I don't think she was being criticized from the left because her moves would make her less popular. I think she was criticized because she was validating Trump and making some of his more unconstitutional moves seem more legitimate.
Perhaps, but she wasn't doing that. She was there to save jobs and get a disaster relief declaration. My point is that people missed the forest from the trees.
No. We didn't. We simply disagree with the action. It is condescending to dismiss us as essentially reactive and wanting posturing. I don't want posturing, I want real fighters to stop a fascist. NOBODY in the democratic party is doing that. None.
The forest here is that our democracy is under dire threat. Saving 30k jobs and securing disaster relief will be cold comfort if we all wind up living in Russia.
That said, I don't particularly hold a grudge against Whitmer here. I just think she has to be very, very cautious about playing the right game.
I agree democracy is under threat and obviously Trump is highly corrupt and we should be fighting that, but if we don't deliver immediately to people, especially for governors, it'll send them straight into his arms.
Absolutely right. Democrats need to stop posturing on issues of no concern to the wider population and work to deliver results that their constituents care about.
I will also add that we are getting sick and tired of being told what we should feel and what we should accept. We need leaders who are willing to put their jobs on the line to save the country. I don't give a shit what her approval rating is. I care if she and other dem leaders are fighting the death of democracy.
Fighting him was not what got him elected. There were many factors that got him elected, but the number one reason he was elected is because the Democratic party has lost sight of what they used to stand for - the working class. Too many Dem leaders cater to their corporate donors, talk down to people, and offered no real solutions. They kept try to tell everyone the ecomomy was great while people were going broke buyin groceries. The economy was great for people who own stocks, but for the vast majority it was not. Dems need to stop with identity politics, stop talk at people and talk TO them and most importantly, listen. They also need to grow a spine. Nobody likes weakness. The party is too damn old and too tone deaf.
Glad it is working out for gov. Whitmer. These are very difficult times and none of us know who to trust, especially the current sect of Republicans who don’t care much about compromise. They are all about singular power. ‘Can’t really blame people for questioning her when we have had other democrats obstruct and disappoint. We only hope she will not be forced to be beholding to them in the future.
What was she suppose to do… sit on her hands and WISH FOR HELP! WAKE UP! THE three amigos in the hierarchy of Michigan government has done wonders for the state.
We have that a bit with our governor here in NC. He’s worked a bit with the GOP to get shit done. It’s better optics for him and better for the people of this state.
Thanks for putting this perspective out there. It's needed even if some may have a need to qualify it. I am a Michigander and I love and appreciate Gretch!
You know who else delivered on occasion? The Nazis. They built autobahns, pioneered the paid vacation, and helped rebuild the German economy in the midst of the Great Depression. And Hitler was pretty popular in German in the mid-1930s. But Nazism was still deeply evil.
Whitmer was being dragged for collaborating with fascism and failing to defend American democracy. No popularity rating will undo that or make collaborating with fascism ok.
The reason you wrote your piece was that this was/is a real take.
One counters this take with factual details, not an alternative voice.
I'm a former Michigander, not yet compelled by GW's smarts, even if her heart may be in the right place, and even if she has political courage. Don't want my guy played.
The factual detail is that Democrats ran a campaign based on “defending democracy” and they failed to persuade anyone. All the demographic “identities” that Democrats claimed to represent moved toward Trump, because they were so alienated by the left and the Biden administration. There is f-ton of statistical evidence from respected polling/analysis that shows this. If you really believe in democracy you shouldn’t need to be pandered to in order to support Democratic candidates, even if you don’t agree with everything they are doing. Democrats aren’t in charge of who’s “legitimate” or who has a platform…we are genuine underdogs now and need to understand that.
Well said. Trump is transactional. He isn't "working across the aisle". He is using aide to bully states and leaders into submission. Give him a song and a dance, and kiss the ring, and you'll get your aide. The OP's post reads a lot like "people like it when you work with fascists - so we should work with fascists". How is Whitmer going to spin this when she runs for President in 2028. This may help her now, but it won't help her then.
She hid her face behind her binders in the Oval Office! Like a tiny child who thinks we can't see her if she can't see us! She refused to speak while Trump signed an executive order to persecute (yes, I mean persecute) Chris Krebs. Not OK!
Agree with others that she is now complicit in normalizing Trump's behavior and endorsing his dictatorship.
