Walz's team is really good...

... at projecting normalcy with humor.

That's great.

He was my first choice, so I'm pleased. Still worried? Of course. But pleased and energized.

“You don’t win elections to bank political capital — you win elections to burn political capital and improve lives." -- Tim Walz

As ex-Republican Reed Galen says, this election is not about right versus left, it's about right versus wrong.

It's gonna be really difficult for those weird Republicans to tar Walz as a liberal "coming for their guns."

Oh, and this dog came home alive ...

quote:

“You don’t win elections to bank political capital — you win elections to burn political capital and improve lives." -- Tim Walz

Love it!!

quote:

this election is not about right versus left, it's about right versus wrong.

Yes indeed!

quote:

Originally posted by Bernard:

He was my first choice, …

Sorry I missed it … why is Tim Walz your first choice?

quote:

Originally posted by Axtremus:

quote:

Originally posted by Bernard:

He was my first choice, …

Sorry I missed it … why is Tim Walz your first choice?

First by process of elimination...

Kelly -- How does the campaign deal with his labor record? Could lose unions.
Shapiro -- Will lose all those unhappy with Biden's handling of the war in Gaza.
Cooper -- Bad look for the campaign. He is not only older than Kamala, he looks older.
Beshear -- does not support an assault weapons ban, something Kamala has called for in her speeches.

Then, as I listened to him and read more about him, I feel he's very good on the merits.

I think the positives include ...

1. Public regional education -- no elite Ivy.

Yes, I think this is a good thing for getting votes in territory (mostly rural) that Democrats have lost in the past and in keeping lunch pail votes from groups (blue collar union) that were Dem in the past but have drifted based on the GOP's white populist rhetoric.

2. Long military service.

Vance, we "see you" and "raise you one."

3. High school teacher and small town football coach, not Wall Street lawyer.

All of this may connect well with voters in "Blue Wall" states, and in PA. I see him neutralizing GOP populism in a number of ways, bringing the focus back on policy where he can make strong arguments that the GOP is crackpot, dangerous, and itching to hurt "families like yours."

Shapiro may very well have delivered PA with more certainty (but I'm not really ... ah, certain about that). But Shapiro has the same elite pedigree (Georgetown law) we've come to expect in major party candidates. And as much as it pains me to say this, now may not be the most opportune time for a Jewish guy on the Democratic ticket. Shapiro was a bigger risk.

Bernard, You wrote--

"Shapiro -- Will lose all those unhappy with Biden's handling of the war in Gaza."

Certainly, but Harris has done lost them anyway. They will not vote for Biden's VP.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but from my viewpoint, what I'm saying isn't a difficult call.

quote:

Originally posted by Daniel:
Bernard, You wrote--

"Shapiro -- Will lose all those unhappy with Biden's handling of the war in Gaza."

Certainly, but Harris has done lost them anyway. They will not vote for Biden's VP.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but from my viewpoint, what I'm saying isn't a difficult call.

I would like to see some analyses to back up your pov on this.

From what I'm reading, Kamala is charting a different path than Biden. She skipped Netanyahu's speech to congress, she's called out Netanyahu on humanitarian issues, she called for an immediate ceasefire back in March. I've read that she's stoking some hope in progressive circles.

I'm not offering my opinion on the war in Gaza, but I do not get the impression that those unhappy with Biden's handling of the war have closed the door on Kamala.

And it seems very likely that taking Shapiro on board would have made her job a lot harder.

It's a moot point now, but just one bit of reporting on this: https://www.vox.com/2024-elect...tine-biden-netanyahu

quote:

Originally posted by Piano*Dad:

2. Long military service.

Vance, we "see you" and "raise you one."

The GOP has unearthed this old news from 2018 that I think will be a huge fizzle, especially given President Bone Spurs history with the military:

https://www.wctrib.com/communi...truth-about-tim-walz

Got dredged up again in 2022:

https://www.startribune.com/wa...idnt-serve/600216280



Side question relating to the first link...What is "This is a paid endorsement letter to the editor."? I mean, I've never heard of being able to buy a letter to the editor...

Political theater, Bernard. The potential voters Biden lost because of the genocide will not vote for his VP. You'll see.