Clusterfuck Vote #279
My precinct in the People’s Republic of Ann Arbor is crazily Democratic–almost 80% Dem performance. When I went to vote at around 3:45, I was around the 279th person to vote, counting absentee ballots. And from the looks of things, about two thirds of those people cast a vote in the Democratic primary. Now, the fact that we had so many people turn out, two-thirds of whom voted in a meaningless election; that’s not a surprise (high Dem performance high turnout, that’s us!). It suggests there might be a chunk of "uncommitteds" after all–or even a surge for Kooch, who broke the rules and did a rally at UM yesterday (though it looks like other heavily Democratic parts of the state, and even some Republican ones, have very low turnout today). The number also suggests that roughly 10% of my precinct’s voters crossed over to vote in the Republican primary, or almost a third of those who voted Republican in my little corner of the Clusterfuck.
Meanwhile, from other little corners of the Clusterfuck that is MI’s primary, Michigan Messenger reported that McCain was a little bit shaky when greeting voters this morning, only to have McCain staffers freak out when they realized McCain’s health might become a campaign issue.
John McCain’s hands were shaking this morning as he greeted people (including this reporter) during a campaign stop at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, raising questions as to whether the candidate is in good health.
[snip]
Campaign spokesman Brian Rogers, asked whether McCain is experiencing any health problems, said that the candidate is in fine health and "looking forward to a strong finish in Michigan today."
But moments later, another campaign worker called this reporter to follow up on the inquiry and asked repeatedly if Michigan Messenger was going to publish a story saying that McCain has health problems. The woman caller quickly became aggressive, asking to talk to an MM editor, suggesting McCain was shaking because he had come in from the cold (not the case) and saying she could send medical records to prove McCain’s clean bill of health. When asked for her name, she refused to give it.
Now, I frankly don’t put too much weight on one shaky campaign appearance–I mean, I’d be shaky if I had to keep the schedule these guys are keeping, and I’m not 71. That said, I have been wondering whether McCain might exhibit health issues–he has looked like shit for most of the last eight months and he has as much as said he would only serve one term if elected.
MI’s righty blogosphere seems more concerned about getting petition signatures to make Michigan–MICHIGAN–a right to work state than they do about their presidential candidates, which I find telling.
And that’s it–this Clusterfuck may make or break the Republican’s chance to have a long drawn out primary … and no one seems to care.
Update: I forgot to mention the most, um, interesting thing that happened in today’s Clusterfuck fun.
"I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution," Huckabee told a Michigan audience on Monday. "But I believe it’s a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living god. And that’s what we need to do — to amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s standards rather than try to change God’s standards so it lines up with some contemporary view."
See, no one may care about our Clusterfuck. But while no one is looking, Huck is working under the radar to change America into a theocracy.
Oh, and in case anyone is wondering, I never got my phone call from Huck (there was one pushpoll that I didn’t answer, which is a pity), so I did as I planned and voted “uncommitted.”
So if Johnny doesn’t make it, who else would keep all the wars going?
Marcy, as you are our ‘man’ in the peoples’ republic of AA, all progressive eyes are, or were, upon you. Hope your un/non/anti-candidate gets the majority of Democratic votes.
To return the favor, if once could find our if his Mittness is voting in the primary in his ‘home’ in the BlueBayState, I could try and catch him outside of his polling place to see if his hands are shaking.
Vote for Huck the Anti-Pope!
Intrade has Romney leading.
wow–I didn’t know you were in A2! any chance you could have a Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Cheeseburger with egg on an onion roll for me? I miss those things! (I useta live right next door on Division lifetimes ago, when I was working at Schoolkids…oy, am I old…)
Never eaten one, don’t think this is a particularly good time to tax the system like that. But if you care, our County Chair brings one to all our downtown meetings.
