DarterBlue

My silence over the past month reflected my desire for introspection. For I realized that as we got closer to the election, things were only going to get nastier and more divisive on this board (as well as broadly in the county) and I felt a need to remove myself from this. I have lived in the USA for over 37 years now. So, in a very real sense, it is home. However, unlike citizens born here who have never lived elsewhere, it is not the only home I have had. Thus, my perspective has always and will always be different than that of native-born Americans. To a degree, this is part of the reason I believe the founders of this country inserted the “native born citizen language” when determining who could and could not be President (Perhaps they realized that deep love at the core of one’s being is largely predicated on birth and acculturation.). That and the fact that the country was born out of rebellion and at the time there was a very real fear that it might not survive due to invasion from Britain or other hostile European powers. Over the time I have been silent, I took the time to spend a week in Arizona, as I have always had an affinity for the deep west of the United States. This affinity preceded my arrival here and, perhaps, was kindled by the John Galsworthy poem, “The Desert Song” which I learned as a 7th grader. The trip to Arizona was made to shut out the rest of the world which I always do when I need to think deeply. For while I do consult with others, the final decision on any life altering course of action, has always and must always be mine. The goal was to map out the pros and cons of any course of action based on the results of the upcoming election for President and Congress. Well, the results are in and they are inconclusive. On the one hand, Trump, regardless of whatever some on this board may choose to believe, was legitimately voted out of office. On the other, the margin of victory was relatively narrow, given the turmoil that has surrounded his Presidency. And, outside of Trump’s loss, the Republican Party can view the election results as favorable overall. Further, the results also demonstrated unequivocally, I believe, that there is a very large segment of America (40 percent or more), that not only views Trump and Trumpism favorably, but also cares little for the system of Government that has prevailed in this country of almost 250 years. Thus, assuming Trump eventually comes to accept the reality of his defeat (and this is a big assumption that may or may not play out), there is a very real chance that either Trump or a “Tom Cotton” like figure may prevail in 2024. For me the above is unacceptable. I am a minority’s minority. I have the DNA of: Africa, Asia and Europe flowing through my veins. I am truly, from an objective perspective neither black, nor white, nor yellow, nor red, nor brown. But I am and will always be a member of the human species. Given my heritage, it is critical for my own preservation and that of any that may descend from me, that we live in a country that is governed by an established, respected rule of law. One whose rule of law respects the rights of all humans and not just those of a certain race or ethnicity. It is increasingly clear to me that there is a present and future danger that America is in very real danger of not being such a country. Thus, I shall proceed with plans to leave. Again, assuming that Trump steps down with minimal strife surrounding his departure, I have bought myself a three-year window to depart. This fits in well with my wife’s anticipated retirement (she does so in 2 years and 9 months at the end of the 2023 school year). During this time my goals are thus: 1. Make sure I identify the correct place to move to that is right for us; 2. Take the necessary steps (residency requirements, relocation of assets, etc.) to make the departure a smooth one. Over this period, I will be busy and, upon reflection, will not have time for many of the activities I have busied myself with during my 2.5 year retirement. Thus, this will be my last post on this board. I could have slunk off into the night without leaving this post, but, since in a sense, it is a community, chose to use this post to say goodbye. This goodbye is to both my “friends and detractors” here. I have met only a tiny few of you, but over the past 3.5 years feel I have come to know some of you fairly well. To both my friends and enemies here, I wish you all well. Shalom! I really mean that.

