What if......?

I am not broadcasting my radio show this Sunday, so I didn't watch Monday evening's presidential debate. Besides, there is absolutely nothing Hillary Clinton can say which would sway me to vote for her, though I'm still in "wait and see" mode on Donald Trump. Rarely does a debate dramatically change an election given that most viewers will make judgments based on their own political prism anyhow.

All that said, I didn't completely abstain from presidential politics Monday evening. What I spent time doing was looking over the electoral map (yes, my night was quite lively).

The election year that is 2016 would go down in history as one of the more bizarre and surreal campaign cycles even if it ended today. However, I got to thinking. What other crazy circumstance could occur that would clinch it as the craziest?

As I studied the electoral map, I decided to handicap the race. Suppose that Trump wins all 24 states where 2012 GOP candidate Mitt Romney prevailed. Definitely not an implausible scenario. That would give Trump a baseline of 206 electoral votes (one needs at least 270 to win). Add to that just four states where Trump is either leading or within the margin of error. Those states would be Iowa, Colorado, Ohio and Florida. In addition, Trump has a decent lead in one of Maine's congressional districts. Since that state awards EVs by congressional district, Trump would garner one of the state's four electoral votes (Mrs. Clinton would win the other district plus be awarded the other two EVs (for a total of three) by virtue of winning Maine's popular vote).

If all that happened, the map would look like this:

Click the map to create your own at 270toWin.com

If indeed a 269-269 tie occurs? Well, the 12th amendment to the U.S. Constitution addresses such a scenario.

....the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. [And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. --]* The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President;....

Because Republicans have a larger number of majorities in state delegations in the U.S. House, that body would likely select Trump as President. And since the GOP has the majority in the U.S. Senate, Gov. Mike Pence would, in all likelihood, be chosen as Vice President.

While this is an outlandish and unlikely possibility, wouldn't it be a fitting way to wrap up the 2016 cycle?

---------------------------------------------

Box Score of the Week

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke returned to Dodger Stadium to take on his former team three weeks ago.

-------------------------------------------

Dodger Stadium is located at Chavez Ravine. The L.A. pitchers who pitched the final two innings of this game were Jesse Chavez and Josh Ravin. 

------------------------------------------- 

Yeah, they tried to put me in a box. It's impossible.....

This week's one-hour edition of the Northern Alliance Radio Network program The Closer gets started at 2:00 PM Central Time.

Right at 2:00, longtime political activist/former campaign manager (and, for purporses of full disclosure, personal friend of Mrs Carlson & I) Anne Neu will check in. Anne announced recently she is seeking the GOP endorsement in the special election for the recently vacated MN House seat in House District 32B. As such, she will come on the program to tout her candidacy.

Then at 2:30 I'll be joined by MN state senator Carrie Ruud (R-Breezy Point). Sen. Ruud, who is working with the Minnesota for Trump campaign, will come on to talk about the importance of early voting, which started in Minnesota on Friday.


So please call (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing. You can also text comments/questions to (651) 243-0390.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link, or check us out via iheart radio. If you're unable to tune in live, please check out my podcast page for the latest show post.

Even though I have a face for radio, there is a UStream channel where you can watch the broadcast if you so desire. Check it out here.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

------------------------------------------------------------

Anne Neu for MN House

I don't make a practice of endorsing political candidates because:

a) No one cares what I think.

b) I want all candidates to appear on my radio show, not just those whom I support.

But given the sense of urgency in House District 32B, where GOP incumbent Bob Barrett was ruled ineligible to seek reelection, I am diverting from my own personal policy and endorsing our friend Anne Neu.

Definitely check out her website (www.AnneNeu.org) and tune in to my radio program tomorrow at 2;00 PM where Anne will be on to tout her candidacy. 

-------------------------------------

Do your research

Despite my personal political ideology being well right of center, I'd prefer that any of my fellow Americans would vote for a Democrat then not vote (provided they've done the adequate research). I believe that everyone should be engaged in the issues and thus support the candidate which most accurately reflects his/her worldview. And yes, I'm fully aware that I've stated here that I may not cast a vote for President due to my dismay for both the Republican and Democrat candidates. But when I say "not vote" I mean those who don't even bother to cast a ballot for any office. I will at least be voting for U.S. House, MN House and MN Senate if indeed I abstain from a vote for President.

Will all that said, I'm almost of the belief that one shouldn't even bother to vote if one plans on supporting a candidate based solely on the recommendations of vacuous celebrities.

Your mileage may vary.

-----------------------------------------

There's something happening here.....

.....What it is...well...is perfectly clear.

