Who do you think will be the Democrats' nominee? (Chosen: Harris/ Walz)

[3acres]

To a casual observer like me, it seems like VP Harris has some early support. But the convention is still about a month away, and I imagine there will be much wheeling and dealing in the interim. I'm also guessing that state delegates previously committed to President Biden are now free to cast their votes as they please. Will that lead to multiple ballots and smoke-filled rooms at the convention?

My personal favorites are JB Pritzker and Gretchen Whitmer, but I doubt either has much chance. In any case, I'll donate to, and vote for, whoever gets the nomination.

[Sputnik]

Kamala has raised 49 point something millions since Joe stepper aside yesterday. That’s a significant showing of confidence. Plus, people are liking the prosecutor vs the felon matchup. I think she’s got it. For VP, Shapiro. That would probably lock up Pennsylvania, a needed state. Anyway, the other good news in this is that the dems are dominating the air waves in a good way.

[Rat Diva]

Another I've seen thrown around [ETA for vice president] is AZ senator and husband of the awesome Gabby Giffords, Mark Kelly.

I could easily handle a veep who's a Navy veteran fighter pilot astronaut rocket scientist, especially one who wanted to invoke the 25th amendment after the Jan 6 attempted coup and voted to impeach TRE45ON.

[What Exit?]

Another I've seen thrown around is AZ senator and husband of the awesome Gabby Giffords, Mark Kelly.

I could easily handle a veep who's a Navy veteran fighter pilot astronaut rocket scientist, especially one who wanted to invoke the 25th amendment after the Jan 6 attempted coup and voted to impeach TRE45ON.

I think Harris will be the Candidate, but I think Kelly would make an awesome VP choice.

[3acres]

Kamala has raised 49 point something millions since Joe stepper aside yesterday. That’s a significant showing of confidence.

I read about that. It's pretty amazing. Afrer I saw that news, I did a cursory search which said the Biden/Harris campaign had raised $96 million. So if my search was valid, she got half that total in a day!

[Rat Diva]

Drat, forgot to mention I'd seen him mentioned as a potential VP :smack: I think Harris will be the presidental nominee.

It grits me to say this but... I think Harris would need to have a straight white cis man as VP to dilute her womanyness and person of colorness for the hoi polloi.

[Rebo]

I agree, Ratty. Much as I would like her to pick Pete Buttigieg, I think mark Kelly would be the smart choice. Oh - I'm all in with Harris for Prez!

:blue: :blue: :blue: <---- new smilie named : blue :

[Rat Diva]

Pete's still really young. Another decade and I think he'll be a major player in the Democratic party.

ETA: :blue:

[hajario]

It's 100% Harris. Done deal. No one is taking her on or even hinting about it. Manchin tried for a few hours and then shut the fuck up.

[What Exit?]

...
Manchin tried for a few hours and then shut the fuck up.
Is that a first for that asshole?
The "shut the fuck up" part?

[Sputnik]

I saw it mentioned that the ultimate farewell to trumpy will have him losing to a, gasp, black woman…. I don’t know if trumpy could ever come to terms with that.

[Rat Diva]

First time I can remember.

Nancy Pelosi has endorsed her and Chuck Schumer is supposed to do so shortly. I hope Obama does. Having the backing of a fondly-remembered two term president would be a big deal.

[What Exit?]

First time I can remember.

Nancy Pelosi has endorsed her and Chuck Schumer is supposed to do so shortly. I hope Obama does. Having the backing of a fondly-remembered two term president would be a big deal.

It seems like Obama is waiting for it to be pretty much official. Not sure why, but that is what I've been reading.

Best guess, is Obama doesn't want his endorsement to be used as a condemnation of the candidate if it somehow isn't Harris.

[Rat Diva]

First time I can remember.

Nancy Pelosi has endorsed her and Chuck Schumer is supposed to do so shortly. I hope Obama does. Having the backing of a fondly-remembered two term president would be a big deal.

It seems like Obama is waiting for it to be pretty much official. Not sure why, but that is what I've been reading.

Best guess, is Obama doesn't want his endorsement to be used as a condemnation of the candidate if it somehow isn't Harris.

Makes sense.

[Rat Diva]

PA senator Bob Casey and representative Matt Cartwright, who are both facing Republiscum candidates, endorse Harris. The Republiscum in question are simultaneously proclaiming that Harris is stabbing Biden and his supporters in the back and that Biden is a doddering old fool who's not fit to be POTUS.

[Borborygmi]

It grits me to say this but... I think Harris would need to have a straight white cis man as VP to dilute her womanyness and person of colorness for the hoi polloi.Same here, and as you and others have already said I think Mark Kelly would be a fine choice. I'll go so far as to make him my predicted choice, although I haven't thought through or heard analysis that considers any Senate control ramifications associated with choosing him.

I love Shapiro but in the spirit of the whole straight and cis and white and male thing I worry that being a Jew might hurt his chances of getting picked here. I'd rather hold onto him as our governor anyway.

In one of the earliest VP speculation posts at the SDMB someone suggested picking an actually successful businessman for the running mate. They were being tongue-in-cheek and I would not be in favor of it but the idea makes me smile every time I think about it.

I never thought the race was hopeless for Biden but I'm legitimately excited about the Harris/TBD ticket's chances now and feeling really good about the next couple generations of Democratic leaders getting experience in governance and looking ready for the national stage if ever called upon. Yes the polls still favor Trump but you can feel a change in the wind.

[Sputnik]

I just copied this from CNN.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign announced Monday that it raised $81million in the first 24 hours since Harris announced she will seek the Democratic nomination.

Her campaign is snowballing.


ETA
This copied from MSNBC.

Future Forward, the flagship super PAC blessed by President Joe Biden, received $150 million in new commitments from major Democratic donors in the 24 hours since the president announced he would step aside from the race." And The Hollywood Reporter reported that big-money Harris backers in Los Angeles are preparing to support her presidential bid as well, in part to counter tech bros who've been backing Trump.


That snowball, it’s coming.

[Rat Diva]

And may it quickly become the size of Jupiter.

And drop splat on the Howling Yam's head and squash him flat.

[mjmlabs]

cross-posted from the fuck trump thread because I was there before I saw this:

My 2¢: Mark Kelly needs to stay in the Senate, and we need to get Ruben Gallego to join him as the AZ Senate delegation; fortunately, Kari Lake's schtick is getting less and less traction as it ages less and less well.

Think Joe Manchin could swallow his pride and run as Kamala's ticketmate rather than her competitor? That would put him closer to the Oval than ever and put him in line for a 2032 run, presumably; that may soon come to look like the best path to the presidency from his POV. I can't think of a more balanced ticket than Harris-Manchin: Woman of color from CA, on the progressive side of the Dem ideological spectrum and also a former prosecutor, teamed with a DINO white man from West Virginia who's a goddamned coal baron? The appeal is so broad it borders on hypocrisy.

Also, don't count out Andy Beshear as Kamala's running mate; he ticks a lot of good boxes.

[Radical Edward]

Harris, no other options.

Side note: it makes me so fucking mad when people refer to women who are running for office by their first name. It minimizes their position and their accomplishments. She's an attorney, she's the vice president. Nobody refers to male candidates by their first names. This happens with women in tons of professional settings and the only reason is so the patriarchy can reinforce that women are less than. Happens at my work too and it's so annoying. My actual boss, the owner with 40 years of experience, gets referred to by clients by her first name, but her associate male doctors are Dr. Cox or Dr. Whitlow or whoever.

It's fucking infuriating and we all need to stop doing it and tolerating it.

[mjmlabs]

Harris, no other options.

Side note: it makes me so fucking mad when people refer to women who are running for office by their first name. It minimizes their position and their accomplishments. She's an attorney, she's the vice president. Nobody refers to male candidates by their first names. This happens with women in tons of professional settings and the only reason is so the patriarchy can reinforce that women are less than. Happens at my work too and it's so annoying. My actual boss, the owner with 40 years of experience, gets referred to by clients by her first name, but her associate male doctors are Dr. Cox or Dr. Whitlow or whoever.

It's fucking infuriating and we all need to stop doing it and tolerating it.

[mind-bogglingly errogant -- i.e., both obviously incorrect and obviously the product of a member of Dunning-Kruger Club -- assertion's emphasis added herein, and replied to below -- Ed.]
Or maybe I meant to indicate both familiarity and familiality. Please go fuck all the way off with your bullshit personal accusations, thanks.

The Harris campaign's Xitter profile is kamalahq (https://x.com/kamalahq) FFS.

[Kat]

Ed, you just said exactly what I was thinking.

[Sputnik]

Kamala is Kamala because there is only one Kamala. Joe was Joe because he was the only Joe that mattered. Barack was Barack because we loved him. Calling politicians by their first names is not a disrespectful act. Hillary, Nancy, etc. Taylor is Taylor, no need to say Swift. When you rise to prominence to the point that you own the first name, it’s a good thing.

[hajario]

Harris, no other options.

Side note: it makes me so fucking mad when people refer to women who are running for office by their first name. It minimizes their position and their accomplishments. She's an attorney, she's the vice president. Nobody refers to male candidates by their first names. This happens with women in tons of professional settings and the only reason is so the patriarchy can reinforce that women are less than. Happens at my work too and it's so annoying. My actual boss, the owner with 40 years

It's fucking infuriating and we all need to stop doing it and tolerating it.

Agree

[C2H5OH]

It's 100% Harris. Done deal. No one is taking her on or even hinting about it. Manchin tried for a few hours and then shut the fuck up.

Manchin wouldn't have a snowball's chance in hell, even in a wide-open field. Too many Dems hate his guts for not being a team player, and that didn't even buy him cross-over appeal with Reps.

[Radical Edward]

Kamala is Kamala because there is only one Kamala. Joe was Joe because he was the only Joe that mattered. Barack was Barack because we loved him. Calling politicians by their first names is not a disrespectful act. Hillary, Nancy, etc. Taylor is Taylor, no need to say Swift. When you rise to prominence to the point that you own the first name, it’s a good thing.

Incorrect, google it. (https://www.theeagleonline.com/article/2020/10/opinion-calling-women-in-power-by-their-first-names-widens-the-gender-gap) This behavior is damaging.

[Radical Edward]

Cornell University (https://as.cornell.edu/news/when-last-comes-first-gender-bias-names)

Pubmed (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6048538/)

[C2H5OH]

Kamala is Kamala because there is only one Kamala. Joe was Joe because he was the only Joe that mattered. Barack was Barack because we loved him. Calling politicians by their first names is not a disrespectful act. Hillary, Nancy, etc. Taylor is Taylor, no need to say Swift. When you rise to prominence to the point that you own the first name, it’s a good thing.

No one calls The Felonious Grifter "Donnie" out of respect. Just sayin'.

[Sputnik]

I just looked at the KAMALA merchandise on the web site. She’s choosing to market herself as Kamala, as it’s considered unique, more so than Harris. As long as she’s fine with it, so am I. In fact, I kind of like the hat with the tri color, large block letter KAMALA on the front. That’s not to say there aren’t Madam President offerings there. I like those too.

What goes on at someone’s workplace is a subject for another thread. This was a pretty good thread before the hijack.

[C2H5OH]

And Clinton specifically marketed herself as "Hillary" to differentiate herself from "Bill". Pelosi never sold herself as "Nancy", and Swift never sold herself as "Taylor". If you mentioned either of those by the first name only, I wouldn't have any idea who the fuck you were talking about, without the last name. Same with "Joe" for Biden. Mention them by their last name only, and I'll know who you're talking about. Your examples are big-time fails. In fact, they contradict your premise.

Nikki Haley doesn't bill herself as "Nimarata", although that would be unique in politics. There's a reason for that...

The complaint is valid. Your objection isn't.

[mjmlabs]

Ed, you just said exactly what I was thinking.
You can keep my name out of your mouth too then.

