# Kamala Harris's choice of Tim Walz as VP **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** kamala-harris\ **Created:** [August 6, 2024, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352 "2024-08-06T21:19:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/283 "2024-08-08T18:58:06Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > “Governor Walz served honorably for twenty years. We’re just thankful he never had to live through the hell of bone spurs.” It’s a terrible, debilitating condition. Apparently it causes you to lean forward at a weird angle when standing and makes it hard to go down ramps. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/284 "2024-08-08T19:02:50Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > No idea what you’re referring to How did those in his command address him? Master Sergeant? Sergeant Major? _Acting_ Sergeant Major? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/285 "2024-08-08T19:04:12Z")
“Sarge”? “Coach”? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/286 "2024-08-08T19:04:51Z")
Oh, I see. They would have addressed him as Sergeant Major, as he would have been wearing the rank (as far as I know; I was Navy, not Army). ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/287 "2024-08-08T19:04:54Z")
_Assistant TO the Regional Manager_ ---
**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 8, 2024, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/288 "2024-08-08T19:05:30Z")
I’d define progressive as something to the left of center left. Something the middle would think of as radical. But I am honestly asking. He’s not advocating for massive wealth redistribution … ---
**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 8, 2024, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/289 "2024-08-08T19:07:04Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > He’s not advocating for massive wealth redistribution … Is anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/290 "2024-08-08T19:10:38Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > You point to Biden calling for free community college as demonstrating it is center-left. Why is it not a sign that Biden is open to some progressive ideas? Because free public college and college debt forgiveness aren’t something that was in the radar before Biden pushed them, we they? Sure they were. Bernie was advocating for both of those in 2016, and they weren’t new ideas then. Biden’s political genius has always been to position himself right in the center of the Democratic Party., which means he’s been moving slowly but surely to the left since 1974. Biden deserves credit for embracing popular progressive policies, but it’s the progressives who deserve credit for having made those policies popular in the first place, while Biden hung back to see which way the wind was blowing. ---
**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 8, 2024, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/291 "2024-08-08T19:16:17Z")
> [@Tfletch1](#): > > Thank you for such a great post. > > Looking at your ABC link, they’re a bit hypercritical perspective of Walz job and economic growth following the pandemic. It doesn’t consider the fact that the pandemic had a much smaller affect on MN unemployment and GDP compared to the rest of the US. There was no need to have a huge growth in jobs and GDP when you were pretty much plugging along the whole time. Thank you for engaging with it. I am not an economist, so I can’t speak with much intelligence on those matters. But Walz’s record on steering his state as Governor through the pandemic and beyond is definitely a relevant topic to discuss. [I found this Reuter’s article comparing MN vs. the rest of the US in 5 economic areas](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/minnesotas-economy-under-walz-five-charts-2024-08-07/). Looks pretty darn great to me, a non-expert. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/292 "2024-08-08T19:20:01Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > How did those in his command address him? ![](https://media1.tenor.com/m/6ET0ZwnBoSEAAAAC/monty-python-tim.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/293 "2024-08-08T19:32:59Z")
Here’s a CNN segment about the attacks on Tim Walz’ military record and handling of the George Floyd riots. Pretty good. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cEZBECAAnf4/maxresdefault.jpg "Man who served with Walz responds to claims about his military record") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEZBECAAnf4) ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/294 "2024-08-08T23:14:32Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > “Governor Walz served honorably for twenty years. We’re just thankful he never had to live through the hell of bone spurs.” Not to mention avoiding STDs, which Trump modestly characterized as his “personal Vietnam.” ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/295 "2024-08-09T02:56:59Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I’d define progressive as something to the left of center left. Something the middle would think of as radical. But I am honestly asking. He’s not advocating for massive wealth redistribution … Maybe we’ve been beaten down so much that asking for reasonable things feels radical. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/296 "2024-08-09T06:46:07Z")
So it turns out Walz’s great-great grandfather was born in a town less than ten minutes from where I currently live. > **[Harris's Vice-President: Tim Walz has Luxembourgish heritage](https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2221881.html)** > > Tim Walz, Kamala Harris' vice-presidential candidate, has Luxembourgish roots. His great-great-grandfather, Nicolas Reiser, was born in Kehlen, Luxembourg and this connection makes Walz part Luxembourgish. And now I’m crossing my fingers extra-hard he gets elected, because there’s a non-zero chance he can be convinced to visit our little corner of the world on some future diplomatic jaunt. Edit to add: more detailed article. > **[US vice president hopeful Tim Walz’s Luxembourg heritage](https://www.luxtimes.lu/world/us-vice-president-hopeful-tim-walz-s-luxembourg-heritage/17427901.html)** > > The great-great grandparents of the Minnesota governor and Democratic Party VP pick were born in Kehlen and Septfontaines ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/297 "2024-08-09T11:49:33Z")
One of the newest attacks they’re trying on Walz is that he hates white people. That’s plausible, right? Apparently “everyone knows a guy like that.” > **[Desperate right-wingers accuse Tim Walz of being 'anti-white'](https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/reidout-blog/tim-walz-right-wing-attacks-anti-white-rcna165876)** > > Republicans are trying their hardest to find a line of attack on Kamala Harris' running mate. Their latest? Accusing him — a white man — of hating white people. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/298 "2024-08-09T12:43:44Z")
Christ they’re so weird. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/299 "2024-08-09T12:51:10Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > …in a town less than ten minutes from where I currently live. … In Luxembourg, isn’t everything 10 minutes or less from everything else? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/300 "2024-08-09T13:16:23Z")
Har har. We’re the size of Rhode Island, so allow an hour tops. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/301 "2024-08-09T13:27:26Z")
WaPo has a good analysis of the “stolen valor” attacks on Walz: [https://wapo.st/46VYPcd](https://wapo.st/46VYPcd) Some key points about the retirement issue: > [@](#): > > **March 17 —** The National Guard announces possible partial mobilization of 2,000 troops. “The announcement from the National Guard PAO [Public Affairs Office] specified that all or a portion of Walz’s battalion could be mobilized to serve in Iraq within the next two years,” > … > **May 16 —** The Harris campaign did not respond to a request to provide the day when Walz submitted his retirement papers, but records show this is Walz’s last day with the National Guard. He is 41. His daughter, Hope, is 4. In the Library of Congress interview, Walz said he left the Guard in April “to run for this office.” He said that “we were concerned we would try to do both” and “I decided to retire to focus full time on running.” > > [Maj. Gen. Randy Manner](https://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/1/1752.html), U.S. National Guard (ret.), who oversaw overseas deployments, told The Fact Checker that it usually takes at least 90 days to process retirement requests so “60 days would be extraordinarily fast.” Manner said that the Minnesota adjutant general has the final say and could have blocked Walz’s retirement if he thought it would have had a negative impact on the possible deployment. > > A former top official in the Minnesota National Guard at the time, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid being entangled in politics, told The Fact Checker that there was no consideration of blocking Walz’s retirement. So it looks like he almost certainly put in his retirement paper _before_ the mobilization announcement. And he has at least two good reasons to have done so: his run for Congress, and his continuing hearing issues. And his retirement could’ve been blocked, but there was no discussion of blocking it. @Loach, I promise I won’t badger you more about it, but I wanted to reiterate my question: what would it look like to give Walz the benefit of the doubt, and is it worth doing so? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352/302 "2024-08-09T13:53:33Z")
I have a friend who lives in Luxembourg and occasionally does promotional stuff for them. She did not appreciate my suggested tourist slogan of " Luxembourg! Come for the castles, stay for the money laundering!" [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harriss-choice-of-tim-walz-as-vp/1005352.md?page=16)