugged her. 

He's a dumbass. He was an awful president, but he has some basic humanity that is severely lacking in the office at present. 

Joe has that basic level or better of humanity that the job requires. 

Yes, out of all those the first pick to eat tacos and drink beer with.  Maybe play horseshoes (LBJ close second).  Definitely the one who would share pain over a lost loved one.

[Fletch 5,817]

Just voted. Straight dem ticket. Eat fucking shit dotard and the rest of your insane ass cult. Fucking cocksucking mother fuckers. How the hell are we gonna explain this period of time to future generations?!?!?

[jimmyjazz 46,976]

1 minute ago, Brisketexan said:

I think you're generally right on all of those metrics, but you omit one important one -- astute politician who could get shit done.  Obama was downright poor in that respect.  Yeah, yeah, intractable GOP opposition, I get it.  But still, he was ineffective both domestically and internationally.  Again, I say mediocre -- not terrible.  Just....mediocre.

Well, he was ineffective domestically because he was black.  He wasn't the most outward thinking guy in terms of international policy, I will grant you that.

[Brisketexan 106,619]

4 minutes ago, cactusflinthead said:

The best thing that I ever heard of W was when the mother of a soldier that died confronted him. He stood there and took it. When she finally ran out of words and broke down in tears he hugged her. 

He's a dumbass. He was an awful president, but he has some basic humanity that is severely lacking in the office at present. 

Joe has that basic level or better of humanity that the job requires. 

This is the story:

Quote

In an account that was published by the Chicago Tribune in 2016 but has recently gained renewed attention, Ms Perino described an occasion when the Republican President was visiting Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre.

While there, the mother of a dying solder reacted badly to his visit.

“She yelled at the President, wanting to know why it was her child and not his who lay in that hospital bed,” Ms Perino wrote.

She continued: “I noticed the President wasn't in a hurry to leave - he tried offering comfort but then just stood and took it, like he expected and needed to hear the anguish, to try to soak up some of her suffering if he could.

“Later, as we rode back on Marine One to the White House, no one spoke.

“But as the helicopter took off, the President looked at me and said, ‘That mama sure was mad at me.’ Then he turned to look out the window of the helicopter. ‘And I don't blame her a bit’."

Lord knows there's plenty to fault W on.  PLENTY.  But for fuck's sake, he was a human being.  He actually DID care about other human beings.  Yes, he made some terrible decisions that led to great suffering.  But he at least fucking CARED.  What a low, low, low bar.....that DOTUS manages to dig a fucking TUNNEL so he can go all the way under it.

[G650 14,421]

2 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

astute politician who could get shit done.  Obama was downright poor in that respect. 

I said this to basically everyone during the Obama years and they looked at me like I had three heads.

[TexasEd 8,248]

2 minutes ago, Ghost of LL said:

So because I know how much Surly loves yard signs, I thought I'd share with you my thoughts and reflections on my trip today from Austin to Montgomery County.

It's Trumpy out there.  Like reaal fucking Trumpy.  But that doesn't surprise you, does it?

What surprises is when you get into the towns--Giddings, Brenham, Navasota--just how many Biden signs you see in people's front yards.  Like, a lot of them.  

"Now, GOLL," you say, "you must've been driving through the Black part of town."  And I imagine that Giddings, Brenham, and Navasota are probably pretty damned segregated.  And I will admit that one of the thoroughfares on which I was driving through Brenham was Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

But, at the same time, let's be real fucking honest here--in years past, Black people in Navasota didn't/couldn't vote.  They sure as shit didn't feel emboldened to put a sign in their yard (lest it be joined the following night by something else of the more flaming variety).  

As I have always said--yard signs don't vote.  So take from those observations what you will.  But as pointed out up-thread, every vote counts the same, whether it's in Travis County, Harris County, or Washington County.  And don't go thinking that the Trumpublicans are going to get to run up the score in some of those rural counties to the degree that they have done in the past.