This is the message Nellis isn't hearing or is ignoring. Our concerns and frustration about this are valid but he is condescendingly dismissing it as if we just don't k now what we are talking about.
I think Gretchen Whitmer understands that the job of a Governor is, to put it simply, to GOVERN. That sometimes means stepping out of your comfort zone to deliver for the people, ALL of the people, even the goons who tried to kidnap her over Covid restrictions. She is smart, capable, and knows her stuff. I would vote for her for President if she decides to run!
The legitimate problem people have with it is that the appearance was that it legitimizes Trump's corruption and abuse of power. If there were any true leaders in the party who were standing up, fighting, and trying to save our democracy perhaps the reaction would be different. But when people like John Fetterman are lecturing dems to "tone it down" when we can see with our own eyes that Trump is a dictator-in-the-making this just adds more exasperation with a party that is sending "strongly worded letters" - Schumer's actual words. When and where do we draw the line? Do we fight fascism only when we don't need something from the fascists? Then that would mean "never".
I also did not say she should not work with him. I was taking umbrage with your clear disdain for people who criticized her as if they should just fall in line because it's popular. Your post seems to read "Everyone else liked it so you should too". You are completely dismissing real, and valid concerns about the optics. This is popular now. How is this goign to lookin 2028 when she runs for POTUS? How are voters nationally going to view thos photos of her smiling and being chummy with Trump? How is she going to convince voters that she was fighting fascism while working with it?
While Trump is a tool, you have to be able to use all the tools in your toolbox to get things done.
Well said.
Use the tool…
I don't think she was being criticized from the left because her moves would make her less popular. I think she was criticized because she was validating Trump and making some of his more unconstitutional moves seem more legitimate.
Perhaps, but she wasn't doing that. She was there to save jobs and get a disaster relief declaration. My point is that people missed the forest from the trees.
No. We didn't. We simply disagree with the action. It is condescending to dismiss us as essentially reactive and wanting posturing. I don't want posturing, I want real fighters to stop a fascist. NOBODY in the democratic party is doing that. None.
The forest here is that our democracy is under dire threat. Saving 30k jobs and securing disaster relief will be cold comfort if we all wind up living in Russia.
That said, I don't particularly hold a grudge against Whitmer here. I just think she has to be very, very cautious about playing the right game.
I agree democracy is under threat and obviously Trump is highly corrupt and we should be fighting that, but if we don't deliver immediately to people, especially for governors, it'll send them straight into his arms.
Absolutely right. Democrats need to stop posturing on issues of no concern to the wider population and work to deliver results that their constituents care about.
The best politics is the politics of action imho
I agree with this...like it or not, the Bloated Yam is the President, and Governor Whitmer has to work with him at some levels to support her state.
It's a depressing fact, but it is a fact.
I will also add that we are getting sick and tired of being told what we should feel and what we should accept. We need leaders who are willing to put their jobs on the line to save the country. I don't give a shit what her approval rating is. I care if she and other dem leaders are fighting the death of democracy.
And I think she is! She's been a great leader for the Dems while also balancing doing her job and doing it well
How is she fighting him?
Fighting him got him elected. Democrats need to find a smarter way to fight if we hope to get rid of him.
Fighting him was not what got him elected. There were many factors that got him elected, but the number one reason he was elected is because the Democratic party has lost sight of what they used to stand for - the working class. Too many Dem leaders cater to their corporate donors, talk down to people, and offered no real solutions. They kept try to tell everyone the ecomomy was great while people were going broke buyin groceries. The economy was great for people who own stocks, but for the vast majority it was not. Dems need to stop with identity politics, stop talk at people and talk TO them and most importantly, listen. They also need to grow a spine. Nobody likes weakness. The party is too damn old and too tone deaf.
By getting elected, for one. We can fight him all we want but it’s pointless if we lose elections.
By getting elected, she can enact policies that would run counter to his
Absolutely! Thanks for saying this.
Thanks for engaging!!
It's what I live for :)
Glad it is working out for gov. Whitmer. These are very difficult times and none of us know who to trust, especially the current sect of Republicans who don’t care much about compromise. They are all about singular power. ‘Can’t really blame people for questioning her when we have had other democrats obstruct and disappoint. We only hope she will not be forced to be beholding to them in the future.
She’d The Big Gretchen! She only tried to show respect…that which DJT DOES NOT!!!🇺🇸🌏🕊️🗽👩🏽🚀🌻🙏🏻🤬
I've always thought Gretchen Whitmore was a great Governor for Michigan, and in this instance, it seems she was working for the people of Michigan.
