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Deutschmeister's avatar

I must admit that watching the Philadelphia Harris/Walz event live on TV changed my thinking on the Walz choice. I had been a Shapiro for VP person, for all the pragmatic reasons that have been discussed here and elsewhere. And then Shapiro spoke, firing up the crowd as the opening act. I mean this as a compliment. He did a great job of it. He set an excellent tone. He said the right things. He obviously has a future. But that is then and this is now. I came away with the feeling that Shapiro sees himself as a Number 1 type of guy—and not without reasons. But the open position is for Number 2, and it felt to me like he was auditioning to be 1B to Kamala's 1A, not her Number 2. Here and now, under these circumstances, it isn’t the right job for someone who might undermine Harris, even if unintentionally, and give off the vibe that the Democrats might have chosen the wrong person for Number 1. Harris has what it takes here and now, and should have the space to define herself, on her terms. Shapiro can wait. He appears not to be someone who will be past his sell-by date in 2028 or even 2032. In contrast Walz seems quite comfortable in his own skin in serving as a Number 2. And he seems adequately prepared for the job, with the bonus of being a much more empathetic figure than J.D., who is abrasive and inherently the grey cloud in the sky with all of his negativity and lack of any perceptible human warmth and emotion.

I also like the fact that Walz, and his wife, both have a teaching background, and that Harris played that up substantially in her presentation. Being a teacher myself, of course I feel this way. Just the same I think that it is time to get back to emphasizing, and praising, that bedrock contribution to society and how it matters to the greater good. Shapiro with his oratory gifts, and Kelly with his fighter pilot and astronaut background, have more of a wow factor attached to them. But Walz has a background that far more everyday people can relate to and understand at heart. If you believe that slow and steady wins the race, the selection of Walz looks better the more one stops to think about it and how it should resonate over time. I’m glad to admit that I’ve been schooled in this instance.

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Cynthia K's avatar

Five minutes into the Biden/Trump debate I, an unapologetic, self-described news junkie (all day and all night to the point of concern for my loved ones) turned off the TV, deleted NPR from my car radio buttons, switched off Twitter and Reddit, unbookmarked The Bulwark, etc. and didn’t, until late last week begin to peek at the news. I truly believe that hopelessness is the enemy of justice and I have never entirely lost hope during the past 8 years until that debate. I really did. I hit fuck it and resigned myself to the inevitability of a fascist state. It was finally just too much to bear.

Baby I am back! I know it is still an uphill climb and there is no resting on laurels, but god damn I am here for the fight and it is about effing time! Cheers to hope and justice!

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