• @thesporkeffect
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    2161 month ago

    Wow! I can’t believe she didn’t intentionally make the obviously worse choice. Unironically. This is entirely new territory as a democratic voter!

    • @assassin_aragorn
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      531 month ago

      I see it as purposeful messaging that they’re willing to change and be more progressive, if that’s what we want. Now we need to prove them right and get out to the polls.

      • @[email protected]
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        91 month ago

        To be fair though, democrats don’t have a problem getting out to the polls, especially for national elections. No Republican has won the popular vote for 20 years; the only Republican wins in this time were based on technicalities.

        I think what we’ll see in November is the same high voting numbers, but a much different demographics pivoting the central block from old centrists to younger progressives.

        • @[email protected]
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          41 month ago

          This is why Kamala and co need to release their plan to unfuck our election system, so we never have to deal with this bullshit again… If they don’t, the left needs to start pushing it

        • @randon31415
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          31 month ago

          20 years

          But Bush did it … in 2004. Fuck, has it be 20 years already?

          • @[email protected]
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            71 month ago

            That’s the last legit Republican National win. He only won the popular vote in 2004 due to 9/11. He lost the popular vote in 2000 and won by Supreme Court decision.

            These fuckers HAVE to cheat to win.

            • @[email protected]
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              31 month ago

              That was also a colossal violation of the Constitution, because of probability and statistics.

              I was too young to understand at the time, but I read that the conservative justices blocked the recount citing concern that the batch of uncounted votes might indicate an attempt by Democrats to steal the election.

              But we can easily show that the uncounted batch was too small to change anything. Consider that, even if every single uncounted vote went to Gore, the resulting variance would still reside well within a statistical margin of error for that sample.

              In other words, that election was the US’ first true tie in a presidential election since 1800. By the constitution it should have triggered a contingent election, which is the business of the legislative branch, NOT judicial.

    • @The_v
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      411 month ago

      A very strategic pick.

      His wiki page reads like a check-list to attract the republican women voters.

      White

      Male

      From Nebraska

      Veteran.

      Supports Abortion rights.

      “Think of the children” (both him and his wife were teachers).

    • @[email protected]
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      1 month ago

      Penny for your thoughts? Pennsylvanians seem to be big fans of Shapiro, though I’ve not heard of Walz before just now.

      • @cogman
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        831 month ago

        Shapiro is a HUGE Zionist and has had problems in his office with sexual harassment (not by him, but his aides). With some saying he helped to cover it up.

        He may play well in Pennsylvania, he does not play well in many states like Michigan and would not play well with the youth vote. The only real reason to pick Shapiro is for AIPAC money.

      • @APassenger
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        671 month ago

        Shapiro has an extended history of being quite sympathetic to Israel to the point of problematic statements and treating anti-genocide protest as something it’s not.

        Walz has none of that baggage and seems to care about people. He’s a far better (from what I know) person to be one heartbeat away from the presidency.

        He should campaign well and I expect him to keep hitting Trump. Vance will self-own without too much assistance. Punching up will be a great look.

        If Walz is her pick, I’m giddy.

        I’m fairly far left and I want human rights for all. I don’t understand why the party of small government needs to know my internet habits, what happens behind closed doors, what books are read, or why specific medical care (gender affirning or reproductive) is sought.

        We’re people. The republican nanny state can fuck right off.

        That said, I’d like a better safety net. The nation has the money for it if we had a rational tax code. This combination on the ticket gives me hope that all the above are priorities.

        I do NOT want Shapiro except as a calculated play for Pennsylvania. I have 0 interest in a war to defend Israel’s right to be 1940s Germany.

      • Coelacanth
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        171 month ago

        Shapiro’s approval rating is fine, but not high enough that the speculation of him guaranteeing Pennsylvania is justified.

        On the other hand, he comes with a lot of baggage - some justified and some not so much - but all of which are terrible optics. He is an incredibly vulnerable pick whose only merit is the vain hope of delivering PA.

      • HobbitFoot
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        101 month ago

        Shapiro hasn’t been good for education in PA, including leading the closure of several rural public universities and promoting student vouchers. Along with other views, he would not be a progressive pick.

      • @Telodzrum
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        -181 month ago

        Terminally online leftists have seized on a few very old comments from Shapiro (when he was like 21) and taken more recent ones out of context for performative outrage with regard to the current Israeli conflict. The oddest part is that his actually policy position is shared by Harris, Kelly, Beshear, and even Walz. He’s the only Jewish person on that list, though. That couldn’t have anything to do with it, right?

        • @[email protected]
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          71 month ago

          His “actual policy position” was saying the protests in his state should be forcefully disbanded and implicitly compared protesters to the KKK. He was worse than every other option, for very specific reasons that would have been easy for you to learn if you tried.

