Trump? Clinton? Nope. How about beer instead, says downtown Midland business

The owners of Michigan Brew Supply put up a sidewalk sign about two weeks ago that lists 'Trump,' 'Hillary' and 'Beer,' with a cross through both names and 'Beer' double underlined. The owners of Michigan Brew Supply put up a sidewalk sign about two weeks ago that lists 'Trump,' 'Hillary' and 'Beer,' with a cross through both names and 'Beer' double underlined. Photo: Chris Aldridge, Caldridge@mdn.net Photo: Chris Aldridge, Caldridge@mdn.net Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Trump? Clinton? Nope. How about beer instead, says downtown Midland business 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

Decisions, decisions.

Public opinion of the two frontrunners running to be the next president of the United States is as scattered as a drum of spilled glitter. Polls show Donald Trump has the edge one week and Hillary Clinton leading the next. Recent Michigan polls show a swing in favor of Clinton.

On the fringes, Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein are picking up steam.

Through it all, there’s rarely been a better chance or more ample fodder to feed a political discussion among family, friends or complete strangers — or fuel an oft regrettable “that escalated quickly” dialogue-turned-heated-argument that tests relationships.

“I think mostly everyone is ready for it to be over,” said Nicole van Schagen, who co-owns Michigan Brew Supply on Townsend Street with Matthew Kris.

It doesn’t mean the business can’t have a little fun in the meantime: the owners put up a sidewalk sign about two weeks ago that lists “Trump,” “Hillary” and “Beer,” with both names crossed out and “Beer” double underlined.

The succinct message seems clear: it acknowledges that neither candidate likely to claim presidency is desirable, an opinion gaining popularity. Not to fear, though, because there’s still beer.

And dissecting this further may be futile: messages on the sign always say something goofy on one side, van Schagen said.

“This one’s gotten a lot of attention,” she said.

The sign’s topical humor hasn’t necessarily ushered in a flood of business to the relatively new downtown store, which opened in the summer of 2014. But it has stirred many reactions, according to van Schagen.

“It’s not anything to dive deep into,” she said. “We’re not diving any deeper than what’s out there. … We didn’t want to take sides. Beer is what we do.”

For those who want to adhere to the sign’s message, van Schagen suggests a black IPA to endure the election. The ale takes the heavy body of a stout and smacks of citrus and pine normally found in an Indian pale ale, she said.

It’s for those seeking “the best of both worlds” — both in a glass of suds and a president, according to van Schagen.

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Michigan Brew Supply isn’t the only local business to have fun at the expense of the approaching election.

The Midland Area Chamber of Commerce reports it recently surveyed the business community to ask, if voting today, who would be the next president.

The Chamber has about 1,000 members, including various businesses, organizations and nonprofits. There were 116 respondents. The results showed Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson was only a few votes short of Donald Trump. Hillary Clinton had the lead with 41 votes (35.3 percent), Donald Trump had 35 votes (30.1 percent) and Gary Johnson had 32 (27.5 percent). Green Party candidate Jill Stein received three votes.

What’s more, the survey included a comments section. One respondent reportedly wrote, “The Sweet Meteor of Death should be an option!!”

“It’s a crazy, unpredictable election season, fueled partly by the voters’ frustrations, partly by the unusual, polarizing individuals running for election, and partly by perceived influence of media outlets and social media,” Diane Middleton, director of community programs, wrote in the Chamber’s weekly update for Aug. 24.

“And hey, we’ve got 11 more weeks of I-can’t-watch-but-I-can’t-look-away-either craziness to go, so make sure your helmet is strapped on nice and tight.”

Oh, and, “bonus points to the respondent who still has us chuckling about the Meteor of Death,” Middleton wrote.