People who think Jews are going to object because Walz will be VP not Shapiro have not been listening to Jews or reading the Jewish press. Walz has plenty of credibility with Jews for the exact same reasons so many other groups like him: he's a man who extends himself to help other people, especially when they need it. Imagine Mr Rogers with rural skills and a coach's ability to inspire.
Walz' views on Israel are the same as those of Harris, Shapiro, and all the other serious contenders for the VP slot.
Also: Shapiro, like Mark Kelly, may be too ambitious to be a good fit for the role of Vice President, which is still a backup singer kind of job, not soloist.
You may be missing a key point here: it's not views on *Israel* that are at issue, it's views on Netanyahu and his refusal to support a real ceasefire in Gaza.
For me and *my* Jewish community, supporting Israel means supporting the defense of Israel from external attack while pressuring Netanyahu to prioritize return of the hostages and stop his insane war in Gaza. We support the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who have been demonstrating against N's rightwing madness for over a year.
Brava, Joan.Just as my being anti the trumpster/dumpster doesn't make me unAmerican, being anti Netanyahu does not imply I am anti-Semittic. Both netanyahu and trump are indicted in their respective Countries for crimes against the people of their respective Countries. Both men are fighting tooth and nail to keep their sorry asses out of prison. I support both Israel and the Israelis, with the same fervor I support the United States of America, her Constitution, and her people.
It's truly unfortunate that too many conflate "Israel" with "Netanyahu". It's Netanyahu and his extremist right-wing cabinet and others who are the real problem.
I wrote this in response to a Robert Reich post on a similar topic, and it bears repeating here as it addresses a chronic topic in our public life:
“At some point, the national press was co-opted by neoliberalism as the editorial staff and principal reporters (and, in broadcast, the producers ) became “professionalized” in that they are upper middle class graduates of journalism schools and have brought with them their class prejudices against working people. These journos think that merely being against racism is sufficient to be liberal. They are suspicious of unions and contemptuous of public support for struggling families. They have bought into the neolib mindset that public expenditure crowds out private investment and does not have any multiplier effect in the economy. So it’s not surprising that they paint as out-of-touch a governor who builds up a surplus so that the state can afford to give schoolchildren breakfast. The horror!”
The media, the GOP - they're all confused. The media, in particular, thinks they are the all knowing wizard of politics. The fact is Harris and Walz are a once in a lifetime phenomenon. The enthusiasm can't be measured. The joy can't be stopped. They are a movement. Totally agree with Jeff.
and, to me at any rate, the idea of having Shapiro as a running mate had me more-than-slightly panicked for the most parochial of reasons; things being what they are, this just doesn't feel like the right time.
Seriously, NYT, why????? Your own editorial board finally — FINALLY — identified Trump and his remora as the howling threats to democracy and liberty that they are. And yet the Gray Lady can't seem to help herself, obsessively looking for holes in the hull and drilling a few when she can't find them. Aaargh.
I canceled my Substack subscription to Chris Cillizza. It seemed to me that he was trying to create what he thought the news ought to be. I dumped him.
He started out well...had some really funny takes...and then the Repubbie hack in him took over and he started churning out some really stupid and occasionally offensive stuff. Nope. Don't need it. I canceled my subscription about two months ago.
Since the pundits and MSM press have been so wrong for so long in just about every past election, why the hell would we attach any importance to what they say. I have come to believe that in part the internal Democratic campaign to get Biden to retire from the race was an attempt by the Clinton-Obama neoliberal wing of the party to regain control of the Democratic Party from the unseemly progressive accomplishments of Joe Biden, lest the Biden wing keep going, upsetting the monied interests who would like to return to those thrilling days of yesteryear, with tax cuts and money, money, money..... I think the Biden-Harris wing is doing just fine these days, thank you very much.....
All of them are about a useful as a shopping cart with no wheels, and as bright as a flashlight with no batteries (which admittedly sounds like something Dorothy would say to Rose on Golden Girls).
I loved that photo of Bernie and his mittens at the 2021 inauguration. Now I'm waiting for one of him in the field, wearing blaze orange, holding a shotgun, and accompanied by a springer spaniel.
The other thought that comes to mind is, why, pray tell, should Kamala and Tim "pivot to the center" when most of the country likes what they are proposing and would support that.....?
