This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2024 the theme is a personal retrospective that I call "I Coulda Been" which is in reference to my job and career arc over my lifetime. I'll be looking at all sorts of occupations that I have done or could have done. Maybe you've done some of these too!

Monday, November 7, 2016

Who Will Win the Election (#BOTB Results)



      Failure can be a means to an end as much as it can be the end of meaning. If we try to make sense of things that don't turn out the way we want then we might in the end lose our senses.  The preppers--the survivalists who want to disappear off the grid rather than be just another pawn in the big machine run by dictatorial government--might not be as loony as some might believe.  Who knows what will come next in the United States?  I haven't been real optimistic in the worldly sense, but I do believe something better will come, if not with the current election, then somewhere down a different road.   And it will be the road less taken...

       But enough rambling.   On with the results of the November 1st Battle of the Bands...

Battle of the Bands Results



       Let me start right in with the results.   I took the ill-advised route of pitting a very well known song by a popular group up against an unknown song by an essentially unknown group.   The latter pick was a song that took me several listenings to appreciate and that should have told me something right there.   I know when someone asks me to listen to something that they like a lot and I've never heard before, I'm often somewhat resistant to that song.  I think that's partly what happened here.

       My guess is that many of the voters were already locked into a vote for Green Day because that's the song they knew best and they didn't have patience to give the unknown factor a real chance.  I understand how that works because I'm the same way much of the time.   The Good Rats were at a disadvantage from the git go, but under those circumstances I think they did fairly well.

Final Vote Tally

Green Day      17
Good Rats       11

The Election Prediction?

      Considering the fact that Hillary Clinton has President Obama, the Department of Justice, and most of the media and the world of celebrities on her side she is at a definite advantage.   It's an unfair and unreasonable advantage in my opinion, but that's just the way it is.  Despite those incredible odds Donald Trump has made an incredible showing and it's not out of the realm of possibility that he could win this election.

        Did my Battle of the Bands predict anything at all?  Firstly, my thought is that "American Idiot" represents Hillary Clinton mainly because of the anti-Bush sentiments coming from a songwriter, Billie Joe Armstrong, who is a Democrat supporter.  Some voters went by the title to suggest that the song better fit Trump.  Similarly, as in most elections, voters will go by superficial things and not the meat of the platforms the candidates represent.  This means the presidential vote based on this BOTB outcome could go either way, but if we went strictly by Battle voting we might surmise that Hillary will win the election.

        However it is a much closer outcome when I take out votes the were submitted by those not from the United States.   Using only American voters in the Battle the count for Green Day is 10 with 8 coming in for Good Rats.  And some of those voting for Green Day indicated they preferred Donald Trump in the election.   From what I extrapolate regarding comments and what I think I know of those who voted in my Battle I think that puts Donald Trump in the lead for the election.

         So in the final analysis I will prognosticate a win for Donald Trump in the upcoming election. If this is the case I see it as a win for God and His people.   On the other hand we must take into consideration that "Satan...is the God of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4).   Make of it what you will.

        If you haven't done so already, don't forget to vote in the presidential election.  It's going to take a lot of legitimate votes to outnumber all of the fraudulent votes that have been cast.

   Next Battle of the Bands post will be on Tuesday November 15

         Be here next Tuesday for my next Battle of the Bands which will likely be the next post I put up on Tossing It Out unless I think of something that needs to be said in the interim.  My next song will depend on the outcome of the election.   I've got a few in mind and whatever the song it will be a great choice.  Mine always are.  But that is my opinion to which I am entitled to have--so far at least.  Which in a side note, I got kicked off Quora for my one and only response to a question answer on that extremely biased site.  I'm not sure how I got on Quora--I guess I accepted an invite.  Now that I've been kicked off those are just more silly email notifications that won't distract me from getting other more important things done.

        Do you think my prognostication makes sense?   Do you have an issue with anything I've said in this post?    What is your vision of the United States in the years to come?

53 comments:

  1. Good for Green Day.
    No matter who wins, we lose.

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    1. Alex, uh, yeah, good for Green Day and Billie Joe Armstrong the models of the greatness of America today and what we should all strive to be like. I think you are incorrect about losing on both cases, but in the case of Hillary it would definitely be a huge loss as we carry on the goals of America's biggest loser of a president Barack Obama. But this is all my opinion based on some astute observations and absolute facts that somehow have eluded many Americans.