Is it possible that this would actually happen? How far along are they with this effort? Having come from northern Indiana, the area in which steel mills and trucking (Teamsters!) are prevalent, and moving from there to AZ, a right to work and employment at will state, I can tell you, you will not like being a right to work state. If I had a choice, I’d work really hard to keep that out. Don’t let it happen, folks, no matter what anyone tells you. You will regret letting this happen in your state. That’s not a threat or even a warning; it’s a fact. Good luck.
tax the system????
Marcy, does one advertise here through firedoglake?
Nevermind, Marcy. Figured it out.
Nope, they’re separate entities–ads and donations here stay here, and ads and donations there stay there.
Okay, I see advertise on FDL on the sidebar (which I hope Bob Hamilton will advertise on, but I don’t see an advertise on Emptywheel clickspot.
Hmm. Never noticed that–the Advertise on Firedoglake brings you ehre.
I don’t know why Huck is working himself into a lather to change the Constitution, no one is bothering to enforce it these days anyway. Maybe someone oughta let him know, so he can get worked up over something else…
Contemporary indeed. Those words in the Constitution are over 200 years old which is not insignificant given the earth is about 5000.
Huck says:
It is hard to tell, but I assume that Huck is seeking to apply to Washington DC to the provision of Joshua 6 where God orders the attack and killing of “all the living creatures of the city: men and women, young, and old, as well as oxen sheep, and asses”. That last listed target really should take care of the Republicans…..
Gawd, Huck’s blaspheming right and left by implying he’s been endorsed by God. Talk about holier than thou. He is really creeping me out.
Omg these Talibangelicals really scare me. Thanks for the post Marcy. I hope my Dad’s family is causing mischief up there today. I sent them and email to encourage mischief. Here is hoping!
The wife and I did our part to add to the MI clusterfuck a bit after 5:30. Polling place was nearly empty, maybe two other people there to vote. If I read correctly on the Diebold thingy there may only have been 130 voters for our precinct.
Is that Ypsi? What precinct? Some of those precincts get abysmal turnout in any case. I closed the precincts just two blocks south of Sidetracks in 06 and turnout was pretty bad then, too.
I had a BlimpyBurger once, eons ago. It was so greasy that I felt the Burger alone knocked off 10 years off of my life. Much rather get a Gabriels cheesesteak which is about a 2 minute drive away.
Where’s Gabriels? I love me a cheese steak (though I had one over the holidays and I think I’m still recuperating).
My Mom voted in Clusterfuck South (Florida) the other day. Early voting has already started at our local library. Turnout was decent but mostly because of a tax issue. I’d say 50% of the press coverage in FL is focused on the GOP, 40% on a property tax measure (a portable homestead exemption and a small tax cut), and 10% on Dems.
okay, I can do healthy…
either some of those enchiladas that Seva Longevity Cookery useta do so well (even though they weren’t “Mexican”, per se), or a Pizza Bob’s chapati.
zAmboni (the hockeymobile?)…yah, no one would ever accuse Krazy Jim’s of being healthy. soul-satisfying once in a while, though. I would do exactly that burger (cheese/onion/egg) with a chocolate milk and then just pass out in artery-hardening ecstacy. I don’t know if Gabriel’s was there before I left (1980).
oh, christ. now I can’t stop thinking about A2 Food I Have Missed. a gyros sandwich from the Parthenon…yummy!! huevos rancheros at the long-gone Central Cafe…sigh…
…oops. forgot I wasn’t at Chowhound.com for a second there…sorry, Marcy…!
a surge for Kooch
Hey! I thought this was a family blog.
You’re the first to call me on hte slightly smutty name–but a lot of people used it back in 04.
County results, with 6 precincts reporting, have Uncommitted and Hillary roughly tied at 43%.
Apparently, the exit polls are giving about a five point lead to Romney over McCain, which, if the result holds up, will keep things more rather than less interesting on the R side.
I am in precinct 6 in Ypsi. It really isnt that large of a precinct from what I gather.
