A Blue Wave in a Purple State
Tuesday’s Michigan primary offers a lesson in civics, and it opens a window on what may well happen in November. Anyone who thought 2016 was an unusual year for American politics had better hold on tight for November 2018. This year will likely be even more upsetting to any sense of status quo. That reality should scare conservatives, mightily.
Voter Turnout: Voter turnout in the water-winter wonderland state was a record breaking 28%. That of course means that 72% of registered voters sat on their asses and ate bonbons, while the less-than-a-third of us performed our civic duty. Yes, duty. I’m not being sanctimonious here, but I am being judgmental. I work 10-14 hour days in order to meet project deadlines. I write and promote books. I caulk windows on my house, do laundry, cook, and cut grass, but I found time to vote. I did it not because I enjoy standing in long lines, but because I consider it a duty, a responsibility. I do it to honor those men and women who fought and sacrificed so that I could have the freedom to vote for any candidate I choose. On this point, and this point alone, I don’t care whether a person is a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or any other non-violent partisan. It is the duty of every eligible American citizen to vote.
The fact that we consider 28% turnout good is the singular reason our country is in such a mess right now. It is not Paul Ryan’s fault. It is not Mitch McConnell’s fault. It is not even 45’s fault. The blame for this mess falls squarely on the shoulders of those eligible voters that are too fucking lazy to get off their asses and vote. We wouldn’t be saddled with the likes of 45 if all eligible Americans voted. (Hint: If you are one of the 72% that didn’t vote yesterday, I hope you are getting the message that I hold you personally responsible for everything that is wrong right now, and I hope you are feeling motivated to do something for the good of your country in November.) Okay, I vented, and I feel a little better.
The Numbers: The good news is that voter turnout was markedly increased from previous mid-term primaries. The best news is in how those voters voted. Of the 2.1 million votes cast yesterday and as of this writing, 1.127 million votes were cast for a Democratic candidate for governor, while .985 million votes were cast for a Republican candidate for governor. If both parties hold onto all of their voters (never a likely scenario), the Democratic nominee, Gretchen Whitmer, should win easily in November. Then there is the third party effect. Those Republicans, who just can’t stomach Bill Schuette (with good reason) and can’t quite bring themselves to vote for Gretchen Whitmer, have a Libertarian candidate, Bill Gelineau.
The key is in maintaining Democratic Party unity, again, never an easy accomplishment. All those ridiculous arguments about which candidate was “Progressive” enough must come to a screeching halt. That concept of party purity is dangerous. Look at where that same mentality took the Republican Party. We must not repeat their mistakes. The Democratic Party has always been a big tent. We embrace diversity, not just ethnic, sexual, and gender diversity, but political diversity as well. Our core beliefs have always been that the United States should be the land of opportunity for everyone, not just wealthy white people. That is what has always set us apart from Republicans. We must stick to that and we must stick together.
The Conservative Stranglehold: I think the best news from yesterday is that we are finally seeing the end of the modern conservative moment. As a movement it has left us with gutted schools, pot-holed roads, crumbling bridges, record national deficits and debt, an international trade war, and isolation from our closest allies. The conservative movement that used to piously condemn homosexuals and feminists as ungodly has now embraced pedophiles, rapists, thieves, racists, pimps, and all other kinds of sociopaths, all because they aren’t Democrat. That is fine with me. We don’t want those elements anyway!
What yesterday’s primary, along with other elections in recent months, have taught us is that voters are finally wising up to conservative shenanigans. Suburban housewives are finally realizing that their handsome, law and order, church-going, free market conservative politician was the same guy convicted of embezzlement and child molesting. Politicians should never underestimate the wrath of protective mothers when their children are threatened.
It seemed utterly pathetic when Republican nominee Bill Schuette tried to paint Gretchen Whitmer as a “tax and spend liberal.” Really? From the party that just sent the deficit and national debt through the roof? From the guy that is a member of the Michigan Republican Party that raised taxes on retirees and imposed new taxes on homeowners and healthcare? From the Michigan Republican Party that, for years, robbed our transportation taxes to pay for other pet projects, imposed new transportation taxes, and still HAVEN’T FIXED THE DAMNED ROADS?!!!