Yard signs don't vote but anyone in Trumpistan that risks putting a Biden sign in their yard shows me they are motivated to vote.

[jimmyjazz 46,976]

2 minutes ago, Ghost of LL said:

So because I know how much Surly loves yard signs, I thought I'd share with you my thoughts and reflections on my trip today from Austin to Montgomery County.

It's Trumpy out there.  Like reaal fucking Trumpy.  But that doesn't surprise you, does it?

What surprises is when you get into the towns--Giddings, Brenham, Navasota--just how many Biden signs you see in people's front yards.  Like, a lot of them.  

"Now, GOLL," you say, "you must've been driving through the Black part of town."  And I imagine that Giddings, Brenham, and Navasota are probably pretty damned segregated.  And I will admit that one of the thoroughfares on which I was driving through Brenham was Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

But, at the same time, let's be real fucking honest here--in years past, Black people in Navasota didn't/couldn't vote.  They sure as shit didn't feel emboldened to put a sign in their yard (lest it be joined the following night by something else of the more flaming variety).  

As I have always said--yard signs don't vote.  So take from those observations what you will.  But as pointed out up-thread, every vote counts the same, whether it's in Travis County, Harris County, or Washington County.  And don't go thinking that the Trumpublicans are going to get to run up the score in some of those rural counties to the degree that they have done in the past.

I've driven Austin-Brenham and Austin-Houston (2X) in the past two weeks.  One loop to Houston I went the southern route (71).

I was shocked at how many Biden signs I saw in the small towns.  Yes, there were more Trump signs for sure, but I bet it was way more lopsided in 2016.  Just a guess.

[G650 14,421]

9 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

Well, he was ineffective domestically because he was black.  He wasn't the most outward thinking guy in terms of international policy, I will grant you that.

No, he just wasn't good at it. He doesn't have that scheming personality. Which is fine but it definitely handicapped him in getting deals done. He approached things in a technocrats way.

Edited October 13, 2020 by G650

[Loch Ness Monster 3,533]

 

Ah yes, the guy thats cheated on all of his three or four wifes (including with a porn star while his wife was pregnant) leads the evangelicals. 

[TwiceHorn 31,987]

I sure wish we had straight-ticket voting.  Because, although I have never voted straight ticket in my life, I would take great pleasure in "pulling the donkey lever" this year.

[Pato del Muerto 53,331]

6 minutes ago, Fletch said:

Just voted. Straight dem ticket. Eat fucking shit dotard and the rest of your insane ass cult. Fucking cocksucking mother fuckers. How the hell are we gonna explain this period of time to future generations?!?!?

Can you still do a straight ticket pull or do you have to select each candidate?  

[Herpa Derpa 6,317]

1 minute ago, Loch Ness Monster said:

The gap between white evangelicals and no religion is massive.

Based on the past four years, I'd argue that white evangelicals have no religion, just a penchant for worship regardless of who is above the altar.

[LTbear 4,209]

20 minutes ago, cactusflinthead said:

The best thing that I ever heard of W was when the mother of a soldier that died confronted him. He stood there and took it. When she finally ran out of words and broke down in tears he hugged her. 

He's a dumbass. He was an awful president, but he has some basic humanity that is severely lacking in the office at present. 

Joe has that basic level or better of humanity that the job requires. 

I would seriously cry with joy just to have had Dumb Old W back in the presidency the past four years. It is seriously amazing how much of a drop-off Trump is. A couple months back I watched Obama give an interview (recorded 2016) and it was downright depressing, contrasting that against the current president.

Edited October 13, 2020 by LTbear

[Pato del Muerto 53,331]

3 minutes ago, Loch Ness Monster said:

 

Ah yes, the guy thats cheated on all of his three or four wifes (including with a porn star while his wife was pregnant) leads the evangelicals. 

Yeah voting for a party platform that nobody in the party adheres to seems rock fucking stupid. Especially when it means voting for a true piece of human shit for president. 