Gabriel’s is on Michigan avenue, here is a google maps link (if this works):
Gabriel’s Hoagie Shop
Their menu is short:
cheesesteak hogie
steak hogie
lunchmeat special
ham & cheese
garden salad
ham & cheese salad
The cheesesteak is a shade under $5, 65 cents for mushrooms and 30 cents for extra cheese. I think you can get hot peppers for a quarter.
They are damn good, I cant say how it compares to the stuff in philly, but I know the Metro Times and I think the Freep has had them on their (editorial, not voting) Best of Detroit lists sometime in the past couple of years.
Hmm. Never knew about it. I’ll have to make a pilgrimage over there and try it, thanks.
EW Gabriel’s hoggies are great and I can’t believe you have never been to krazy Jim’s I will have to treat you and mr. EW sometime
Maybe you and mr. ew. Honest, I’m more game for the Philly steaks.
Bad news: our precinct’s uncommitted didn’t beat Hillary, largely because 60 people voted for Kooch. We may have just given him a delegate!!
Congratulations! I believe we have located your delegate slot. You can sport one of those styrofoam convention hats and a large button announcing “I’m For Kooch”!
Ok the hoggies are probably better so we could do those
bummer about 5-9 but it looks like Hillery won the state according to teevee
zAmboni–two minutes to E. Ypsi? dude, you drive FAST!
looks good, though!
MSNBC just called MI for MItt!
Congratulations to
Utah’s, Massachusetts’,Michgan’s native son… and to the Democratic Party of Michigan on the victory.Mitt 37%
McCain 31%
Huck ?
It has been reported that Romney’s dog, Seamus, voted undecided as a matter of principle, telling the exit pollster that Mitt did not have the good judgment necessary to lead the country. Seamus joined a long line of other dogs against Romney.
annagranfors, I live in ypsi (work in A2), and they are about a two min drive for me to get there.
re: MI for Mitt–
could someone get some kleenex for Mr. Hewitt, please? kleenex for Mr. Hewitt…!
Meanwhile, in the Dem debate, Timmeh is curiously allowing the Dems to host a love-in about race and gender.
Two somewhat surreal bits.
I have a VERY vivid dream last night that I was stuck in a bomb shelter with Al Gore (and a few others). At the end, Al offered me a job.
Well, my dog just went for a walk in the schoolyard. And of all the signs (IIRC, not many, maybe Kooch, Paul, and Gore in 08), he peed on the Gore sign.
Doesn’t bode well for Gore I think.
Which, that he dream-hired me, or that McC the MilleniaLab peed on his sign?
McCaffrey the MilleniaLab must immediately buy some carbon credits to offset pissing on/off Gore.
Here’s one of the most fascinating bits from the exit poll:
I think it’s a pretty good read of the state of the race, before turnout or state-specific campaigning.
dear Marcy
though an AnnArborite, I followed my mastter the great Orange Satan and
voted for Mitt…
lh
Was it a strange or queasy feeling voting for a Republican?
I would have, if not for 1) a desire to keep UC numbers up, and 2) a half-assed desire to run to be a delegate to CO.
That said, some of the student precincts voted two for one for UC. A pretty good showing, and county-wide, at least, Hillary is losing to UC.
If a dog disses you then it is over. Sorry Al, children and dogs just know.
Incidentally, here’s Washtenaw’s Dem results. I’m 5-9. Not in yet, though I bet we take second for turnout, following only 5-11 which has about 400 more people.
I love my neighborhood.
Hillary came in 4% under Uncomitted. cool.
I see Hillary’s dropped below 60%. Which precincts tend to be late reporters in MI?
Mitten was spotted sitting dejectedly by himself,ignoring the students at Cranbrook this afternoon. I wonder what was wrong with him?.
Seriously???
seriously!
EW, I think we should get some people together, grab a bunch of Gabriel’s cheese steaks and then head over to Corner Brewery for some beers (been a while since I have been there, Do they still allow outside food?).
Sounds good. As far as I know, the Corner still allows outside food.
Here’s something mildy amusing, but totally inaccurate as a prediction of voter behavior.