When Fred Upton speaks, I like to listen. I was intrigued by an article appearing in Bridge Michigan today. Here are excerpts from the article.
With a potential rematch looming between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, former Michigan U.S. Rep. Fred Upton is helping recruit a “unity ticket” to give voters another option he argues is desperately needed. “We’re laying the groundwork now to have an alternative ticket that can beat either one of these two guys,” Upton, a Republican, said of the effort by No Labels, an organization that has traditionally worked to support bipartisanship in Congress but is now focusing on the 2024 presidential campaign.
No Labels has already secured ballot access in at least a dozen states, and organizers say they intend to compete in all 50, including Michigan. But first, they need candidates — for both president and vice president. A national recruitment effort is underway but won’t be completed until March, according to Upton, who told Michigan reporters he would prefer a Republican presidential candidate with a Democratic running mate.
Upton’s not interested in joining the ticket himself, he said, but he mentioned several potential GOP prospects, including former Utah Gov. John Huntsman and former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney. “I am of the belief that a Republican at the top of the ticket would draw more from Trump than if it was in reverse,” said Upton, R-St. Joseph, who voted to impeach the former president for instigating riots at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Several prominent Democrats fear the opposite: That a serious third-party presidential campaign would primarily siphon off moderate voters that Biden will need to win re-election. Upton acknowledged those concerns in a recent conference call with Michigan reporters but said he thinks it’s “too early to say” how a No Labels ticket might actually impact the presidential race. “I’m not going to do anything to re-elect Donald Trump,” Upton said, suggesting he acted on “all the right reasons” when he voted to impeach Trump. “I’m not going to be part of an effort that’s gonna see that happen.”
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There is a lot of buzz about Colorado’s supreme court decision to exclude the former president from the presidential primary ballot. One of my favorite responses came from a quote by Los Angeles Times legal analyst Harry Litman that appeared in Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American. It gets my Quote of the Day.
Recognizing that the former president would undoubtedly appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court—as his lawyers say he will—the court stayed its ruling until January 4, the day before the deadline for the Colorado secretary of state to certify the presidential primary ballot. Los Angeles Times legal analyst Harry Litman warns that “we are in for a wild and woolly constitutional ride over the next 16 days and perhaps beyond.”
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Question of the Day: When a team is up by three in the closing seconds of a basketball why do so many coaches choose not to foul, when it seems like the obvious strategy? What am I missing?
In yesterday’s game during the closing seconds of the first overtime, Michigan had a three-point lead over Florida. Rather than foul and give Florida the opportunity for two free throws, Michigan chose to allow Florida to play it out. After missing their first three pointer, Florida got the rebound and kicked it out to an open shooter who made the game tying three-pointer with 8 seconds to go. Michigan failed to score before time ran out. Michigan then lost in the second overtime.
I have never understood the strategy of not fouling. The only explanation is the coach does not trust his team to execute on the following inbounds play or on a missed free throw. I have seen so many games lost because coaches chose not to foul. To me it is a no brainer.
Michigan coach, Juwan Howard gets my Onion of the Day for not asking his team to foul in the closing seconds.
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Quote of the Day: Los Angeles Times legal analyst, Harry Litman. See the above story.
Orchid of the Day: To my niece Jenna Berge for sending Leah and me a video of her son Harley opening the Christmas card we sent him. The joy and excitement on his face was priceless.
Onion of the Day: Juwan Howard, see the above story.
Questions of the Day: See the above story.
Video of the Day: Enjoy. I am always amazed at the musical talent in this world.
100% with you on the foul strategy. I have always thought that. I can’t believe the coaches are smarter than we are.