“Undecided Voter”: Really?
Today, the Washington Post published an article about an “undecided voter” from Indiana named Mike Baker. Baker supposedly watched both conventions yet still can’t make up his mind who who is the best candidate for president. My first thought on reading this is that Baker is either a closet Trumpist too ashamed to just admit it, or just simply a dumbass. In the article, Baker fretted over Trump’s personality; he had fretted so much over that key feature that he even sat out the 2016 election, saying that he couldn’t have Trump as a guest in his house. Okayyyyy….
Baker went on to say that his number one concern, though, was the economy and that he liked Trump’s “pro business” policies. It was then that I realized that Baker doesn’t understand the economy, not in the slightest, since the economy is in the ditch and has been whipsawed since Trump’s “biggest crowd EVER” inauguration day up until about 5 minutes ago. Unemployment exploded this spring to 22 million people, and still is hovering at 13 million. By all measures that affect American workers, the economy has collapsed.
Fretting about Biden, Baker said, “Trump is defining Biden, but I sort of need to hear Biden define Biden, or at least the Democratic Party to define Biden. It’s got to be more than [Trump] is the worst person on Earth.” My answer to that is this: When you were watching the Democratic Convention, you must have had your head up your ass looking out through your navel. The convention carefully laid out Biden’s and the Dems goals and policies. Oh, and there’s that little detail that Joe Biden has been in the public eye for half a century. If you don’t know his polices, you’re not paying the slightest bit of attention.
Mike, you’re worried about Turmp’s “personality”? How about the fact that he’s a fucking felon and corrupting the entire government while destroying centuries long alliances and America’s standing among the entire global community? How about the fact that he is sabotaging the Post Office, extorted a foreign government, and his lying in a continuous stream about the US voting system simply to steal the next election? How about the fact that he just used the White House, OUR White House, as a political prop for his cheesy display of corruption and narcissistic obsession? How about the fact that he’s already said that he’s not going to accept the decision of the voters in November if he loses?
If a voter is “undecided” now, that person is either lying or truly a dumbass. I’ll let you decide.
One more comment: I find it hard to believe that the Washington Post actually published an interview this stupid. They had to look really hard to find someone willing to make himself look like an idiot in a national newspaper. C’mon, folks, you can do better than this.
Likely both, is my guess.
1In a few days, someone will figure out that the so-called undecided voter is a Troll for Trump. That’s how these articles typically turn out.
On the off chance that this person really is undecided, the idea that Trump got handed the Obama economy doesn’t seem to have penetrated his perplexed brain. Such an uninformed voter makes one tremble for the country’s future.
2An undecided voter, with an open mind like a sieve. If he can’t tell when Trump’s lying, he’s not even trying.
3Like Maddow show recently played: many of the folks interviewed about housing were not told it was for the RNC same as the folks in the citizen ceremony were told to ‘show up…‘
4And…Leonard Cohen’s estate didn’t not give permission to use his Hallelujah song during the fireworks nor in song. Twice!
But we all know-it’s the thrill of continually getting away with *hit that gets 45 off.
“On the one hand ………………. on the other hand” .
5It’s entirely possible that “Mike” is simply an aggragation of opinions based on results of polling, not a real human at all. Sort of an ‘every-man,’ a pastiche of the polls.
6Uh.
Mike mentions “Trump’s personality” vs. his “Immigration policy.” No word about how that policy was to kidnap children from their parents and put them in cages. Just that “immigration policy is needed.”
So is he saying that Obama – Biden had no immigration policy and that he’s leaning toward Trump because having a policy is better than not having one?
It sounds more, to me, like he’s refusing to look into just what the Obama – Biden policy WAS and, because it didn’t dispense gleeful cruelty, it must not have been effective.
Or something.
7Maybe Mike is one of types who wants to offend no one. Perhaps afraid of everyone. If one watched both conventions and came to a place where both sides were ‘balanced’ in a person’s mind, that takes an active and creative mind.
My concern is that he is not alone.
8Great minds think alike.
9In my head I was saying dumbass before I read your comment.
Why would you vote for someone if you would not even have him in your house?
On a related note, may I suggest taking a listen to NPR’s “All Things Considered” that aired yesterday?
https://www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered/
Two items fit in with El Jefe’s article — scroll down to the stories about the Young Republicans on why they’re voting for Trump and, even more horrifying, the story of the journalist on what it’s like dating a conspiracy theorist.
In the latter story, she equates her belief that Biden is being honest about his views with believing that Democrats are cannibals who drink the blood of babies:
They’re different “opinions” and who’s to say which is the more reasonable, really?
This is the world we live in, folks.
10Because we allow stupid people to vote is the primary reason that we get unqualified elected officials!
11on one hand I can admire someone who actually watched both conventions… on the other, he must have got lucky and he pushed the right button and the TV turned on.