The "center" is a mythical land. A true center position would assume capitalism works better for the vast majority if it's properly regulated, and that popular assistance programs are needed to help people capitalism chews up and spits out. Even moderate Republicans who believe themselves to be socially liberal have a hard time accepting that, even still. That's how deeply the fear of anything that can be smeared as socialism has been seared into the conservative soul. One thing I'd like to see is that the embrace of Harris/Walz by moderate Republicans helps to erase the "their team vs. our team" ethos among enough Republicans to facilitate a gradual acceptance that the left actually has some useful ideas--defund the police notwithstanding--and that the people screaming RINO get increasingly marginalized into the fringe whence they came and truly belong. Fairy tale? Well if I had said three weeks ago that Biden needs to pass the torch to Harris and let her see if she can unite the party behind her, I'd have had my ass kicked off this forum all the way to Simi Valley. And I don't even live in SoCal.
That can be dangerous to the airplane (and the pilot). I once had a birdstrike on final approach, and whatever bird it was that went through the prop was smeared all over the windshield on my side. I was glad I had a pilot friend flying along as passenger in the right seat, so he could talk me through the approach to put it on the ground in one piece.
They're all gone now. Bud Anderson, who wrote the forward to my last book "Clean Sweep," was among the last, leaving this past May at 103. There are fewer than ten left now, according to my friend Barrett Tillman, and the youngest one is 99. Every guy in Clean Sweep is gone.
"Moving to the center" really just means being more conservative, and incorporating conservative policies. It's a nice euphemism for turning republican. The Clintons spearheaded this unfortunate trend, which enabled (or forced) repubs to move further to the right, to the point where they're now fully fasicst democracy hating libertarians. Biden finally broke Dems from that strategy, with fantastic results. All I can say to that is "we're not going back!"
People who think Jews are going to object because Walz will be VP not Shapiro have not been listening to Jews or reading the Jewish press. Walz has plenty of credibility with Jews for the exact same reasons so many other groups like him: he's a man who extends himself to help other people, especially when they need it. Imagine Mr Rogers with rural skills and a coach's ability to inspire.
Walz' views on Israel are the same as those of Harris, Shapiro, and all the other serious contenders for the VP slot.
Also: Shapiro, like Mark Kelly, may be too ambitious to be a good fit for the role of Vice President, which is still a backup singer kind of job, not soloist.
Walz is terrific!
You may be missing a key point here: it's not views on *Israel* that are at issue, it's views on Netanyahu and his refusal to support a real ceasefire in Gaza.
Um, Joan's right about Shapiro sharing similar views to Kamala Harris on the topic.
I don't recall Harris ever comparing those protesting the war on Gaza to the KKK. Did she?
For me and *my* Jewish community, supporting Israel means supporting the defense of Israel from external attack while pressuring Netanyahu to prioritize return of the hostages and stop his insane war in Gaza. We support the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who have been demonstrating against N's rightwing madness for over a year.
Brava, Joan.Just as my being anti the trumpster/dumpster doesn't make me unAmerican, being anti Netanyahu does not imply I am anti-Semittic. Both netanyahu and trump are indicted in their respective Countries for crimes against the people of their respective Countries. Both men are fighting tooth and nail to keep their sorry asses out of prison. I support both Israel and the Israelis, with the same fervor I support the United States of America, her Constitution, and her people.
It's truly unfortunate that too many conflate "Israel" with "Netanyahu". It's Netanyahu and his extremist right-wing cabinet and others who are the real problem.
I wrote this in response to a Robert Reich post on a similar topic, and it bears repeating here as it addresses a chronic topic in our public life:
“At some point, the national press was co-opted by neoliberalism as the editorial staff and principal reporters (and, in broadcast, the producers ) became “professionalized” in that they are upper middle class graduates of journalism schools and have brought with them their class prejudices against working people. These journos think that merely being against racism is sufficient to be liberal. They are suspicious of unions and contemptuous of public support for struggling families. They have bought into the neolib mindset that public expenditure crowds out private investment and does not have any multiplier effect in the economy. So it’s not surprising that they paint as out-of-touch a governor who builds up a surplus so that the state can afford to give schoolchildren breakfast. The horror!”
Excellent!
The media, the GOP - they're all confused. The media, in particular, thinks they are the all knowing wizard of politics. The fact is Harris and Walz are a once in a lifetime phenomenon. The enthusiasm can't be measured. The joy can't be stopped. They are a movement. Totally agree with Jeff.
As I put it, we are in a "revolutionary moment." The rise of something never seen before.
I so hope you're right, Tom.
and, to me at any rate, the idea of having Shapiro as a running mate had me more-than-slightly panicked for the most parochial of reasons; things being what they are, this just doesn't feel like the right time.
