# Things that "can't happen" that are poised to happen soon **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 15, 2018, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640 "2018-08-15T06:21:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/101 "2018-09-02T15:34:12Z")
Yeah, I either misspoke or misunderstood the position. If such a thing were to happen, the odds are good (2:1 for) that it’ll happen in 2018 - that’s what I meant to convey. I even laid out how I would do this [to US Representative Joaquin Castro](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=856350) one night: > [@](#): > > "True. But since you reminded me you’re on the Intel committee, I’m going to amuse you for a minute with my worst fear regarding Russian meddling…” he nods “… If I were Vladimir Putin, I would do the opposite of 2016 and help, blatantly help, Democrats and openly hurt Republicans. Changed votes, zeroed-out voting rolls in critical counties, more. And don’t worry if you get caught because you _want_ to be caught, so your puppet, Donald Trump, can then successfully argue ‘See? I told you the Russians were meddling for the Democrats! Arrest Hillary, Obama! Suspend elections until we know they are “safe”! I’ll remain President for the duration of the emergency…’ and so on. Since that discussion we have found out that 11 year-olds have been able to hack into voting databases and change votes, that one of the major voting machine manufacturers used PCAnywhere to perform remote maintenance on the machines (PCA has/had an exploit which allowed hackers access to the machine using it - since removed (according to the manufacturer, but their need to remote access the machine remains so who knows what they’re using now)), more. So, yeah, if this is going to happen, it will happen sooner rather than later, and 2018 is the best time for it. That’s my position. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2018, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/102 "2018-09-02T16:04:59Z")
Having read this thread, I don’t know what’s more alarming: the predictions, or the people making them. Browns in the Super Bowl…:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Textual\_Innuendo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@Textual\_Innuendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Textual_Innuendo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2018, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/103 "2018-09-02T17:45:51Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Yeah, I either misspoke or misunderstood the position. > > If such a thing were to happen, the odds are good (2:1 for) that it’ll happen in 2018 - that’s what I meant to convey. Yes, I remember reading the thread where you talked about that conversation you had, and thinking that something along those lines seemed chillingly plausible. And yeah, I’d interpreted your odds as against rather than for, because even a 33% chance seemed high to me. As plausible as your scenario seems, I still think 2:1 FOR, meaning a 66% chance of it _happening_ in November, is way high. I mean sure, we’re definitely on that track, I guess I’m just naively optimistic that we’re not quite there a mere 2 months from now, and would definitely take the contrary bet. So out of curiosity, given the strength of your belief are you shorting the market overall the week after the 6th? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2018, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/104 "2018-09-02T18:49:39Z")
Naw, I’m only that confident in meaningless internet message board bets. 😃 And it isn’t something that’s just starting and needs to be ramped up in just two months… when Trump won in 2016, that gave Putin 2 years to plan his next move. Therefore, imho, 2018 is the most plausible time for this because the Republicans are already in a position to capitalize and take advantage of the “Russia helped the Democrats” narrative. If you wait until 2020, there’s a non-zero chance that the pieces on the chess board won’t be as optimally placed as they are currently - the government can be divided as to which party controls which branch, for example. Now, the Republicans control all three branches (as well as the majority of the governorships), so if you wanted to launch a killing blow to the Dems _and_ throw America into chaos _and_ help put into place a right-wing fascist state lead by a man you control, right now is the time to strike. Not 2020, 2024, etc. Now. And thus, Putin gets revenge for his beloved USSR. ---
**Author:** ![Mumberthax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea5d25/32.png) [@Mumberthax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mumberthax)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640/105 "2018-09-02T20:32:46Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Airport security is going to get worse. As in, more intrusive, slower and generally a larger pain in the ass. > > I can imagine a day where if you want to fly, you go to a “processing center” near the airport. There, you are probed and prodded, questioned and interview, searched and inspected. Then, if you pass, you are loaded on a shuttle and escorted to the airport. Lots of armed riot-cop looking guys around. > > Arrive 4-6 before take-off. :rolleyes: I doubt it. In that case, people will turn to Amtrak to get around cross-country and their cars for shorter distances. I can get in my car here in Northern Virginia at 6:00AM sharp, get on I-95 Northbound, and be in New York City in time for brunch. Now let’s say I got in my car and drove over to Reagan National for a flight to New York City. I’d show up at my destination in mid-afternoon - and that’s if I’m lucky. So it’s more efficient to drive, imo. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-cant-happen-that-are-poised-to-happen-soon/819640.md?page=5)