Yes, according to Bill Ballenger, publisher of The Ballenger Report.
Ballenger and three other pundits were quizzed by Michigan Information & Research Service (MIRS) on Monday, Oct. 19, as to how they felt about various hot button issues with two weeks left until the Nov. 3 general election. Here are the questions and Ballenger’s answers:
1. A Mitchell Research Communications Poll released today has former Vice President Joe BIDEN 10 points up in Michigan. At this stage in the 2016 election, a Mitchell poll had Hillary CLINTON up by 12 points. Could Trump conceivably win Michigan again?
Extremely doubtful, and it’s hard to believe Hillary was up by that much at the same time four years ago. Could the last-minute erosion of the Democratic nominee’s support happen again? I continue to believe there have been way too many polls showing Biden substantially ahead. I can’t believe lightning will strike twice in the same place.
2. Will it be possible to say for sure which presidential candidate has won Michigan’s electoral votes by the Wednesday after election day?
I think it’s highly likely. We just won’t know the final margin of victory.
3. According to a Gallup Poll released ten days ago, 56% of U.S. registered voters said they are better off now than they were four years ago, which Gallup claims is an historic high. This seems out of sync with most polls, which show President Donald TRUMP losing, and not by close margins. Should we just write-off this Gallup poll as inaccurate? Does it have any credibility at all?
Gallup may not be far off, but whether voters feel they are better off economically today than in 2016 doesn’t seem to matter anymore. That in itself is an historical anomaly, as is Donald Trump. I think the president has just been too obnoxious, too often, for too long in the opinion of too many people to be able to win again.
4. Are social media platforms too biased in terms of opinions they do not allow to be expressed?
It appears so. It’s one thing to have guidelines and parameters for obscene or threatening or hate-filled speech, but curbing or suppressing First Amendments rights in the expression of opinion seems to have gone too far. Trouble is coming for Facebook, Twitter et al.
Also giving their answers in the MIRS Oct. 19 edition were Jill Alper, CEO of Alper Strategies; Janell Leonard, owner of Marketing Resource Group; and Detroit political analyst Steve Hood.
Ballenger’s guests on Michigan Talk Network’s “The Political Insider” syndicated radio program this coming week-end will be William Whitbeck, former chief judge of the Michigan Court of Appeals; Terri Lynn Land, former Secretary of State and now a candidate for the Wayne State University Board of Governors; and state Rep. Julie Calley (R-Portland), wife of former Lt. Gov. Brian Calley. The program will be posted and archived on TheBallengerReport.com website Friday afternoon, Oct. 23.
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Thank you Bill Ballenger. I’ve been saying that word “obnoxious” for at least 5 years in regard to Donald Trump. His actions follow the statement “criticism is a form of autobiography” i.e. whatever he vociferously attacks someone else for, he is 10 times more guilty himself. Trump is a pathetic narcissist.
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I could say the same for the dems. Some very nasty comments coming out the swamp.
Having been attacked from day one, I don’t blame him anymore.
I agree with John Stewart. Trump is a “pathetic narcissist” and would like to be King Trump of the USA, God forbid. From his first day of campaigning he has been a divisive person, pulling American apart. I know that I am not being nice but feel that Donald Trump deserves all of the backlash that he is getting. Yes, he has done some good things but we absolutely cannot having a ranting and raving liar, egotist, snob as our leader. How he could be declared mentally fit for President by any doctor is beyond me. We don’t like the idea of abortions legalized but yet we tolerate riots where innocent people are seriously injured and killed. I abhor all of that. Wake up citizens of the USA, we must change our ways of electing our people at the top of our shaky government.
Two things will defeat Trump on November 3. He has failed to recognize that he he is President of all Americans, not just his “base”. His decisive nature has torn this country apart and most people recognize this.
Second is his total disregard for climate change; unequivocally the most critical crisis facing humanity, today and in the foreseeable future. The future well being of our planet for our children and grandchildren are at stake and spite of dire warnings from scientists around the world, Trump, for his own political gain, has refused to acknowledge the seriousness of this issue.
Nope, Bill. I don’t like the words coming out of his mouth, but based on how viciously attacked he has been since day one, I don’t blame him!
Wrong answer! Michigan will easily elect a Populist Republican for President. That’s how Reagan won twice. The only reason Bush 41 won Michigan is because he was riding on Reagan’s coattails. Keep in mind that the presidential race will be decided in Macomb County. And if Dementia Joe (who has retreated to his cellar) felt he had Michigan locked up, his minions would not be spending so much time here. ‘Obnoxious’ is in the eye of the beholder. Of course, those who detest Trump’s policies use that term and worse; those who think well of DJT simply refer to him as down to earth. Keep in mind also that none other than Richard Nixon won here in 1972. The climate in the country, then as now, was polarized. But when the silent majority went to the polls, they spoke volumes. In 1972, McGovern was deemed way too liberal; in 2020 Biden is characterized the same. History repeats itself, just not in the same way!!
The votes should sepaerate the personality from the philosophy of the candidates. Choose the direction for the country not the candidate that you like.
I agree with JD Winegarden’s comment he ran fro the prsidency to escape a jail sentence for his financial fraudlent enterprises, how can you look the other way concerning his persoanlity traits? His sociopathatic personality has tribalized this nation using division to not only keep his base happy but divide us based on politics, how can this maniac justify separating immigrant children from their parents, joke and dance like the village idiot at his rallies and claiming the pandemic is a hoax. Running for the office of POTUS, should not become an escape ploy to avoid going to jail. There are so many grievances against this criminal enterprise it actually would take most of the day to list each. You cannot separate personality from policy especially when the personality such as his does in fact affect all of us in this country. Its pure spin to say well we have to overlook what he says and how he acts he was joking ..tell that to the dead from the pandemic. His personality being a very stable genius caused the premature death of tens of thousands of Americans by not acting responsible towards Covid-19. Keep believing he was only joking as more of us in this country are susceptible to death because it is his personality …after all he has the best interest of the country at heart or does he?
He’s way beyond obnoxious .Anyone that does not see that needs there head examined!
He is running for President to avoid Jail.
Rule number one, never vote for a sociopath. Rule number two, see rule number one.
Other than that if the economic system in place from 1945 till 1975 were still in effect working and middle class folks would be making twice what they are now. The Republicans have so skewed the economy that the wealth of the country has been shoveled into the pockets of the rich. All they have to do is waive the poor, immigrants and what ever minority they feel like blaming today at folks and people vote to send their money in bunches to the one percent. The working and middle class make jobs by their spending not the rich.