took the other side. Since today is January 1, 2018, I am pleased to announce that I have won the bet. (Since all prepaid, we’re already settled up).

Part of the reason deaths were mercifully low, no doubt, is that health workers took the danger seriously. But of course, that’s one of the variables wise bettors will factor into their decisions. And despite angry Congressional calls for travel bans , Obama went with the moderate expert consensus . Domestically speaking, little was done. And domestically speaking, even less happened.

As always, you can insist I got lucky. But this would carry far more weight if pessimists were lining up to take my money back in 2014. Needless to say, they weren’t. Betting kills hyperbole; and for most people, politics without hyperbole is as dull as watching paint dry.

Still think I got lucky? Well, if you’ve got another Ebola bet to propose, I’m all ears.