# 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:** 49
**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, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/961 "2024-08-30T18:41:57Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > And, of course, come the End Times there’s _supposed_ to be war in the Middle East. . Yeah. It really is a dangerous belief, if those in power buy it and want to see it happen. No doubt Netanyahu is perfectly happy to humor them, since it means he gets the weapons (and therefore the chance to stay PM forever…) ---
**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:** [September 15, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/962 "2024-09-15T15:24:25Z")
As **Flurb** mentioned in another thread, Jon Tester in Montana might lose his Senate seat. No other source cites the following, so, yes, I am about to link to 😖 Fox: (a first, hopefully the last) > **[Jon Tester casts doubt on unfavorable poll in Montana Senate race: 'Give me a...](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/jon-tester-casts-doubt-unfavorable-poll-montana-senate-race-give-me-break)** > > Jon Tester is casting doubt on a recent poll that served as a precursor for political handicappers to give Republicans the advantage in the Montana Senate race. Odd, though: > [@](#): > > On Thursday, Tester also answered why he has yet to endorse Harris, explaining, “Because I want to be about Montana.” Well, whatever the veracity of the poll is, I guess this is his way of trying to get more of his Montanans(sp?) on his side. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2024, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/963 "2024-09-15T15:35:53Z")
One good sign, IMHO, is that the story lines of shifting states have been about North Carolina, Florida, and maybe even Texas moving from red to purple rather than, say, Virginia and Minnesota moving from blue to purple. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/964 "2024-10-11T19:22:08Z")
It’s been over three weeks since the last post; the election is over three weeks away, and while I’m not panicking (yet), I am feeling more apprehensive due to stories like this one. > **[Could Trump Win? Yes, and Some Dems Are Quietly Saying They Know Why](https://newrepublic.com/article/187094/harris-future-forward-2024-election)** > > Insiders are raising some tough questions about the strategic decisions made by Future Forward, the biggest Super PAC pulling for Kamala Harris. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/965 "2024-10-11T19:25:52Z")
And because when it rains, it pours, there’s this story about the Senate races as well. [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/10/us/politics/senate-polls-montana-florida-texas.html?auth=login-google1tap&login=google1tap&smid=url-share&unlocked\_article\_code=1.RE4.x75q.v2VwwFD3T5FB](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/10/us/politics/senate-polls-montana-florida-texas.html?auth=login-google1tap&login=google1tap&smid=url-share&unlocked_article_code=1.RE4.x75q.v2VwwFD3T5FB) Do I have a good reason to worry? Is everything going to work out in the end or will Trump and his slavish followers be in control of the White House _and_ Congress? ---
**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:** [October 11, 2024, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/966 "2024-10-11T19:36:17Z")
Kamala will win, that’s for sure. But yes, the Senate is a particularly unfavorable map for Democrats. It’s most likely that it will be at least 51-49 red when it’s all over, so the D’s better find the Republican equivalents of Joe Manchins in the GOP to get them to help President Harris out. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/967 "2024-10-11T20:46:30Z")
My honest take? Politically there ain’t much happening. It is a steady state situation. Been close by polls, is close by polls, and not much more to say. “Trump lies” does not drive new clicks, any more than “This just in! Race is still close!” News is filled with hurricanes and the expansion Israel war inching closer to full out head on with Iran itself rather than with its proxies. Anxiety, _panic_, drives clicks, and the political writers need them to earn their paychecks. The election is now in the phase of executing the final phase plans, and getting your voters, and potential voters out. From the news POV: BORING. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/968 "2024-10-11T22:56:46Z")
There’s been pretty much zero significant polling shift in recent days or even weeks. Polls show a very close race with a slight Harris advantage, as they have for pretty much the entire time since Harris became the nominee. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/969 "2024-10-11T22:59:15Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > It’s been over three weeks since the last post; the election is over three weeks away, and while I’m not panicking (yet), I am feeling more apprehensive due to stories like this one . > [Could Trump Win? Yes, and Some Dems Are Quietly Saying They Know Why | The New Republic](https://newrepublic.com/article/187094/harris-future-forward-2024-election) **[FUD sells](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear,_uncertainty,_and_doubt)**. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/970 "2024-10-11T23:00:25Z")
I am encouraged by the anti-trans messaging that Republicans are hitting the airwaves with. Not because I support the messaging (I feel the opposite of course!) but because that is what they resort to when they feel that they are losing. They did it the last couple of years as well when they were losing elections. (And those ads didn’t work either.) ---
**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:** [October 11, 2024, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/971 "2024-10-11T23:00:33Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Kamala will win, that’s for sure… I just don’t see where you get this confidence. I’m starting to think he will win, which is terrifying. ---
**Author:** ![Win\_Place\_Show](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/win_place_show/32/13469_2.png) [@Win\_Place\_Show](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Win_Place_Show)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/972 "2024-10-11T23:39:35Z")
Yep, he also told us that [Hillary would get 358 EV’s](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-results-prediction-thread/769319/14) and that [Biden would coast to victory with 400 EV’s](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predictions-for-the-2020-us-presidential-election/922525/5). I’d love for the rose colored glasses to be right this time, but there’s zero evidence to support it. Of course it SHOULDN’T be a close race, but our two like-minded friends in these parallel threads who keep “guaranteeing” us that there’s nothing to worry about, don’t have the greatest track record with their crystal balls. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/973 "2024-10-11T23:43:03Z")
Of course he can! But why are you starting to worry _now_? The possibility that he could win has been very real throughout. If you weren’t worried before, well I don’t know why you weren’t. The facts on the ground though are pretty much the same. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/974 "2024-10-11T23:49:05Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > But yes, the Senate is a particularly unfavorable map for Democrats. Heck, already all the way back in 2020 it was known that 2024 would be unfavorable for Senate Dems, simply by the relative number of Democrat seats in play in this class and especially those in otherwise Republican-dominated states, in the face of ever-hardening partisanship at the street level. Meanwhile the House, in spite of the concerted effort to embarrass themselves made by just about every Republican there with the possible exception of the delegates from the insular territories (never as glad to not have a vote, I’d bet…), still is weighed in the red direction due to the effects of reapportionment and gerrymandering. That even with that they barely squeaked a majority in 2022 does not assure me much this time around, unless Harris really performs strong and has long coat-tails. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2024, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/975 "2024-10-12T00:12:56Z")
Frankly, if tRump, the demented, narcissistic, rapacious, multiply-indicted, conviction felon and just _bad_ dancer actually manages to get over half of the United States of America to vote for him again, I am hacking NORAD and launching our nuclear arsenal…at us. We as a society are too sick to survive. Let the cockroaches do better. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2024, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/976 "2024-10-12T00:21:57Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > Frankly, if tRump, the demented, narcissistic, rapacious, multiply-indicted, conviction felon and just _bad_ dancer actually manages to get over half of the United States of America to vote for him again, I am hacking NORAD and launching our nuclear arsenal…at us. We as a society are too sick to survive. Let the cockroaches do better Oh, no, I have no expectation he will win the popular vote. Just the Electoral Vote. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2024, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/977 "2024-10-12T00:26:57Z")
Fine. I’ll just release the smallpox virus instead. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2024, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/978 "2024-10-12T14:23:07Z")
@CaptMurdock, let me know if you need any help. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2024, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/979 "2024-10-12T18:04:17Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > Fine. I’ll just release the smallpox virus instead. This damn vaccine. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2024, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447/980 "2024-10-12T18:42:24Z")
Everybody’s a critic. Fine. Marburg. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447.md?page=48) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-panicking/1003447.md?page=50)