12@twocrows #10: My suspicions are that active disinformation campaigns are at the heart of many of the conspiracy theories. But I have no proof. It just seems that only malevolence could come up with such damaging nonsense.
13You all should see the cover of Der Spiegel today (it is on Dem Underground) the Germans can see through Trump
14I find it almost impossible to believe that if this is a real person, he actually watched both conventions. It doesn’t strike me that he has the brainpower to do something like that. It’s all pretty suspicious, so I think the comments are right that it’s some kind of troll.
15Can’t read Post article, behind a paywall!
16” My first thought on reading this is that Baker is either a closet Trumpist too ashamed to just admit it, or just simply a dumbass. ”
both Katie.
17Unfortunately, real or not, Baker is legion. How do you think we got into this mess in the first place?
18Billr @1 and cpinva @17: both.
To be that actively stupid, ‘Mike Baker’ at a minimum is lying to himself and trolling the rest of us. Don’t know the author at WaPo that interviewed this ‘Mike,’ but damn sure wish ‘Mike’ had gone a few rounds with El Jefe questioning him. Maybe we’d have an answer to the troll or bot distinction.
19WELCOME TO INDIANA!!!!!
20Thank you El Jefe for finally spurring me to comment.
I live in Indiana, just outside a very small dot on the map, in a very rural county. In 4 decades I have only voted in local elections a couple times. No need to because all county and township positions are nearly always uncontested, all Republicans. The few times a Democrat ran, I voted. State and National elections are nearly as bad but at least we have Democrats on the ballot and I always vote. I haven’t read The Post yet but I will get to it. “Mike” sounds like one of the guys who gathers every morning in the dine-in section of the local convenience store for coffee and donuts. They are the majority in these parts. I work in the medical field, in a large nearby city, in a more progressive county. It is unbelievable how many people think the public option insurance plans are OK, but Obama Care is not!!!! I have had patients refuse to apply for insurance during open enrollment when they truly need expensive care, then turn around and ask if there is charity care available. They don’t understand the Healthy Indiana Plan is part of the medicaid expansion. And what scares me even more is the opinions/beliefs of the vast majority of my supposedly educated coworkers. Outside of the major cities “Mike” is the norm and I rub elbows with him every day.
I’m going to quote David Sedaris from back in October, 2008:
To put them [the undecided voters] in perspective, I think of being on an airplane. The flight attendant comes down the aisle with her food cart and, eventually, parks it beside my seat. “Can I interest you in the chicken?” she asks. “Or would you prefer the platter of shit with bits of broken glass in it?”
To be undecided in this election is to pause for a moment and then ask how the chicken is cooked.
I mean, really, what’s to be confused about?
21I’m also from Indiana but finding it hard to believe that Mike represents many voters here. Voting here is exactly as Indy Dem says. Oh, we’ve had a Dem governor/senator here and there and Indiana went for Obama in 2008 but largely it’s a state populated with Republicans who refuse to even contemplate that their viewpoint is less than informed. Personally I wish there were a lot of Mike’s and they’d be so conflicted that they’d just stay home on election day rather than cast a ballot for the WH occupant.
22It’s also possible that this yokel was trying to keep the attention on himself because he was so thrilled that the big newspaper reporter wanted his opinion. The longer he hemmed and hawed, the longer he was in the limelight. Maybe the attention he was getting at the dine-in section of the local convenience store just wasn’t satisfying him anymore.
23Old Fart @ 13:
The belief that I noted [Democrats are cannibals who enjoy drinking the blood of babies] is quite similar to the Medieval propaganda in regards to the Elders of Zion. And both had/have the same goal in mind: to dehumanize the perceived enemy.
We know what the outcome was in the 9th century: pogroms, persecution, torture and ghettos. Does anyone seriously think the same ends aren’t being pursued today?
iow, radical Republicans do not see Democrats as legitimate opponents who are aiming at different goals but as “inhuman enemies” who must be eradicated.
24Enjoy yourselves with this cheap dehumanizing of Republicans.
25Pay no attention to the riots in Portland, and the gradual but constant increases in violence.
This is not a “turn your cheek” moment.
It’s time to stop burning businesses to enlighten brutal cops.
They can’t hear you over the chanting and flaming missiles.
Police departments have a hard job to do as the poor get poorer.
Put yourself in the mind of the family who sees him off to work knowing he might not come home from tonight’s riot.
I’m another former Indiana, (Elkhart) resident from the 50s-60s. At that time, I didn’t notice the politics as being like they are in more recent history. A few years ago, there was a national hullabaloo about a grand wizard of the kkk wanting to have a parade during a big week meeting down main highway in Osceola which is between Elkhart and South Bend. It got cancelled after some protests.
26Indiana, as I recall now, had the largest kkk membership in the US in the ‘20s. As mentioned, it is still a hotbed of these types of people. And waiting for these people to die off ain’t gonna work because there is no way to control/offset the influence of their parents and neighbors.
