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.

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61 replies
  1. emptywheel says:

    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.”

  2. BlueStateRedHead says:

    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.

  3. annagranfors says:

    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…)

    • emptywheel says:

      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.

  4. Ann in AZ says:

    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.

    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.

  5. phred says:

    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…

  6. Neil says:

    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

    Contemporary indeed. Those words in the Constitution are over 200 years old which is not insignificant given the earth is about 5000.

  7. bmaz says:

    Huck says:

    “…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.”

    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…..

  8. LS says:

    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.

  9. MsAnnaNOLA says:

    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!

  10. zAmboni says:

    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.

    • emptywheel says:

      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.

  11. zAmboni says:

    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.

  12. joejoejoe says:

    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.

  13. Neil says:

    A doctor in Ann Arbor, Michigan, who went to Amherst College said much the same thing about Obama’s appeal. “I’m much more excited by Obama… and his years as a community organizer,” Michele Heisler [’82] said. She expressed qualms about Clinton’s vicarious power through her husband’s offices as governor and president. “I think our generation of women is turned off by the dynastic quality of her candidacy,” she said.

    Does Obama’s Generation Have a Date with Destiny
    ? by Jamie Stiehm
    HuffPo | Posted January 15, 2008 | 04:41 PM EST

  14. annagranfors says:

    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…

    • emptywheel says:

      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%.

  15. Jeff says:

    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.

  16. zAmboni says:

    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.

      • Gunner says:

        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

        • emptywheel says:

          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!!

        • bmaz says:

          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”!

        • Gunner says:

          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

    • Neil says:

      Congratulations to Utah’s, Massachusetts’, Michgan’s native son… and to the Democratic Party of Michigan on the victory.

      Mitt 37%
      McCain 31%
      Huck ?

  17. annagranfors says:

    re: MI for Mitt–

    could someone get some kleenex for Mr. Hewitt, please? kleenex for Mr. Hewitt…!

  18. emptywheel says:

    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.

  19. emptywheel says:

    Here’s one of the most fascinating bits from the exit poll:

    If these had been the candidates on the ballot today, for whom would you have voted in the Democratic presidential primary?
    Category % Total Clinton Dodd Gravel Kucinich Unc.
    Hillary Clinton 45 96 – 0 – 3
    John Edwards 12 27 2 – 14 56
    Dennis Kucinich 2 – – – – –
    Barack Obama 37 14 1 1 3 78
    Bill Richardson 1 – – – – –

    I think it’s a pretty good read of the state of the race, before turnout or state-specific campaigning.

  20. lhartmann says:

    dear Marcy
    though an AnnArborite, I followed my mastter the great Orange Satan and
    voted for Mitt…

    lh

    • emptywheel says:

      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.

  21. katiejacob says:

    Mitten was spotted sitting dejectedly by himself,ignoring the students at Cranbrook this afternoon. I wonder what was wrong with him?.

  22. zAmboni says:

    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?).

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