Closing Arguments

This is it, folks — the last Ricochet Podcast prior to the 2020 election. What a long strange trip it’s been (no, that is not the closing song, but we thought about it). To wrap this election season up, we give you another in a series of spirited debates between The Founders® –that’s Peter Robinson and Rob Long for you newbies– in which James Lileks once again tries to be moderator/peacemaker. We’ll let you tell us who persuaded you and who didn’t. Then we call upon two of our most reliable prognosticators to help us sort through the end of this cycle. First up, Byron York (listen to his podcast, The Byron York Show, right here on this very audio network) live from what looks to be the fulcrum of this Presidential election — the political hot zone known as Pennsylvania. Lots of anecdotes, stats, and informed hunches related in this segment. Then, Luke Thompson aka the Smartest Political Consultant We Know joins to parse the polls, preview the key House and the Senate races and generally impart electoral wisdom. We’ve got a new Lileks Post of The Week courtesy of Ricochet Member Preston Storm (and a rare cameo appearance from a low level Ricochet employee who can’t seem to push a button when required). Finally (and we do mean finally), we wrap things up with some predictions from our hosts. Leave yours in the comments. And don’t forget to vote!

Music from this week’s show: Que Sera Sera by Sly and The Family Stone

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  1. David Bryan Inactive
    David Bryan
    @DavidBryan

    Charlotte (View Comment):

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):
    There is a certain member who will leave a disparaging comment on almost every episode of The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg. I don’t understand why someone would continue to listen to a series they hate so that they can trash it in the comments. Do people do this with other forms of entertainment?

    Hate-listening (and hate-watching TV shows and movies, etc.) is actually a thing. I don’t understand it, myself. There are only so many leisure hours in the day.

    For some reason Jonah seems to be a popular hate-listen. I don’t get why people take his political vision quest so personally.

    I love Jonah and Rob, and I always will. My opinion of President Trump is diametrically opposite of theirs, but I will ever appreciate their writing and analyses…long after President Trump has left office.

    • #61
  2. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    EHerring (View Comment):

    Charlotte (View Comment):

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):
    There is a certain member who will leave a disparaging comment on almost every episode of The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg. I don’t understand why someone would continue to listen to a series they hate so that they can trash it in the comments. Do people do this with other forms of entertainment?

    Hate-listening (and hate-watching TV shows and movies, etc.) is actually a thing. I don’t understand it, myself. There are only so many leisure hours in the day.

    For some reason Jonah seems to be a popular hate-listen. I don’t get why people take his political vision quest so personally.

    Jonah is really a nice and funny guy. He is just terribly misguided on this. I don’t want to attack him. I am content to just roll my eyes and shake my head.

    As with not just ignoring Gary, it may be that some people believe that simply leaving Jonah’s NeverTrump ramblings uncommented-on, signals acquiescence, especially to new members.  And it may also be a way of suggesting that people – again including new members – go back to earlier Jonah material before TDS took over.

    • #62
  3. ToryWarWriter Coolidge
    ToryWarWriter
    @ToryWarWriter

    I have been saying this from the beginning and I am going to say it once again.  The VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE make there decision to who to vote for in the LAST WEEK of the campaign.  

    Polling to the campaign, but its become this weird obsession with so many people who dont understand its a campaign tool.  Its not something we should obsess over.

    The get out the vote operation is ten times more important than polling.  But its not sexy, it involves hard work and will be determinant of this election, like it is in every election.

    • #63
  4. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    ToryWarWriter (View Comment):
    I have been saying this from the beginning and I am going to say it once again. The VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE make there decision to who to vote for in the LAST WEEK of the campaign.

    That’s ridiculous.

    The vast majority of people knew who they were voting for before the candidates were ever selected.  At least 30% of the voting population will vote for the R no matter who it is, at least 30% will for the D no matter who it is.

    Of the remaining up to 40%, I’d wager that the vast majority of them knew who they were going to vote for since at least Labor day, if not much earlier.

     

     

    • #64
  5. Django Member
    Django
    @Django

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    ToryWarWriter (View Comment):
    I have been saying this from the beginning and I am going to say it once again. The VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE make there decision to who to vote for in the LAST WEEK of the campaign.

    That’s ridiculous.

    The vast majority of people knew who they were voting for before the candidates were ever selected. At least 30% of the voting population will vote for the R no matter who it is, at least 30% will for the D no matter who it is.

    Of the remaining up to 40%, I’d wager that the vast majority of them knew who they were going to vote for since at least Labor day, if not much earlier.

     

     

    The question for me has always been why do the poll narrow so much in the last two weeks? My own guess is that the pollsters are trying to maintain credibility in the last two weeks and trying to influence the vote in the prior weeks/months. 

    • #65
  6. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    kedavis (View Comment):

    EHerring (View Comment):

    Charlotte (View Comment):

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):
    There is a certain member who will leave a disparaging comment on almost every episode of The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg. I don’t understand why someone would continue to listen to a series they hate so that they can trash it in the comments. Do people do this with other forms of entertainment?

