Republicans are tamping down the crazy and the weird at the convention—like no election fraud, no abortion ban talk, and no vaccines—to present their dangerous agenda in a non-threatening way. Meanwhile, why can a 20-year-old buy 50 rounds of ammunition, but not a White Claw or a pack of cigarettes? Plus, we introduce a new Kamala-themed segment: The Coconut Meter. Adam Kinzinger joins Tim Miller.
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Where is the conversation about Adam for VP? Has he endorsed her yet (he had already endorsed Biden, so I assume he would endorse Harris)? I hear all the other names mentioned but his. He should sit down with Kamala and have a heart to heart conversation, mend fences if needed, and offer his full support. They can then talk about issues that they have in common and the possibilities of a true "Unity" ticket, in stark contrast to how Trump said he would unify the country and then went back to his more familiar divisive rhetoric.
Adam should be Kamala’s VP pick. Out of the box solution, adds national security cred and grabs media attention. Adam would cream Vance in a debate.
In all the talk about mass deportations and concentration camps, I hadn't remembered Elian Gonzalez. Here's the Pulitzer Prize winning photo of the Feds taking Elian into custody:
https://images.app.goo.gl/qxW96WvCz3ZpS7QH8
Here's a challenge: take a look at the terrified expression on his face and try to keep your composure
Attention Democratic campaign: THIS is the look of "mass deportations".
Re guns and age, like it or not, the 2nd Amendment is an EXPLICIT ENUMERATED RIGHT. The kind of right in which Justices Thomas and Alito at least are going to rub everyone's noses. As such a RIGHT, if you're old enough to vote, you're old enough to engage in mass murder with firearms.
American exceptionalism!
In contrast, there's no enumerated right to buy inebriating beverages or tobacco, so age limits NBD to this Supreme Court.
American exceptionalism!!
So-called common sense has NOTHING to do with current US jurisprudence.
How about a Harris-Kinzinger ticket?
Biden needs to step down after he recovers from covid. How many signs do you need man? At this point he seems like he's being just as narcissistic as trump with his "I alone can defeat him" BS. I alone can hold NATO together like fool wtg you talking bout? Dems have such a deep bench and the biden team has destroyed their chances at exactly the worst time imaginable.
When might we get any updates on whether Merrick Garland re files the documents case? It's a fed case, why not just call Aileen's bluff and hammer down in DC?
I was wondering what people in communities would do if Trump was elected and these 'mass deportations' started to happen. So I looked back to 2018. https://rosemary.substack.com/p/when-they-come-for-your-neighbours
I don’t question the assassination attempt. I also believe there is NO place for violence of any kind, including rhetorical. It was a sad, horrific event.
The recent article from PBS gives a clear view of Trump as he left the stage. If you zoom in on his ear, there is no hole, it doesn’t even seem he lost a chunk of ear. The wound doesn’t look any worse than a scraped knee. The gauze is still there to draw attention and sympathy. He’s a showman, he understands the reaction the gauze will evoke.
Our candidate should call him and his sinister movement DARK MAGA and then pivot to portraying America’s Bright Future.
Tim, so good to see you looking like yourself again, and hearing you sounding hopeful. While I just haven't been able to bring myself to watch all the pods since the debate, many of the ones w/ you have made my heart ache b/c you looked so deflated - the way I've felt. I kept thinking that you've devoted years of your life to beating TFG, and this is the best we (Dems) can do??? And I've wondered how Biden could have such an obviously incredible staff for running the country, but an apparently inept campaign staff.
Adam, bought your book when it came out and always enjoy hearing what you have to say. Love your passion for Ukraine; and always learn something when you talk about military stuff.
Both of you goofs: look at a photo of a coconut tree; it's a PALM, it doesn't have LIMBS, it has an often-curved trunk w/ a crown of fronds! 🤪
Sadly I have friends on the left who are pushing out conspiracy theories around the shooting.
Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots are made for Walking" sounds appropriate for Trump's Revenge tour.
Nancy Sinatra might have something to say about that. She is not a Trump fan.
I liked Tim's take; the index card/bandage sponsored by My Pillow.
People keep pushing Kamala Harris to replace Biden, but this will be perceived by voters as more of the same.
Voters around the world are punishing whoever was in charge during inflation (e.g. UK going left, France going far right and far left). A Harris candidacy would be perceived as a continuation of the Biden presidency, asking to be re-elected when voters want a clean break from the inflation era.
For Democrats to win they need a candidate who is likable and seems plausible as a president. How about Gina Raimondo, or obviously any one of the governors of Pennsylvania, Michigan, or Colorado?
First off great show! Adam, Liz and Cassidy are true modern day heros! Tim, I want to expound on something you said. I’m not a conspiracy theorist so this has nothing to do with that. I just find it very odd that with an attempted assassination of a former president that there was not one press conference by an attending physician or even a hospital spokesperson. That just does not seem right. Would I believe that trump’s bandage is a prop? Sure I could believe that. Is it a prop? I have no idea. I picture that once trump was treated and stabilized everyone in that hospital was up to their eyeballs in NDAs.
What day will Biden be bowing out? Friday, Saturday, or Sunday?
I'm saying that he does it after coming out from isolation.
Adam, would you consider accepting a VP invitation? You would draw in so many disaffected Republican voters to the ticket. I can just see the new Dem campaign motto "Bring America Together Again"!
