Question of the day
Tuesday, Jun 21, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Washington Post…
The DNC has signaled that it’s committed to keeping at least one of the early nominating contests in the Midwest, and Michigan’s video takes implicit shots against rivals Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois. (The committee has said it could also add a fifth early state, so two Midwestern states could be make it through the process.) […]
“Unlike other states, there’s no singularly dominant, hyper-expensive media market that holds back campaigns with fewer resources,” [former Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas] says in the ad.
That’s not true of Illinois, which is dominated by the expensive Chicago media market. […]
Unlike Michigan and Minnesota, Illinois isn’t a battleground state in the general election. But in addition to its racial diversity, Illinois can tout something its Midwestern rivals can’t: the ability to change to its primary date with relative ease.
My favorite part…
Thomas also boasts that Michigan is “the most diverse battleground state in America” … Michigan isn’t the most diverse presidential battleground state based on racial diversity. But Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), who’s been leading Michigan’s push to move up the primary calendar, said she takes a broader view of diversity.
Dingell cited Michigan’s agricultural diversity — “We are the most diverse state in the country when it comes to crops,” she said in an interview
* Also from the Michigan ad …
Doctors, nurses, researchers in our medical centers, heroically saving lives and innovating healthcare
So, they’re promoting their cheap TV ads while lying about their diversity and touting the fact that they have… doctors.
* The Question: What should Illinois’ response be to this?
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:27 pm:
Crops don’t vote.
- NU - U of I - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:35 pm:
We can beat Ohio State.
- G'Kar - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:35 pm:
Hey, Illinois winters can be bad, but who would want to campaign in the UP in February?
Oh, and they have to live with the Tigers and Lions./s
- Curious citizen - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:37 pm:
ABRAHAM LINCOLN!!!
Seems to work for nearly everything …
- MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:39 pm:
Illinois: Everything that Michigan pretends to be.
– MrJM
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:39 pm:
Man, Isiah Thomas is strong on that grift.
I’ll never forgive him for ruining the CBA and nearly killing by beloved Rockford Lightning.
I’d tell Zeke; Michigan can have the same roll in the primary that he did on the Dream Team. None.
And Debbie - The state of California would like to have something to say about the diversity of your agriculture industry.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:42 pm:
If your idea is to have a midwest state be a first state, tough not to look at the Midwest and not see how other states want to compare to Illinois, while Illinois has no equal.
No Midwest state matches the electoral college strength, the largest city in the region, and the largest media market in the region too, allowing the serious candidates an opportunity to reach urban, suburban, and rural voters by showing financial strength and messaging prowess.
It’s a cheap thought to think the need for cheap paid media makes a candidate strong. Strong candidates find paid and earned media goes farther when the message itself resonates.
- Bruce( no not him) - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:43 pm:
== “We are the most diverse state in the country when it comes to crops,”==
Our crops can kick your crops butts.
- DEE - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:45 pm:
We have REO and Cheap Trick and Chicago. You have Kid Rock.
We get less Lake Effect snow.
Matthew Stafford doesn’t make fun of us in ATT commercials
- Illinois - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:45 pm:
Illinois has it all: rural, factory towns, suburban, urban, black, tan, white. Chicago is a powerhouse city that can accommodate a conventional with ease. National Democrats have suffered significant losses in rural and factory town America, which makes up nearly half of the voting age population. Illinois, with its rich tradition of manufacturing and rural counties, presents a full picture to the nation. Illinois, at the nation’s geographic crossroads, is ready to lead.
- too easy of a response - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:47 pm:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1BFfTf8MNE
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:48 pm:
===“Unlike other states, there’s no singularly dominant, hyper-expensive media market that holds back campaigns with fewer resources,” [former Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas] says in the ad.===
“… and I took it personally”
We all know how that went with Isiah that time.
- Lurker - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:49 pm:
Remember when Detroit was like a Chicago?
Neither do we.
- vern - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:57 pm:
They definitely have a diverse array of political parties holding majorities in their legislatures. If the DNC wants to give Republicans a veto on their primary calendar, they can give it to Michigan or Minnesota.
On second thought that may backfire. DC Democrats love giving Republicans free veto opportunities.