    Hate-listening (and hate-watching TV shows and movies, etc.) is actually a thing. I don’t understand it, myself. There are only so many leisure hours in the day.

    For some reason Jonah seems to be a popular hate-listen. I don’t get why people take his political vision quest so personally.

    Jonah is really a nice and funny guy. He is just terribly misguided on this. I don’t want to attack him. I am content to just roll my eyes and shake my head.

    As with not just ignoring Gary, it may be that some people believe that simply leaving Jonah’s NeverTrump ramblings uncommented-on, signals acquiescence, especially to new members. And it may also be a way of suggesting that people – again including new members – go back to earlier Jonah material before TDS took over.

    If someone feels compelled to voice their objection to absolutely everything Donald Trump does and says, we on the right say that they are virtue signalling.  What is it called when someone does the exact same thing, but with Jonah Goldberg?

    • #66
  7. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    EHerring (View Comment):

    Charlotte (View Comment):

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):
    There is a certain member who will leave a disparaging comment on almost every episode of The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg. I don’t understand why someone would continue to listen to a series they hate so that they can trash it in the comments. Do people do this with other forms of entertainment?

    Hate-listening (and hate-watching TV shows and movies, etc.) is actually a thing. I don’t understand it, myself. There are only so many leisure hours in the day.

    For some reason Jonah seems to be a popular hate-listen. I don’t get why people take his political vision quest so personally.

    Jonah is really a nice and funny guy. He is just terribly misguided on this. I don’t want to attack him. I am content to just roll my eyes and shake my head.

    As with not just ignoring Gary, it may be that some people believe that simply leaving Jonah’s NeverTrump ramblings uncommented-on, signals acquiescence, especially to new members. And it may also be a way of suggesting that people – again including new members – go back to earlier Jonah material before TDS took over.

    If someone feels compelled to voice their objection to absolutely everything Donald Trump does and says, we on the right say that they are virtue signalling. What is it called when someone does the exact same thing, but with Jonah Goldberg?

    Since he’s the one starting it, it’s called push-back.  For one example.

    • #67
  8. LibertyDefender Member
    LibertyDefender
    @LibertyDefender

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Charlotte (View Comment):

    Hate-listening (and hate-watching TV shows and movies, etc.) is actually a thing. I don’t understand it, myself. There are only so many leisure hours in the day.

    For some reason Jonah seems to be a popular hate-listen. I don’t get why people take his political vision quest so personally.

    I only do it on Twitter, but I am addicted to figuring out if some Never Trump makes any sense.

    Late last night on The Daily Wire, Dennis Prager – a legit scholar – admitted that despite extensive study, he cannot explain two things:

    * Why the Lord created the mosquito; and
    * NeverTrumpers

    • #68
  9. LibertyDefender Member
    LibertyDefender
    @LibertyDefender

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Charlotte (View Comment):

    Hate-listening (and hate-watching TV shows and movies, etc.) is actually a thing. I don’t understand it, myself. There are only so many leisure hours in the day.

    For some reason Jonah seems to be a popular hate-listen. I don’t get why people take his political vision quest so personally.

    I only do it on Twitter, but I am addicted to figuring out if some Never Trump makes any sense.

    Instead, please figure out why anyone should take Henry Olsen seriously:

    Henry Olsen today released his sixth biennial election prediction essay, and what he calls “perhaps the easiest” of them all.

    He writes: “Former vice president Joe Biden will win comfortably unless we experience the greatest polling failure in modern history. Democrats will also gain control of the Senate and expand their majority in the House. While not the landslide that some hope for, Democrats will simultaneously control the presidency and both houses of Congress for only the third time since Ronald Reagan’s election in 1980. That alone is a historic achievement that will give them the upper hand to determine the next stage of our ongoing national crisis.”

    Someone here on Ricochet has been pointing out for many months that Olsen is breathtakingly disconnected from the American popular culture.  Given that polls such as those Henry Olsen interprets are intended to reflect that American popular culture, Henry Olsen literally doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

    If only someone could have seen that coming.  In his defense, evidently none of the establishment pollsters knows what he’s talking about.

    • #69
  10. rdowhower Member
    rdowhower
    @

    LibertyDefender (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Charlotte (View Comment):

    Hate-listening (and hate-watching TV shows and movies, etc.) is actually a thing. I don’t understand it, myself. There are only so many leisure hours in the day.

    For some reason Jonah seems to be a popular hate-listen. I don’t get why people take his political vision quest so personally.

    I only do it on Twitter, but I am addicted to figuring out if some Never Trump makes any sense.

    Instead, please figure out why anyone should take Henry Olsen seriously:

    Henry Olsen today released his sixth biennial election prediction essay, and what he calls “perhaps the easiest” of them all.