[Radical Edward]

They go along with the first name branding to make themselves more paltable, because asssertive women are seen as bitchy and controlling and this softens them a bit. This is a whole thing, dudes. It's well documented. You not believing it doesn't make it not true.

[Sputnik]

Thank you Dr Ed. Now, please , the hijack.

The Vp just scored enough pledges to have the necessary delegates to win the dem POTUS spot. She’s in. She made it.

[C2H5OH]

Ed, you just said exactly what I was thinking.
You can keep my name out of your mouth too then.

No one mentioned your name... Paranoid much?

[JackieLikesVariety]

Agree

also agree

They go along with the first name branding to make themselves more paltable,

this, exactly. She is doing it deliberately to get elected, just as she needs to.

hijack?

you think we can get through this election without facing the issue of how powerful women are perceived? because we can't, so might as well face it head on.

[Kat]

Kamala has raised 49 point something millions since Joe stepper aside yesterday.


Over $100 million now.

[Pogo]

I will probably come across as speaking for others but I think this part:

Nobody refers to male candidates by their first names.

is why people are pushing back. Lots of male politicians are referred to by their first names.

[Rat Diva]

Can we maybe take the first/name last name hijack and ensuing bickering into a separate thread? Pretty please with sprinkles on top?

[Borborygmi]

It's not a hijack; it's a metaphor for when Democrats get together to talk about political strategy.

[Rat Diva]

Or the SDMB :bouncingball::headwall:

[Sputnik]

Money so far.
Over 100 million raised since Sunday. A record sum.
Joe’s war chest, 91 million.
150 million pledged since Sunday.
CA tech nerds, waiting until she’s got a lock on the DEM ticket to dump in enough to offset dipshits like Elon donating to the trumpanzee.
Someone add them up, I don’t want to take off my shoes.

Remember, she’s a California girl, we’re only lending her to you. We want her back in 2032.

ETA. This, from MSNBC, it keeps getting sweeter.

Meantime, the fundraising platform ActBlue processed tens of millions more up and down the ballot, according to a New York Times analysis, making this a massive fundraising moment for Democrats.

[teela brown]

And I just kicked in a C-note to her campaign coffers. Come on, Dem 'raffers, send a couple of bucks her way and cross your fingers for this November.

[Rebo]

I was feeling quite down after the debate and the ensuing chaos in the MSM about whether we were sunk or not. I was fully behind Joe Biden when he said he was still running and I wanted everyone to STFU already. But they didn't!

When he made his announcement it made me sad. I thought they had forced him out! It turns out it was a brilliant strategy. It's bringing all the Dems back together, and the money is rolling in!

Let's go, Brandon! :blue: :blue: :blue:

[Sputnik]

I actually saw a video where Fox News was calling foul on the left’s suggestion that the Trumpanzee might be too old. They thought such an attack was in bad taste.

Sputnik election prediction. Over the next two weeks look for the pugs to start building excuses in preparation for the loss they now see as possible.

[3acres]

And I just kicked in a C-note to her campaign coffers. Come on, Dem 'raffers, send a couple of bucks her way and cross your fingers for this November.

Done. :thumbs:

[Rat Diva]

Oh, heavens to Betsy. Dolt 45 wants to debate Harris.

“I haven’t agreed to anything. I agreed to a debate with Joe Biden,” Trump said in a call with reporters Tuesday. “But I want to debate her, and she’ll be no different, because they have the same policies. I think debating is important for a presidential race, I really do, you sort of have an obligation to debate.”

vs.

“I took on perpetrators of all kinds: predators who abused women, fraudsters who ripped off consumers, cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. So hear me when I say: I know Donald Trump’s type.”

Donnie Two-Scoops can barely form a coherent sentence, and she's flinging around four-syllable words. It would be a debate I'd almost watch.

[What Exit?]

Oh, heavens to Betsy. Dolt 45 wants to debate Harris.

“I haven’t agreed to anything. I agreed to a debate with Joe Biden,” Trump said in a call with reporters Tuesday. “But I want to debate her, and she’ll be no different, because they have the same policies. I think debating is important for a presidential race, I really do, you sort of have an obligation to debate.”

vs.

“I took on perpetrators of all kinds: predators who abused women, fraudsters who ripped off consumers, cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. So hear me when I say: I know Donald Trump’s type.”

I hope they do debate. I believe she'll crush him.

[Sputnik]

What a speech she delivered in Wisconsin. She’s charismatic, focused, and organized. She does not ramble, mispronounce words, slur her speech, nor does she go off on ridiculous cognitive miscues. Put the trumpanzee in the same room and he’ll not even know how well she roasted him.

If she can keep this level of energy up for 104 more days, we’ll be calling her Madam President.

[JackieLikesVariety]

I actually saw a video where Fox News was calling foul on the left’s suggestion that the Trumpanzee might be too old. They thought such an attack was in bad taste.


those fuckers have literally ZERO shame :violence:

I don't care what his age is, I care that he can't speak coherently!

[Jaglavak]

I believe she'll crush him.

Crush? Eviscerate is more like it.

[Rock]

And I just kicked in a C-note to her campaign coffers. Come on, Dem 'raffers, send a couple of bucks her way and cross your fingers for this November.

I haven't made a donation yet but I will in the near future. I am fired up about the Harris candidacy and I haven't felt this way in a long time.

[Sputnik]

You’re not alone in feeling the renewed energy. Finally the Dems offer a real winner. Someone to vote FOR, not merely a vote against trumpy. If you’re following the news closely, Kamala is kicking ass. She’s dynamic, charismatic and intelligent. Yesterday, her speech set a pace trumpy will never match. Trumpys news blurb was of him missing a put at some golf course. BTW, if you missed her speech, the camera showed a young crowd all holding signs that had one word, “KAMALA,” in bold uppercase. They are calling it thr KHive now.

She’s going to do it.

[Rat Diva]

Don't forget, she IS brat. As an Old, I have no idea what that means, but apparently it's significant :lawn:

Actually, I do get the significance. She's firing up young voters who weren't keen on Battle of the Geezers 2024, and would either not vote or vote third party.

[JackieLikesVariety]

Don't forget, she IS brat.

um, whut?

[What Exit?]

Don't forget, she IS brat.

um, whut?

This is what I found:
Brat (noun): An icon; an embrace of authenticity and confidence in oneself. Example sentence: Artist Charlie XCX posted that “kamala IS brat,” and Gen Z agrees.

So OK then.

[Sputnik]

Don't forget, she IS brat.

um, whut?

Here Jackie, this sort of explains it
https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2024/07/kamala-harris-brat-memes/679205/

[Rebo]

From this article (https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/kamala-harris-brat-meaning-mean-slang-charli-xcx-what-does-hq-rcna163026):

Abigail De Kosnik, an associate professor at the Berkeley Center for New Media at the University of California, Berkeley, said Harris is “plugged in” to popular culture in a way other Democratic candidates in the past haven’t been. That is a refreshing change for voters who often view Democrats as “staid,” De Kosnik said.

“‘Brat’ just sets Kamala Harris’ campaign up for that defiant stance that says, ‘We’re not perfect, and you’re going to call us out on everything, but we’re still winning because we’re honest and we’re just ourselves, and we’re going to take this whole thing,’” De Kosnik said.

[What Exit?]

...
Actually, I do get the significance. She's firing up young voters who weren't keen on Battle of the Geezers 2024, and would either not vote or vote third party.
The "not vote" fall into two categories. Those who just didn't want to vote for two old geezers and those that said they'll vote for Biden to stop Trump but then wouldn't actually go and vote.

I think this second bunch in particular will be motivated to vote for Harris. Hopefully the first bunch too, but you never know.

[Sputnik]

The Bernie Bros, the AOC progressives, the young voters are energized behind her and excited to be part of the left. We’re seeing a Democratic Party that’s healing the fractures of the past. It’s awesome.

[Rat Diva]

I just love CNN. Current headlines: "Netanyahu to address Congress. Pilot sole survivor of Nepal plane crash that killed 18. Snoop Dogg to carry Olympic torch."

And I hope he lights a blunt off of it. And sets Bibi's pants on fire with it. And that the pilot will be all right.

[3acres]

The Bernie Bros, the AOC progressives, the young voters are energized behind her and excited to be part of the left. We’re seeing a Democratic Party that’s healing the fractures of the past. It’s awesome.

Makes me think of this:
"Oh, he's very popular Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, waistoids, dweebies, dickheads - they all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude."

[3acres]

Oops, double post.

[Rat Diva]

And I just kicked in a C-note to her campaign coffers. Come on, Dem 'raffers, send a couple of bucks her way and cross your fingers for this November.

I haven't made a donation yet but I will in the near future. I am fired up about the Harris candidacy and I haven't felt this way in a long time.

For the first time since 2015, I feel like we're not doomed (which is as close to optimism as I'm able to get right now). The 2020 election was too damn close and Unca Joe was really just a cork in the hole in the dam, not to mention Lil' Mushroom was always right behind him splabbering away. Harris is finally some fresh blood who can change the perception of Dems as stuffy old white people and bring with her some of the new up and coming talent: Buttigieg, Whitmer, Pritzker etc.

This year has to be a decisive victory that can't be argued with (although the big baby will try) and in four years Covfefe Man will be too old, senile, and hopefully dead to bother us any more.

[Zeener Diode]

You’re not alone in feeling the renewed energy. Finally the Dems offer a real winner. Someone to vote FOR, not merely a vote against trumpy. If you’re following the news closely, Kamala is kicking ass. She’s dynamic, charismatic and intelligent. Yesterday, her speech set a pace trumpy will never match. Trumpys news blurb was of him missing a put at some golf course. BTW, if you missed her speech, the camera showed a young crowd all holding signs that had one word, “KAMALA,” in bold uppercase. They are calling it thr KHive now.

She’s going to do it.

I'm excited for her, and the possibilities that lie ahead. It wasn't that long ago (maybe a month?) that I was having conversations with my white bros about her, and the line of thought among them was "I want to vote for Biden, but I fear what will happen if Harris takes over" (i.e., Biden is too old). For me, I couldn't care less who was the DNC choice as long as they defeat dumpy. But hearing my solid Democratic bros waffling over supporting the incumbent because they don't like Harris gave me a stomach ache. I haven't heard from any of them since Biden withdrew, and I sincerely hope they will vote along party lines like they have all their lives, and like their fathers and grandfathers did before them.

[Sputnik]

Elon Musk, a man with a trump like reputation for making promises he never delivers on, has promised to donate 45 million to trump 4 times, once a month for July through October. That’s 180 million in total. However, it seems that, this week at least, Elon is denying ever promising anything. This might be because of the tech nerds in California promised to donate like sums to our Madam President, or perhaps, Elon is just as much a liar as trumpy is.

It just goes to show ya that if you sleep with dogs, you get fleas.

[C2H5OH]

At this point, if the Dems nominate Satan, himself (Harris is not a done-deal, yet), and the NY electoral votes are at all close to 'Up for grabs', I'm in for Satan. Harris is a shoo-in by comparison. If it ain't close, I'm voting a third-party 'none of the above', just like I did in both of the trumpkin's previous elections, when the NYS electoral vote was decided by in excess of 11 percentage points even before the vote happened. Biden, 11 points, Hillary 24 points. They didn't need my vote to get 'em, so I threw away my vote on an irrelevant 3rd party candidate, just to express my 'none of the above' sentiment.

As a life-long republican voter, I can't bring myself to vote for a dem I dislike (I have voted for a few down-ballot ones, because I actually liked them over their opponent), unless it will actually matter, but I'll be damned if I'll ever vote for Trump.

[C2H5OH]

...or perhaps, Elon is just as much a liar as trumpy is.

Was there ever any doubt about that?

It just goes to show ya that if you sleep with dogs, you get fleas.