- Dan Johnson - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 2:58 pm:
I mean….I’d rather have the convention than the first primary. Especially because 2024 is probably going to be a very boring re-nomination.
But good for the DNC for improving the process.
- Save Ferris - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 3:20 pm:
Listening to Isaiah Thomas business acumen never got anyone anywhere.
Other than quick playoff exits, bankruptcy, ands sexual harassment settlements.
- SKI - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 3:20 pm:
I believe I saw the appropriate response on an old Illini shirt - “Muck Fichigan”
- Huh? - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 3:21 pm:
“What should Illinois’ response be to this?”
Our corrupt politicians make yours look like pikers.
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 3:22 pm:
The response should just be Michael Jordan sitting in a chair with a glass of scotch, laughing.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 3:23 pm:
Thomas has 2 NBA rings.
How cute.
- PrimarilyDem - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 3:23 pm:
I think Illinois’ response should be to let Michigan or another swing state have the early Democratic primary, especially if Illinois cares about electing a Democratic president.
I’ve always thought that it would be a good idea for both parties to base their primary calendars on prioritizing the states they most need to win in the general. Wouldn’t you want a candidate who could succeed in a key/swing state to have an early primary advantage?
- Baloneymous - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 3:33 pm:
===We have REO and Cheap Trick and Chicago. You have Kid Rock.===
Umm they also have Motown, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Bob Seger, Eminem, Iggy Pop, White Stripes, even Madonna.
Chicago/Illinois also has Kanye and Twista.
- Soapbox Derby - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 3:45 pm:
“We are the most diverse state in the country when it comes to crops.”
Wonder what the crops pronouns are?
- Vote Quimby - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 3:45 pm:
Our East St. Louis beats your Flint.
- CashCow - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 4:13 pm:
Our governor has way more money to throw around than your governor.
- Marine Life - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 4:21 pm:
This question makes me miss Wordslinger more than usual. I’d like to watch him take Thomas to marketing school.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 4:26 pm:
A state shaped like a slice of pizza always beats a state shaped like a…mitten.
- NorthsideNoMore - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 4:31 pm:
Thomas the biz wiz. Dot point two is classic Zeke https://grantland.com/the-triangle/too-zeke-to-fail-a-brief-history-of-isiah-thomas-crashes-and-burns/
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 4:40 pm:
=What should Illinois’ response be to this?=
Ummm, we only sent one set of electors to the Capitol building last time. And it’s been years since anyone tried to kidnap our governor. And Bill Laimbier has never lived here.
- Dysfunction Junction - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 4:49 pm:
Oops, Anon at 4:40 was me. Sorry.
- Anonsense - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 4:59 pm:
Nowadays we can move forward without the need for pistons.
- Wensicia - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 5:03 pm:
We’re on the left side of Lake Michigan.
- ChrisB - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 5:08 pm:
Ask them to explain Jobbie Nooner to the rest of us.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 5:42 pm:
Michael Jordan looks at the camera and says
“Isiah Thomas said some negative things about Illinois and I took that personally, you don’t want me to take anything personally, do you?”
- Amalia - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 6:46 pm:
oh yeah? well Illinois rules Pumpkin Season. that’s right. we are the pumpkin state and we own the fall, you know, when the general is. the one Dems have to win.
- West Side the Best Side - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 7:51 pm:
Isiah - Just because St. Joe has closed doesn’t mean you have to turn on Illinois.
- Bolonius - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 11:08 pm:
Significantly less chance that a militia will plot a coup to kidnap any of the candidates in Illinois.
- Yooper in Diaspora - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 11:19 pm:
@G’Kar: No worries about ignoring the UP during the primaries in national campaigns; only 3 percent or so of the state’s human population lives there. But it would be the most beautiful place in Michigan to campaign. Who doesn’t want to see Lake Superior to set things in perspective in the heart of the Midwest?
- Yooper in Diaspora - Tuesday, Jun 21, 22 @ 11:27 pm:
PS to G’Kar: western Yoopers are largely Packers fans (though there is some contention about this). Green Bay is 3 hours away from UP Michigan’s Baraga County (where you can also cultivate the Finndian vote and visit the first Native-run casino in the country); Detroit over 8 hours (about as far of a drive as Washington, DC is from Detroit).
Also, I like what PrimarilyDem said.