# Stop Panicking! **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [June 28, 2024, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447 "2024-06-28T15:26:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 48
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/941 "2024-08-13T22:42:11Z")
Not in my jurisdiction … but I hope those who were telling you not to panic and stay the DEM course are feeling like right Charlies now. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/942 "2024-08-14T00:53:02Z")
Not necessarily; I think the expectation of chaotic bickering over the replacement nominee was at least reasonable. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/943 "2024-08-14T00:55:22Z")
I am now _cautiously_ optimistic. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/944 "2024-08-14T02:30:00Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > chaotic bickering over the replacement nominee The spectre of imminent demise can do wonders for concentration and co-operation > [@Benjamin Franklin](#): > > We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately. And hanged if I’ll be hanged. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/945 "2024-08-14T02:34:43Z")
Only thing left I might panic a little about is the electoral college. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2024, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/946 "2024-08-14T04:44:44Z")
I’m not worried. I’m already hung. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2024, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/947 "2024-08-15T00:25:39Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Only thing left I might panic a little about is the electoral college. I still think it is, at best, a 50-50 race. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2024, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/948 "2024-08-15T02:17:24Z")
Something kinda neat I came across was this EC projection map, where you click on “Blank Map” in order to offer your own projections as to how each state will fare electoral collegiately. [https://www.cnn.com/election/2024/electoral-college-map?game-id=2020-PG-no-allocations&game-view=map](https://www.cnn.com/election/2024/electoral-college-map?game-id=2020-PG-no-allocations&game-view=map) I’m nowhere near well-versed enough as others here to prognosticate accordingly, but curious how it might shake out at this point in time. Mod - if this is outright deraily, then delete. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2024, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/949 "2024-08-15T03:04:41Z")
I put in my projected state break-up into that CNN app and bugger me if Biden didn’t win! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2024, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/950 "2024-08-15T11:03:48Z")
Models that use only polling now show Harris to have a 55 to 60% chance. Models that also include “fundamentals” (mainly, economic data) now show her with a 60 to 65% chance. So, a bit better than 50-50, but still essentially a coin toss. Over the next 80 days, IF most polls continue to favor Harris in swing states – and eventually do so by MORE than 4% for at least three of those states\* – then the models will give her a higher chance, especially in the last couple weeks before the election (as an “October surprise” becomes less and less likely). I doubt she’ll ever get higher than 85%, though – Trump’s base is still just too entrenched and predictable. (Remember, a 1-in-4 chance (25%), which is about what Trump had in November 2016, is still really high. When the 25% outcome NEVER happens, your model is just as wrong as when it ALWAYS happens.) \*As of now, only Michigan almost meets this threshold. Wisconsin is getting closer. Pennsylvania is worrisome. This 4% cushion is crucial, to overcome inherent uncertainties in polling (the “margin of error,” basically). ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2024, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/951 "2024-08-29T20:21:19Z")
I am starting to have mixed feelings. It looks to me as though by 2028, we will be truly starting to feel the effects of global ecosystem collapse – not total collapse, but enough that ordinary people will be starting to feel it. Whosoever is running the US government will be in a world of hurt at that point. If it is Individual-ONE (or CouchBoy, if Individual-ONE has made the ultimate purchase of agricultural property), his position will be becoming increasingly untenable. If it is Ms Harris, she might be able to make some moves that will somewhat mitigate the situation, but probably not enough to make people stop yelling at her.        In other words, as far as I can tell, it probably will not matter who is in charge for the next half-decade, because our socioeconomic system is simply not sustainable. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2024, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/952 "2024-08-29T21:23:36Z")
And Hey! there will be more beach front property! /s ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2024, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/953 "2024-08-29T21:58:48Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > If it is Individual-ONE (or CouchBoy, if Individual-ONE has made the ultimate purchase of agricultural property), his position will be becoming increasingly untenable. … Oh, come on. You know he’d just blame it all—including hurricanes, heat stroke, and every other environmental disaster–on evil Democrats and evil immigrants. With great energy and glee, he’d intensify his efforts to have them all put into work-camps. Easy-peasy! ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2024, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/954 "2024-08-29T22:58:10Z")
Yes, because blaming someone always fixes the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2024, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/955 "2024-08-29T23:43:56Z")
Since when have Republicans been interested in fixing problems? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2024, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/956 "2024-08-29T23:51:31Z")
They are _extremely_ interested in fixing problems. It’s just that they aren’t fixing it the right way, or they have a wrong idea of what the problem is. Nobody charges into the Capitol on Jan-6, or puts great effort into getting judges onto the Supreme Court, or tries hard to pass abortion bans and get illegal immigrants deported, if they aren’t interested in fixing problems. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/957 "2024-08-30T00:13:23Z")
Republican ideology appears to be SISOP: Solutions In Search Of Problems. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/958 "2024-08-30T01:21:13Z")
Then might as well vote for Trump! He won’t ask for any sacrifices, and you can live it up for the next few years before everything burns down. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/959 "2024-08-30T18:11:08Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Since when have Republicans been interested in fixing problems? Well, for those Republicans who are true believers (as opposed to the many like Trump who are merely cynical opportunists), “fixing problems” is something that may not matter because, of course, the End Times are near. Just as they were 43 years ago for Reagan’s Interior Secretary James G. Watt, when he was asked about preserving natural resources: > [@](#): > > " **I do not know how many future generations we can count on before the Lord returns.** > ---------Testimony before the House Interior Committee (5 February 1981) (My bolding.) Seems as though at least of couple of generations have passed with Republicans perfectly willing to wreck the environment because it’s not going to matter ‘much longer’… > **[James G. Watt - Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/James_G._Watt)** ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/960 "2024-08-30T18:34:10Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Well, for those Republicans who are true believers (as opposed to the many like Trump who are merely cynical opportunists), “fixing problems” is something that may not matter because, of course, the End Times are near. Just as they were 43 years ago for Reagan’s Interior Secretary James G. Watt, when he was asked about preserving natural resources: And, of course, come the End Times there’s _supposed_ to be war in the Middle East. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447.md?page=47) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447.md?page=49)