Elon is the flea, here. It's his Muskie-bros who are waking up trying to scratch their ears with their toenails who are finding themselves in need of a flea-collar.

Heh... reminds me of Edmund Muskie. He was big in politics back in Richard Nixon's day. Unless you're old like me, and a political junkie, like me, you ain't gonna know who Muskie was... But don't worry about him. He sank like a stone, and hasn't been relevant for 50 years or more... Hell, he was sinking when I was still a small child. I only barely remember when he was important in presidential politics at the time. he sure as shit isn't important, now..

FTR, he was the VP candidate under Hubert Humphry who lost to Nixon and Agnew in the '68 election. I bet you didn't know that... Hell. I'm surprised I even remember that. (I had to look it up, to be sure...)

ETA, I spelled Ed Muskie's name wrong. It's Edmund. I called him Edwin. Corrected on edit in the above... Dammit.

[Sputnik]

From Politico.
Fox News has invited newly minted presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump to a Sept. 17 debate.

Will they accept the challenge? This will be awesome if they do.

[thorny locust]

On Fox? I'd very much doubt you're going to get a neutral moderator out of Fox. Or even an honest one.

[C2H5OH]

On Fox? I'd very much doubt you're going to get a neutral moderator out of Fox. Or even an honest one.

So what? She'll wipe up the floor with him, no matter what Trumpkin syncophant they have moderating it. It's actually to her advantage going in, to give him every 'gimme' he wants, and destroy him anyway. She can't lose. If he gets a softball question like 'What will you do on your first day?' He'll go into his plans to be a tyrant, but will get side-tracked into some rant about electric boats and being eaten by sharks, and then will lose his train of thought. She literally has NOTHING to lose, handing him rope. No matter who's spinning the rope. He's only going to hang himself with it.

[kirin]

At this point, if the Dems nominate Satan, himself (Harris is not a done-deal, yet), and the NY electoral votes are at all close to 'Up for grabs', I'm in for Satan. Harris is a shoo-in by comparison. If it ain't close, I'm voting a third-party 'none of the above', just like I did in both of the trumpkin's previous elections, when the NYS electoral vote was decided by in excess of 11 percentage points even before the vote happened. Biden, 11 points, Hillary 24 points. They didn't need my vote to get 'em, so I threw away my vote on an irrelevant 3rd party candidate, just to express my 'none of the above' sentiment.

As a life-long republican voter, I can't bring myself to vote for a dem I dislike (I have voted for a few down-ballot ones, because I actually liked them over their opponent), unless it will actually matter, but I'll be damned if I'll ever vote for Trump.

Lifelong Republicans gave us Trump.

Thanks.

[BrickaBracka]

What kind of tortured logic leads to thinking that last name = honored, so first name = dishonored?

Madonna. Cher. Elizabeth and Victoria.

(Come to think of it ... what the hell was Elizabeth's last name anyway? Turns out IDGAF. She was a frickin queen.)

It is the absolute dumbest shit to get all hung up on - it makes me think someone is just looking for the black lining in a silver cloud because there's just *got* to be something to hate.

Aim that negativity shit at the orange rapist, ok? :thumbs:

I personally feel MUCH better about the chances to beat back the Trumpian mob. I'm relieved the old man is finally stepping aside. I'm also glad there's a legitimate possibility we'd have the first woman president. It's the kind of thing a large portion of this country needs to see, needs to experience, needs to live through. For some, because it's something to look up to positively...and for some it's going to make them realize their perceptions about the capabilities of women have been so very wrong.

[kirin]

What kind of tortured logic leads to thinking that last name = honored, so first name = dishonored?

Madonna. Cher. Elizabeth and Victoria.

(Come to think of it ... what the hell was Elizabeth's last name anyway? Turns out IDGAF. She was a frickin queen.)

It is the absolute dumbest shit to get all hung up on - it makes me think someone is just looking for the black lining in a silver cloud because there's just *got* to be something to hate.

Aim that negativity shit at the orange rapist, ok? :thumbs:

I personally feel MUCH better about the chances to beat back the Trumpian mob. I'm relieved the old man is finally stepping aside. I'm also glad there's a legitimate possibility we'd have the first woman president. It's the kind of thing a large portion of this country needs to see, needs to experience, needs to live through. For some, because it's something to look up to positively...and for some it's going to make them realize their perceptions about the capabilities of women have been so very wrong.

It's 50/50 odds for Kimala at this point. Will depend on what kind of campaign she runs.

[C2H5OH]

Lifelong Republicans gave us Trump.

Thanks.

You're welcome. Now remind me again just how I "gave us Trump" by not voting for him? And even voting against him the '16 primary? And not living in a state where the vote was even close?

ETA:
It's 50/50 odds for Kimala at this point. Will depend on what kind of campaign she runs.

If you're going to call her by her first name, at least spell it correctly, numbnuts.

[C2H5OH]

(Come to think of it ... what the hell was Elizabeth's last name anyway? Turns out IDGAF. She was a frickin queen.)

Elizabeth I was Tudor, Elizabeth II was Windsor.

[JackieLikesVariety]

On Fox? I'd very much doubt you're going to get a neutral moderator out of Fox. Or even an honest one.

I hope they know to hold out for an actual journalist to moderate.

[Rat Diva]

What kind of tortured logic leads to thinking that last name = honored, so first name = dishonored?

Madonna. Cher. Elizabeth and Victoria.

(Come to think of it ... what the hell was Elizabeth's last name anyway? Turns out IDGAF. She was a frickin queen.)

It is the absolute dumbest shit to get all hung up on - it makes me think someone is just looking for the black lining in a silver cloud because there's just *got* to be something to hate.

Aim that negativity shit at the orange rapist, ok? :thumbs:

I personally feel MUCH better about the chances to beat back the Trumpian mob. I'm relieved the old man is finally stepping aside. I'm also glad there's a legitimate possibility we'd have the first woman president. It's the kind of thing a large portion of this country needs to see, needs to experience, needs to live through. For some, because it's something to look up to positively...and for some it's going to make them realize their perceptions about the capabilities of women have been so very wrong.

Thanks for dragging that all back up long after it had settled down, you blockhead ::jabs Bricka with a knitting needle::

[Rat Diva]

From Politico.
Fox News has invited newly minted presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump to a Sept. 17 debate.

Will they accept the challenge? This will be awesome if they do.

It kind of puts her in a bind. She can't refuse, or else Shitgibbon will be all over her calling her an inferior female chickenpants.

She's too smart to agree to a debate on enemy turf without insisting on rules to protect herself. Whatever she does, I hope it's enough.

[Rat Diva]

double post

[Sputnik]

From Politico.
Fox News has invited newly minted presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump to a Sept. 17 debate.

Will they accept the challenge? This will be awesome if they do.

It kind of puts her in a bind. She can't refuse, or else Shitgibbon will be all over her calling her an inferior female chickenpants.

She's too smart to agree to a debate on enemy turf without insisting on rules to protect herself. Whatever she does, I hope it's enough.

Ratty, she’s not a weak female pansy. She brilliant, focused and not afraid to punch back. With almost 10 years as a prosecutor, she can think on her feet. My prediction, she’ll set the trumpanzee off like a cheap Chinese firecracker. All fizzle, no boom.

[Sputnik]

Fox is actually trying to sneak one in on Madam President.

CNN.
Trump and President Joe Biden’s campaign had previously agreed to two debates this year, one hosted by CNN in June and another to be hosted by ABC on September 10.

Fox did offer to negotiate all the particulars though.

[Rat Diva]

It kind of puts her in a bind. She can't refuse, or else Shitgibbon will be all over her calling her an inferior female chickenpants.

She's too smart to agree to a debate on enemy turf without insisting on rules to protect herself. Whatever she does, I hope it's enough.

Ratty, she’s not a weak female pansy. She brilliant, focused and not afraid to punch back. With almost 10 years as a prosecutor, she can think on her feet. My prediction, she’ll set the trumpanzee off like a cheap Chinese firecracker. All fizzle, no boom.

I know she's not, but King Shitzenpants will tell his minions that she is, and they'll believe it because there's not a functioning brain cell among them. I have no doubt that she'll put him through a log chipper butt first in a legitimate debate. Anything to do with Faux News sets of my OMG IT'S A TRAP!!!!!!!! :panic: reaction.

[Zeener Diode]

Ratty, she’s not a weak female pansy. She brilliant, focused and not afraid to punch back. With almost 10 years as a prosecutor, she can think on her feet. My prediction, she’ll set the trumpanzee off like a cheap Chinese firecracker. All fizzle, no boom.

I know she's not, but King Shitzenpants will tell his minions that she is, and they'll believe it because there's not a functioning brain cell among them.

We can't concern ourselves with the MAGATS who've drunk the Kool Aid, they'll never waver (and the one that did missed his shot). Let Kamala be herself, laugh and focus on the yuge orange target.

[Sputnik]

Lincoln project has called her….

KamaLaw&Order

That’s a fine play on old 34 convictions.

[Rebo]

I had to change my work computer password today. I incorporated the soon to be new prez into it. By the time I have to change it again (in 6 months) she absolutely WILL BE! :blue: :blue: :blue:

[kirin]

Lifelong Republicans gave us Trump.

Thanks.

You're welcome. Now remind me again just how I "gave us Trump" by not voting for him? And even voting against him the '16 primary? And not living in a state where the vote was even close?

ETA:
It's 50/50 odds for Kimala at this point. Will depend on what kind of campaign she runs.

If you're going to call her by her first name, at least spell it correctly, numbnuts.

Kimala.

8JJkAB8BqZg

[3acres]

I have to say, my original question seems pretty stupid at this point. But that was Monday, this is Friday, haha.
:wombat:

[Rat Diva]

Things don't usually move this fast in politics. Of course, candidates don't usually rock people's faces off like Kamala Harris is doing.

[Rat Diva]

The Obamas and the Clintons have endorsed her. I reckon that makes her nomination pretty much a done deal, especially with the Obamas' backing.

[Rat Diva]

I guess I was worried over nothing, debate-wise: (https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/25/politics/kamala-harris-donald-trump-presidential-debate/index.html)

Cheato: (backpedalling furiously)
Vance: :wanker:
Harris: :flip:

[SmartAleq]

I've had my issues with Kamala dating back to dinosaur days (as I have with most people who were California politicians I had to deal with until I fled screaming up north) but she's got a campaign staff who are absolutely wizard at courting the young people and that's just what we all need. F'rinstance, this is an actual campaign email (https://newrepublic.com/post/184249/78-year-old-criminal-kamala-harris-roasts-trump-press-release) that went out that's got the Goopers flailing and frothing and I have to say I'm enjoying the spectacle. I'm thinking the Dems were planning this all along, keep her under wraps so she's not gratuitously attacked while sending her out on some pretty progressive projects, and Biden stepping out after the GOP convention when they're stuck with Trump then Harris comes roaring outta the chute slapping the shit outta Don-Old for all the issues he's been ragging Biden over. It's pretty damned slick, and I'm thinking the kids are taking over and I am HERE for it.

And if there were no other reason to elect Kamala, there's the fact that she gets to be the first woman president and Hillary has to live with being the only politician so disliked she lost to Cheeto Jesus. Personally, I'm voting for the administration, they've been doing a pretty decent job so far and with eight years to work (and especially if we have a blue tide in the House and Senate races) I think we might just see some Shit Get Fixed.

In the meantime, Biden says he's gonna spend the last six months of his term slapping SCOTUS into line, aw yeah.

Feeling cautiously optimistic over here. :thumbs:

[What Exit?]

2 weeks ago, I was wondering if this time I should really move out of the country. Deeply afraid a 2nd Trump Presidency would be the end of our Democracy.

This week, I am very hopeful. I'm motivated to make donations to both the national campaign and specific states a little later. Lat time was Georgia and Penn.

