Predictions, Etc.

Well, as the most raucous election season in my lifetime draws to a close with tomorrow's voting, I'm going to lay what's left of my reputation on the line here and take a few guesses at how a few races are going to turn out. Remember, this is what I think will happen, not necessarily what I want to happen.

First, however, I have the "Etc." I'd like to mention:

My good bud Leo Dymowski is running for Baltimore County Circuit Judge. A libertarian-conservative at heart, Leo is someone I've known for just about 34 years now.  He really and truly is a very good guy who is running against sitting judges taking political contributions from lawyers/law firms that practice in front of them.  If you live in Baltimore County and want to see that Judicial cesspool cleaned up, you can start by voting for Leo Dymowski and only for Leo Dymowski in his race. Single shoot Leo.  I guarantee you that THAT is precisely what I'll be doing.

And, now...the Predictions:

I live in Maryland's 2nd Congressional District, which has been "represented" by the more or less incomparably inept Dutch Ruppersberger for, lo, the past decade-plus. This part time movie critic never fails to feed the big government trough - be it with your tax dollars or your freedoms.  He is being challenged by MD State Delegate, and very vocal critic of MD Governor, Larry Hogan, Pat McDonough.  Also, some Libertarian or another is running, but I can't recall her name just now and I'm too damned lazy to look it up.

Now, as much as I'd like to be rid of this douche, Dutch, I don't think I see it happening this year.  And, depending on how many votes that Libertarian gets - well, that may be the difference between the never-ending agony of the Douche and a McDonough victory.  Regardless, I see this race being one Hell of a lot closer than most folks had imagined it to be.

In Maryland's 6th Congressional District, whose House seat is currently occupied by the bulbous butt (likely because of the fatness of his wallet) belonging to Democrat John Delaney, the GOP challenger is Amie Hoeber, an extremely well spoken individual who's run a balls to the wall campaign.  Ms. Amie could pull an upset, here. Regardless, as well, I see this race being shockingly close, no matter who ends up winning it.

In the Maryland US Senate Race where State House Representative Kathy Szeliga is running very hard against cardboard cutout Democrat, Chris Van Hollen, and Green Candidate Margaret Flowers, I see the cardboard cutout winning handily - like by between 15-20 points to become the new Barbara Mikulski. Think what you will about her politics, but least Mikulski has some personality, which is something I'm sure that Van Hollen has never been accused of having. 

And the most testy race of all is the one I'm saving for last: The Presidential race between Donald Trump and Hillary "Not Dead Yet" Clinton. Trump is going to beat her tomorrow and, in all honesty, it's not even going to be that close.

Going all the way back to 1976 when I picked Jimmy Carter to beat Gerry Ford,  I'm 10 for 10 in picking who is going to win presidential campaigns even in instances when I picked who I though was going to win versus who I wanted to win. This year won't be any different.

The only way Hillary Clinton wins this thing is if she steals it.  Period.

All Trumped Up on Baltimore County's Eastside.

It was interesting today, to say the least, at the Maryland GOP "Super Saturday" - brought to you courtesy of my dear friend, MDGOP National Committeewoman, Nicolee Ambrose - which dovetailed very nicely with a sign-waving fest for Donald Trump, MD US Senate Candidate Kathy Szeliga and 2nd Congressional District GOP Candidate, Pat McDonough.  I've got to tell you, I've been involved in this political BS for 34 years now and never before have I seen such unbridled enthusiasm from the sign-wavers, regardless of who's political signs they were holding.

As for the after sign waving stuff of going door to door on behalf of the entire ticket (I saw the literature they were handing out - it was the entire ticket, from Trump on down), I have no idea, personally, since I didn't partake in that particular little exercise. I was relishing the time I was spending with the Princess of My World, Ms. Ambrose's adorable young daughter.

Anyway, the sign-waving was held at the intersection of Merritt Boulevard and Wise Avenue in Dundalk, MD, and judging from the insane horn-blowing from the cars driving past the sign-wavers, those driving the cars were every bit as enthusiastic as were those holding the signs and waving.  It was a virtual madhouse, or at least a cacophony of noise or something. Whatever, it was most impressive.

I'd like to take a moment to mention this one guy who's been with Donald Trump from the outset: Gary Collins.

I started this current election cycle as a Rand Paul guy.  After he was gone, I became a Ted Cruz guy.  Over this past summer, Cruz had a rally at the Towson, MD, VFW or American Legion Hall, one or the other.  Anyway, I stepped outside of the hall to have a cigarette on the day of the rally and noticed Gary Collins (with whom I'd become acquainted a few years earlier) putting Trump yard signs all around the area.  Now, understand, this is a big, much traveled street, with stores and the like on both sides of the entrance to where the Cruz rally was being held.

Anyway, I walked up to Gary and asked him to not place any of the yard signs on the property at which Cruz would soon be speaking.  He didn't tell me I could go screw myself or anything like that.  What he did say, after shaking my hand, was "Ok.  No problem." 

Now, it may not seem like that big a deal to most folks, but as heated as this recently finished primary season was for Republicans, it WAS a big deal.  For me, anyway.  Gary Collins showed class the whole way that afternoon some 5 months ago.  And, I told him that today as we chatted for a few moments. 

The reason I'm telling you this now is that the "Trump folks are all assholes" talk you've likely heard is bullshit.  I was a Cruz guy at that time and Gary Collins was a Trump guy - and he handled my request with nary a wisp of anger or anything other than a very polite and gentlemanly, "OK" - and then proceeded to put up Trump signs all along the road, but not on the property where the Cruz rally was being held.

 Compare that to the three woman in full Muslim gear who were holding Bernie Sanders signs that day and refused to even get out of the damned driveway to the building Cruz would be speaking in until a police officer ordered them out and off of the property. 

Finally, on this "Super Saturday" topic, Nicolee Anbrose simply doesn't know how to take prisoners.  As classy and elegant as she is, she is every bit the damned street fighter.  Despite her elected position, she is never one to pull punches - as in, while speaking to the crowd, today, she insisted on "Hillary for prison." Not just that THAT lying, corrupt gasbag be defeated, but that she end up in prison.  I laughed like Hell - just as I did when I saw her young son show up wearing his Halloween costume: He was wearing both a convict's outfit and a Hillary mask. 

Finally, I talked about my potential primary challenge against Governor Larry Hogan with a few elected officials who were there.  I got one or two nervous chuckles and a few nice comments and one "Go for it" - which I guess qualifies as a nice comment.

Well, as I've always said, there is only one reason to upset the apple-cart and that is simply to see which way the apples roll.