      Lee

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    1. MSHatch, Alex is entitle to his opinions as are all Americans--so far at least until the government shuts up those who don't agree with them.

      Lee

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  3. Either of them are trouble. Just hopefully it won't spill over into the rest of the world, doubtful though.

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    1. Pat, actually from all appearances it seems to me that the troubles of this world have spilled into America. If Hillary wins this election I'm sure she'll find more trouble for all of us.

      Lee

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  4. Well, it is/was the Republicans' "turn". We seem to be swapping back and forth in the White House - I suspect that after 8 years, one party has so many enemies that we forget why we disliked the OTHER party.

    I suspect it'll be Clinton, though. All I can do is shrug and continue my policy of just staying involved on the local level, where I can make a bigger difference anyway...

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    1. Nasreen, I agree that it was the Republicans "turn". I also think you're right about being able to do more that affects us more personally at a local level.

      Lee

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  5. LEE ~
    What I don't understand at all are the many people (such as Alex and MsHatch here) who are going around saying that both presidential options are bad and we are screwed either way.

    WTH?! Based on the things TRUMP has said he wants to do -- and assuming he can actually get some of them done in Washington -- TRUMP has the very real potential to be far and away the best president for this country in my entire lifetime.

    People like to praise Ronald Reagan, but the deeper truths show that Reagan's presidency was really just a myth in terms of positive policy. It was mostly just pro-American image.

    TRUMP has that some sort of populist, pro-American (versus pro-globalism) support that Reagan had only WAY, WAY MORE SO! Trump set the all-time record for registered voting in a primary because so many people saw what he was standing for and recognized that THIS CANDIDATE was different -- a real choice outside of the professional globalist cabal for once.

    So where all this negativity is coming from with some people I really can't wrap my mind around. These people are already conceding to the idea that TRUMP is going to be terrible for the country, but I never see anyone giving reasons WHY they think that. Based on what TRUMP proposes to do, what in the world leads these people to condemn his presidency before it's even had a chance to prove itself?

    WTH is going on here? Has everyone just been conditioned and propagandized to the gills?

    ~ D-FensDogG
    'Loyal American Underground'

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    1. STMcC, I do think your assessment of Reagan is correct to a great extent--but at least he was someone that a great many could rally behind. The Reagan era was one of those unique eras of U.S. history where a fairly decent guy took office after a president who was an abject failure. It was a matter of contrasts that created exaggerations in image.

      If a President Trump were to accomplish just a couple of his proposals they would be far greater than anything Obama accomplished in his administration. Hillary's corruption and bad policy agenda would inherently be destructive to our country and a turning on Israel will bring an assured judgement from God.

      The ranting and rational explanations from the likes of people such as you and I will be mostly ignored because most of the population has indeed been conditioned and propagandized by the media and anti-Christ politicians. It's sad, but it's the state of things. I only hope the hand of God does move across this nation to change hearts and minds. After all, I have children and grandchildren who I'd like to see have at least as good of a life as I was blessed with. I'm not sure that will be there for them if Hillary gets the presidency.

      Lee

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  6. we have made a Bad choice with either... so we (as Americans)are stuck....
    ... with my health issues... we may not live out their first term... So, in that case "dying" may be a "Good" thing...

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    1. Stacy, I do hope your health improves and you have many healthy prosperous years ahead.

      Lee

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    2. Does not look likely... but,we are trying to enjoy the little that we do have...

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  7. I only voted for Green Day because I preferred the vocals. Not a favourite song, by any means. Loved the Good Rats video. Either way, I'm not American, so apparently my opinion doesn't count, anyway. LOL
    Good luck with the election!

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    1. Debbie D, always glad to hear your opinion and your vote counted for the BOTB race.

      Lee

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  8. Well, your way of qualifying the comments seems to allow you to predict the win of the one you think would be the best president. Isn't that a bit like the politicians quoting this or that poll as being the defining factor? In addition, what happens in the US does affect those north of the 49th parallel as far as issues that affect trade, jobs, cooperation on climate change, etc. Protectionism looms.