[Flying Saucerian]

My main concern: The Election comes. Kamala wins. The Supreme Court comes in, dismisses the results, and hands it to Trump.

They're wholly capable of at least trying to do that.

[What Exit?]

And with the Obamas endorsement, I have made a decent size donation to the Kamala Harris fund on ActBlue just now.

[What Exit?]

My main concern: The Election comes. Kamala wins. The Supreme Court comes in, dismisses the results, and hands it to Trump.

They're wholly capable of at least trying to do that.

They basically can't. That is a step too far and they know it. But if it comes down to one close state, then they can get their fascist loving hands involved.

[Zeener Diode]

My main concern: The Election comes. Kamala wins. The Supreme Court comes in, dismisses the results, and hands it to Trump.

They're wholly capable of at least trying to do that.

They basically can't. That is a step too far and they know it. But if it comes down to one close state, then they can get their fascist loving hands involved.

I doubt the DNC would not challenge their ruling, unlike 2000.

[Sputnik]

I’m thinking the Dems were planning this all along, keep her under wraps so she's not gratuitously attacked while sending her out on some pretty progressive projects, and Biden stepping out after the GOP convention when they're stuck with Trump then Harris comes roaring outta the chute slapping the shit outta Don-Old for all the issues he's been ragging Biden over. It's pretty damned slick, and I'm thinking the kids are taking over and I am HERE for it.

:

I was wondering the same thing. Remember, Biden signaled he’d only run for one term. Then, when the blue team saw thr GrOPers RNC was 5 weeks before the DNC convention, what an opportune time to let them play out their hand thinking it was Biden running. It worked, the pugs choose the biggest bigot they had for the VP slot and fully committed to their game plan. Then wham, the KHive emerged and energy swept the blue team while the red team sat there with that look on their faces like a team that just lost the Super Bowl in overtime. If they didn’t plan that, fate certainly did.

Go KHive.

[Jaglavak]

I have to say, my original question seems pretty stupid at this point. But that was Monday, this is Friday, haha.

There ain't no such thing as a sure thing.

[JackieLikesVariety]

I have to say, my original question seems pretty stupid at this point. But that was Monday, this is Friday, haha.

There ain't no such thing as a sure thing.

well, yes. but this thread is still giving me a

:banana:

[kirin]

There's definitely a shift and a reset, but this is still going to be a tough race for Harris, and it has to do with the fragility of the 2020 coalition. As much as Biden-Harris liked to tout GDP growth, stock market indices, and jobs, there's some serious economic bifurcation going on in terms of asset ownership (e.g., price of starter homes). Related concerns are the spike in rents (due to low inventory), price of food, price of gas, etc... Biden's problem wasn't just age, it was that he didn't want to talk about these things, which made him seem maybe a bit aloof. If Harris makes the same error, she will lose.

[Sputnik]

From Politico


Kamala Harris pulled in $200 million in her first week as a presidential candidate, a staggering figure the campaign points to as evidence of the intensity surrounding her nascent bid with 100 days to go before Election Day.


She just keeps soaring.

[JackieLikesVariety]

it's clear that there are many, many people relieved to have a good alternative to rump.

decent people outnumber the repubes, but nobody should forget they will cheat and steal the election if they can.

[Rat Diva]

In 2021, she visited a yarn shop in DC to discuss the 😫 of women-owned small businesses during the pandemic. The dimblefucks at Faux News started mocking her by calling her the Crochet Czar, because they're dimblefucks.

Most of the knitting world are fans of pissing off the dimblefucks.

First time in my life I've ever visibly supported a candidate...

[Sputnik]

200 million plus Biden 191 million, plus 150 million pledged, why that’s a half a billion buckles and the election is 100 days away. She’s got a war chest to lean on.

[kirin]

From Politico


Kamala Harris pulled in $200 million in her first week as a presidential candidate, a staggering figure the campaign points to as evidence of the intensity surrounding her nascent bid with 100 days to go before Election Day.


She just keeps soaring.

$ != votes

[kirin]

it's clear that there are many, many people relieved to have a good alternative to rump.

decent people outnumber the repubes, but nobody should forget they will cheat and steal the election if they can.

They could also win through legitimate means. It's going to be hard for Harris to recreate the 2020 map.

[JackieLikesVariety]

In 2021, she visited a yarn shop in DC to discuss the 😫 of women-owned small businesses during the pandemic. The dimblefucks at Faux News started mocking her by calling her the Crochet Czar, because they're dimblefucks.


she? you? I am confused!

[C2H5OH]

From Politico


Kamala Harris pulled in $200 million in her first week as a presidential candidate, a staggering figure the campaign points to as evidence of the intensity surrounding her nascent bid with 100 days to go before Election Day.


She just keeps soaring.

$ != votes

Thank you for raining on the parade, yet again, Chicken Little. No one wants to hear you scream about the sky falling, excuse me..., the SKY FALLING!!!!, yet again. Everyone knows your opinion. They are also familiar with your 'batting average' on your predictions. You ARE NOT Cassandra, no matter how much you want to think of yourself as her modern counterpart. You are just a moron, with no particular prognosticating power, spouting your rectally-derived bullshit into the ether. And your misses exceed your hits. No one has any reason to give your 'predictions' any damn credence at all. I can roll a pair of dice and get 'predictions' as good as yours.

[SmartAleq]

STOP. QUOTING. THE. DIMBLEFUCK. STOP. STOP. STOP.

hajario Rebo can we please have some boxings of anyone who quotes the dimblefuck?

Dimblefuck is such a great word. :thumbs:

[Kat]

Dimblefuck is such a great word. :thumbs:

You are 100% correct.

[Sputnik]

From CNN. These are the kind of news blurbs that should keep you believing in the KHive.

CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten breaks down the latest polling data that shows how Vice President Kamala Harris has multiple paths to victory over former President Donald Trump.


We didn’t have that with Biden.

[Solfy]

STOP. QUOTING. THE. DIMBLEFUCK. STOP. STOP. STOP.

hajario Rebo can we please have some boxings of anyone who quotes the dimblefuck?

Dimblefuck is such a great word. :thumbs:

I've seen this request for several frequently-ignored people past and present. I think boxing people who quote is a bridge too far. The fact that you don't want to see what someone posts shouldn't impose an obligation on others to remember who you have ignored and who not to quote.
Should people not quote the oft-ignored as a courtesy, especially having been asked in-thread? Yes!
Should they be required not to quote them? No.
JMO.

Also, agreed on dimblefuck being a great word. It's nearly as good as jackwagon.

ETA: fixed boxed to ignored. Posting before caffeine.

[Rat Diva]

In 2021, she visited a yarn shop in DC to discuss the 😫 of women-owned small businesses during the pandemic. The dimblefucks at Faux News started mocking her by calling her the Crochet Czar, because they're dimblefucks.


she? you? I am confused!

Pronoun trouble!

Harris was the one who visited the yarn shop in DC. The dimblefucks then labeled Harris the Crochet Czar. The yarn shop owner then made the pins to annoy the dimblefucks and celebrate Kamala. Since I'm a crochetermeister who also likes to annoy dimblefucks, I proudly wear my Kamala Harris "Crochet Czar" pin on my purse.

[Rat Diva]

STOP. QUOTING. THE. DIMBLEFUCK. STOP. STOP. STOP.

hajario Rebo can we please have some boxings of anyone who quotes the dimblefuck?

Dimblefuck is such a great word. :thumbs:

It'd be a lot more efficient to just box the dimblefuck or send him to coventry.

And thanks, everyone. I try to keep away from gendered insults and "dimblefuck" just seems to say it all so well.

[JackieLikesVariety]

STOP. QUOTING. THE. DIMBLEFUCK. STOP. STOP. STOP.


I have both Dimblefuck and whoever is quoting Dimblefuck on ignore. all is well! :p


Harris was the one who visited the yarn shop in DC. The dimblefucks then labeled Harris the Crochet Czar.

oh, that's cool! good for the yarn shop owner! :science:

[JackieLikesVariety]

I try to keep away from gendered insults

I am trying to learn this sort of thing as well. :thumbs:

[C2H5OH]

From CNN. These are the kind of news blurbs that should keep you believing in the KHive.

CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten breaks down the latest polling data that shows how Vice President Kamala Harris has multiple paths to victory over former President Donald Trump.


We didn’t have that with Biden.

Got a link to that? I want to read it.

[Sputnik]

You’ll have to watch it, it’s a cnn report

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/28/politics/video/harris-trump-electoral-paths-enten-digvid

[kirin]

If Harris sweeps the three Rust Belt states and wins GA, that would put her over 270. I don't see her losing MN, VA, or NH at this point, so it's those 4 that she should zero in on, which is why Josh Shapiro makes the most sense as the VP selection. She's going to have a tougher time with NV and AZ, though she's back in the game in those states as well.

[Sputnik]

From CNN this morning.
The vice president is closing in on a running mate decision, with the choice to be revealed by Tuesday, when Harris and her pick will launch the blitz with a kickoff rally in Philadelphia, a campaign official told CNN. The pair will then travel to Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada.


I’m wondering if the rally being in Philly is a clue? Is it Shapiro?

[hajario]

If Harris sweeps the three Rust Belt states and wins GA, that would put her over 270. I don't see her losing MN, VA, or NH at this point, so it's those 4 that she should zero in on, which is why Josh Shapiro makes the most sense as the VP selection. She's going to have a tougher time with NV and AZ, though she's back in the game in those states as well.

Shapiro gives her trouble in MN and MI with their huge Muslim population. It’s down to Walz and Kelly. Early signaling pointed to Kelly but Walz seems to have taken the lead.

[Sputnik]

Kelly and Waltz fail the old white man test. Part of Kamala’s appeal is her the lack of OWM. I expect Shiparo or Beshear. Probably Shiparo as PA is on the roadmap to victory with 19 nice fat electoral votes.

[hajario]

Again, PA is no good if it costs you MN and MI. Harris is already doing well in PA. Plus Shapiro supports school vouchers which could be hurty.

[C2H5OH]

You’ll have to watch it, it’s a cnn report

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/28/politics/video/harris-trump-electoral-paths-enten-digvid

Thank you. Very interesting.

[C2H5OH]

Kelly and Waltz fail the old white man test. Part of Kamala’s appeal is her the lack of OWM. I expect Shiparo or Beshear. Probably Shiparo as PA is on the roadmap to victory with 19 nice fat electoral votes.

Walz and Kelly are both the same age (within a few months) as Harris is. They are ALL a few months younger than me. I have not yet made the minimum SS retirement age. They are no more 'Old White Man', than I am. Your OWM test is a real stretch.

Personally, I'm for Kelly, but I'm an actual Never-Trump Republican Conservative, (which, of course doesn't represent the Rep party, anymore.}, so what the fuck do I know. My [former] party doesn't want me, and neither do the Dems. Real conservatives are left wandering in the wilderness.

A POX on both their houses...

[Sputnik]

Harris will never be an old white man. That’s just one of the reason she’s reaching younger voters. Did you see her audience in Atlanta? Did you see the dance group that was on stage prior to her speaking? Young. Mid 20s. Most of them. She’s resonating with the younger voters. Adding old white men to this mix would not help. IMHO.

[Jaglavak]

Yabbut, you need a couple other power blocks on your side too. Its not possible to make everyone happy but it might be possible to make most of them happy enough.

[C2H5OH]

Harris will never be an old white man. That’s just one of the reason she’s reaching younger voters. Did you see her audience in Atlanta? Did you see the dance group that was on stage prior to her speaking? Young. Mid 20s. Most of them. She’s resonating with the younger voters. Adding old white men to this mix would not help. IMHO.