My view of the state of the Markets, October 11, 2020: So, on Friday I closed my PUTS at a huge loss. This action should have been taken a week earlier. Not only did I lose over an additional $32k on the PUTS, but just as importantly, because I was short, it constrained my ability to enter the market early last week, since I never stive to be market neutral (to me market neutral means being in cash, not hedged.) Well, as of Friday’s close, the market is significantly overbought. The last time it was this overbought was in late May. That was cleansed by a combination of volatile down days in late May, coupled with June being a largely sideways month. With this as the backdrop, what do I intend to do now? Despite the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming elections, and the resurgence of the number of new Covid-19 cases, technically, this market is signaling that it wants to go higher. I could howl till I go blue in the face, and I could not change that fact. Either the markets have accommodated themselves to the fact of a Biden Presidency or they believe in an October surprise. The former is supported to some degree by the fact that alternative energy companies went literally perpendicular last week, while oil patch companies remain mired in a bear market. So, if I firmly believe that the path of least resistance is higher, then I need to be long. With the above said, I am mindful of the fact that this new leg up is being led by a different set of stocks: largely utilities and smaller capitalization issues. It is not that the technology stocks have rolled over. But it is that they do not seem (at least for now) to be leading anymore. Also thrown into the mix is the fact I intend to take a trip out west two Friday’s from now (after early voting of course) through the end of the month. So, here is what I intend to do: I will keep the two positions I currently own, ZM and NEM. In addition, I will add three positions either on the first meaningful pullback this week or if the market goes sideways, then I will add them Thursday. The strategy attempts to mitigate, to a degree, the negative effects of a sharp down day due to the current overbought conditions. I will not expand my long exposure beyond five positions due to my perception of the existence of many uncertainties. The potential buys will come from: SOXX (semi ETF); LOW and DHI, which I sold during the September market weakness; CROX or DECK, to increase my exposure to the retail space; JD, which I sold way too early; and TMO, which I was viewing as a potential buy before the market weakness. I would also include a solar stock or two in the list, but the leaders have gotten so extended this past week, that there is no reasonable entry point currently available. If upon my return from the deep west, the market is still strong and shows no adverse effects from the election results (or lack thereof), I may expand my exposure at that time.

It screams in pain as it scurries off into the night.

Sticks and stones as they always say. @conchayou can call me whatever you wish. I can assure you it has absolutely no impact on me. Why? Because I have zero respect for you. I don't respect your intellect; I don't respect your lack of integrity; I don't respect the fact that you are unwilling to acknowledge your racism; and, I firmly believe that you are a liar, a loser and a bum. I have way more respect for @HSFBfanbecause at least he is honest. You portray yourself as an intellectual on this board to cover up your failures in the game of life. And, you attack @RedZoneas being racist when you are, yourself, a racist, too. Just ask @Horseflyor @DevilDogwhy they have abandoned the board. While they would, indeed, cite Redzone as racist, ultimately, their decision to leave had a lot more to do with you and your crowd than with the former individual. Oh, BTW, Fuck Off!

I am well acquainted with the rise of Hitler and see many parallels in the rise of Trump. The difference is that in the case of the USA, the damage has been self inflicted. I studied that period of History for my GCE A level exams.

Again, if you thought I was stupid, you would ignore me, as I have ignored your threads. But you feel compelled to respond, don't you? Stupid is as stupid does, and you demonstrate stupid multiple times a day. BTW, I hope your boy collapses in my back yard Monday. His reckless behavior deserves to be punished. God, are you listening?

He is a good man, though.

You are literally the king of vapid. So, in a sense there is something you excel at. It has little use, but that is beside the point I guess!

See my prior post, moron!

And it is ironic that you call me stupid since you feel compelled to respond to my threads when I ignore yours. Your dishonesty is something to behold!

You are a stupid Turd, Concha.

Watch the video. Then Google some old Hitler videos.

I see irony is lost on you. I am not surprised.

Actually, Trump was exactly where he wanted to be, away from all these, "disgusting supporters" of his (his own words if we are to believe the young lady who used to be an assistant to Pence). Furthermore, given he sees himself as a wanna be dictator/emperor, the balcony above his throngs of adoring supporters is certainly appropriate. I hope you all get your wishes, but after I am long gone. You are all blind as bats and don't see what's down the river.

Can someone point out Blueliner to me? https://www.c-span.org/video/?476869-1/president-trump-delivers-remarks-white-house