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    1. DG, I admit I was guilty of rigging my election, but that seems to be the accepted way of doing things this year. I believe cooperation among nations is important, but I also believe in taking care of ones own. U.S. and Canada are dependent on each other in many ways and that relationship should be foremost in our place on the world stage.

      Lee

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  9. Do you really believe that the God who created all life would get involved in our sordid election? In my concept of God, he gave us a near perfect planet and allowed us to become the top of its food chain. What we do with it is our doing, not His. I don't personally believe in a Satan - we're capable of creating a hell on earth on earth without his help. I'm voting against Trump by voting for Hillary.

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    1. Jack, as Creator, God can do whatever he wants and whatever he wills. According to the Bible he made kings and brought rulers to ruin. He has also allowed us to believe what we want to believe--we face the consequences. Good luck with your vote. May the best man win.

      Lee

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    2. I agree - the powers of a creator, by definition, are limitless. Since we can only imagine his intervention, my question remains. I won't wish you good luck with your vote since I am on the other side. Best wishes on all your other ventures

      Jack

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  10. I'm praying God removes the cloud of deception hanging over America.

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    1. Shelly, I'm with you on this. Prayer can move nations as well the hearts of the people. There has been much deception in this nation starting from the top of government on down.

      Lee

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  11. Yay for Green Day! But beware the Good Rats who didn't win - this one.
    Would that all Americans could realize that a country that doesn't stand together falls apart.
    Just think, in two days we can get back to thinking about pumpkin pie, soup kitchens and homeless veterans. Seems like only the seasons are hopeful these days, for at least they know what's next.

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    1. Diedre, the Good Rats are one of my favorite rock groups so I was rooting for them. It's difficult to stand together when the ruling power stands for so much that is wrong and is dragging the country down. At the rate this country is going I can imagine a new civil war at hand and that could be devastating.

      Lee

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  12. Green Day wins which is good. No matter what, Wednesday will still come and we all will wake up and continue to do our business and blog and enjoy the BOTB:)

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    1. Birgit, a Green Day win is okay for those who like Green Day, but I think after a few listens the Good Rats would have won voters over. Though maybe those not from the U.S. don't like hearing the sentiments of the Good Rats song.

      Lee

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  13. I just want this whole thing to be over. I can't stand either of them.

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    1. JoJo, poor old Bernie got screwed over by the party and then betrayed his supporters by sticking with the establishment candidate Clinton. I think his credibility is shot now, but he's probably too old to be doing much more in politics anyway. But, agreed, it will be nice to think about other things with the election behind us.

      Lee

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    1. Sheena-kay, impressive turn-out for the unknown factor of Good Rats nevertheless.

      Lee

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  15. I live in Montreal, Canada, and will just be glad when the election is over with. I appreciate all the comments here.

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    1. Linda, probably most everyone will be glad the election is over except for the cable news networks. Now what will they bloviate about?

      Lee

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  16. I think that we'll continue on the 8 year trajectory of being on bended knee apologizing for what we've done, that we'll become a second rate world power and no matter what happens to our citizens (hurt/killed), we will never respond beyond shaking a fist saying, "how dare you do that to us!"

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    1. GB, I pray to God that what you project will not happen. But you're right about the past 8 years--it has not been hour finest hours of history.

      Lee

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  17. I tried to give the second on a good listen, I just didn't care for the style.

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    1. HR, the Good Rats song is rock and roll, but I prefer it to the brash punk rock style of Green Day. It all comes down to preference and what we've been most accustomed to hearing. "American Idiot" has sunken into our brains with repeated plays hammering the song into our heads.

      Lee

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  18. I like those results! I voted to Makeep America Great Again at 7am. IT was crowded, very crowded.

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    1. Doreen, I'll be going at about 3 this afternoon so I can go with my wife after she gets off work. She's pretty stoked about this election--a Latina for Trump! It's rarely crowded at our precinct and I'd say we'll be among a very few Trump voters since our community is about 90% Mexican heritage. Hope you had a lot of Trump support at your crowded polling place.

      Lee

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  19. It was an interesting battle, perhaps one day I will do the same, pitting a well known song against a lesser know song, or by a lesser known artists. I guess in a way, we all kind of do that. How often have we shared an artist we assume is well-known, only to have someone say it was new to them?
    I appreciated your scripture. So true, and the reason there are so many problems in the world. Some people tend to forget that.

