Harris and Walz Offer Little Changes, but at Least in the Proper Direction for Democracy
I watched the vice presidential debate between Vance and Walz in order to bring you some fresh thoughts on it. God, it was exhausting. Set aside for a moment who was more right or wrong. No one in these kinds of confrontations makes me think, “Wow! That’s presidential behavior. That’s someone who makes me proud and who I would have confidence in holding that White House.”
Vance and Walz get in a mode of being hyper. Of speaking so rapidly they can hardly keep up with their own words, or give their brains time to be thoughtful about what they’re saying. They spew so many words you go numb.
Where is the candidate who will not get flustered or lured into spending most of their time in negative mode telling you how bad the other is? Where is the candidate who will slowly, calmly tell you, “Most of what the other guy just said is wrong or misleading but I won’t dwell on that. Here’s what I’m going to do,” with just enough specifics that you could later call them on it if they don’t? Where is the candidate who can explain what they’ll do so succinctly and clearly that they don’t need all their allotted time. “You have a minute left. Would you like to say more on that?” “No. I’d like you to just fully take in what I’ve already said.”
The VP candidates got a little less hyper later in the debate, but that was around the easy stuff. The stuff where they could seem to generously acknowledge partially agreeing with one another. They have completely different ideas about gun control, but they pat each other on the back for agreeing that fewer kids should die in school shootings. As if that should be enough of a common moment to give us warm, fuzzy feelings.
Vance came off slightly the better in personal confidence and charm, but Walz’s slight under-performance was only for the most ironic of reasons, his being a little too nice. There are certainly worse flaws to have.
To get to my partisan comments, Vance is dangerous. He, and many others who were probably considered as Trump’s running mate, or for his cabinet positions — or who might be the inheritors of the MAGA movement — are smoother and more electable versions of Trump. They would probably be more effective in office at changing the country in unfortunate ways. If Trump does win, then all of them will have that much more influence and that much more chance of coming along next, and being worse.
Looking ahead, I seriously doubt Trump has any interest in Project 2025. Transforming the country and government as that envisions would be a lot of work. Trump just wants to wear the crown of presidency, tell people what to do and fly in Air Force 1.
Looking ahead, I seriously doubt Trump has any interest in Project 2025. Transforming the country and government as that envisions would be a lot of work. Trump just wants to wear the crown of presidency, tell people what to do and fly in Air Force 1. Those who may come along after him might be a lot more focused, and more effective, at doing a lot more damage.
The Harris/Walz ticket certainly has the better policies, even setting aside the truly major items of supporting democracy and not just being in it for gain. But even their policies are still just tweaking around the edges. Oh, some might have real impact on some lives, like enhanced child care making a family possible for some. But it’s still just pushing the edges a little further.
Of course what they promise has to fit the limits of politics. But, there’s a difference between what you promise and what you envision and convey. Nothing radical. Not socialism. Just a fully realized, American version, of a country that makes all of it’s wealth, and not just wealth, but all the goodness of it, fall to those who actually make it work. You and I. Not that some wouldn’t be rich, but there’s no reason for anyone to be below what we now term middle class.
The Harris/Walz speeches lean toward that, but it’s like someone dying of thirst who senses there might be a tiny trickle of extra water if they go a little further left. What their awareness has not realized, what they have not envisioned, is that there is an enormous lake just over yonder hill. A lake that everyone could drink from, dive in, swim in.
But they offer little changes, and they’re in the right direction, and they are what’s on the ticket. If you agree, then give them every push along the way that you can.
