"What does Michigan mean?" asks the headline. Perhaps the answer is...almost nothing. OK, a lot of folks in Dearborn and a few folks in Ann Arbor voted "uncommitted." Will they really stay home in November and risk handing the election to a GOP candidate remarkably hostile toward people of their families and their faith? C'mon, that seems like the stuff that pundits write about but it does not seem like something that happens in the real world on election day.
I think that you are offbase, Wayne, as I’ve read *many* comments in Dean Obeidallah’s The Dean Report Substack, given that he has Palestinian heritage, and there is an anger that should not be underestimated. When I tried to point out how much worse Trump would be, it always came back to “Biden is a war criminal for letting genocide of the Palestinian people happen and I cannot vote for a war criminal.”
Given that you CANNOT get to 270 without Michigan, and the small numbers by which Trump can succeed there, it is not just something that “pundits write about”, but is a critical issue for the General Election. We would be wise to take these voters seriously.
I completely agree. Their anger is visceral. And they feel like it's more of a betrayal from President Biden. Those emotions don't add up to choices that make sense when they vote. It's all from the gut.
Well, my comment wasn't to advocate for a group of folks in Michigan's point of view. I was simply pointing out that the group is not going to be easily swayed. With that said, Biden could quit sending money to Israel.
Can someone please explain to me what exactly these people want Biden to do? It's not our war, and it's not in our country and he is not President of Israel or Palestine. Not being facetious, I really don't know what they expect of him.
1--A lot will happen to the Israeli-Palestinian situation between now and November. Biden is trying hard to resolve the situation.
2--It's one thing to vote "uncommitted" during a primary, which amounts to a dress rehearsal; it's quite another to be "uncommitted", or to stay home, during a high-stakes presidential election.
This protest had it's one day in the sun...but it's over now.
Or the student who writes IDK on an essay question they do not want to take the time to answer. Those who think that one man in one office can control all other world leaders, the economy, gas prices, inflation and the an endless list of complaints, need to take a serious look at all the factors that the US President cannot control, and not because he's unwilling to try, but because he cannot control other people's decisions and choices.
I once had to do an essay on a book I did not read (cliffnotes!) and I could not remember anyone's name, so I kept referring to "the protagonist's wife" or the main character's journey.
Isn't sitting at home and letting the results in 2024 just edge out Biden not result in the same thing as if the had voted for Trump? What possible advantage is that kind of protest to a group we have watched Trump villainized?
I live in a rural community in mid-Michigan that leans heavily republican. Yesterday I spent a beautiful 73* day in February working as an election inspector for our township. (Boy did I want to get outside. ☹️). And what I found interesting with the final vote count was 24.6% of the republican votes cast were for the other candidates on the republican ticket and for uncommitted. Prior to the 2020 primary election you couldn’t drive down a road here without seeing multiple Trump signs and flags in yards and on businesses. This year I can count on one hand the number of Trump support signs. Just found this interesting.
In the general, those “uncommitted” folks will likely vote for President Biden.why? Because while,as Chris states, Trump’s position on Israel and Gaza is hard to define, his position on Muslims in America couldn’t be clearer. The folks in Dearborn voted “uncommitted” in the primary to make a point. They’ll vote for Biden in the general because they cannot risk a second Trump presidency.
Thank you for the significant details that support your cogent analysis about the meaning and predictive value of the results of Michigan's Democratic Primary yesterday. Well worth $5/month.
I’m not worried that this Uncommitted protest vote carries over to November. I’m more excited that the Trump protest votes for Haley grow into abstinence in November. Bingo!
And if Biden suddenly changed his policy preference to one that satisfied all those Arab-American voters, he’d lose a similar number of Jewish voters - after all, as you point out, Trump would be much more favorable to Israel in his policies - and those voters would not sit out; they’d vote for Trump. Talk about a rock and a hard place.
Analysis like this is why I'm glad to be a paid subscriber. I'm interested, but you take the time (and have the insights). I hope everyone will be a paid subscriber to keep this going!
I have yet to hear anyone come up with a solution to the Middle East conflict that would be acceptable to all sides. And I highly doubt that the (un)stable genius will have one either, if he somehow gets back into the White House.
Once again I have to remind myself that your claim to fame is being one of the "less bad" alumnae of the Cretin News Network. Far ahead of the Nation's finest Fishwrap though!!
One would hope that those folks who voted uncommitted as a protest would realize that there are many important issues outside of the Middle East mess, and that defeating fascist Trump is of in everyone's best interests...including theirs.
"What does Michigan mean?" asks the headline. Perhaps the answer is...almost nothing. OK, a lot of folks in Dearborn and a few folks in Ann Arbor voted "uncommitted." Will they really stay home in November and risk handing the election to a GOP candidate remarkably hostile toward people of their families and their faith? C'mon, that seems like the stuff that pundits write about but it does not seem like something that happens in the real world on election day.
