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That was the week that was…
In the main event, the Prosecuting Attorney loses to the convicted criminal. On the national undercard: Republicans are winning on points, with the possibility of a full takeover in Washington depending on a dozen or so congressional races.
Closer to home: Michigan provides a mixed message:
- Trump carries the state by 80,000 vote
- Elissa Slotkin shows how to buck the headwinds and moves to the U.S. Senate
- Democrats hold one hotly contested U.S. House seat but lose another
- The narrowly divided state House goes from a 2-vote Democratic majority to a 6-vote GOP advantage
- Democrats add to their majority on the state Supreme Court
Back in 1992 James Carville famously preached during the Clinton campaign “It’s the economy, stupid”. The nation had experienced high inflation during the George H.W. Bush administration, and Carville’s mantra proved the winning strategy for Bill Clinton. Flash forward 32 years, another bout of inflation thanks to the Covid pandemic … and again, the voters punish the ruling party. It is part of the story of the Trump victory, but more complex than that. Mark and Jeff offer their thoughts on the election that turned the political world upside down.
This last week brings to mind a couple of TV shows: the mid-1960s political satire program “That Was the Week That Was”, and more recent “House of Cards.” The latter starred a criminal President who even murders his political and media opposition. Reality has now exceeded fantasy.
Next up in the bizarre world of Trump-era politics: the President-elect could be sentenced to prison for his 34 felony convictions in New York. Meanwhile, we stand by the name of this podcast: A Republic, If You Can Keep It. These days Franklin’s warning is a one-weel-at-a-time proposition. We will continue in our mission to rightsize Michigan and national politics over the coming months. Ben would have it no other way.
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This episode is sponsored in part by EPIC ▪ MRA,
a full service survey research firm with expertise in
• Public Opinion Surveys
• Market Research Studies
• Live Telephone Surveys
• On-Line and Automated Surveys
• Focus Group Research
• Bond Proposals – Millage Campaigns
• Political Campaigns & Consulting
• Ballot Proposals – Issue Advocacy Research
• Community – Media Relations
• Issue – Image Management
• Database Development & List Management
