Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Michigan’s Dilemma | Red vs. Blue?

Michigan’s Dilemma | Red vs. Blue?

Last updated on: May 15, 2020 at 2:30 pm by Rev. Jared V. Ingle

Michigan’s Dilemma | Red vs. Blue? 2020-05-15T14:30:31-04:00 Rev. Jared V. Ingle

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Real research, Rush Limbaugh, Monty Python, Red vs. Blue analysis, and a call for revival, all in one article. Has this whole thing become more complicated because of some governmental tug-of-war . . . Red vs. Blue? I really do not like to draw party lines, so I’ll let others lead the way this week.

Monmouth University polls
Rush’s rant
Fake news?
National Governors Association
States that have begun to reopen
States that have a plan and a start date
No date yet to reopen
Not on the radar
Regional partnerships
Let’s play a little Red vs. Blue
Michigan’s Dilemma | Red vs. Blue?
Crossroads
Michigan’s Dilemma series

Monmouth University polls

According to Monmouth’s recent polls, Democrats think everything is worse during this time in about every category. It’s almost laughable.

For instance, have more Democrats lost jobs, just because they’re Democrats? Are we all reporting on the same country here?

There’s at least a 10 point difference in most of these categories, between the way Republicans and Democrats are reporting. However, many of these questions require yes or no answers, and are supposed to be objective questions.

Maybe there are two different realities in America right now, or at least two different ideologies or worldviews.

To read the article and look at the charts for yourself CLICK HERE

This is the third in a series of polls each month, with similar findings. As a Pastor and Supervised Therapist, I’m actually moved. I’m really questioning the philosophical underpinnings of an ideology that can lead so many to have a bleak outlook at best, or perhaps even the angst of despair.

Rush’s rant

I was seriously studying this topic in more depth at the beginning of the week, hoping to do a piece on the Red and Blue states, their governors, and their plans. Then I found a video in which Rush Limbaugh essentially communicates what I was attempting to research.

This is an article with a clip of a video by Rush that has seemingly gone viral. This video clip is only about 6 minutes 15 seconds, but it contains the heart of what he’s getting across, the strict lines that are being drawn during this time, states and their governors, Red vs. Blue.

To read the article CLICK HERE

To watch the complete program on Rush’s channel CLICK HERE

Fake news?

Would Rush Limbaugh fall into the category of fake news? Is his opinion valid? After all, he is unashamedly Republican.

My response would be that it is probably true that most, if not every, major news source leans either Red or Blue. Take time to decide which voice you want to hear.

I would say that Rush has proven that he has something to bring to the table of political discussions for decades now in America, no matter one’s party line.

Here’s an exercise that someone recommended. Set your car radio presets to local AM talk radio stations. I’m sure you’ll easily find a station that supports the Democrat platform and another that supports the Republican platform. Switch back and forth between the two presets. You’ll probably be amazed at the vast differences on each station during this time.

To make things perfectly clear as to how the news is handling everything, my dad found this clip from Monty Python. I hope it clears everything up for you as well (1 min 16 seconds).

National Governors Association

The research I was looking into was mainly found on the National Governors Association (N.G.A.) website. Twice per week, a chart is updated tracking how each state is responding to the virus.

To take a look at N.G.A.’s chart CLICK HERE

For my purposes, I have been tracking states that have started to re-open, or states with an announced date to start reopening.

There are plenty of states with “plans,” but no date to reopen.

Then there are also states that are probably not reporting to N.G.A.

I’ve tracked Democrat and Republican governors in each category.

States that have begun to reopen

This is a list of the states that currently have a plan and have begun to reopen. This does not mean that everything is back to normal, but it does mean that the states are implementing a plan.

04.24.20

1 Alaska, Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Republican

2 Oklahoma, Gov. Kevin Stitt, Republican

04.26.20

3 Montana, Gov. Steve Bullock, Democrat

05.01.20

4 Idaho, Gov. Brad Little, Republican

5 Maine, Gov. Janet Mills, Democrat

6 New Mexico, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Democrat

7 Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee, Republican

05.04.20

8 Indiana, Gov. Eric Holcomb, Republican

9 Kansas, Gov. Laura Kelly, Democrat

10 Missouri, Gov. Mike Parson, Republican

11 Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine, Republican

05.05.20

12 Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee, Democrat

States that have a plan and a start date

05.15.20

13 Nevada, Gov. Steve Sisolek, Democrat

05.16.20

14 Utah, Gov. Gary Herbert, Republican

No date yet to reopen

These are states that do not have a date to start reopening yet. In all fairness, some of them may be starting to implement regional plans within the state.

15 California, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Democrat

16 Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis, Democrat

17 Deleware, Gov. John Carney, Democrat

18 Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Republican

19 Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Democrat

20 Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear, Democrat

21 Louisiana, Gov. John Bel Edwards, Democrat

22 Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan, Republican

23 Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Democrat

24 New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy, Democrat

25 New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Democrat

26 North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper, Democrat

27 North Dakota, Gov. Doug Burgum, Republican

28 Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown, Democrat

29 Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf, Democrat

30 Rhode Island, Gov. Gina Raimondo, Democrat

31 South Dakota, Gov. Kristi Noem, Republican

32 Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott, Republican

33 Vermont, Gov. Phil Scott, Republican

34 Virginia, Gov. Ralph Northam, Democrat

35 West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice, Republican

36 Wisconsin, Gov. Tony Evers, Democrat

37 Wyoming, Gov. Mark Gordon, Republican

Not on the Radar

The following states do not have a plan listed with the N.G.A. This does not mean that they have no plan, but only that it is not part of the N.G.A. clearinghouse. Therefore, I really can’t look at this list with any ability to grasp what is taking place in these states.