Well, of course not. She's neither a 'Man', nor 'Old'. Nor is she 'white'. But other than 'white', and 'man', neither Kelly nor Walz are 'old'. They are both her age. Both younger than me. Barely, just like her. And either one of them are OK with me, as a 'homeless conservative', but Kelly would actually get my positive vote (as opposed to 'voting against'). Rest assured, I'm going to vote AGAINST the Great Trumpkin, just like I have, every time, since his 2016 primary appearance.

But I don't have to actually like the thing I'm voting for. Kelly would get my 'vote for'. Which hasn't been the case since Bush I. Everyone after that who got my vote was a vote against the other candidate.

Hell, if you get right down to it, I'm voting for Harris, solely because she's "Not Trump". She is very much NOT the candidate to do what I want. But The Great Trumpkin is even worse. He's going to destroy my country if he gets the chance. She can't possibly fuck things up as bad as he will.

[Rat Diva]

Harris will never be an old white man. That’s just one of the reason she’s reaching younger voters. Did you see her audience in Atlanta? Did you see the dance group that was on stage prior to her speaking? Young. Mid 20s. Most of them. She’s resonating with the younger voters. Adding old white men to this mix would not help. IMHO.

Steve, your sparkly-eyed enthusiasm is at once adorable and making me want to jack slap you back to reality. Yes, it's great that she's energizing the young voters and the influencers and the pop stars. You can't let the shiny blind you to the fact that old white cis straight guys dominate government, industry, and finance in this country. The Rust Belt is stuffed with crabby old white guys who don't want an uppity [racial slur], especially a woman, in the white house. Old white guys are the biggest demographic in this country. If she can't get old white guys on her side, all the dance troupes and BRAT memes in the universe won't win her the presidency. And she needs to win the presidency or this country is fucking doomed.

As she herself is not old, white, or a guy, she needs a highly visible, influential, popular one next to her on the podium.

Yabbut, you need a couple other power blocks on your side too. Its not possible to make everyone happy but it might be possible to make most of them happy enough.

Damn skippy.

[Zeener Diode]

Harris will never be an old white man. That’s just one of the reason she’s reaching younger voters. Did you see her audience in Atlanta? Did you see the dance group that was on stage prior to her speaking? Young. Mid 20s. Most of them. She’s resonating with the younger voters. Adding old white men to this mix would not help. IMHO.

Steve, your sparkly-eyed enthusiasm is at once adorable and making me want to jack slap you back to reality. Yes, it's great that she's energizing the young voters and the influencers and the pop stars. You can't let the shiny blind you to the fact that old white cis straight guys dominate government, industry, and finance in this country. The Rust Belt is stuffed with crabby old white guys who don't want an uppity [racial slur], especially a woman, in the white house. Old white guys are the biggest demographic in this country. If she can't get old white guys on her side, all the dance troupes and BRAT memes in the universe won't win her the presidency. And she needs to win the presidency or this country is fucking doomed.

As she herself is not old, white, or a guy, she needs a highly visible, influential, popular one next to her on the podium.

Welcome to the Obama Conundrum. He had to face the same challenge and wound up picking Biden, whom party leaders figured to be the safest, least offensive centrist to smooth the rough-edge appeal of the ticket and assure Old White Voters that the country was not headed to hell in a handbasket. And as it turned out, Biden was our savior to 45's trainwreck of an administration. Harris appears to be riding the same wave as Obama, with hope and promise of a better world (or better yet, one without The Weird One in charge). It's almost tantamount that the veep be an old white centrist, because she's about to make history, and on more levels than Obama.

[Rat Diva]

The UAW endorse Harris. That'll go some distance toward assuaging the old whites, blue collar workers, and unions.

[Sputnik]

Careful Ratty, you’ll catch it too. The KHive is contagious.

[Solfy]

Harris will never be an old white man. That’s just one of the reason she’s reaching younger voters. Did you see her audience in Atlanta? Did you see the dance group that was on stage prior to her speaking? Young. Mid 20s. Most of them. She’s resonating with the younger voters. Adding old white men to this mix would not help. IMHO.

It's all going to come down to voter turnout. Young people are a fickle demographic when it comes to voter turnout. They can show up, and in some recent races they really have, but they're not reliable. They need to get motivated and stay that way.

[Jaglavak]

Well, you know. You're born, you grow up, you get old, you vote. Its the natural arc of life.

[Rat Diva]

Careful Ratty, you’ll catch it too. The KHive is contagious.

On Jan 20, 2025, let me hear the words:

"I, Kamala Devi Harris, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

...and I promise to let out a victory yell you'll be able to hear all the way in California. Before then, there's been too much political dimblefuckery in the last decade for me to risk any optimism.

[What Exit?]

Latest Poll has Kamala Harris ahead of Trump by 4%. No state details though.

https://civiqs.com/documents/Civiqs_DailyKos_banner_book_2024_07_7knl31.pdf

[hajario]

As you know, the electoral model is more important

Nate Silver had Biden with a 27% chance of winning before he dropped out.

His first model with Harris was yesterday and he gave her a 38% chance.

Many more polls came out and his new result this morning is 43.5% Harris.

[What Exit?]

As you know, the electoral model is more important

Nate Silver had Biden with a 27% chance of winning before he dropped out.

His first model with Harris was yesterday and he gave her a 38% chance.

Many more polls came out and his new result this morning is 43.5% Harris.

Agreed, I was disappointed in the lack of state numbers.

But it is a big switch from 2 weeks ago. Right now momentum is growing. Voters are getting excited. Young Voters especially. VP candidates are getting a lot of extra press which had been the Republican thing for the last few months.

[Sputnik]

Careful Ratty, you’ll catch it too. The KHive is contagious.

On Jan 20, 2025, let me hear the words:

"I, Kamala Devi Harris, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, old piyou so. preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

...and I promise to let out a victory yell you'll be able to hear all the way in California. Before then, there's been too much political dimblefuckery in the last decade for me to risk any optimism.

I’m going to forgive you for raining on my parade and, instead of being upset, I hope your cats hide all your yarn.

[Rat Diva]

I've been trying to hide my yarn from the cats ever since the first time they tied the whole first floor of my house together :D

[Rat Diva]

Anyway, I hope she picks a VP soon. The suspense is killing me.

I figure she'll announce it tomorrow to dominate the weekend news cycle ahead of her campaign tour next week. I hope. It would be good timing because then it would leave the public's last sight of Cheato talking through his asshole at the NABJ convention. Oh, wait, that was his face. My bad.

[What Exit?]

Anyway, I hope she picks a VP soon. The suspense is killing me.

I figure she'll announce it tomorrow to dominate the weekend news cycle ahead of her campaign tour next week. I hope. It would be good timing because then it would leave the public's last sight of Cheato talking through his asshole at the NABJ convention. Oh, wait, that was his face. My bad.

Tomorrow would be good, I've heard unofficial stuff about next Tuesday. But I think tomorrow would be helpful. At least a narrowing down should be mentioned, as that would also take the weekend news cycle.

[hajario]

Anyway, I hope she picks a VP soon. The suspense is killing me.

I figure she'll announce it tomorrow to dominate the weekend news cycle ahead of her campaign tour next week. I hope. It would be good timing because then it would leave the public's last sight of Cheato talking through his asshole at the NABJ convention. Oh, wait, that was his face. My bad.

Tomorrow would be good, I've heard unofficial stuff about next Tuesday. But I think tomorrow would be helpful. At least a narrowing down should be mentioned, as that would also take the weekend news cycle.

Tuesday is the rally. It had to be announced prior to that. No later than Sunday. Likely Friday or Saturday.

[Sputnik]

Her campaign already said the kickoff rally with the new veep will be in Philly. I’m thinking that might be a clue. Otherwise, betting odds are Kelly, Shapiro and Cooper, 123.

[hajario]

Her campaign already said the kickoff rally with the new veep will be in Philly. I’m thinking that might be a clue. Otherwise, betting odds are Kelly, Shapiro and Cooper, 123.

It's not a clue. It was planned well before a decision was made.

[SmartAleq]

New poll in Oregon shows Harris up five points over Don-old. :thumbs:

[Rat Diva]

Her campaign already said the kickoff rally with the new veep will be in Philly. I’m thinking that might be a clue. Otherwise, betting odds are Kelly, Shapiro and Cooper, 123.

::jabs Steve with a knitting needle::

[Rat Diva]

I'm hoping for Kelly. He's been very outspoken against both Shitgobbin and Vance and he seems to be itching to take them on.

[Sputnik]

Did anyone else notice the end of the NABJ event? Rachel Scott ended it by thanking MISTER Trump for being there. She didn’t call him pres Trump. He sat there with a stupid look on his face. I’m thinking Rachel Scott for press secretary when Kamala becomes Madam President.

[Solfy]

There sure were a lot of black journalists there.

[Rebo]

"... a lot of you are Black"

dRumpf actually said that to the audience. They laughed.

[Zeener Diode]

They seemed to laugh at a lot of his remarks. It was hard to tell if they were laughing with him or against him.

[Random Precision]

I didn’t watch much, but it really sounded like the audience was laughing at him.

[Zeener Diode]

Yeah, but when he first responded, calling Scott's question "horrible" he seemed to get laughs of support. I wanted to hear a few jeers or boos but didn't.

[Sputnik]

The Dems have a new name for trumpy due to his running from a debate with Kamala.
Duckin’ Don. I’m pretty sure trumpy’s team is working overtime writing excuses for his fear of Madam President.

[JackieLikesVariety]

I didn’t watch much, but it really sounded like the audience was laughing at him.

he seemed to get laughs of support.

I know which kind of laugh I would have been doing. :science:

[C2H5OH]

The Dems have a new name for trumpy due to his running from a debate with Kamala.
Duckin’ Don. I’m pretty sure trumpy’s team is working overtime writing excuses for his fear of Madam President.

♬ Brave, brave, brave, Sir Donald.♬

BZwuTo7zKM8

[Random Precision]

The Dems have a new name for trumpy due to his running from a debate with Kamala.
Duckin’ Don. I’m pretty sure trumpy’s team is working overtime writing excuses for his fear of Madam President.

I was thinking the other day that we should start calling him D. John, because he's gray and appears to have poop on his head. :palatr:

[kirin]

If Harris sweeps the three Rust Belt states and wins GA, that would put her over 270. I don't see her losing MN, VA, or NH at this point, so it's those 4 that she should zero in on, which is why Josh Shapiro makes the most sense as the VP selection. She's going to have a tougher time with NV and AZ, though she's back in the game in those states as well.

Shapiro gives her trouble in MN and MI with their huge Muslim population. It’s down to Walz and Kelly. Early signaling pointed to Kelly but Walz seems to have taken the lead.

I confess that in a reactionary moment (I never have those), I was kinda pushing back against the idea of Shapiro as the running mate, but having lived in PA while he was AG, I loved the guy. And he was respected, if not always adored, by people from across different strands and demographics of society.

I'd like to think that just being a Jew, even a staunchly Zionist Jew, doesn't repulse so many otherwise progressive voters in these states that it costs Harris the vote. Yes, Shapiro may cost some of the Arab/Muslim-American vote, but Harris can actually do something about that by carving out not so much an anti-Israel position but a strong anti-Likud/ultra-Zionist position. It's possible that bringing Shapiro onto the ticket gives her license to be even more confrontational than Biden was apparently too timid to be. Between her husband and Shapiro, nobody would credibly claim that she's an antisemite.

Harris' positions will matter more than Shapiro's. Just my two cents.

[JackieLikesVariety]

I wanted to hear a few jeers or boos but didn't.

because the audience was professional: keeping it classy.

it's a shame his followers never actually SEE what a fool he looks like, among other realities. I checked out Fox so-called news site and there were photos of them both - they managed to make her look approximately as old as him. :dubious:

[Sputnik]

According to Fox News, Nate Silver says the election is a toss up. I stopped paying attention to Nate after he said Hillary would win in 2016. It’s okay, I shower after visiting the Fox zoo.

[What Exit?]

