Ross: Why Biden’s primetime address to the nation fell on deaf ears
Sep 2, 2022, 7:41 AM | Updated: Sep 9, 2022, 7:33 am
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers a primetime speech at Independence National Historical Park September 1, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. President Biden spoke on 鈥渢he continued battle for the Soul of the Nation.鈥� (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
The President stood in front of Independence Hall yesterday and said, “Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.鈥�
鈥淭here is no place for political violence in America. Period. None. Ever,鈥� Biden said.
But then he turned hopeful. He said, 鈥淲e are not powerless in the face of these threats. We are not bystanders in this ongoing attack on democracy.鈥�
But a lot of us are just bystanders.
Let me remind you of the latest numbers. They鈥檙e embarrassing, so if there are young children nearby, you may want to cover their ears:
The turnout in our primary election a month ago here in Washington was 40.4%.
That鈥檚 actually considered an excellent turnout for a primary election. Ours was the third highest turnout in the nation. In normal times it wouldn鈥檛 matter. But these are not normal times. I can鈥檛 hand out awards for effort. 40% strikes me as pathetic, even in a primary. Especially in this state.
One of the things I love about Washington is that we make it really hard to not vote.
You get a warning your ballot is coming. You get a state voter’s pamphlet and a local voter’s pamphlet 鈥� available in any language. Your ballot is mailed to your home. It comes with detailed directions and a postage-paid envelope. There are so many drop boxes you can probably walk to one. Plus, every mailbox is also a drop box.
So, it takes a determined non-voter to not vote in this state.
And yet, in the August 2nd primary, 2 million 861 thousand and 795 ballots and their postage-paid envelopes were thrown away.
If you laid those wasted ballots down like carpet tiles, they would cover 50 football fields.
And I really hope we do better in November because 40% is a dangerous number.
Why? Here鈥檚 why. When pollsters asked a sampling of Americans earlier this year, 鈥渋t is justified for citizens to take violent action against the government” — which would cover the fringes on the left and the right 鈥� 34% said 鈥es. 34%!
And when only 40% turn out to vote, all it takes to guarantee a win is 20% plus one.
20% plus one! At a time when 鈥� if the polling is accurate 鈥� 34% are ready to reach for the pitchforks.
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