[TwiceHorn 31,987]

4 minutes ago, Loch Ness Monster said:

 

Ah yes, the guy thats cheated on all of his three or four wifes (including with a porn star while his wife was pregnant) leads the evangelicals. 

And Tiffany was born out of wedlock when that wasn't cool.

[immamac 44,199]

1 hour ago, Beau Vine said:

San Marcos is consistently blue -- it's Wimberley and Dripping that drive the county red.

I voted in hays today. Lotssssss of mask wearing and no chest thumping. People were lined up for at least 1/4 of a mile to vote wrapped around the event center off rr12

[Bozo_Casanova 26,773]

20 minutes ago, JimmyJames said:

This is fantastic news.

Its why I voted for Biden over Bernie in the Texas primary. Too many people who know more than me told me Bernie would be a disaster for down ballot Texas races. Looks like they knew what they were talking about.

It's not news right now. It's a guy with data. people need to show up and I'm not counting chickens. 

[Neonmoon 38,130]

3 minutes ago, Loch Ness Monster said:

 

Ah yes, the guy thats cheated on all of his three or four wifes (including with a porn star while his wife was pregnant) leads the evangelicals. 

Are you telling me it’s weird this group believes a bunch of lies that aren’t true?

[cactusflinthead 27,626]

12 minutes ago, TexasEd said:

Yes, out of all those the first pick to eat tacos and drink beer with.  Maybe play horseshoes (LBJ close second).  Definitely the one who would share pain over a lost loved one.

After he retired to the ranch I'd roll and LBJ can pour. Dominoes and story time.

 

[Ghost of LL 15,664]

10 minutes ago, TexasEd said:

Yard signs don't vote but anyone in Trumpistan that risks putting a Biden sign in their yard shows me they are motivated to vote.

That's my point exactly.  In Washington County (Brenham), Trump got 10,945 votes in 2016 (73.81%); Clinton got 3,382 (22.81%).  We don't have to win Washington County.  And we're not going to win Washington County.  But we damned sure as shit need to hold the margin under 50 points.  And I think Biden has a pretty good chance of doing that.

[SimonBolivar 11,031]

19 minutes ago, Ghost of LL said:

So because I know how much Surly loves yard signs, I thought I'd share with you my thoughts and reflections on my trip today from Austin to Montgomery County.

It's Trumpy out there.  Like reaal fucking Trumpy.  But that doesn't surprise you, does it?

What surprises is when you get into the towns--Giddings, Brenham, Navasota--just how many Biden signs you see in people's front yards.  Like, a lot of them.  

"Now, GOLL," you say, "you must've been driving through the Black part of town."  And I imagine that Giddings, Brenham, and Navasota are probably pretty damned segregated.  And I will admit that one of the thoroughfares on which I was driving through Brenham was Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

But, at the same time, let's be real fucking honest here--in years past, Black people in Navasota didn't/couldn't vote.  They sure as shit didn't feel emboldened to put a sign in their yard (lest it be joined the following night by something else of the more flaming variety).  

As I have always said--yard signs don't vote.  So take from those observations what you will.  But as pointed out up-thread, every vote counts the same, whether it's in Travis County, Harris County, or Washington County.  And don't go thinking that the Trumpublicans are going to get to run up the score in some of those rural counties to the degree that they have done in the past.

That's the deal here in McLennan. If we can get the city to vote in numbers like the suburbs do then we'd be closing the gap for the big metro areas to take over.

[Goredho 17,627]

 

10 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

I would take great pleasure in "pulling the donkey lever"

[cactusflinthead 27,626]

17 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

This is the story:

Lord knows there's plenty to fault W on.  PLENTY.  But for fuck's sake, he was a human being.  He actually DID care about other human beings.  Yes, he made some terrible decisions that led to great suffering.  But he at least fucking CARED.  What a low, low, low bar.....that DOTUS manages to dig a fucking TUNNEL so he can go all the way under it.

I'll take "Things Trump ain't ever done for a hundo"

He doesn't care to even know the name of the fallen soldier.