# Harris VP choice as she is the official presidential nominee of the Democratic Party for 2024 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** kamala-harris\ **Created:** [July 21, 2024, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552 "2024-07-21T19:06:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 74
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1465 "2024-08-06T20:03:45Z")
**Moderating** : Getting pretty off-topic now. Sorry, I’m going to hide your post. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1466 "2024-08-06T20:08:59Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > The worst thing about him is the big “Who?” that will come from a significant number of voters. I will admit I never heard of the guy before reading about him here. I hadn’t heard of any of them except Buttigieg, and I’m moderately politically alert. I don’t think that’s an issue at all. I’m general, most voters haven’t heard of the Veep candidate until they are in the election spotlight. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1467 "2024-08-06T20:38:44Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > most voters haven’t heard of the Veep candidate until they are in the election spotlight. Quite so. See Kaine, Pence, Palin, Quayle, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1468 "2024-08-06T20:51:29Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > The best comment I’ve heard so far is that Walz is the guy that JD Vance pretends to be. I’ve seen that repeated several times—because it does ring true. Vance _pretends_ to be the Midwestern/rural guy of humble origins who raised himself up by his own bootstraps. But actually he’s been raised mainly because he caught the fancy of an ultra-right-wing billionaire (Peter Thiel). Whereas Tim Walz really **is** the guy in the image: humble Midwestern roots and bootstraps-rise and all. And most importantly: Walz appears to possess actual _ **decency** _—a trait Vance doesn’t even recognize as being an actual thing. Walz is a great choice. In these image-conscious times, his ‘happy warrior’ persona, beside Harris’s laugh and positivity, will form a massive contrast to the Trump/Vance trademarked _Apocalyptic Hate-Mongering Negativity._ It’s American Hope vs. American Carnage. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1469 "2024-08-06T21:04:49Z")
I like his take on bootstraps in this clip, starting at about 7:10. > **[‘These guys are weird’: Gov. Walz blasts Trump-Vance ‘obsession’ with...](https://www.msnbc.com/inside-with-jen-psaki/watch/-these-guys-are-weird-gov-walz-blasts-trump-vance-obsession-with-anti-freedom-agenda-215711813835)** > > “You know there's something wrong with people when they talk about freedom: freedom to be in your bedroom, freedom to be in your exam room, freedom to tell your kids what they can read. That stuff is weird,” says Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on the agenda... ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1470 "2024-08-06T21:15:09Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > And most importantly: Walz appears to possess actual _ **decency** _ So a bit from the NYT today that the ticket headed by a convicted felon and rapist is attacking Walz over a 1995 drunk driving incident. [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/06/us/politics/tim-walz-dui.html?unlocked\_article\_code=1.A04.Bjy-.1xGLCA1r3nsC&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/06/us/politics/tim-walz-dui.html?unlocked_article_code=1.A04.Bjy-.1xGLCA1r3nsC&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare) Here’s what stands out to me: > [@](#): > > “He felt terrible about this,” Mr. Horford added, noting that Mr. Walz immediately reported the incident to the Alliance High School principal, ceasing all of his extracurricular activities including coaching, and offering to resign from his teaching job — an offer his boss talked him out of. > > “He, I think, takes the position that he’s a role model for the students there,” Mr. Horford said. “He let them down. He let himself down.” “Decency” is good word. The contrast is dramatic. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1471 "2024-08-06T21:22:04Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > “He, I think, takes the position that he’s a role model for the students there,” Mr. Horford said. “He let them down. He let himself down.” Clearly he should have blamed the Marxist prosecutor and conflicted judge. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1472 "2024-08-06T21:25:33Z")