I think that you are offbase, Wayne, as I’ve read *many* comments in Dean Obeidallah’s The Dean Report Substack, given that he has Palestinian heritage, and there is an anger that should not be underestimated. When I tried to point out how much worse Trump would be, it always came back to “Biden is a war criminal for letting genocide of the Palestinian people happen and I cannot vote for a war criminal.”
Given that you CANNOT get to 270 without Michigan, and the small numbers by which Trump can succeed there, it is not just something that “pundits write about”, but is a critical issue for the General Election. We would be wise to take these voters seriously.
I completely agree. Their anger is visceral. And they feel like it's more of a betrayal from President Biden. Those emotions don't add up to choices that make sense when they vote. It's all from the gut.
Other than symbolic measures, what more can Biden alone (w/o congress) do about it? Bibi is Bibi, and it seems he wants to level Gaza.
Well, my comment wasn't to advocate for a group of folks in Michigan's point of view. I was simply pointing out that the group is not going to be easily swayed. With that said, Biden could quit sending money to Israel.
I'm not sure if Biden or congress controls the money flow to Israel. If he has that control I wish Biden would flex it a little.
Can someone please explain to me what exactly these people want Biden to do? It's not our war, and it's not in our country and he is not President of Israel or Palestine. Not being facetious, I really don't know what they expect of him.
Ok, two things:
1--A lot will happen to the Israeli-Palestinian situation between now and November. Biden is trying hard to resolve the situation.
2--It's one thing to vote "uncommitted" during a primary, which amounts to a dress rehearsal; it's quite another to be "uncommitted", or to stay home, during a high-stakes presidential election.
This protest had it's one day in the sun...but it's over now.
Being allowed to vote uncommitted just seems so stupid. It feels like something that annoying kid in your university sociology class would do
Or the student who writes IDK on an essay question they do not want to take the time to answer. Those who think that one man in one office can control all other world leaders, the economy, gas prices, inflation and the an endless list of complaints, need to take a serious look at all the factors that the US President cannot control, and not because he's unwilling to try, but because he cannot control other people's decisions and choices.
I once had to do an essay on a book I did not read (cliffnotes!) and I could not remember anyone's name, so I kept referring to "the protagonist's wife" or the main character's journey.
I got a C
Isn't sitting at home and letting the results in 2024 just edge out Biden not result in the same thing as if the had voted for Trump? What possible advantage is that kind of protest to a group we have watched Trump villainized?
People who stay home and don’t vote in this upcoming election have a toddler’s view of the world.
The problem is the world will move on without them and they will not like the outcome.
I live in a rural community in mid-Michigan that leans heavily republican. Yesterday I spent a beautiful 73* day in February working as an election inspector for our township. (Boy did I want to get outside. ☹️). And what I found interesting with the final vote count was 24.6% of the republican votes cast were for the other candidates on the republican ticket and for uncommitted. Prior to the 2020 primary election you couldn’t drive down a road here without seeing multiple Trump signs and flags in yards and on businesses. This year I can count on one hand the number of Trump support signs. Just found this interesting.
In the general, those “uncommitted” folks will likely vote for President Biden.why? Because while,as Chris states, Trump’s position on Israel and Gaza is hard to define, his position on Muslims in America couldn’t be clearer. The folks in Dearborn voted “uncommitted” in the primary to make a point. They’ll vote for Biden in the general because they cannot risk a second Trump presidency.
Thank you for the significant details that support your cogent analysis about the meaning and predictive value of the results of Michigan's Democratic Primary yesterday. Well worth $5/month.
I’m not worried that this Uncommitted protest vote carries over to November. I’m more excited that the Trump protest votes for Haley grow into abstinence in November. Bingo!
Now do Trump - Unless you don't think there are warning signs for him in his vote.
https://chriscillizza.substack.com/p/donald-trump-is-weaker-than-he-looks
And if Biden suddenly changed his policy preference to one that satisfied all those Arab-American voters, he’d lose a similar number of Jewish voters - after all, as you point out, Trump would be much more favorable to Israel in his policies - and those voters would not sit out; they’d vote for Trump. Talk about a rock and a hard place.
Analysis like this is why I'm glad to be a paid subscriber. I'm interested, but you take the time (and have the insights). I hope everyone will be a paid subscriber to keep this going!
I have yet to hear anyone come up with a solution to the Middle East conflict that would be acceptable to all sides. And I highly doubt that the (un)stable genius will have one either, if he somehow gets back into the White House.
Once again I have to remind myself that your claim to fame is being one of the "less bad" alumnae of the Cretin News Network. Far ahead of the Nation's finest Fishwrap though!!
what is your deal, man? are you a subscriber just so you can insult Chris?
One would hope that those folks who voted uncommitted as a protest would realize that there are many important issues outside of the Middle East mess, and that defeating fascist Trump is of in everyone's best interests...including theirs.
Fortunately, it only takes one change on an issue to completely change the landscape of the election. And that can happen in an instant.