38 Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey, Republican

39 Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Republican

40 Arizona, Gov. Doug Ducey, Republican

41 Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp, Republican

42 Hawaii, Gov. David Ige, Democrat

43 Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds, Republican

44 Massachussets, Gov. Charlie Baker, Republican

45 Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves, Republican

46 Nebraska, Gov. Pete Ricketts, Republican

47 New Hampshire, Gov. Chris Sununu, Republican

48 South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster, Republican

Regional partnerships

The following states are in regional partnerships of one type or another, influencing their decisions in this time.

Western States Pact: California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Washington

Northeast Multi-State Council to Get People Back to Work and Restore the Economy: Deleware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island . . .

and 49 Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont, Democrat

Midwest Partnership to Reopen Regional Economy: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin . . .

and 50 Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz, Democrat

Let’s play a little Red vs. Blue

To analyze the plans that each state has is beyond the scope of this article. However, I can point out some things . . . facts that leave questions unanswered.

In the states that have already started reopening, 7 are Red and 5 are Blue.

This is a little stronger number to consider. In the states that claim to have a “plan,” but do not have a start date: 8 are Red but 15 are Blue.

Practically speaking, what good is a plan without a date?

By the numbers, why have more Republican governors started officially reopening their states?

Why have almost twice as many Democrat governors put forward a “plan” without a start date?

Michigan’s Dilemma | Red vs. Blue?

As stated above, the Midwest Partnership to Reopen Regional Economy includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Take a look again at which states in this alliance have reopened. Yes, the states with Republican governors have reopened, the Red states, Indiana and Ohio.

We haven’t heard any official reopening dates from the four Blue states, with Democrat governors.

To make matters more complicated to understand, Indiana and Ohio are the two southern border states of Michigan. Why is Michigan claiming to be part of this alliance again if we have such a vastly different approach?

I intentionally leave a question mark after Red vs. Blue? because this is not my area of specialty. However, I would hate to think that party lines have become the basis for the decisions that whole states are making in our union.

I would hate to think that some, not all, Democrats are making matters look worse during an election year.

California, Michigan, New York, and Virginia seem to be making news all the time, and perhaps things are worse in these locales. Their reports and restrictions seem to be worse. All the governors in these states are Democrats. Also, all of them have a “plan” with no start date for reopening.

Crossroads

I’m looking forward to the moment when I will no longer sense the Lord’s leading, perhaps His unction, to write political material. It is not a discipline that I’m well-acquainted with. I have philosophy and ethics coursework as part of my Theology and counseling psychology training, but it is not political journalism.

I also look forward to the day when America will come to a crossroads. Perhaps we’re there now and don’t know it. Maybe it’s time for all of our arguments from every discipline under the sun to fall to the ground.

Could we be witnessing a historical crux between American history and Christian history?

Crossroads in America

JVI | Crossroads in America | 05.14.20

To put it another way, could this be a moment in our generation when America finds herself at the foot of the Cross again?

For a broader perspective, I encourage you to pray with UNITE714

It’s a global movement with ideas for prayer and fasting every week. We’ve just turned a corner. We’ve all been praying for an answer to COVID-19. Now the leaders worldwide are saying that revival and renewal is on the horizon. Take a look at their encouragement and prayer guides for your home, friends, and congregation.

Michigan’s Dilemma series

Constitutional Rights vs. Political Winds

Governor’s Office vs. Legislature

Balance of Power

Good News?

Pastor Jared Ingle

Pastor | Supervised Therapist | Teacher | Writer
Long Lake Friends Church
JC Ingle, Inc.
Traverse City, MI

Previous Post

May 10, 2020

Hannah's Commitment | Mother's Day Reading & Message

Next Post

May 17, 2020 Jethro's Insight | Reading & Message

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Communion Cruz Ingle Crystal Ingle Early Church Engaging Culture Ethics & Society Family Formation History In Dialogue Jared & Crystal Kingdom of God Majority World Church Mateo Ingle Messenger College Mission Narrative Pentecostal Church of God Prayer Shepherding The Sermon The Writings Theology Theology & Psychology Traverse City Uncategorized Vernell Ingle Word Study

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 May 2017 March 2017 March 2014 February 2013 January 2013 October 2012 July 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 August 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What animal did Samson kill with his bare hands?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Bear Leopard Lion Wolf

Michigan’s Dilemma | Red vs. Blue?

TOC

Monmouth University polls

Rush’s rant

Fake news?

National Governors Association

States that have begun to reopen

States that have a plan and a start date

No date yet to reopen

Not on the Radar

Regional partnerships

Let’s play a little Red vs. Blue

Michigan’s Dilemma | Red vs. Blue?

Crossroads

Michigan’s Dilemma series

Pastor Jared Ingle

What animal did Samson kill with his bare hands?