Harris's VP?

[Xenophon]

The first is a lot more important than the second. I doubt the value of weird will be that enduring.

Absolutely the first is more important and the part I'm pleased to see. I think the "weird" part is less about the comment specifically (although it is playing very well right now) and more of highlighting Walz ability to get his point across in a way that really seems to resonate with voters.

[Gadianton]

and more of highlighting Walz ability to get his point across in a way that really seems to resonate with voters

"weird" seems to be a descriptor on the rise over the last few months. Walz picking up on it is effective because he's so normal.

Being a libertarian or a Trumper is all about being over-the-top in your own unique way, ranging from pure silly to anti-social. Vance, who puts on eye makeup and then pounds the pulpit with fascist rhetoric reminds me of Bob Geldof's demagogue Pink character in The Wall, when he stands at a rally raising his fists like all Republicans do now, and sings "In the flesh," which calls out ethnicities and sexual identities unfit for his vision of society.

Suddenly making these kinds of antics uncool could be powerful.

[Morley]

Vance, who puts on eye makeup

Vance should be careful. One of these days, he's going to find himself in a library, reading to children.

More power to him.

[Kishkumen]

"weird" seems to be a descriptor on the rise over the last few months. Walz picking up on it is effective because he's so normal.

Being a libertarian or a Trumper is all about being over-the-top in your own unique way, ranging from pure silly to anti-social. Vance, who puts on eye makeup and then pounds the pulpit with fascist rhetoric reminds me of Bob Geldof's demagogue Pink character in The Wall, when he stands at a rally raising his fists like all Republicans do now, and sings "In the flesh," which calls out ethnicities and sexual identities unfit for his vision of society.

Suddenly making these kinds of antics uncool could be powerful.

You are touching on something about the word weird that doesn't work for me here.

I like weird, generally speaking.

I look at people like Trump et al., and the word that comes to my mind is "disturbing," not weird.

[Some Schmo]

You are touching on something about the word weird that doesn't work for me here.

I like weird, generally speaking.

I look at people like Trump et al., and the word that comes to my mind is "disturbing," not weird.

"Weird" is a word like "surprise": they're context sensitive. Both words could be good or bad depending on context.

Disturbing comes to my mind, too, as does criminal, psychopathic, hypocritical, misogynist, racist, classless, and shameless, to name a small subset. I don't think weird is necessarily aimed at people like you and me. I think it's aimed at people who only follow politics lightly or barely at all. If you only hear a soundbite or two from these guys rather than follow them all the time, hearing them described as weird can be an entry point into considering just how nuts the GOP has become.

It doesn't have to work on his base (and it won't). It just has to work at the margins with swing voters.

[Jersey Girl]

I have a prediction. When I made a prediction on the VP pick, I was way off base. So this has to do with Taylor Swift who has yet to endorse this ticket. I believe it was on this thread that we talked about the influence of celebrities in drawing forward the youth vote. So...here it is.

I think that Taylor Swift will show up as a speaker at the DNC and publicly endorse Harris/Walz. The reason I say that is because I think she knows that it will make a bigger impact than announcing it at a concert or on social media.

If she endorses, regardless of the venue, Swifties will come out to vote in force. I think it's already over for Trump. With the Swifties vote?

Yeah that.

So keep an eye out next week and see if I predicted accurately or fell flat on my face again. It's okay with me if I suck at predictions. I just see the build up to an in-person Swift endorsement at the DNC as the well placed strategic move. Plus it'll make Trump start personally attacking TS and that'll stoke the Swiftie base even more.

[Moksha]

So this has to do with Taylor Swift who has yet to endorse this ticket.

Trump is claiming that he is more popular than Taylor Swift.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J2etZCuyW0

[Jersey Girl]

So this has to do with Taylor Swift who has yet to endorse this ticket.

Trump is claiming that he is more popular than Taylor Swift.

I know right. He's lying to himself as usual.

[drumdude]

Barack Obama could be her VP, technically. It would be against the spirit of the law but not technically illegal.

As much as I liked Obama I think it would be absolute insanity to add him to the ticket. One of the things I've respected most about him is how well he did at stepping away after his term was over.

Arguments of legality aside, the optics of it would be awful. This election will be challenging enough without adding that extra fodder.

Bumping this a year later. You can guarantee this is the route that Trump will be going to secure a 3rd term and beyond.

https://www.reddit.com/r/moderatepoliti ... e_a_third/

The problem with Democrats is that they keep playing well inside the rules and expecting Republicans will eventually stop finding creative ways to break them.

[Xenophon]

Barack Obama could be her VP, technically. It would be against the spirit of the law but not technically illegal.

As much as I liked Obama I think it would be absolute insanity to add him to the ticket. One of the things I've respected most about him is how well he did at stepping away after his term was over.

Arguments of legality aside, the optics of it would be awful. This election will be challenging enough without adding that extra fodder.

Bumping this a year later. You can guarantee this is the route that Trump will be going to secure a 3rd term and beyond.

https://www.reddit.com/r/moderatepoliti ... e_a_third/

The problem with Democrats is that they keep playing well inside the rules and expecting Republicans will eventually stop finding creative ways to break them.

And I stand by my original comment. I don't believe for one second that adding Obama to the ticket would have resolved anything (ignoring entirely the point that he definitely didn't want that heat). The answer to Trump wanting to establish himself as god-emperor is not to pick a god-emperor you like better. I don't inherently disagree with your premise that Democratic leadership is far too soft on their pushback and strategy, I just think this example is a non-starter for most people who respect liberty.

For me, I'd point to Democrats refusal to drop the filibuster to get their agenda through then failing to leverage that filibuster once they are the minority party. What the hell was the point of hamstringing yourself if you weren't going to use the tools once you needed them Schumer?

ETA: Also, my bet would be they would elect him as speaker then have Pres/VP step down as a clearer path as opposed to picking him as VP.