This is absolutely hilarious! Trump joined the Republican bandwagon attacking Walz as a “radical leftist” **[by making the following statement today](https://www.rawstory.com/trump-jab-at-walz-backfires-when-reporter-spots-tone-deaf-double-standard/)**: > Embracing policies to allow convicted felons to vote, Walz is obsessed with spreading California’s dangerously liberal agenda far and wide I guess the advantage of being a clueless moron is that the Orange Felon can make statements like that with no sense of irony or shame. On a slightly different angle, I made a few comments earlier when it looked like Walz was going to be the choice, but now that’s it’s confirmed I’ll join many others in saying how thrilled I am with the choice (not to mention how happy I am that it isn’t Shapiro). And maybe it’s just me, but Walz’s genial good nature and progressivism seems to highlight more than ever, in very stark terms, the difference between Team Harris and Team Trump, essentially the difference between competence and compassion versus ignorance and pure evil. It’s astounding to me that Americans have to think about what choice they should make. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1473 "2024-08-06T21:28:33Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > It’s astounding to me that Americans have to think about what choice they should make. Sadly, you should never discount the ability of this country to screw the pooch (no offense intended) on gobsmackingly obvious decisions like this. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1474 "2024-08-06T21:35:17Z")
Damn, Shapiro has me cheering from my couch. I love his GSD reference. Getting Shit Done. Feeling hopeful. Feels alien. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1475 "2024-08-06T21:38:21Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > > [@wolfpup](#): > > > > It’s astounding to me that Americans have to think about what choice they should make. > > Sadly, you should never discount the ability of this country to screw the pooch (no offense intended) on gobsmackingly obvious decisions like this I quoted this recently to a friend about the various VP choices (both JD Vance and Harris’ future pick), and think it bears mentioning to the above points: > # “When you’re born into this world, you’re given a ticket to the freak show. If you’re born in America you get a front row seat.” > > ― George Carlin However, and to the point of the thread, there is a concerted effort by Harris and Walz (historically) to try to limit the crazy, and push on with, you know, the business of government. Which, agreeing with @wolfpup, the Democratic Party is trying to boost: > [@wolfpup](#): > > competence and compassion versus ignorance and pure evil. [please pardon my snip, I think I preserved your meaning though] One additional advantage to Walz though, is that a key MAGA tactic has been driving FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) - make Biden scary (he’s controlled by XYZ, he’s a zombie, he’s on drugs), make Harris scary (POC / liberal / different / other), and so on and so forth. But when you look at Walz, it’s really _hard_ to imagine him that way. Sure, they’ll continue to do it, but he’s a LOT harder target than most. (sorry, Shapiro, Polis, Buttigieg, it’s not fair, but you’re easier targets, doesn’t mean you deserve poor treatment for your choices and faith) ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1476 "2024-08-06T21:40:31Z")
I didn’t know anything about Walz before now. I love him! He’s great. Perhaps one of the few American politicians I wouldn’t mind in Canada. He is super likeable, especially compared to Vance. What a contrast. He speaks well. Very progressive, which is important to a lot of younger voters. All in all, a great pick. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1477 "2024-08-06T21:41:02Z")
Shapiro is totally on board with the Walz talking points. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1478 "2024-08-06T21:47:53Z")
I like this video - as stated, Can’t imagine Trump or Vance doing thus: > **[Randi Mayem Singer (@randi.mayem.singer) on Threads](https://www.threads.net/@randi.mayem.singer/post/C-VPYg8yDGN?xmt=AQGzx02VX43Sreot_pK8iJ_V-kMB6jGBc_9vD0hmG60xmA)** > > I want a VP with a dog voice. Can you imagine Donald or Vance doing this? Brian (cant get to embed- Walz talks and plays with dog) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1479 "2024-08-06T21:53:46Z")
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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1481 "2024-08-06T21:53:54Z")
Please see new thread: > [@A thread started shortly after Harris's choice of Walz as VP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-started-shortly-after-harriss-choice-of-walz-as-vp/1005352): > > Sorry for the weird thread title. Explanation can be found here: [https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-have-a-new-thread-for-harriss-vp-pick/1005348/8](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-have-a-new-thread-for-harriss-vp-pick/1005348/8). And the thread started weeks before she made her choice but which includes discussion of Walz and other options can be found [here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-for-2024-is-governor-tim-walz-minnesota/1004552/6). Personally I was a bit fearful of the choice, as Minnesota governor Tim Walz is unabashedly progressive. Don’t get my wrong, his views are pretty much identical to my own, as far as I can tell. But this elec… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552.md?page=73)