The Quiet Hours: An Interim Open Thread

Three ways of the liberal with a gun (2.00 / 3)

Optimistic:  The Supremes uphold ObamaCare.  Europe muddles through succeeding crises without imploding the world economy.  The U.S. economy/job markets make modest but continuing gains.  The President is re-elected comfortably, and the Democrats hang onto the Senate while clawing back some House seats (Enough to flip it?  Dunno).  The next four years will see some rents in the Great Wall of Implacable Opposition as the GOP descends into bloody internecine warfare.

Meh:  The Supremes uphold the popular stuff but strike down the mandate; chaos ensues in the health insurance industry.  Europe staggers from crisis to crisis, never quite collapsing but dragging the world economy closer to the edge of another widescale recession.  The American economy stutters; job growth flattens to just holding on.  Obama squeaks out a win but the Democrats can't get back the House and the Senate flips to the GOP.  Look ahead to another four years of total gridlock in Washington as the U.S. drifts onward in its slow slide toward Gilded Age levels of poverty and wealth distribution.

Pessimistic:  The Supremes strike down all of ObamaCare.  As the GOP dance on its corpse (while offering nothing to deal with the ensuing chaos in the health insurance markets), Europe falls apart and the world falls with it into Great Recession 2.0.  Romney's victory is assured when terrorists pull off a bold stroke shortly before the election; Congress goes powerfully red and goes wildly, enthusiastically to work dismantling every aspect of the social safety net so painfully assembled since FDR.  Romney happily signs off on every far-right wet-dream law Congress puts on his desk, while the Dominionists plot out their next steps toward total control of the country.

And I clean my guns and wonder when the red tide will lap over the fading-blue Bay State.

How's that?

If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done subjunctively.

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by: janicket @ Tue Jun 19, 2012 at 01:44:12 AM UTC

Pretty good. (2.00 / 2)

I think that frames a set of possibilities fairly well.

My guess is Door #1. Expected calamities seem unlikely, Greece for example voting for a light at the end of their tunnel despite Much Angst to the contrary.

Unforeseen disasters could disturb obvious cycles and play into the GOP's hands, but I predict a period of political stability where folks don't want to wake that sleeping dog for another four years, more than anything else.

"Conway, whom experience had taught that rudeness was by no means a guarantee of good faith, was even less inclined to regard a well-turned phrase as a proof of insincerity."  James Hilton, Lost Horizon

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by: Chris Blask @ Tue Jun 19, 2012 at 19:32:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm rooting for Lebron James. (2.00 / 2)

The kid has learned his lesson.  

Just because they are posting on a progressive site doesn't make them progressives. - John Allen

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by: spacemanspiff @ Fri Jun 22, 2012 at 00:33:18 AM UTC

I'm voting for Buster Posey. (2.00 / 2)

:~)

"Conway, whom experience had taught that rudeness was by no means a guarantee of good faith, was even less inclined to regard a well-turned phrase as a proof of insincerity."  James Hilton, Lost Horizon

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by: Chris Blask @ Fri Jun 22, 2012 at 01:50:55 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Goin' to see the G's vs. A's tonight. (2.00 / 3)

Earth is the best vacation place for advanced clowns. --Gary Busey
 

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by: fogiv @ Fri Jun 22, 2012 at 20:38:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Go Giants! (2.00 / 2)

"Conway, whom experience had taught that rudeness was by no means a guarantee of good faith, was even less inclined to regard a well-turned phrase as a proof of insincerity."  James Hilton, Lost Horizon

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by: Chris Blask @ Fri Jun 22, 2012 at 21:01:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Wind is generally favorable... (2.00 / 3)

Obama will win by between 2 and 6 points nationally, EVs will be about 290.  The Supreme Court will probably strike down the mandate despite decades of precedent indicating that it is constitutional; where that takes healthcare I have no idea.  

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by: rfahey22 @ Mon Jun 25, 2012 at 00:10:21 AM UTC

Also, the Packers will win the Super Bowl (2.00 / 2)

Because God loves us and wants to show us that.

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by: rfahey22 @ Mon Jun 25, 2012 at 00:19:48 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

He doesn't care about football, (2.00 / 1)

but he will make sure there is lots of snow next winter for skiing because he likes me a little bit. ;~)

"Conway, whom experience had taught that rudeness was by no means a guarantee of good faith, was even less inclined to regard a well-turned phrase as a proof of insincerity."  James Hilton, Lost Horizon

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by: Chris Blask @ Mon Jun 25, 2012 at 08:13:54 AM UTC

[ Parent ]