Here is the difference between a tax and spend Republican and a tax and spend Democrat. Republicans spend their new taxes to pay for tax cuts to billionaires and corporations. Democrats use their new taxes to pay for schools, roads, bridges, and health care. Republicans impose new taxes on the poor and middle class. Democrats impose new taxes on billionaires and wealthy corporations. All politicians in government tax and spend. That is their job. So the issue here is not whether candidates will tax and spend, but whom they tax and how they will spend. I vote for taxing the wealthy and spending for progress.
https://www.bluewatertales.com
Voter Turnout: Voter turnout in the water-winter wonderland state was a record breaking 28%. That of course means that 72% of registered voters sat on their asses and ate bonbons, while the less-than-a-third of us performed our civic duty. Yes, duty. I’m not being sanctimonious here, but I am being judgmental. I work 10-14 hour days in order to meet project deadlines. I write and promote books. I caulk windows on my house, do laundry, cook, and cut grass, but I found time to vote. I did it not because I enjoy standing in long lines, but because I consider it a duty, a responsibility. I do it to honor those men and women who fought and sacrificed so that I could have the freedom to vote for any candidate I choose. On this point, and this point alone, I don’t care whether a person is a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or any other non-violent partisan. It is the duty of every eligible American citizen to vote.
The fact that we consider 28% turnout good is the singular reason our country is in such a mess right now. It is not Paul Ryan’s fault. It is not Mitch McConnell’s fault. It is not even 45’s fault. The blame for this mess falls squarely on the shoulders of those eligible voters that are too fucking lazy to get off their asses and vote. We wouldn’t be saddled with the likes of 45 if all eligible Americans voted. (Hint: If you are one of the 72% that didn’t vote yesterday, I hope you are getting the message that I hold you personally responsible for everything that is wrong right now, and I hope you are feeling motivated to do something for the good of your country in November.) Okay, I vented, and I feel a little better.
The Numbers: The good news is that voter turnout was markedly increased from previous mid-term primaries. The best news is in how those voters voted. Of the 2.1 million votes cast yesterday and as of this writing, 1.127 million votes were cast for a Democratic candidate for governor, while .985 million votes were cast for a Republican candidate for governor. If both parties hold onto all of their voters (never a likely scenario), the Democratic nominee, Gretchen Whitmer, should win easily in November. Then there is the third party effect. Those Republicans, who just can’t stomach Bill Schuette (with good reason) and can’t quite bring themselves to vote for Gretchen Whitmer, have a Libertarian candidate, Bill Gelineau.
The key is in maintaining Democratic Party unity, again, never an easy accomplishment. All those ridiculous arguments about which candidate was “Progressive” enough must come to a screeching halt. That concept of party purity is dangerous. Look at where that same mentality took the Republican Party. We must not repeat their mistakes. The Democratic Party has always been a big tent. We embrace diversity, not just ethnic, sexual, and gender diversity, but political diversity as well. Our core beliefs have always been that the United States should be the land of opportunity for everyone, not just wealthy white people. That is what has always set us apart from Republicans. We must stick to that and we must stick together.
The Conservative Stranglehold: I think the best news from yesterday is that we are finally seeing the end of the modern conservative moment. As a movement it has left us with gutted schools, pot-holed roads, crumbling bridges, record national deficits and debt, an international trade war, and isolation from our closest allies. The conservative movement that used to piously condemn homosexuals and feminists as ungodly has now embraced pedophiles, rapists, thieves, racists, pimps, and all other kinds of sociopaths, all because they aren’t Democrat. That is fine with me. We don’t want those elements anyway!
What yesterday’s primary, along with other elections in recent months, have taught us is that voters are finally wising up to conservative shenanigans. Suburban housewives are finally realizing that their handsome, law and order, church-going, free market conservative politician was the same guy convicted of embezzlement and child molesting. Politicians should never underestimate the wrath of protective mothers when their children are threatened.
It seemed utterly pathetic when Republican nominee Bill Schuette tried to paint Gretchen Whitmer as a “tax and spend liberal.” Really? From the party that just sent the deficit and national debt through the roof? From the guy that is a member of the Michigan Republican Party that raised taxes on retirees and imposed new taxes on homeowners and healthcare? From the Michigan Republican Party that, for years, robbed our transportation taxes to pay for other pet projects, imposed new transportation taxes, and still HAVEN’T FIXED THE DAMNED ROADS?!!!
Here is the difference between a tax and spend Republican and a tax and spend Democrat. Republicans spend their new taxes to pay for tax cuts to billionaires and corporations. Democrats use their new taxes to pay for schools, roads, bridges, and health care. Republicans impose new taxes on the poor and middle class. Democrats impose new taxes on billionaires and wealthy corporations. All politicians in government tax and spend. That is their job. So the issue here is not whether candidates will tax and spend, but whom they tax and how they will spend. I vote for taxing the wealthy and spending for progress.
https://www.bluewatertales.com
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