I agree 100%: Kinzinger for 2024 VP and 2028 Prez! I'm an independent and will vote Dem 2024. The souls of 1775-1781 need to visit all Americans in their dreams starting now to save our democratic-republic.
VP? Hell, how about Prez! I always wished he could be my congressman.(Tom "Tea Party "Emmer is currently mine.And I'm not bragging)
I think the asassination attempt is now hitting home to him as a major narcissistic injury. That's why he looks deflated. His great ego is having to deal with both his run of the mill humanity and the fact someone actually tried to kill his bigly beautiful self.
OTOH, narcissist Trump might take the fact that someone tried to assassinate him as confirmation of his importance and indispensability!
On the surface, but not inside.
Spot on!
Yeah. He sure found god. And pigs also fly.
Is it too much to hope that this will be a long-term effect on his confidence on the trail? Would be very interesting if he cut back on outdoor rallies.
Very interesting if he cut back on cheap outdoor rallies.
Watching the speech, I have to wonder if there isn't also some physical damage. He is awfully monotone and affectless.
Tim, Adam - I’d be interested in your take on Eliot Cohen’s July 17, Atlantic article, “Cancel the foreign-policy Apocalypse.”
I missed that article. Thanks for mentioning it.
I called my (democratic) representatives and urged them to take a stand and ask Biden to step down from the race. It feels pretty good to have take a little action.
Did I cancel you out?....lol
I think the mass deportation signs are this election's "build the wall". The wall was not built and certainly what was built was not paid for by Mexico. And people didn't hold it against the candidate in the 2020 campaign or this one. Same with "lock her up" though on that one I suspect Jeff Sessions put a stop to any attempt to do that.
If Trump were to deport all the illegal immigrants, he would need to find a new scapegoat.
He selected one as VP.
The same people at the RNC who want Ukraine to surrender so that we avoid "WW3" would *gladly* take us to war with China over semi-conductor access or to war with Iran over Israel. They're selective "isolationists" at best.
And yea, mass deportations is going to be "stop and frisk" mixed with child separation policy mixed with camps mixed with a federal vs state law enforcement fight. It's going to be a massive humanitarian shit show, a massive moral failure, and it will also be economically inflationary.
Trump will get around to mass deportations after he finishes building the wall - i.e., never. He can't afford to get rid of all the illegal immigrants because that would rob him of his scapegoats and his main talking point.
Massive deportations and 10% across the board tariffs (60% on China) will make the short 9% inflation look like a picnic. Plus all the retaliation will lead to worldwide recession. Think about it. Have a happy Friday!
Tim,
I came off listening to you, Sarah, and JVL on yesterday's podcast and before stumbling way to this 'cast with Adam, I checked our the "Smirconish Poll." [Note: while he purports his show is bullseye Center, his audience is left-of center. I determine this by the results of his daily polls over the years.]
That said --- check out this poll of 3,000+, albeit, not scientifically determined self-choosing poll takers. 84% of this cadre think Uncle Joe should leave the race!!!
https://www.smerconish.com/daily-poll/thank-you-for-voting
The fact that Joe says he can live with losing as long as he has "fought the good fight" drives me to drink more than I ordinarily do.
To paraphrase a line from the opening monologue of the movie, "Patton" :
"Now I want you to remember that no candidate ever won an election by only "fighting the good fight." He won it by making the other candidate look like a dumb bastard incapable of governing."
Seems like Trump doesn't have to take shots at Uncle Joe since Joe is showing that inability every other day via his own arrogant self.
I realize every person seeking the presidency has to have the arrogance to do so. But they also need the ability to project the stamina and "message" to do the job (like Clinton and Obama surely did.)
The US is best positioned of any country in the world after the pandemic. This is in large part due to the leadership of Joe Biden and his team. There are residual issues from the pandemic, like inflation, but it is lower than in other countries and going down — as you can note from the Fed planning to lower interest rates.
Do you want someone who can run the country, or someone who can entertain you on TV?
So far, Joe Biden has given every indication his judgement is sound.
When the D’s come up with anything even close to Q-anon……then you can “bothsides” the conspiracy theory crap.
Other than that, good podcast.
Crack and the CIA. AIDS. The KAL airliner shot down by the USSR. Those are the ones I can come up with just getting ready for bed.
Maybe off topic but Joe can’t make the case.
How bout someone that can say some stuff like…
Our ancestors didn’t declare independence from England so that our SCOTUS and a cult of personality could create a king.
Our grandparents didn’t fight in Iwo Jima and Normandy so that a grifter from Queens could bring fascism to our own Nation’s shores.
Our parents didn’t fight communism and the Cold War, leaving US blood in Korea and Vietnam just so “Captain bone spurs” could praise, exchange love letters and coddle didtators. Could abandon NATO and our allies to the wolves. Could right now leave people fighting for their lands, lives and freedom to the whims of murderers. “Let them do what they want.”
That is not the America so many fought and died for.
The ‘price of eggs’ has made too many forget the steel in their spine. That ain’t no price to pay. Freedom demands vigilance, sacrifice and sometimes literally fighting for it.
🇺🇸
RNC 2024: Augustus Auriculus, Heimat meets Hee Haw.
Link to the NYT story on Crooks?
added to show notes
I would not be surprised if Rick Wilson has that idea in the works.