Notes From All Over, Part 2 -- January 11, 2020

Politics: a new Iowa poll, a DMR/CNN poll (wow, this will be credible -- LOL) just released --

• the media will report that Sanders takes the lead in Iowa but it's a statistical tie for the top four
• Sanders (20%); Pocahontas (17%); Buttigieg (16%); and Biden (15%)
• if the  mainstream media wants to call Sanders "leading" in Iowa, they need to note that Biden is dead last among those who will actually compete for delegates;
• others: Steyer (2%); Klobuchar, a legend in her own mind (6%)

Further comments on that Iowa poll:

• Sanders leading? Remember -- this was a Des Moines Register / CNN poll; I cannot think of any two more liberal outlets; of course Sanders and Pocahontas would be leading in these polls;
• right now, most likely Democrat ticket: Sanders-Pocahontas; Pocahontas will gladly accept VP role; first, she can always say she was the VP with high cheekbones, and she knows Sanders has ... well .... a questionable heart ...
• the poll included -- thank you very much -- Bloomberg who has written off Iowa; is not campaigning there; and will not participate in the caucuses;
• numerous stories about how all-white Iowa is relevant in the 21st century for these kinds of things; of course that brings us to all-white New Hampshire;
• numerous articles about how the Iowa caucuses favor those who have nothing else to do: college students; college professors; political wonks -- to participate in caucuses folks must actually show up at locations such as private homes, sit around for a few hours, listening to political "speeches" and then "vote"; it is not designed for those folks who actually have to show up for work or who have young children to care for;

Autos: back to the snap quiz earlier. I heard this on the radio this morning -- not sure show accurate, but here's a link:

• #1 selling sedan in the US for the past 14, maybe 15, years: Toyota Camry; #8 among all vehicles in 2019;
• #1 selling vehicle and #1 selling pickup in the US: Ford F-series (896,526 vehicles)
• #2 selling vehicle in the US: Ram pickup (633,694 vehicles)
• #3 selling vehicle in the US: another pickup -- the Chevrolet Silverado (575,600 units)
• #1 SUV and #4 vehicle in the US: the Toyota RAV4 (448,071 units)
• #5 vehicle; #2 SUV in the US: the Honda CR-V (384,168 units)
• #3 SUV in the US: the Nissan Rogue (350,447 units)
• #2 sedan, #9 among all vehicles, right behind the Toyota Camry: the Honda Civic -- my current car;
• #3 sedan, #10 among all vehicles: the Toyota Corolla -- my first non-US car bought back in 1980 or thereabouts; one of the best cars I ever had;
• #4 sedan, #11 among all vehicles: the Honda Accord

EVs: didn't see any on the top 20 list.

No-show: speaking of EVs, almost no manufacturers are reporting sales any more. Wow.  Folks buying shares in Tesla have no idea how many vehicles are actually being sold.