But first a word about the painting of Nell Gwyn<\/a>. For the life of me I couldn’t figure out what lead image to use for this post. I searched images for “predicting the future,” “prophecy,” looks of “surprise” and even images for “You could have knocked me over with a feather<\/a>.” (The phrase that came to mind about how I felt the morning after the election.)<\/em> Finally I searched past posts, and found one from last January, on the issue of voter suppression. There’s more detail in the notes, on the topic of what I feared might impact the outcome of the election. But fortunately that didn’t seem to be an issue, at least this<\/strong><\/em> time. Besides, Nell does<\/strong><\/em> present an attractive image, which may be why she was the favorite mistress of King Charles II of England<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Getting back to Before the election<\/a>, I predicted that if “2010” happened again, that might lead to a Blue Wave in 2024. (With Joe Biden getting a second term.) <\/em>The problem? In 2022 Democrats retained<\/strong><\/em> control of the Senate, though the results aren’t yet all in. A Georgia run-off between Warnock and Walker is set for December 6. (“Oh boy! More negative political ads!”) <\/em>But the 2022 results clearly disappointed Republicans<\/a>. (See 2022 Election results: Some Republicans blame Donald Trump<\/a>, and Graham, Cruz admit election results ‘not a Republican wave<\/a>.’)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The flip side<\/a> is that Republicans did <\/strong><\/em>get control of the House of Representatives. That means they can still: 1) ignore the economy and inflation, 2) threaten to default the national debt, and 3) shut down government. On the other hand, if they impeach Biden – as threatened – the result will likely be a no-vote whitewash<\/a>, courtesy of a Democratic Senate. (Not unlike the one Trump got from the Republican Senate.) <\/em>That could result in Joe Biden ending up more<\/strong><\/em> popular, like what happened to Bill Clinton. (Poll: Clinton’s approval rating up in wake of impeachment<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The bottom line is that after many long months of hearing predictions of a Red Wave, I woke up the morning of November 8 with a sense of gloom. Not that I oppose principled conservatives. The problem comes when one of two necessary parties becomes a cult of personality<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I could just see Donald Trump – in the days after November 8 – basking in the glory of “his” candidates taking over Congress and paving the way for his <\/em><\/strong>re-election. (Which would become more of a bloodbath<\/a> of retribution rather than responsible government.) <\/em>Which brings up the phrase “You could have knocked me over with a feather<\/a>.” According to The Free Dictionary<\/a>, it’s an expression of “great or utter surprise, bewilderment, or astonishment.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the meantime, I learned something new just after the election. That was prompted by members of the House Freedom Caucus<\/a> saying Kevin McCarthy wouldn’t have the 218 votes needed to become Speaker of the House. (When Congress<\/a> re-convenes next January. The link is to Marjorie Taylor Greene\u2019s Worst Nightmare Could Be Coming True<\/a>, dated November 15, 2022, which assumed – and as happened – that Republicans would <\/strong>win back the House.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Based on such threats – “McCarthy doesn\u2019t have the votes<\/a>” – I did some research. I learned that to become Speaker a candidate needs 218 votes from any and all<\/strong><\/em> House members. I assumed it required only a majority vote of the new party in power. So for example if a few Republicans voted \u201cpresent,\u201d that would lessen their majority and could \u2013 theoretically – lead to a Democrat elected Speaker. (And vice versa.)<\/em> Go figure. 71 years old and still learning new stuff. (Thus the “old dogs” image.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And speaking of \u2018Strange Bedfellows<\/a>,’ just after<\/strong><\/em> the election Marjorie Taylor Greene<\/a> broke with conservative allies and pledged to support McCarthy. That lead Matt Gaetz<\/a> – the Congressman Under Federal Investigation For Sex Trafficking<\/a> – to turn on Greene Over McCarthy<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “Whatever Kevin [McCarthy] has promised Marjorie Taylor Greene, I guarantee you this at the first opportunity, he will zap her faster than you can say Jewish space laser,” he said<\/a> … referring to a conspiracy theory<\/a> the congresswoman has promoted and been criticized for.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The bottom line? We’re in for an interesting few months. (And beyond?) <\/em>For one thing, we’ll see if Democrats have a 50-50 Senate majority, or more solid 51-49. We’ll see if House Republicans ignore the economy, default on the national debt, or shut down the government.\u201d And <\/strong><\/em>we’ll see if Kevin McCarthy really zaps Marjorie Taylor Greene<\/a> with a Jewish Space Laser<\/a>. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n See also the January 27, 2022 post, An update on Nell Gwynn \u2013 \u201cProtestant Whore<\/a>.” Among other things It addressed the issue of voter suppression, as that suppression might impact the 2022 elections. As it turned out, that was not necessarily an issue in this last election. The issue focused on the different number of black people in Iowa, compared to that number in Georgia where I now live. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Iowa Population demographics 2020, 2019<\/a>, African-Americans make up two percent<\/strong> of Iowa\u2019s population. (Which is 91% white, with \u201cHispanic or Latino\u201d as the second-largest racial group.) Compare that with Georgia \u2013 where I\u2019ve lived for 10 years now \u2013 which has a black population of 32.6 percent<\/strong>. (While \u201cNon-Hispanic White<\/a>s\u201d make up only 50.1 percent of the population \u2013 a bare majority \u2013 compared to Iowa\u2019s 91 percent white population.)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The problem was that the “nice lady” who asked about voter suppression came from Iowa, meaning I had to frame the issue in a way that made sense with someone from a “lily white” state like Iowa. Eventually I dropped the topic, but did enjoy revisiting Nell Gwyn. (See also a post featuring her from March 2015, \u201cWhen adultery was proof of \u2018loyalty<\/a>.\u201d)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n On suppression, see Republican Voter Suppression Could Win the Midterms<\/a>. From October 29, 2022:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n THANKS TO REPUBLICANS, it will be harder for certain people to vote this year, courtesy of an array of new voting restrictions passed in the wake of the 2020 election: 56 new voting restrictions<\/a> passed by Republican-led legislatures in 20 states.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Again, that didn’t seem to happen, at least as much as feared this time around. See also Voter suppression in the United States – Wikipedia<\/a>, all of which may merit a new post on the subject.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Re: “Red Wave.”<\/em> See also Conservative Pollster Who Predicted ‘Red Wave’ Says GOP Can’t “Strategize<\/a>.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Re: Freedom Caucus<\/a>. According to Wikipedia<\/a> it’s considered “the most conservative and farthest-right bloc” within the House, and “formed in January 2015 by a group of conservatives and Tea Party movement<\/a> members, with the aim of pushing the Republican leadership to the right.<\/em>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the election of a Speaker of the House see How the House Elects Its Speaker \u2013 Congressional Institute<\/a>, and Election of the Speaker Overview \u2013 US Constitution \u2013 LAWS.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The “Old Dog” image is courtesy of Old Dogs New Tricks \u2013 Image Results<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Re: \u2018Strange Bedfellows\u2019: Phrase Meaning & History<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lower image is courtesy of<\/em> The Building of the Jewish Space Laser | JewishBoston<\/a>. Subtitle: “The Jewish space laser as a Talmudic parody.” An interesting read, but “Are you serious?” Sample quote:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n On the Kosher Use of the Space Laser. The construction must be overseen by a rabbi. Each component … must be blessed individually. If any components of the space laser are found to be with blemish, the project is to be declared treif<\/em> and must be started over.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"http:\/\/veritusgroup.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/olddognewtricks-2015-July22.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStay tuned!<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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