Quote from Aok:
"Those who cast the votes decide nothing.
Those who count the votes decide everything." -Stalin
B.O. wins a second term but Dems lose seats in Senate and House. Making him even more lame duck til 2014 midterms. So nothing gets done while Rome burns and the pimps in govt get fatter on wine, women and tobacco. On our dime.
As to how to play this per the OPs question
Politics is the only force that can temporarily supercede fiscal sanity and we have not been sane for decades. The pressure cooker is in overdrive.
With a B.O. presidency and in lieu of The Bernaks QE Operation Twist Part 10, expect Bonds down, interest rates up, dollar down but offset by Euro pigs even bigger nanny state collapse, stocks down. Healthcare stocks up, medical device stocks down. That ridiculous device tax provision in ObamaCare will pressure margins.
Also expect B.O to leave Israel twisting in the wind. Whether you like/hate the Jews, or think we have any business in M.E at all, Mr Jew isnt going into the oven a second time. When Iran goes nuclear they will take action. Oil futures anyone?
When, not if the fiscal cliff hits expect 2 or 3 quarters of contraction ie recession next year.
Also, as it stands now on Aug 7 B.O signed off on military cuts that by law he has 60 days to specify what/where those will be. One month before an election? Good luck having those be named but regardless short of melt down in M.E expect defense stocks to take a hit as their funding is cut also.
The is actually the perfect storm there are so many opposing forces very nearly equally matched. A politicians dream to rake in as much cronyism as possible. Wet their beaks. On both sides.
The middle class of course will continue to be squeezed by Romney/Obama policies which in conjunction with our brain dead youth will result in renter nation.
Housing is still WAY over market clearing price. More bloat to wring out but is relatively "cheap" compared to 05-07. So oddly enough landlords will do well and probably dividend growth stocks that the sheeple even when they refuse to part with their 150$ month Iphones will still buy. PG, KO, PM, MCD, O. Just make sure to strike when the general market pain hits and they are more fairly valued.
Those who gaze into crystal balls should get used to the taste of glass. I have no clue if any of the above will happen. But what I do expect is volatility is a-coming.
As a trader I love it. As an investor it has me reaching for Tylenol.
Good luck to us all Nov 6. Maybe these clowns will actually get something done by the end of the year.
I doubt it.