The Reuters Poll (https://www.reuters.com/world/us/harris-trump-locked-tight-us-presidential-race-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2024-07-30/)places Kamala Harris 1pt ahead of Trump.
Harris favorability has increased dramatically since a month ago. It went from 40% to 46%. Trump held at 41%.

U.S. Senator and former astronaut Mark Kelly of Arizona had the highest favorability rating among this group at 32%, followed by governors Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania at 27%; Andy Beshear of Kentucky at 20%, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois at 14% and Tim Walz of Minnesota at 11%.

So Kelly has pulled ahead in the short time this has been going on.

[hajario]

According to Fox News, Nate Silver says the election is a toss up. I stopped paying attention to Nate after he said Hillary would win in 2016. It’s okay, I shower after visiting the Fox zoo.

Nate didn’t say that Hillary would win in 2016. You don’t understand how his model works on a fundamental level. The day before the election he said that Clinton had a 67% chance of winning.

[Rat Diva]

The Reuters Poll (https://www.reuters.com/world/us/harris-trump-locked-tight-us-presidential-race-reutersipsos-poll-finds-2024-07-30/)places Kamala Harris 1pt ahead of Trump.
Harris favorability has increased dramatically since a month ago. It went from 40% to 46%. Trump held at 41%.

U.S. Senator and former astronaut Mark Kelly of Arizona had the highest favorability rating among this group at 32%, followed by governors Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania at 27%; Andy Beshear of Kentucky at 20%, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois at 14% and Tim Walz of Minnesota at 11%.

So Kelly has pulled ahead in the short time this has been going on.

If Harris doesn't name someone today, I shall be mildly peeved because how DARE she not arrange her hectic schedule for my convenience!!! :mad: But, seriously, she's gotta keep the momentum going, because Simone Byles and Shitgibbon trying to take credit for the prisoner swap won't keep the masses occupied for long.

I mean, the NFL regular season doesn't start for a month yet and I"ve gotta armchair-quarterback SOMETHING :buddy:

[Rat Diva]

The Dems have a new name for trumpy due to his running from a debate with Kamala.
Duckin’ Don. I’m pretty sure trumpy’s team is working overtime writing excuses for his fear of Madam President.

I was thinking the other day that we should start calling him D. John, because he's gray and appears to have poop on his head. :palatr:

Or just call him Shithead

[Sputnik]

According to Fox News, Nate Silver says the election is a toss up. I stopped paying attention to Nate after he said Hillary would win in 2016. It’s okay, I shower after visiting the Fox zoo.

Nate didn’t say that Hillary would win in 2016. You don’t understand how his model works on a fundamental level. The day before the election he said that Clinton had a 67% chance of winning.

I don’t agree with that. His site showed Hillary with a 71.4% chance, and 302 electoral votes. Anyway, 2016 proved that Nate and polls are no better than my chicken bones when it comes to predicting elections.

Here is that page.
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-election-forecast/

[hajario]

Nate didn’t say that Hillary would win in 2016. You don’t understand how his model works on a fundamental level. The day before the election he said that Clinton had a 67% chance of winning.

I don’t agree with that. His site showed Hillary with a 71.4% chance, and 302 electoral votes. Anyway, 2016 proved that Nate and polls are no better than my chicken bones when it comes to predicting elections.

Here is that page.
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-election-forecast/

Fine. 71%. My point still stands and you still don’t understand. According to the model, Trump had about a one in three chance of winning and he did. Not very long odds. If it was a 0.1% chance you’d have an actual point.

[Rat Diva]

Meanwhile, back in Ratty Dum-Dum Land...

I had no clue, at all, whatsoever, that Josh Shapiro is Jewish until he was named as a potential VP pick even though I've been a fangirl since he was first elected AG in 2016. I'm only surprised that it wasn't bandied about during the goobernatorial election because his opponent was a throbbing, purulent, maggot-infested MAGAt hemmorhoid.

[hajario]

Shapiro is a very common Jewish last name like Goldberg or Cohen. It doesn’t get more Jewish.

[Rat Diva]

I said it came from Ratty Dum-Dum Land :hurr: I thought it was Italian.

[What Exit?]

Shapiro is a very common Jewish last name like Goldberg or Cohen. It doesn’t get more Jewish.

Agreed.

[Sputnik]

This from CNN
—
Vice President Kamala Harris has won enough votes from Democratic delegates to win the party’s nomination for president, Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison announced Friday.



Well, she did it.

[Metal Years]

I don’t agree with that. His site showed Hillary with a 71.4% chance, and 302 electoral votes. Anyway, 2016 proved that Nate and polls are no better than my chicken bones when it comes to predicting elections.

Here is that page.
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-election-forecast/

Fine. 71%. My point still stands and you still don’t understand. According to the model, Trump had about a one in three chance of winning and he did. Not very long odds. If it was a 0.1% chance you’d have an actual point.


I used to listen to Nate Silver's podcast a lot and while he did predict Hillary Clinton would win, he frequently reminded people that Bitch-Ass Donny had an almost-one-in-three chance and "that's not nothing."

[C2H5OH]

Fine. 71%. My point still stands and you still don’t understand. According to the model, Trump had about a one in three chance of winning and he did. Not very long odds. If it was a 0.1% chance you’d have an actual point.


I used to listen to Nate Silver's podcast a lot and while he did predict Hillary Clinton would win, he frequently reminded people that Bitch-Ass Donny had an almost-one-in-three chance and "that's not nothing."

Hell. I'll bet on horses at 1-3 odds. You pretty much have to, if you want to win more money than you lose. I bet on one at 1-72 odds, once, and won a whole shitload of money. Paid for my entire damn vacation. On a mere 20 dollar bet. In case you're wondering, that meant I got $1440 when that nag came in.

[Kat]

I keep seeing little news tidbits pop up saying that Gov. Pritzker is on the short list, and that confuses me. I don't think he would gain her anything outside of Illinois, and there's no way Illinois goes red. Is it because I'm in Illinois and they're pandering to instate viewers, or is it being talked about elsewhere?

[Borborygmi]

I'm just one data point, but just as a news consumer and someone who makes a good faith effort to keep up with politics... Pritzker has stuck out for me as the one 'short list' candidate who was really unfamiliar to me before Biden dropped out. But, yes: he was mentioned often in the earliest days as one of the most likely candidates and he started showing up as a talking head on politics shows like you would expect someone in the 'veepstakes' to do. Less so in the last few days, with the media seeming focused now on Shapiro, Kelley and Beshear. Oh, and Walz, who admittedly only rang a faint bell with me before a recent Pod Save America appearance.

Like you are trying to drill down on Pritzker, I have similar-ish confusion about my governor, Shapiro. I've liked him all along as he's climbed the ladder but I'm surprised by all the attention he's getting. I don't question that he's legitimately on the short-list, but I feel like pushing back that he was a rising Democratic star... had people outside of PA actually ever heard of him? And I think his popularity in PA is overstated. He won the governorship by a wide margin but his opponent was bananapants even by MAGA standards. Again, I love the guy... but I'm guessing most people in Pennsylvania couldn't even tell you that he's our governor.

[Rat Diva]

Especially given how PA tends to be blue at the corners (Erie, Pittsburgh, Philly, Scranton) and pink to red in the middle. I don't know if Shapiro would be enough of a draw in the Tucky parts of Pennsyltucky to guarantee a win. And as great as he is we really did luck out in the gubernatorial and senate elections because Mastriano and the Gizzard of Oz were too MAGAty for the MAGATs.

That's why my money is on Kelly; astronauts are automatically cool and he's got the devoted husband angle as well.

[BrickaBracka]

As you know, the electoral model is more important

Nate Silver had Biden with a 27% chance of winning before he dropped out.

His first model with Harris was yesterday and he gave her a 38% chance.

Many more polls came out and his new result this morning is 43.5% Harris.

A damning indictment on the general morality of the american electorate that so few would see trump for what he obviously is.

I just don't know how to feel anything other than hatred, or nihilistic pity. More like a combination of all the bad feels. I legitimately don't understand how so many people are so enamored with him. It means I'm surrounded by people I genuinely do not want to know, even as an acquaintance. I hate that I have to know many of them well. I LOATHE that I have to hear the misinformed / disinformed opinions spoken with such smarmy unearned confidence and contempt...as one local yokel proclaims to another some form of idiocy parroted from the Faux News thought destroyer.

If this election isn't a total blowout for Harris, it's just going to be a last gasp in the slide down into all that which is genuinely disgusting to me politically and personally. And it's just not possible to say "then just stay out of politics" because the same fucksticks who cry and whine about having "the gays" rammed down their throat, are constantly broadcasting their polished turd-in-chief. The truck flags, the bumper stickers, the yard signs, the frothing at the mouth. The news, the media. It just never ends.

Mark my words, because I get the feeling I won't be so free to speak them in another couple years, if Harris does not have a complete and total landslide, then this election is simply the equivalent of the first act protagonist of the story looking into the camera as they slide into a volcano, to be replaced by narrative focus on the villain's conquest. Only shame is I don't think the analogy carries further than that, it's not a setup for a sequel. We're literally over the precipice, there's nothing to fall back onto here. Anything short of a heroic rally that crushes this truly disgusting morally bankrupt thinking into the dirt isn't good enough. We're going to have culture wars that morph into literal wars that take us full speed into the climate catastrophe...rather than a united effort to try and stop it.

So for now, in order to stop existential dread, I'll pretend to hope that it's a 50 state sweep.

Oh, and edited to add this link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKSyWqcKing), which expounds on the reasons for my dread:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKSyWqcKing

[Zeener Diode]

Stumbled across this. Pennraffers, is any of it true?

https://i.imgur.com/r6EUA2z.jpeg

[BrickaBracka]

I think Shapiro was the "not Mastriano" candidate...basically it was the lesser of two evils. So he's certainly not an ideal choice.

I'm still partial to Kelly because of the astronaut card

:science: Many smart

:americanflag: Much patriotism

And also has credibility to speak on gun control.

[kirin]

Stumbled across this. Pennraffers, is any of it true?

https://i.imgur.com/r6EUA2z.jpeg

You can't get elected to statewide office in PA by being steadfastly anti-oil & gas. If Walz lived in PA would woulda never heard of him.

[What Exit?]

It looks like it is Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota for VP according to CNN and AP.

[Sputnik]

Just a few more hours, a new veep come January will be named, and I’m betting a few cabinet member jobs were on the table to the losers. The guru who picked every election correctly for the last 40 years has said the Dems have blown the election wide open with Kamala, and that he’s going with the lady candidate for the win.

[Rat Diva]

Z, here's what I've been able to find.

Shapiro did support charter schools vouchers initially but walked it back when PA house Dems raised a stink to avoid a budget delay. He also increased education funding by about 33%, which benefits students and also taxpayers (and tax collectors like me, who get to hear less bitching ;)) His mother is also a former teacher.

The tax cut thing is true, but is part of a larger plan to embiggen the economy. He's waived requirements to make state jobs easier to get and is heading up an initiative to make sure companies have access to a skilled workforce. Too early to tell if it's working.

I'm anti-fracking myself, but I guess there's an argument to be made for it. PA is the second largest nat gas producer behind TX and it is a big part of the state economy, as well as producing jobs.

I can't find who or what Yass is in this context. There is a Jeff Yass, the Richest Man in PA (tm), who's a Libertarian. Unfortunately he's a Trump fan, which makes him unlikely to support a loudly anti-Trump Democrat.

So, yeah, technically correct, which is the best kind of correct if your money's on another candidate.

[Rat Diva]

It looks like it is Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota for VP according to CNN and AP.

Solid. Unfortunately I've been distracted by the shiny and sort of ignoring him, but the more I read about him the more I like him.

And hopefully, for having been on the short list, Josh Shapiro and Mark Kelly will give Harris a fillip in their states, along with their tender, meaty electoral votes.