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    1. Jeffrey, there is so much rejection and ridicule of God in our society that I wouldn't be surprised for a judgement to come our way. Hopefully things will get better for many years to come. We'll have to wait and see.

      I think a lot of times people are impatient trying to take in something new to them and opt for that which with they are most familiar. I'll probably do it again though since I like to introduce "new" music to my readers.

      Lee

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  20. Hi Lee.
    Thanks for the visit, I'm honored.
    I woke up this morning and Turned my computer on, I went to BBC news which is something I pretty much do every morning. Wow, what good news. Mr trump was not doing at all badly. The votes were still being counted all over the American country but there was a really good chance he was going to take this election. Well later he did. Well done Mr trump.
    This shows what persistence and perseverance can do no matter what other people say, a good lesson for the rest of us. Mrs Clinton offended a lot of people all over the United States with her stupid classification of Mr Trump's supporters, She did not deserve to win this election and I'm sure that by now she is nervous about what is to come.
    Glad to hear Green Day won the BOTB, even though I know neither group nor song, this one was far more honest by my reckoning.
    May my God bless the people of America in this time of turmoil and may they have the wisdom to use that blessing to restore their country to greatness again, Geoff.

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    1. Geoff, I'll admit I was nervous before last evening began, but the votes for Trump kept rolling in. My wife kept assuring me he would win. I truly believe God's hand was in this election. Thank you so much for you congratulatory comment.

      Lee

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  21. A good win by Green Day. Now that the results are in, I hope America stands united. Not a very popular win over this side of the pond but then the UK voted for Brexit so we're used to surprises. Let's just hope these surprises work out better than expected. Great post Arlee.

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    1. Nicola, the U.S. has bounced back from adversity in the past and we will do so again. I think the other nations will adapt well and probably end up being quite surprised.

      I think we will have many surprises in the next administration. They might even be pleasant.

      Lee

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  22. Lee, I also sided with the loser in your BoTB but I definitely picked the winner in the presidential race. Yeahaw! You were so right about this being a victory for God and His people. The things that came out of this campaign about Hillary shed new insight of what I've seen all these as hateful, mean-spirit, corrupt,...She really is evil. While I continue to pray for Trump, Pence, and their families I will also pray for the Clinton's. In God's eyes all souls are precious and He doesn't wish to see any perish, so I will pray that they might one day truly surrender their lives to His service. Have a good evening. I tell you, I've been walking on the clouds all day and I expect I will for some time yet.Thanks for sharing the results and I'll see ya around, my friend!

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    1. Cathy, my wife and I have both been pretty elated about the outcome after a long stretch of concern and hope. I like and agree with the sentiments you express in your comment. I think some good things are in store for the U.S.A.

      Lee

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  23. Looks like I missed the battle. I'll have to go back and check out both songs.

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    1. Loni, the Battle was secondary to the real issue--the election. Looks like I named the outcome pretty well.

      Lee

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  24. You were right! I did vote for Hillary because I though Trump was a dangerous choice considering his inexperience. So now we will all see what happens next. If nothing else, now I'm paying attention to politics. If Hillary had won, I'd probably tune out again.

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    1. Tamara, I hope the media actually starts paying an unbiased attention to politics as well as to the supporters. I place a lot of blame on the media for having screwed up the election and how people in this country feel about things. They need to opine less, report more, and pay attention to the people who make up the nation.

      Lee

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  25. This battle has been one of my favs, actually. Timely!

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    1. Cherdo, thank you. I found it to be interesting. And I usually try to be timely or somehow relevant in my Battles by tying the songs into what's on my mind and maybe the minds of readers.

      Lee

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Go ahead and say something. Don't be afraid to speak your mind.
I normally try to respond to all comments in the comment section so please remember to check the "Email follow-up comments" box if you want to participate in the comment conversation.

For Battle of the Bands voting the "Anonymous" commenting option has been made available though this version is the least preferred. If voting using "anonymous" please include in your comment your name (first only is okay) and city you are voting from and the reason you chose the artist you did.

If you know me and want to comment but don't want to do it here, then you can send me an email @ jacksonlee51 at aol dot com.

Lee