My overriding political concern is that Biden defeats Trump. Nothing is more important than that. Kamala Harris is the best VP pick that Biden could have made to help achieve that all-important goal.
I like Susan Rice a lot, and I hope she will get a top-level post in a Biden administration, such as Secretary of State. However, if she had been the VP pick, all we would have heard is “Benghazi” repeated a thousand times a day every day until the election.
Why? I would have thought you’d approve. I’m…unsure…if picking a progressive was the right move, but assuming that’s what Biden felt would balance the ticket (with himself presumably in the role of moderate) I can see this choice.
Who are you comparing her against? Biden said he would pick a woman, and after George Floyd it absolutely had to be a black woman.
So the choices were Susan Rice (never run for office, Benghazi); Karen Bass (House member, too old); Val Demings (House member); Keisha Lance Bottoms (Mayor); Stacey Abrams (no national position). No successful campaign had a VP less than a Senator or Governor since before I can remember. IIRC, the last unsuccessful ticket to lack one was Mondale/Ferraro, and that was a Hail Mary.
Harris is a major state Senator and a legitimate candidate for president. Only Rice came close to those qualifications. Biden is old school. That he alit on the safest old school choice is unsurprising. That doesn’t make her the worst choice this year. 2020 is the time for safe choices.
snort Palin would be a total desperation move; she’s sooooo last election cycle, hell two cycles ago; she’s a pathetic has-been, a witless gabbler as bad as Trump at spewing word salad, an irrelevant mediocrity way past her sell-by date. Harris would feel no compunction about not holding back (can’t have a male VP candidate beating up a woman, but…) and would eviscerate her and leave shreds of her deflated persona all over the stage.
And someone who easily blunts the “Joe Biden wants to abolish the police” attacks, which were silly anyways but this just doubles down how silly that was. Not to mention she does have one of the most liberal voting records in the Senate. Her time as AG of California did not win her any favors among the left, but her voting record helps with Democrats and her AG time helps with independents who may get spooked at violence following protests (and erroneously blame that on the protestors).
Solid choice. Had to be a black woman, and she has the best resume in my opinion of any of those under consideration. Biden proved that he isn’t afraid to pick someone who challenged him in a debate, unlike a certain someone we know who can only tolerate sycophants.
I don’t personally like her. She rubs me the wrong way. However, this is my bottom line:
She is a great foil to Biden. He can now relax more into his role as Uncle Joe. He can be the caring, compassionate one and let her be the pit bull. She can do the attacking and let him concentrate on healing and uniting the country.
She is capable and smart. Again, I may not personally like her but I have no doubt that she is capable of being President on day one. I see no evidence that she is incapable of learning or listening to experts. In these tough times, don’t underestimate intelligence.
I don’t want this to come out the wrong way but I think she will energize African-American women. This is a block that can make a huge difference. Yes, they were always going to prefer Biden overall, but there is a difference between supporting him and being actively engaged and the may get some otherwise apathetic voters to the polls.
Finally, let us not forget that regardless of race, she would still be the first female Vice-President. I am glad to see my gender represented by a smart, tough, ambitious woman of my age.
I don’t have a horse in this race. On the face of it, she seems like an okay pick. It will please some of the progressives and identity focused. She is well spoken and has done meaningful things in the past.
I think it’s a good choice for Biden, all things considered. It will definitely help him get the left on board with getting out and voting that didn’t happen the last time. It won’t hurt him with any of his potential voters. Plus, I honestly think he can’t fail at this point, unless something really nasty comes out about him, so this is a good time to make this move.
I’m unsure why some in this thread who I perceive on the left don’t think this is a good choice. Is it her record as AG?? Something else I’m missing?