Walz will be the salt shaker to Vance's slug :science:

[Rat Diva]

Just a few more hours, a new veep come January will be named, and I’m betting a few cabinet member jobs were on the table to the losers. The guru who picked every election correctly for the last 40 years has said the Dems have blown the election wide open with Kamala, and that he’s going with the lady candidate for the win.

You know what, he correctly called both the 2016 and 2020 clusterfucks (oh, yeah, and the stupid Bush/Gore nonsense), and that's good enough for me. WE'RE NOT DOOMED AFTER ALL, BABY!!!

[JackieLikesVariety]

Walz will be the salt shaker to Vance's slug :science:

poetic!

[Zeener Diode]

Z, here's what I've been able to find.

Shapiro did support charter schools vouchers initially but walked it back when PA house Dems raised a stink to avoid a budget delay. He also increased education funding by about 33%, which benefits students and also taxpayers (and tax collectors like me, who get to hear less bitching ;)) His mother is also a former teacher.

The tax cut thing is true, but is part of a larger plan to embiggen the economy. He's waived requirements to make state jobs easier to get and is heading up an initiative to make sure companies have access to a skilled workforce. Too early to tell if it's working.

I'm anti-fracking myself, but I guess there's an argument to be made for it. PA is the second largest nat gas producer behind TX and it is a big part of the state economy, as well as producing jobs.

I can't find who or what Yass is in this context. There is a Jeff Yass, the Richest Man in PA (tm), who's a Libertarian. Unfortunately he's a Trump fan, which makes him unlikely to support a loudly anti-Trump Democrat.

So, yeah, technically correct, which is the best kind of correct if your money's on another candidate.

I felt there was more to the story than what I found posted. That the attributed poster is a staunch Democrat gave it credit but I feared it may have been a hacked account or rooskie bots. Thanks for filling in the blanks.

[Sputnik]

Just a few more hours, a new veep come January will be named, and I’m betting a few cabinet member jobs were on the table to the losers. The guru who picked every election correctly for the last 40 years has said the Dems have blown the election wide open with Kamala, and that he’s going with the lady candidate for the win.

You know what, he correctly called both the 2016 and 2020 clusterfucks (oh, yeah, and the stupid Bush/Gore nonsense), and that's good enough for me. WE'RE NOT DOOMED AFTER ALL, BABY!!!

Just so you know, I was totally unexcited about that. I was just on the verge of a yawn.


:fireworks::fireworks::fireworks::fireworks:

[Rat Diva]

::bops Steve with her tiny pool floatie::

[Rat Diva]

Trump-felching chaos goblin Elon Musk is playing stupid games with the "White Dudes for Harris" Xitter account.

“I’m over here getting white supremacist memes in my feed, and when I report them I’m told they ‘didn’t violate policy,’” lead organizer Ross Morales Rocketto posted on X Tuesday. “But the @dudes4harris account gets throttled because… maybe they’re afraid.”

Some context: X first locked the “White Dudes for Harris” account during a massive fundraiser with 190,000 participants and more than $4 million raised on July 29, according to a post by the organizers. It was subsequently reinstated the following day.

[SmartAleq]

I think Walz is a good choice if only because he's the one who started the "Pubbies are so WEIRD" meme that's been playing beautifully to the Dem base and that's driving Trump and Vance up the flipping wall. He brings that solid Midwest element that balances out Kamala's California roots--it's a solid ticket.

[What Exit?]

I'm really happy Gov Walz got the nod.

[SmartAleq]

Walz after signing in a bill to provide universal free lunches. This is so freaking cute!

https://i.redd.it/w1szx73au1hd1.jpeg

BALLZ TO THE WALZ!

[Sputnik]

Walz made it to the rank of Command Master Sergeant in the Army National Guard. Making him the highest enlisted person in his unit. That’s an accomplishment. Vance served 4 years in the USMC, leaving the service as a Corporal. He did serve in the Middle East.
Madam President did not serve in the military, and Cadet Bonespur ran like hell from it.

[What Exit?]

Walz made it to the rank of Command Master Sergeant in the Army National Guard. Making him the highest enlisted person in his unit. That’s an accomplishment. Vance served 4 years in the USMC, leaving the service as a Corporal. He did serve in the Middle East.
Madam President did not serve in the military, and Cadet Bonespur ran like hell from it.
Just to clarify: Command sergeant major (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Command_sergeant_major) (E-9). The highest enlisted rank pretty much.

He retired as a master sergeant in 2005 for benefit purposes because he did not complete coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.

[JackieLikesVariety]

Trump-felching chaos goblin Elon Musk

:D

I think Walz is a good choice if only because he's the one who started the "Pubbies are so WEIRD" meme that's been playing beautifully to the Dem base and that's driving Trump and Vance up the flipping wall. He brings that solid Midwest element that balances out Kamala's California roots--it's a solid ticket.

for many reasons I'm happy about the choice and this is another one!



BALLZ TO THE WALZ!

:banana:

that photo is SUPER cute!

image how Don Old would feel about little kids getting near him...:dubious:

[Rat Diva]

If you could get any kids to go near him.

That reminds me, during all this happy horseshit, there hasn't been a peep out of or about Melania. I wonder if they're even still married (and how his handlers are keeping him shut up about it).

[Sputnik]

Even Barron Trump is avoiding the political scene with his dad.

[JackieLikesVariety]

If you could get any kids to go near him.


I assume he would be terrified they would mess up his "hair"

Even Barron Trump is avoiding the political scene with his dad.

you really never hear anything about him, do you? he's 18 now and his dad says he will go to a college that doesn't "riot".

[3acres]

[ his dad says he will go to a college that doesn't "riot".

"Not much fun for little Harpo." :D

[Flying Saucerian]

I get the impression Melania is keeping him away from his father's political career as much as possible. There were discussions about having him address the Republican Convention or something and Melania nixed it.

[BrickaBracka]

Walz after signing in a bill to provide universal free lunches. This is so freaking cute!

https://i.redd.it/w1szx73au1hd1.jpeg

BALLZ TO THE WALZ!

For all the "conservative" whining about wasteful spending, for all the things you "should figure out how to pay for before you do it!"

I'd say this is one I'm willing to feel the tax burden of.

How can anyone look at that picture and say "filthy liberal, hate that guy!"

[Sputnik]

Yeah, feeding kids and making medical care available to them should be every states priority.

[silenus]

I'm starting to love this campaign season!

[SmartAleq]

Pretty sure this is gonna leave a mark, DAYUM!

https://i.redd.it/m5v50zloh4hd1.jpeg

[Rat Diva]

https://gifdb.com/images/high/punch-in-the-face-tom-and-jerry-ujr30l1l2zmkc7ia.webp

Spoilered for big animated GIFfage.

[Sputnik]

I’m impressed with how animated Walz is. Watching his intro event, both Tim and Kamala were dynamos. They came across as pure energy. JD, on the other hand, is not energetic, looking more like a guy who sells second hand jewelry from the trunk of his car.

Trumpy is upset he can’t get his momentum back. With the DNC just around the corner, trumpy will lose more coverage. Keep this snowball rolling.

[What Exit?]

I’m impressed with how animated Walz is. Watching his intro event, both Tim and Kamala were dynamos. They came across as pure energy. JD, on the other hand, is not energetic, looking more like a guy who sells second hand jewelry from the trunk of his car.

Trumpy is upset he can’t get his momentum back. With the DNC just around the corner, trumpy will lose more coverage. Keep this snowball rolling.

Well Trump is an old unhealthy overweight guy and without Biden to compare to, he's really going to look it.

[Rat Diva]

It seems like the whole "OMG only 100 days to the election :panic:" thing is working out great for Harris/Walz. Presidential elections are usually a year-long slugfest that make people say "make it stop already!" instead of "woohoo! I'm so excited!" The conventions are usually just a formality and the selection of veep is boring.

Getting everyone caught up in the excitement and then having the election quickly before anyone has a chance to get sick of them is a brilliant move.

Biden's slowing down but he's far from stupid. Can't help but wonder if this was part of a contingency plan all along.

[Rat Diva]

Meanwhile, back in the debate flip-floppage department...

“We’ll be debating her I guess, in the pretty near future. It’s going to be announced fairly soon, but we’ll be debating her,” he said.

“I can tell you every network loves me very much right now. They love me very much. I’ve never been so loved by CBS and by ABC fake news… and by NBC. No, they’re all in love with me now, so that, you know, I say yes,” he continued.

:bouncingball:

[What Exit?]

I can't keep up, when did ABC become "fake news" to Trump? Or his he forgetting his own playbook now? Is this a Disney thing?

I'm guessing his decaying brain confused ABC and NBC.

[Borborygmi]

I can't keep up, when did ABC become "fake news" to Trump? Or his he forgetting his own playbook now? Is this a Disney thing?

I'm guessing his decaying brain confused ABC and NBC.Trump has on ongoing defamation lawsuit against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos; I think it was an interview that went badly, I don't even remember. I don't think it's anything more noteworthy than all the other Trump nonsense but I'm not interested enough to look into it.

[Jaglavak]

George said the shitgibbon was convicted of raping E. Jean Carroll, when technically he was only convicted of diddling. Or something like that

Well Trump is an old unhealthy overweight guy and without Biden to compare to, he's really going to look it.

Its kind of pathetic watching him try to act like a Real Man Who Can Definitely Kick Your Ass.

[Sputnik]

He wasn’t convicted, he was found liable for sexually abusing Ms. Carrol. That’s the civil equivalent of a criminal guilty finding. She claimed rape, he claimed she wasn’t his type. Apparently, he only rapes his type. Regardless, he owes her something close to a hundred million for being found liable.

[Rat Diva]

I figure it's because any news outlet that doesn't worship him is fake news, even though they apparently loooooove him ::brain asplode::. In other words, everyone but Faux News.

[What Exit?]

I figure it's because any news outlet that doesn't worship him is fake news, even though they apparently loooooove him ::brain asplode::. In other words, everyone but Faux News.

There is also OAN (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_America_News_Network)and Newsmax (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsmax_TV), but I try to forget them also.

[C2H5OH]

Well Trump is an old unhealthy overweight guy and without Biden to compare to, he's really going to look it.

I wouldn't be surprised (or upset) if he stroked out or had a heart attack before the election*. I'd actually be surprised if Biden does (Not that that would make a difference in this election, now that he's dropped out. He's still in better shape than The Felonious Grifter. It would only give Harris whatever 'incumbency advantage' a month or 3 in the actual presidency might confer, which probably wouldn't be much).

*Of course his Trumpkin Cultists would start a CT about him being bumped off by the Deep State, and maybe riot (the ones who have any actual spine, if not brain, anyway) over it, but it would be the death-knell of the MAGA cult. MAGA is a bog-standard personality cult, and they never survive the demise of their leader. Scientology isn't a counter-example because they had relegated Hubbard to 'The Revered Old Man' status, long before he croaked, and became just a regular cult that relied on standard mind-control brain-washing, and didn't depend on the leader's charisma. He didn't have any, by the time he bought-the-farm.

[Kat]

Trump has charisma?

[What Exit?]

Trump has charisma?

He does for some, I don't understand it at all as he has always pinged my BS meter, going way back to the 80s.

[C2H5OH]

I can't keep up, when did ABC become "fake news" to Trump? Or his he forgetting his own playbook now? Is this a Disney thing?

I'm guessing his decaying brain confused ABC and NBC.

If it ain't fawning admiration, it's 'fake news'. He doesn't actually have a 'playbook', anymore. It's all 'decaying brain' farts, all the time.

At this point, I'll just be happy to see the MAGA cult die. I'll take a 'progressive' adult over a Trump Cult toddler, and hope actual 'conservatives' manage to restore the Reps to the former Reagan high-water-mark. But I ain't holding my breath over that. Sane adults I disagree with beat the fuck out of tantrum-throwing toddlers that have utterly abandoned conservatism, and don't even have any idea how to govern a rational country.