It's almost like there's a pattern here or something. pic.twitter.com/CVBjCTgbrA

— John Rouleau (@John_Rouleau) September 20, 2016

----------------------------------------

Quick Hits: Volume CXXXVI

- In the aftermath of the horrific stabbing incident at a St Cloud, MN mall on Saturday evening, Gov. Mark Dayton commented on the attack perpetrated by a man who pledged allegiance to Allah.

The money quote:

I ask everyone in the St. Cloud area and throughout Minnesota to rise above this atrocity and act to make religious and racial tolerance one of the ways in which Minnesotans again lead our country.

My friend and Northern Alliance Radio Network colleague Mitch Berg didn't appreciate Little Lord Fauntleroy's Dayton's insinuation.

You want tolerance?

Get over yourself, “governor”. If Minnesotans weren’t fundamentally tolerant, there wouldn’t be 100,000 Somalis in Minneapolis, and 20,000 in St. Cloud.

And if yesterday’s attack had happened in great swathes of the rest of the world – the Middle East, India, the Balkans, Greece, and or dare I say Somalia itself – this ethnic and religious oriented attack would have been met by death squads roaming the streets looking for Somalis to beat, stab and shoot.

No, “governor”, the intolerant one is the one who says “go along with the program and shut up, or get out of Minnesota”. Which, if you recall – and that is by no means certain – was you, “governor”.

For chrissake, just resign already.

It's funny that Mitch suggested Monday of all days for Dayton to resign. In the "Dayton Retirement Pool" contest Mitch put on nearly two years ago, I picked that exact date (September 19, 2016)  as the day Dayton would retire. Why that date? My rationale is that he would step down the day after the Minnesota Vikings' regular season debut in the Taj MaZygi new US Bank Stadium (pretty impressive that I also nailed the date of the Vikes' 2016 home opener, eh?). Since that seemed to be the crown jewel accomplishment of his administration, Dayton could bask in the glory during the game and then move on with life.

Oh well.


- In the other high profile terror attacks, which took place on the east coast, a suspect has been arrested.

Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, was charged with five counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer after a shootout Monday with police in Linden, New Jersey, Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park said. He is also charged with second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Authorities said Rahami is "directly linked" to bombings Saturday in New York City and Seaside Park, New Jersey, and is believed to be connected to pipe bombs found Sunday night in Elizabeth, New Jersey, sources said.

"We have every reason to believe this was an act of terror," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday.

Discovered a few blocks away from the NYC explosion was a pressure cooker, similar to the devices used in the Boston Marathon Bombings nearly three-and-a-half years ago.

I wonder if this means Mr. Rahami will now grace the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.


- The Vikings' win over the Green Bay Packers this past Sunday may prove somewhat costly.

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson’s injured right knee was diagnosed Monday as a torn meniscus.

Coach Mike Zimmer said he didn’t know how long Peterson might be out, but he did not rule out him playing Sunday’s game at Carolina.

“We’re going through the evaluation process to figure out what the next procedure will be, the options we have,” Zimmer said.

Even before Peterson got hurt, he wasn't exactly running like gangbusters up to that point. In two games, he gained only 50 yards on 31 carries. Why such paltry numbers for the future Hall of Fame RB?

• Perhaps zero playing time in the preseason had thrown off his timing. He's started slow each of the past few seasons while not having played in any preseason contests. 
• A revamped Vikings offensive line may also be a factor. 
• Maybe opposing defenses didn't fear the Vikes' passing game, thus they stacked the box with eight defenders committed to stopping Peterson. 

I think a realistic possibility is the inevitable drop off in production for a 30-something NFL running back. There certainly is precedence for it. One of many examples is Curtis Martin. In the 10th season of his Hall of Fame career, the then 31-year old Martin (as a member of the NY Jets in 2004) rushed for 1,697 yards while averaging 4.6 yards per carry, both of which were career highs. The following year? Martin strained his knee in the second game of the 2005 season. As such, his production tapered as he averaged merely 3.3 yards per carry (a career low) and for the first time in his 11 seasons did not rush for 1,000 yards. That would be Martin's final season in the NFL.

While Peterson has done some superhuman things in the NFL (rushing for over 2,000 yards in 2012, the year after tearing ligaments in his right knee; Winning the rushing title in 2015 after basically sitting out all of 2014), Father Time is undefeated. Peterson is also a non-factor in the passing game, specifically being pretty much worthless in play action given his woeful pass blocking ability.

I guess what I'm saying is there should be no reason to rush Peterson back into the lineup. And since he'll be 32 years old next year (and the Vikings have no salary cap implications with Peterson beyond this season), we may well be seeing the twilight of his career. 

--------------------------------------------