What was she suppose to do… sit on her hands and WISH FOR HELP! WAKE UP! THE three amigos in the hierarchy of Michigan government has done wonders for the state.
We have that a bit with our governor here in NC. He’s worked a bit with the GOP to get shit done. It’s better optics for him and better for the people of this state.
And in NC he has to because it's a swing state
Very valid point, too! I agree.
Thanks for putting this perspective out there. It's needed even if some may have a need to qualify it. I am a Michigander and I love and appreciate Gretch!
You know who else delivered on occasion? The Nazis. They built autobahns, pioneered the paid vacation, and helped rebuild the German economy in the midst of the Great Depression. And Hitler was pretty popular in German in the mid-1930s. But Nazism was still deeply evil.
Whitmer was being dragged for collaborating with fascism and failing to defend American democracy. No popularity rating will undo that or make collaborating with fascism ok.
Oh please, this is a silly take
Oh, please, you are a silly man
The reason you wrote your piece was that this was/is a real take.
One counters this take with factual details, not an alternative voice.
I'm a former Michigander, not yet compelled by GW's smarts, even if her heart may be in the right place, and even if she has political courage. Don't want my guy played.
The factual detail is that Democrats ran a campaign based on “defending democracy” and they failed to persuade anyone. All the demographic “identities” that Democrats claimed to represent moved toward Trump, because they were so alienated by the left and the Biden administration. There is f-ton of statistical evidence from respected polling/analysis that shows this. If you really believe in democracy you shouldn’t need to be pandered to in order to support Democratic candidates, even if you don’t agree with everything they are doing. Democrats aren’t in charge of who’s “legitimate” or who has a platform…we are genuine underdogs now and need to understand that.
Agree with EACH of your comments.
I'm not compelled by GW's smarts, not just wrt photo op.
Would definitely vote for her in an R v D, but in an D v D, it depends.
Well said. Trump is transactional. He isn't "working across the aisle". He is using aide to bully states and leaders into submission. Give him a song and a dance, and kiss the ring, and you'll get your aide. The OP's post reads a lot like "people like it when you work with fascists - so we should work with fascists". How is Whitmer going to spin this when she runs for President in 2028. This may help her now, but it won't help her then.
Thank you! The voice of reason is largely inaudible these days.
Drowned out by social media algos I'm afraid
She hid her face behind her binders in the Oval Office! Like a tiny child who thinks we can't see her if she can't see us! She refused to speak while Trump signed an executive order to persecute (yes, I mean persecute) Chris Krebs. Not OK!
Agree with others that she is now complicit in normalizing Trump's behavior and endorsing his dictatorship.
This is the message Nellis isn't hearing or is ignoring. Our concerns and frustration about this are valid but he is condescendingly dismissing it as if we just don't k now what we are talking about.
Well said analysis of Gretchen Whitmer’s effectiveness.
Thanks for engaging Dave
I think Gretchen Whitmer understands that the job of a Governor is, to put it simply, to GOVERN. That sometimes means stepping out of your comfort zone to deliver for the people, ALL of the people, even the goons who tried to kidnap her over Covid restrictions. She is smart, capable, and knows her stuff. I would vote for her for President if she decides to run!
The legitimate problem people have with it is that the appearance was that it legitimizes Trump's corruption and abuse of power. If there were any true leaders in the party who were standing up, fighting, and trying to save our democracy perhaps the reaction would be different. But when people like John Fetterman are lecturing dems to "tone it down" when we can see with our own eyes that Trump is a dictator-in-the-making this just adds more exasperation with a party that is sending "strongly worded letters" - Schumer's actual words. When and where do we draw the line? Do we fight fascism only when we don't need something from the fascists? Then that would mean "never".
He's the president, you cannot ignore him especially when you need the federal government to save 30,000 jobs. That's the reality of the job.
Who said anything about ignoring him?
I also did not say she should not work with him. I was taking umbrage with your clear disdain for people who criticized her as if they should just fall in line because it's popular. Your post seems to read "Everyone else liked it so you should too". You are completely dismissing real, and valid concerns about the optics. This is popular now. How is this goign to lookin 2028 when she runs for POTUS? How are voters nationally going to view thos photos of her smiling and being chummy with Trump? How is she going to convince voters that she was fighting fascism while working with it?