[Sputnik]

It’s amazing, Shady Vance is accusing Walz of stolen valor. When you go that low, you’re desperate. Vance really ought to avoid mentioning the military with Cadet Bonespur’s service record.

[C2H5OH]

Its kind of pathetic watching him try to act like a Real Man Who Can Definitely Kick Your Ass.

"Kind of"??? The Social Security Administration has me listed as "Permanently and Totally Disabled", but I could take him down in under two minutes. Probably in less than one. He's worthless and weak. The fight actually would probably not last 10 seconds. And it wouldn't be The Felonious Grifter winning.

And I don't disagree with the SSA's assessment of my abilities. I'm 'worthless and weak' these days. He's weaker. Incredibly so.

[BrickaBracka]

What the fuck (https://old.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/1emrfcy/the_harriswalz_rally_in_detroit_today/)

Is This AI generated?? Good lord that's a lot of people.

[Sputnik]

Wow to all those people. I don’t know if that’s really film or generated, but I read that cars were backed up for a mile and a half trying to get to their event.

[Rat Diva]

My favorite sound bite was of a bunch of Trumpian hecklers trying to make a stink and she said, "if you want Donald Trump to win, say so, otherwise, I'm speaking :shame:". Awesome :: preemptively thumps Steve with her tiny umbrella ::

[Sputnik]

I wasn’t going to mention it.

[Rat Diva]

Oh, well in that case... :hug:

[Sputnik]

Remember folks, less than 90 days left. Vote early, vote often. Together we can do this just like in 2020.


I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it
I'm about to lose control and I think I like it
I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it
And I know, I know, I know, I know,



Don’t let Ratty see that.

[Askthepizzaguy]

With polls in swing states now showing Kamala in the lead, and Kamala up by almost 3 points nationally, Vance dropping in popularity like a rock, Walz soaring and actually helping Kamala's popularity and making a visible impact on the media narrative, I'd say there are competent folks in charge of the fight against Donald Trump.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/battleground-polls-show-harris-fundamentally-151052149.html

New York Times

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-general/2024/national/

538


People, we're still living in times where openly fascist autocrat criminal felon insurrectionist who quotes Hitler is polling only a few points behind democracy itself, but this is the best news I've heard all year.

After this election, even if we win, we need to never, ever, ever let this happen again.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Also shout outs to C2H5OH, who identifies/identified as a lifelong Republican voter, but a never Trumper, if I'm reading the thread correctly.

I'm a Bernie Sanders progressive liberal, US citizen, who lives in Norway now, home of the free universal single payer healthcare.

Don't know how much we'd ever agree on. I've been forced to vote Democratic since McCain chose Sarah Palin, with her talk about how certain Americans are the 'real' kind, implying they're better than the rest of America, but I did vote Republican before that point.

I'm genuinely, for-real worried that Russia will take over Ukraine and continue hostilities towards all its European neighbors, interfere with our elections, assassinate our leaders, silence the critics. I'm absolutely for-real worried Trump will pull out of NATO and let Putin continue his mass murder rampage.

I'm genuinely, for-real worried Trump in office in 2025 will use his new criminal immunity and have the US military shoot protesters, because he can do that as commander in chief, as part of his office, and there's now no criminal liability thanks to the Supreme Court.

I'm genuinely, for-real worried democracy and the rule of law in the USA is hanging by a thread and it's not over even when Trump is defeated. The problem isn't Trump, it's those who have power that never lose their power due to elections, and wealth, and influence over policy, and influence over the media, who will just pick a different dictator next election cycle to have as their puppet.

I'm genuinely, for-real worried about partisan actors influencing our elections in those offices, and obviously partisan members of the supreme court throwing out our constitution in order to make sure their party wins, while accepting millions in bribes and treats.

I am horrified at the thought of the state of the world where the USA is autocratic and single party rule, friendly to Russia, China, and North Korea, and other autocracies and dictatorships.

I'm horrified at the loss of our human rights under such a future, the decline of democracy as a form of government worldwide as a trend, and would point out that autocracies get along far less often than democracies do.

A world where nuclear armed dictators whose decisions will never be questioned by their cult of personality, being hostile to one another and coming to blows over their stupid egos, is not a world I want my two children to grow up in.

Those fears are extremely real to me, and Trump being elected is just the final step in the process where there's no going back. Stopping him won't fix all the underlying issues, but it's important that we never, ever fail at this one step.

The USA must remain a democracy, so the large differences between us on policy would ever actually even begin to matter.

Please continue to be a never Trumper and protect democracy at all costs, even if you might need to hold your nose and vote for someone who'd agree with me way more often than they'd agree with you.

I know that can't be fun, but it's a patriotic duty that I personally must thank you for.

You don't feel welcome in your own party and you obviously won't feel welcome with the democrats. But going against your policy agenda and voting for this team, even in a state that would probably never not go to this team, is still an act of civic awareness and compassion that I must cross the aisle and virtually shake your hand for doing, if you'll have it.


I felt the need to say something after reading this whole thread and noting the attack on you for being a (former?) lifelong republican. Someone can be a member of the party and still vote against their current crop of policies and hope something saner comes around. The more Republicans speak out against this current crop, the better.

There may not be enough voices, but Trump not being endorsed by Pence and 75 percent of his previous cabinet / staff, and many of them openly calling out to America to not support this man, it matters. Even the slightest damage to his credibility among his own party can bring him down just enough in the polls to lose entire states, and having principles you stand on will always make you different from the subservient MAGA cultists who yearn to be dictated toward.

Whatever our differences, I must respect that.

[Sputnik]

I don’t think you’ll find a trumpet in these parts. Most of them are illiterate anyway.

[Metal Years]

I believe that Bitch-Ass Donny T-Rump's Vice-presidential choice is gonna be Weirdo Beardo.

JmGYC-7XuWA

[C2H5OH]

Also shout outs to C2H5OH, who identifies/identified as a lifelong Republican voter, but a never Trumper, if I'm reading the thread correctly.

Yes, you read that correctly. I'm one of far too few "Never Trump" republicans. I identify with Reagan's statement, just switching the parties. Reagan said 'I didn't leave the Democrats, they left me'. I say the same as he did about the Reps. "I didn't leave them, they left me".

[What Exit?]

Also shout outs to C2H5OH, who identifies/identified as a lifelong Republican voter, but a never Trumper, if I'm reading the thread correctly.

Yes, you read that correctly. I'm one of far too few "Never Trump" republicans. I identify with Reagan's statement, just switching the parties. Reagan said 'I didn't leave the Democrats, they left me'. I say the same as he did about the Reps. "I didn't leave them, they left me".

That is what happened to me, but I basically left the Republicans in 2000. Cheney was too Hollywood evil for me. I voted for McCain in 2008's primary but with Palin on the ticket and worries about the Supreme Court I voted and campaigned (lightly) for Obama instead. I was shocked when RBG never retired. I feel it wrecks her legacy.

Trump, wouldn't matter what party I was part of, as a local to his scumminess, hating his lies, hating the way he talks, disrespect of Vets, especially fallen vets, I will never understand how any vet could support his lying fascist shit. Never Trump and never thought the bastard was serious in 2016. This was the darkest timeline.

I thought my worse fear was Clinton vs. Bush in 2016. Never expected something or someone like Trump or even Ted Cruz.

[Sputnik]

I see the start of two things. Stop the steal again, they must be running short of confidence on the red side, and the blue side calling him Grandpa Donald. Also Celine Dion told Grandpa Donald’s team not to use her music, My Heart Will Go On! ( from the movie Titanic ) then joked about their campaign choosing that song.

[Sputnik]

Guess who made the cover of Time magazine?

https://time.com/7009317/reintroduction-of-kamala-harris/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_term=politics_elections&linkId=544645583

That’s got to burn the trumpanzee some.

[Rat Diva]

Remember folks, less than 90 days left. Vote early, vote often. Together we can do this just like in 2020.


I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it
I'm about to lose control and I think I like it
I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it
And I know, I know, I know, I know,



Don’t let Ratty see that.

Why not? I dig The Pointer Sisters :taunt:

[Rat Diva]

Oh, ick. Don Geezerone going to be in my area Saturday :yuk: The venue in question (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohegan_Sun_Arena_at_Casey_Plaza) holds 10,000 max so watch out for inflated crowd numbers, since, you know, he's been claiming the same thing about her. Because he can't handle that she got 15,000 and he doesn't. Tee hee.

[C2H5OH]

... The venue in question holds 10,000 max so watch out for inflated crowd numbers...

How much you want to bet that he doesn't crack 7k?

[JackieLikesVariety]

watch out for inflated crowd numbers, since, you know, he's been claiming the same thing about her.

he really telegraphs his intentions by what he accuses others of, doesn't he?

[What Exit?]

Morning Consult has Harris+3 in their latest poll.
Not sure what Big Village is, but also ahead 3 to 4 percent.

________________________________________

No fresh Georgia or Nevada Polls I can find.

North Carolina is even in the The Carolina Forward for August 12th. Helping Harris is Josh Stein has pulled way ahead of Mark Robinson for Governor.

Arizona seems to be leaning Harris, most recent poll on the 8th though.

Pennsylvania has the 2 most recent polls with Harris ahead 4% and 2%. The Trafalgar one has Trump up by 2% but was 5 days ago.

All recent polls of Michigan have Harris ahead by up to 6%.

Wisconsin is strongly blue now. Harris is up by 9% instead of 1-3%.

________________________________________
Only recent poll of Florida has Trump up by 5% which is at least lower than it was.

Ohio is still overwhelmingly for Trump. Around 10%. No real change.

________________________________________
I think that covers all the states thought to be in play. Right now things are looking good and North Carolina would be a nice pickup. With Biden running it was pretty solid for Trump. Moving it to even is a great sign.

I have links in my SDMB post (https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-and-the-runup-to-the-2024-presidential-election/1004571/452?u=what_exit):

[Sputnik]

538 has it:

Harris, 46.1%
Trump, 43.2%

Madam President leads by 2.8%

The good news is that last June, it was Biden behind, ow trumpy gets to figure out what happened.

[Rat Diva]

Nikki Haley to tells Trump to stop whining (https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/14/politics/video/haley-quit-whining-gop-trump-harris-sot-ctm-digvid):palatr:

[Zeener Diode]

I know it won't happen in this election cycle but Haley would be a better choice of candidate for the GOP than any MAGAt clone of Trump. Here's hoping 2028 is less acrimonious.

[Rat Diva]

I hope he'll be dead by then. Even in prison, he'd still be beloved by idiots and he could proclaim to the world that it's all a witch hunt fake evidence stolen election covfefe blarblesnarf. His base just loves every idiotic thing he does and I'll never understand it.

But I'm starting to get the vibe that the more doctrinaire Republicans are starting to get tired of his shit. I can't really see Haley stating things quite so bluntly unless she had plenty of support on her side.

[Sputnik]

As long as Fox News is there to translates trumpy’s stupidity to a level MAGA understands, he’ll do fine. Trumpy has a lot of support with those on the ascending side of I’ve IQ bell curve.

[JackieLikesVariety]

I'm starting to get the vibe that the more doctrinaire Republicans are starting to get tired of his shit. I can't really see Haley stating things quite so bluntly unless she had plenty of support on her side.

hope so!

[Zeener Diode]

Trumpy has a lot of support with those on the ascending side of I’ve IQ bell curve.

This is the side of America I never expected to see: openly embracing a pathological liar and narcissist while crying over the state of the union and declaring themselves one step away from becoming a communist. The GOP I knew never would tolerate this. And that it's carried over to a large percentage of elected boobs in Congress makes it more incredible.

[Sputnik]

I don’t have any idea how autocorrect managed to turn the into I’ve. AI must not be that intelligent.