Democrats in Michigan ‘freaked out’ by Trump – and trying to win swing state on a knife-edge

The Guardian ^ | Sun 27 Oct 2024 | Chris McGreal

[MinorityRepublican]

Pat Parker has campaigned for Democratic presidential candidates in the battleground state of Michigan through five elections, and it hasn’t always been a happy experience.

The thrill of doorstepping for Barack Obama gave way to working in a Hillary Clinton campaign office in the bellwether Saginaw county, Michigan, with all the atmosphere of a morgue, even though it was assumed she would win. Campaigning for Joe Biden was constrained by the pandemic.

Next week’s election is different. For the first time Parker is seeing real fear.

The clinical social worker is enthusiastic about Kamala Harris but she recognises that many of those who say they will vote to make her the US’s first Black female president are being goaded to the polls by her opponent, Donald Trump.

“It’s about him. There’s a huge component of, ‘We can’t have him back, we’ve got to stop him.’ Some conversations, it’s really difficult. People get completely freaked out and upset, and it doesn’t leave a lot of room for, ‘What do you think of Harris?’,” said Parker.

After Trump’s defeat in 2020, many Americans hoped and expected he would withdraw from the political stage. But the January 6 riot at the US Capitol, Trump’s continued subverting of confidence in the electoral system and the lasting consequences of his presidency, not least the loss of abortion rights, meant that the former president remained very much at the forefront of US politics.

Parker said this year’s campaign has ratcheted up the fear as Trump spewed threats to tear down democracy, turn the military on the “enemy within” and use the justice system to punish those who crossed him. Then there is the mania of Trump’s campaign rallies filled with bile against immigrants, including those in the US legally, and threats to deport millions of people.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Think you're being way too hard on old Andy.

Nope.

Basically repeating every rumor that ever surfaced about him - true or not.

Once again nope.

All of that is true.

If I had repeated the one about his actually murdering his "wife's" first husband that would be rumor. But every other thing I said is quite easily found in history books.

Unlike the current Dems, he was willing to stand up and take a bullet for his position.

So was Aaron Burr.

Remind you of anybody?

Yeah. Benedict Arnold.

[Bob Wills is still the king]

“When he got in office he crashed the US economy so badly that it took decades to fix it.

He ignored both laws and treaties, stabbed his former allies in the back for profit, stole money and land to give to his supporters and left the country in shambles.

He chased off his “wife’s” legal husband so he could have her for himself.

As a party is founded so shall it grow.”
__________________________________________________________

Jackson was a complex man for sure. He was also a military hero of the young USA, in addition to being a lawyer, governor, and large slave holder and trader. He opposed the “elites” of the time, killed the US National Bank ( established by Hamilton and the “Fed” of its time)forcibly removed the illegal alien indians and remains accused of committing genocide. Nonetheless, Jackson’s voters were the “common man” of the time, just as MAGA voters are now.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

He opposed the “elites” of the time, killed the US National Bank ( established by Hamilton and the “Fed” of its time)

I said he crashed the economy so badly that it took decades to recover.

forcibly removed the illegal alien indians and remains accused of committing genocide.

None of them were illegal aliens. They were citizens of the United States. People who had come to Jackson's rescue when he was trying to be a "war hero" who happened to live on land that had gold that Jackson wanted to give to his "supporters" because he had, see above, crashed the economy.

Nonetheless, Jackson's voters were the “common man” of the time, just as MAGA voters are now.

Not after the first time. I think Davy Crocket said it best. Jackson got into office by corruption and promptly proceeded to sell his supporters out in every way possible.

[AnAmericanMother]

Man, you’re pretty upset. What did he ever do to you?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Began the downfall of the United States.

Many of the problems of the 1800s in the US can be laid at Andy "Ol' Crook" Jackson's feet.

Most of the ones in the 1900s can be laid at the feet of Thomas Woodrow Wilson.

Probably most of the ones in the 2000s will be laid at the feet of Obama.

And all are democrats.

Curious that.