Bloomington, IN is home of Indiana University, which makes it a small island of education and progressive views in a vast sea of ignorance and willful stupidity. The patrons of WMDBS aren’t the only ones trying to figure out who this yahoo is. Unfortunately the name, age (70), and views are way too common around here to narrow down who it is. I’ll post it here (w/o outright doxing) if the person is identified as an actual human. But Indy Dem nailed it: there really are such creatures around, and they are the majority in way too many counties.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go chop up some fresh babies and drink the blood while reviewing the assigned Satanic chants for tonight.
27I am thinking “Mike” doesn’t exist. an editor assigned this as an exercise to “heighten the contradictions”. Completely made up. Nobody frames the issues like that, except the press.
28I’m telling you, it’s not a person, but a poll-based profile. “Mike” isn’t real, he’s questions on a pollster’s form, and the most common answers to said questions.
29Predictably, Baker spews MSM conservative right wing propaganda talking points that are promoted non stop 24/7 on Fox ‘Hate’ News and 80% of MSM. Lol this article itself is more proof of MSM right wing propaganda poisoning our society.
“Trump is defining Biden, but I sort of need to hear Biden define Biden, or at least the Democratic Party to define Biden. It’s got to be more than [Trump] is the worst person on Earth,” he said.
We call BS!
Lol the reason you NEVER hear Biden or the Democrats defining their policies is BECAUSE Fox and the MSM don’t want you to know what they are.
Case in point, did anyone get to see this great speech on MSM where Kamala DEFINES Biden (besides rightfully blaming Trump) ??? Probably not.
“Sen. Kamala Harris Hammers Trump On His Many Failures Right Before His Big RNC Night”
30https://crooksandliars.com/2020/08/sen-kamala-harris-hammers-trump-his-many
Being in the Portland area, we are concerned about the nightly riots that are not being perpetrated by peaceful protesters. There was a period before the federal troops were sent into the streets where things were calming down. The federal troops predictably flamed the fire (and the troops are still lurking in the dark). There’s no doubt that Trump is happy about what’s happened and it’s now his campaign platform. He has all but encouraged armed militias into this city. That has also fanned the flames. Having hundreds of pickups and trucks carrying armed Trump supporters literally bullying their way through downtown and protesters last night resulted in the type of violence they wanted, and a death. Now we can expect it to get worse and Trump is smiling off to play golf.
31I don’t think one can dehumanize Republicans that support the policies, corruption and criminal acts of the Trump administration before the 2016 election and since- they do it themselves.
Hope the Post doesn’t submit the article to the Pulitzer Prize committee.
32@Ormond – Last I checked, it is Trumpists carry assault weapons and other firearms into peaceful protests. Also, I’m unaware of any illegal “militias” roaming the streets, dressed in camo and tactical gear threatening demonstrators. In Portland, the demonstrations were vastly peaceful until unidentified Trump goons stormed in cracking heads and kidnapping protesters in unmarked cars. Last night it was Trumpists speeding through downtown Portland in pickups flying Trump flags and firing paintball guns at innocent bystanders. These people are doing a good enough job of dehumanizing themselves.
33Exactly, El Jefe. Today, Chad Wolf (not in sheep ‘s clothing but a fancy suit)) made a not so veiled threat to bring the troops back out of hiding, I guess to protect Trumpf supporters with all their guns. Yes, Trumpf is the president of peace? This is on him now, just like the pandemic. Same leadership- none.
34“Police departments have a hard job to do as the poor get poorer.”
ormond, this is either victim blaming or the worst job of misdirection i’ve seen in a while.
if the problem is the poor getting poorer, and the risk that poses to our poor widdle policemen, maybe the solution isn’t militarized cops in riot gear shooting black people, but instead social programs?
jeez, troll much?
35A lot of people who are deep into US politics use euphemisms for mental retardation and mental illness to describe opponents. But you have to know there are hundreds of thousands of adult voters with super short attention spans, difficulty concentrating, delusions under varying levels of control, etc. Laugh at these people if you want, but they’re eligible to vote. I’m not saying campaigns have to reach out to them, but we who write comments need to admit to ourselves that they’re there, and may get interviewed.
36“Mike Baker” sounds like that “Joe the Plumber” who took up so much bandwidth during another election.
Phoney as hell.
37Baker’s mentality? Nope. How about the fact that he’s an invertebrate. Tons of them out roaming the streets. Some of them even have drivers’ licenses!
38He wants Biden to define Biden? He actually watched all of the DNC and didn’t see any definitions of Biden? Biden spent his whole speech defining Biden. If this guy is for real, he is … I dunno, I don’t want to start calling him names, but seriously he need some major bitch slappin’,
39How about a closet Trumpist AND a dumbass? They’re not mutually exclusive. In fact, I’d say the second is a sufficient condition for the first.
40“Baker went on to say that his number one concern, though, was the economy and that he liked Trump’s “pro business” policies.”
dumbass
41