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I’m one of those in the large group of people the article mentions not being familiar with him, so this was very helpful. He honestly sounds great. I just hope he isn’t too progressive for the moderate voters, but it sure works for me personally.
I can see a bit of your point about “too moderate” worries, but in reality this is the time for people to vote for the future.
Might as well go for broke on the bet, because if it goes wrong we’re all fucked anyways.
Either we choose to have a fucking dictatorship, or we choose a progressive leadership the next 4 years (if the scRotuM and legislative bodies aren’t included)
Personally I’m excited that someone “so old” actually seems to care about anyone younger than they are. We need that kind of person in leadership.
I get what you’re saying, but it’s just so vital that we win this one. I’d rather have a ticket that was less optimal from my personal point of view if it makes us more likely to win. Having a wonderfully progressive ticket that loses the election would be a very, very bad thing.
In two respects, however, Harris’ choice could have negative consequences. First: During her years in the Senate and her failed quest for the Democratic nomination in 2020, she adopted a number of progressive positions—endorsing the Green New Deal, opposing fracking, supporting Medicare for All (including for undocumented immigrants), and comparing ICE to the KKK—that she is now repudiating. Choosing a running mate seen as strongly progressive could make it more difficult to separate herself credibly from her past record.
Second: In the context of the Electoral College, Harris’ choice could backfire. While Walz’s Minnesota is safely Democratic, Shapiro presides over the most important swing state in the 2024 election. Although many pundits see Walz as especially appealing to rural and working-class voters, the evidence suggests otherwise. Compared to Biden’s 2020 performance in Minnesota, Walz received the same share of the vote overall (52%), and he did no better than Biden among rural and small-town voters, working-class voters, and Republican identifiers while running four points behind Biden among Independents.
By contrast, Shapiro far exceeded Biden’s 2020 baseline statewide, racking up 57% of the vote compared to Biden’s 50%. And he outpaced Biden in virtually every electoral group, exceeding the president’s share by seven points among rural and small-town voters, seven points among non-college voters, nine points among Republicans and voters leaning Republican, and five points among Independents.
What’s fun is I’m not sure my dad has realized Walz is a flaming progressive. The response to Covid (fact-based, science supported, and ‘measured’,) and the response to Floyd riots (law and order, but that includes right to protest,) Cary a lot of water with the not-totally-MAGA.
(We also have a lot of inbred hicks that are totally maga, though, and the “you’re weird” resonates in that note.)
It blows my mind that centuries-old concepts “let’s not jump to hasty conclusions” and “people should be free to protest the government but not break the law” just got called “flaming progressive”.
edit: Sorry, now I see what you’re saying, that those were some points that pull people from across the aisle.
Oh yeah. He started as a moderate, but has turned incredibly and wonderfully progressive.
And more importantly, effective.
Edit: a large part of it is that he’s very good at communicating the ”why”. And he’s genuine and sincere. He can pull moderates and the unicorn undecideds in, while also getting progressives very energized.
Love him. (Also I’m excited for Peggy. First Native American gov, first woman in mn to be gov. And she’ll have 2 years for people to get over it while shoe shopping for even bigger shoes.)
I just hope he isn’t too progressive for the moderate voters
I think this is more of a myth than anything, that voters get turned off by a “too progressive” agenda. Bernie was immensely popular, even if he didn’t end up winning the primary. And I think he probably would have helped Hillary a lot if she had picked him as VP instead of Kaine, who didn’t help her at all.
Bernie was very popular in blue cities, but middle America thinks he’s a nut job. There’s zero chance he would have done as well as Biden in a general election for exactly the reasons I’m concerned about here.
How sad is it that my first thought is how mad I’ll be now if we lose? This is a great ticket, where once I was basically eating a week old egg salad I’m now having some proper greens.
LGBTQ - signed a bill that bans the practice of conversion therapy and another that protects people seeking or providing gender-affirming health care in Minnesota.
U.S.-Mexico border - likely to push for reform that offers a pathway to citizenship for some undocumented migrants.
Gun control - Gun owner, hunter, and veteran: understands guns. Supports gun control.
Israel-Gaza - Anti-hamas and historically pro-Israel, but no real insight beyond that on the current conflict.
Economy - Progressive, pro-labor legislation, The United Auto Workers (UAW) celebrated Harris’ decision to name Walz as her running mate. tax cuts to Minnesota residents, while raising taxes on some corporations and high earners.
Paid leave, free school meals, and other issues - Progressive.
My personal two cents - would have liked to see a more vocal anti-genocide stance on Israel, but Israel isn’t really his concern as governor of Minnesota, so I’d expect some more global-issues-oriented statements soon as VP pick. Other than that… this dude’s fuckin great!! My vote for Harris just became much more enthusiastic!
If the republicans and neoliberals don’t ruin it with endless foreign conflicts, this might a great admin (if they win!).
Harris/Walz should run on a platform of implementing something like the Nordic model here in the states, or at least paving the path for it. The Nordic states are not “communists” but have reasonable social welfare and related standards.
States with social welfare have also been shown to be less susceptible to far right ideologies.