    He writes: “Former vice president Joe Biden will win comfortably unless we experience the greatest polling failure in modern history. Democrats will also gain control of the Senate and expand their majority in the House. While not the landslide that some hope for, Democrats will simultaneously control the presidency and both houses of Congress for only the third time since Ronald Reagan’s election in 1980. That alone is a historic achievement that will give them the upper hand to determine the next stage of our ongoing national crisis.”

    Someone here on Ricochet has been pointing out for many months that Olsen is breathtakingly disconnected from the American popular culture. Given that polls such as those Henry Olsen interprets are intended to reflect that American popular culture, Henry Olsen literally doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

    If only someone could have seen that coming. In his defense, evidently none of the establishment pollsters knows what he’s talking about.

    Has he retracted his “predictions” or is he continuing to insist that somehow he got things right?  Way to go Ricochet for picking up yet another podcast that wasn’t vetted for quality.  Bravo!

    • #70
  11. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    OMG this is one of the leading never Trump electioneering grifters. 

     

     

     

    • #71
  12. DrewInWisconsin, Man of Constant Sorrow Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Constant Sorrow
    @DrewInWisconsin

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    OMG this is one of the leading never Trump electioneering grifters.

    These people are increasingly silly.

     

    • #72
  13. rdowhower Member
    rdowhower
    @

    Just listened to Ben Shapiro totally demolish Roberta’s assessment of Trump supporters.  Will Rob admit he was wrong about everything?  I’m not holding my breath.

    • #73
  14. LibertyDefender Member
    LibertyDefender
    @LibertyDefender

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    OMG this is one of the leading never Trump electioneering grifters.

    RufusRJones (View Comment):
    OMG this is one of the leading never Trump electioneering grifters.

     

     

     

    Americans learning patience, taking a few months to access healthcare through glorious National Government System of Healthcare Single Payer, comrade!

    • #74
  15. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

     

     

     

    • #75
  16. rdowhower Member
    rdowhower
    @

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

     

     

     

    Afraid to lose even more of the audience he’s already lost I’m guessing.

    • #76
  17. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    rdowhower (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

     

     

     

    Afraid to lose even more of the audience he’s already lost I’m guessing.

    You have to wonder about that. Reportedly, Glenn Beck did the same thing. I am satisfied with my own views about preferring Trump.

     

    • #77
  18. rdowhower Member
    rdowhower
    @

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    rdowhower (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

     

     

     

    Afraid to lose even more of the audience he’s already lost I’m guessing.

    You have to wonder about that. Reportedly, Glenn Beck did the same thing. I am satisfied with my own views about preferring Trump.

     

    Glenn who?  Does he have a radio show?

    • #78
  19. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    rdowhower (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    rdowhower (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

     

     

     

    Afraid to lose even more of the audience he’s already lost I’m guessing.

    You have to wonder about that. Reportedly, Glenn Beck did the same thing. I am satisfied with my own views about preferring Trump.

     

    Glenn who? Does he have a radio show?

    I think he’s excellent.

    • #79
  20. Kevin Inactive
    Kevin
    @JaredSturgeon

    A little surprised after they talked about Twitter and Facebook actively suppressing news from a national newspaper that hurt their candidate the Rob didnt jump in and offer some equivalency.  Rob – no “Republicans do it too”?   NO comments about how conservatives just like to feel oppressed and both sides do it.

    If conservatives ever riot its clear what we should be burning down: Twitter, facebook, NPR, CNN, MSNBC, maybe Foxnews, Hollywood.

    Listening to this after the election – Rob kept with his cancer analogy despite all the evidence in the election.  He was of course wrong about the blue wave.  

    • #80
  21. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    This is a great explanation of the actual structure of the economy versus the actual structure of the political system. A cure for idealistic GOP stupidity. Michael Anton on Dan Proft:

     

     

    https://omny.fm/shows/the-dan-proft-show/november-6-2020

     

     

     

     

    • #81
  22. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Michael Anton joined me to discuss what’s at stake for America. Are all politics regime level politics now? Can American as we understand it survive Blue Caesar? And why, as always, California shows the potential for a future, one-party American dystopia that provides luxury for the few and decay for the many. We begin with a discussion of his new book, called The Stakes: America at the Point of No Return.

    https://amgreatness.com/2020/11/11/the-stakes-for-america-talking-with-michael-anton/ 

     

     

    People like Gary need to listen to the part that starts at 10:00. I have tried to explain this over and over to everyone. 

    @garyrobbins

    • #82
  23. DrewInWisconsin, Man of Constant Sorrow Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Constant Sorrow
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Kevin (View Comment):
    Listening to this after the election – Rob kept with his cancer analogy despite all the evidence in the election. He was of course wrong about the blue wave.

    The Cancer analogy disgusts me.

    • #83
  24. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    DrewInWisconsin, Man of Consta… (View Comment):

    Kevin (View Comment):
    Listening to this after the election – Rob kept with his cancer analogy despite all the evidence in the election. He was of course wrong about the blue wave.

    The Cancer analogy disgusts me.

    Closer to Trump’s being the chemotherapy to purge us of the GOPe.

    • #84
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