Seriously, NYT, why????? Your own editorial board finally — FINALLY — identified Trump and his remora as the howling threats to democracy and liberty that they are. And yet the Gray Lady can't seem to help herself, obsessively looking for holes in the hull and drilling a few when she can't find them. Aaargh.
I love it when anyone talks about Trump and his remora. Drilling holes in the hull is perfect, too.
Jeff is my morning coffee chuckle.For the past few weeks he has gotte a bit more direct. It seems to be rubbing off on many of us.
Yes indeed! :-)
“how come the media never lectures Republicans about the need to embrace the center?”
Nailed it!
Chris Cillizza, the poster child for Early Onset Batshittery.
He's lost half his Substack subscriptions since May.
I canceled my Substack subscription to Chris Cillizza. It seemed to me that he was trying to create what he thought the news ought to be. I dumped him.
He started out well...had some really funny takes...and then the Repubbie hack in him took over and he started churning out some really stupid and occasionally offensive stuff. Nope. Don't need it. I canceled my subscription about two months ago.
Hahahahahahahaha!
Salud, Kent.
🗽
I don't miss my subscription to the NYT. My blood pressure is now normal.
Since the pundits and MSM press have been so wrong for so long in just about every past election, why the hell would we attach any importance to what they say. I have come to believe that in part the internal Democratic campaign to get Biden to retire from the race was an attempt by the Clinton-Obama neoliberal wing of the party to regain control of the Democratic Party from the unseemly progressive accomplishments of Joe Biden, lest the Biden wing keep going, upsetting the monied interests who would like to return to those thrilling days of yesteryear, with tax cuts and money, money, money..... I think the Biden-Harris wing is doing just fine these days, thank you very much.....
Nicely put, and very credible. In spirit, I am still Ridin’ with Biden.
All of them are about a useful as a shopping cart with no wheels, and as bright as a flashlight with no batteries (which admittedly sounds like something Dorothy would say to Rose on Golden Girls).
I loved that photo of Bernie and his mittens at the 2021 inauguration. Now I'm waiting for one of him in the field, wearing blaze orange, holding a shotgun, and accompanied by a springer spaniel.
The other thought that comes to mind is, why, pray tell, should Kamala and Tim "pivot to the center" when most of the country likes what they are proposing and would support that.....?
The "center" is a mythical land. A true center position would assume capitalism works better for the vast majority if it's properly regulated, and that popular assistance programs are needed to help people capitalism chews up and spits out. Even moderate Republicans who believe themselves to be socially liberal have a hard time accepting that, even still. That's how deeply the fear of anything that can be smeared as socialism has been seared into the conservative soul. One thing I'd like to see is that the embrace of Harris/Walz by moderate Republicans helps to erase the "their team vs. our team" ethos among enough Republicans to facilitate a gradual acceptance that the left actually has some useful ideas--defund the police notwithstanding--and that the people screaming RINO get increasingly marginalized into the fringe whence they came and truly belong. Fairy tale? Well if I had said three weeks ago that Biden needs to pass the torch to Harris and let her see if she can unite the party behind her, I'd have had my ass kicked off this forum all the way to Simi Valley. And I don't even live in SoCal.
Why don't any of these
supposed brilliant MSM
gurus ask these rethugs
exactly what they've done
for their constituents this
year? Seriously!
That last about the media, Republicans and the center was a dead-center bullseye. Guess Waltz isn't the only good shot around.
Love your work, like watching a P51D chew up a flock of fat geese.
That can be dangerous to the airplane (and the pilot). I once had a birdstrike on final approach, and whatever bird it was that went through the prop was smeared all over the windshield on my side. I was glad I had a pilot friend flying along as passenger in the right seat, so he could talk me through the approach to put it on the ground in one piece.
Cool, TC. The husband of a dear friend was a P51 pilot in WWII. He's since passed about 6 years ago.
They're all gone now. Bud Anderson, who wrote the forward to my last book "Clean Sweep," was among the last, leaving this past May at 103. There are fewer than ten left now, according to my friend Barrett Tillman, and the youngest one is 99. Every guy in Clean Sweep is gone.
My friend's husband was 95 when he passed in 2018. He was a fine man.
Oh they all were - the best of the best.
😰😢
Have to be very careful of
bird strikes. Not good for
aircraft, especially engines.
"Moving to the center" really just means being more conservative, and incorporating conservative policies. It's a nice euphemism for turning republican. The Clintons spearheaded this unfortunate trend, which enabled (or forced) repubs to move further to the right, to the point where they're now fully fasicst democracy hating libertarians. Biden finally broke Dems from that strategy, with fantastic results. All I can say to that is "we're not going back!"