THE MARKET IS BEGINNING TO PREDICT A TRUMP LANDSLIDE
Author Disclaimer: none of the following is meant to be political analysis. I am not endorsing nor disparaging any candidate. I’m simply outlining my framework for how I see this election and what the markets are suggesting the outcome will be.
The markets are in a holding pattern until election day.
Retail investors are small fish in a big pond. The real price action occurs when financial institutions make a move. And NO financial institution is going to put capital to work this week with the election looming.
However, some items are clear. Key market sectors are increasingly pointing to a Trump win.
IS THIS THE WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACH?
According to the many thousands of world travellers on TripAdvisor, it’s #1: Praia do Sancho on the Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha. You’ll also find it on just about any list of most beautiful beaches, such as Condé Nast, Harper’s Bazaar, and Luxury Travel.
The whole island is gorgeous. Mention that you’ve been there to any Brazilian who hasn’t and their eyes get misty. Fernando de Noronha (no-rone-ya) is the dream honeymoon, the dream vacation that only comes true for few in Brazil, as it’s hard to get to and hardly any place to stay once you’re there.
You have to get to either Recife or Natal in the far northeast, then fly 220 miles out into the Atlantic. Then take a boat, or scamper down the rocks of a 250ft-high cliff to be on the sugar sand of this enchanting beach – which you’ll have almost to yourself.
For some reason, all those lists have the name wrong, calling it “Baia” or “Baio,” when it’s “Praia” (beach in Portuguese). As the welcome sign proudly announces above the cliff trail: “Praia do Sancho – A Mais Bonita do Mundo,” Sancho Beach – The Most Beautiful in the World. If you’re lucky to ever get here, you’ll surely agree. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #73 photo ©Jack Wheeler)
SCHADENFREUDELICIOUS! ENJOY THE DEM MELTDOWN OVER JUSTICE ACB
Amy Coney Barrett’s ascension to the Supreme Court marks the first time in 81 years – in three generations – that the Republicans will have a majority on the Supreme Court.
The Democrats, rather than accepting gracefully that the regularly-applied constitutional rules finally stopped favoring them, have responded with a complete meltdown. They’ve resorted to apocalyptic predictions, hysterical rants, and threats, lots and lots of threats.
The last time the Democrats behaved this disgracefully was in 1860, a temper tantrum that ended in a Civil War that left over 650,000 Americans dead.
Before enjoying the Democrats’ psychological collapse, it’s essential to understand the Barrett confirmation was constitutionally correct and had historical precedent. But when have Dems cared about that?
IT’S NOW THE BARRETT COURT
Her arrival is likely to have the most profound effect on the nation’s highest court since simultaneous appointments of William Rehnquist and Lewis Powell in the 1970s and the replacement of Thurgood Marshall by Clarence Thomas in the early 1990s.
Perhaps more so. Here are the dynamics.
YOUR NEIGHBORS IN BORNEO
Live on a private houseboat exploring the jungles of Borneo by river and families of Orang Utans will be your neighbors.
To get here, you fly from Indonesia’s capital Jakarta to a small town in southern Borneo, Pangkalan Bun, on the Sekonyer River. You hire your own houseboat called a klotok (shower, nice bed, good warm food and cold beer) and English-speaking guide to take you up river through the jungles of the Tanjung Putting Orang Utan reserve. You’ll see proboscis monkeys, hornbills – and more wild orang utans than any other place on earth.
Spend time among them and you’ll understand how smart and human-like these gentle giants are. It’s an endearing experience never to be forgotten. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #72 Photo ©Jack Wheeler)
GRANDMA AND GRANDPA NEED NOT FIGHT IN THE CAUCASUS
This is “Tatik-Papik” (Grandmother-Grandfather), a stone monument built in Soviet days as homage to the mountain people of the Transcaucasus Highlands of Armenia and Azerbaijan. After both became independent with the fall of the USSR, Armenia seized the Azeri part, known as Nagorno Karabagh. Since late September, war has broken out anew, with Turkey supporting the Azeris and Russia supporting the Armenians.
The dispute could be settled easily with a “land swap.” There is an exclave of Azerbaijan called Nakhchivan (see The Land of Noah, Glimpse #3) separated by a sparsely inhabited corridor of Armenia called the Mehgri Strip running to the border with Iran. It could be swapped for the Armenian-populated portion of Karabagh. Result: Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan are united and whole, Armenia and Armenian Karabagh are united and whole.
Should be win-win achievable given recent peace agreements achieved by our genius POTUS between Serbia and Kosovo, plus between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, and Sudan don’t you think? (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #71 photo ©Jack Wheeler)
NO FEAR OF THE EVIL EYE: UPDATE
The first draft of Part I: Envy is now finished. Your insightful Forum comments have been so helpful and I will have to assimilate them to complete the final draft. I’m anxious to begin Part II: The Fear of Being Envied, and the concluding Part III: The Key of Freedom, Peace, and Prosperity – but the results of next week’s momentous election how they are framed.
You all know how America’s very existence is at stake next week. Pray that Good triumphs over Evil. Whatever the outcome, once known, the weekly installments will resume. Thanks for understanding. --JW
SHOULD BE R.I.P. FOR ALL OF THEM
HALF-FULL REPORT 10/23/20
This was to the millions of American workers watching whom he had to know would feel he was threatening their jobs and livelihoods. On purpose he told them in essence, “As president, I will make sure 20 million illegals will take your jobs.”
There is only one reason he would do this: he was not speaking to Americans but to illegals, to encourage them to vote illegally, to give Dems carte blanche to conduct massive voter fraud.
He’s made a bet – more illegals will get away with voter fraud than American workers will vote against him. I think it’s a bad bet but we’ll know week after next, won’t we?
Yesterday, we read what Victor Davis Hanson hoped for in the debate last night – and he got it big time. The contrast was dramatic – POTUS was calm, polite, self-controlled and presidential. China Joe lied about everything, obsessively, pathologically.
FLASHBACK FRIDAY – TRANS-SAHARA EXPEDITION
January 2003. Our campsite at dawn in the center of the Sahara called the Téneré in Niger. We found hand stone axes here 8,000 years old when the Sahara was green. Crossing the world’s greatest desert is a true expedition, one of the most astounding adventures to be had on earth, geographically, culturally, and historically. Unfortunately, it is too dangerous with lawless and ideological banditry today. I can hardly wait to do it once more when it is safe again. (Glimpses of Our Breathtaking World #70 photo ©Jack Wheeler)