          Like in the protests themselves, charges of antisemitism are inappropriately deployed whenever criticism is leveled against Israel and its supporters.

        • @[email protected]
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          61 month ago

          Kamala Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, is also Jewish. So no, it doesn’t have anything to do with it.

          • @Telodzrum
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            -81 month ago

            Neat, I bet you totally have a black friend too, right?

        • @[email protected]
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          41 month ago

          Establishment dems like you need to suck it up and vote with the democrats. You always complain when you don’t get everything you want. Don’t you know how compromise works? You’re like little babies it’s not all or nothing. That’s not how real politics works

    • The Snark Urge
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      261 month ago

      I genuinely did not see that coming. I feel strange.

      • @kescusayOP
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        161 month ago

        It’s hope. You’re feeling hope. Kind of tingles, right?

    • @Ensign_Crab
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      261 month ago

      I hoped that Biden dropping out heralded a tipping point away from the arrogant, conservative old guard that was stifling progress and toward a more progressive future.

      I’m more hopeful still. I missed hope.

    • @return2ozma
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      141 month ago

      I woke up this morning, figured she’d have made her VP pick public by now (I’m on the West Coast), checked my phone and said “Not Shapiro?! Bahahahahaha!”

      And I laughed and laughed and laughed. F Shapiro! Pleasantly surprised she picked Walz.

  • peopleproblems
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    1 month ago

    That’s a surprisingly progressive ticket. Who would have guessed that the 2024 election would be between a lawyer & School Teacher (before politics at least) and a dementia riddled real estate mobster and a couch fucker

          • Bizzle
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            51 month ago

            I’m looking at Davenport right now across the river, those dudes fuck some couches. Frankly I’m surprised they aren’t giving him the key to the city.

            • @[email protected]
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              61 month ago

              Only reason they haven’t given him the key to the city is that someone lost it and they’re still looking for it between the cushions

            • @[email protected]
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              21 month ago

              Haven’t you ever seen the shows where they help people overcome their addictions? The first step is removing them from their current environment so that they’re not triggered to relapse.

        • @The_v
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          61 month ago

          Did Richard “Gerbil” Gere say that?

    • katy ✨
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      431 month ago

      a progressive ticket with one of the post popular governors in the country who was able to be a governor because he was relatable and popular enough with rural republican minnesotans

      • peopleproblems
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        171 month ago

        It makes sense. He was big on in person campaigning. I’ve shook his hand and chatted with him, my dad had lunch with him a while back.

        Hes a no-nonsense guy. He’s from Nebraska, retired Command Sergeant Major, taught in a small town, and listening to him reminds me of my grandfather who was a very popular educator and farmer in the midwest. It’s hard not to like him.

      • @legion02
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        21 month ago

        Any worry that the gov seat will go republican now?

        • katy ✨
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          61 month ago

          not likely; but if walz does win, peggy flanagan would take over and probably have a big boost going into a full term.

    • @Telodzrum
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      231 month ago

      Dems have been sneaky progressive since like 2018. It’s been a real breath of fresh air. With the Biden Administration’s achievements and policy goals basically being a leftist’s wishlist, I’m excited to see what a Harris Administration can do on top of that.

  • @Geek_King
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    1261 month ago

    Oh hot damn I’m so relieved. I was pretty worried she’d go with Shapiro, and then have a solid argument against her based on his service in the Israeli military. After seeing multiple people on lemmy say “They shouldn’t choose Tim Walz… we want to keep him for our selves”, that seemed like a solid endorsement by his constituents. Then Bernie endorsed the guy, so I feel pretty damn good about this selection if it proves to be true.

    • dcpDarkMatter
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      671 month ago

      As a Minnesotan, I’m saddened for our potential loss. But as an American, I’m happy that the rest of the country will get to benefit from him.

      • @[email protected]
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        201 month ago

        Same, but I have a feeling Peggy Flanagan will do well in his stead. She was part of the groups that used to coach others at the Wellstone Political training camps that Tim Walz went to before he started running.

      • @[email protected]
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        21 month ago

        I’m just hoping Kamala and him are able to give America the Minnesota treatment. We won’t need these state reforms if they happen on the federal level instead.

    • @[email protected]
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      1 month ago

      then have a solid argument against her based on his service in the Israeli military.

      That’s an argument against for some and an argument in favor for others. It’s about attracting independents and they are split on that issue.

      On the other hand, Shapiro would probably not have done well among the large muslim minority in Michigan.

      Overall, I think Walz seems like the best pick. I just hope he doesn’t turn out to be another Tim Kaine.

    • @Rapidcreek
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      -111 month ago

      Shapiro’s position on Isreal isn’t any different than any of the other candidates.

      • @Geek_King
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        421 month ago

        Nope, but serving in the IDF, and having some vocal opinions on the campus protests in favor of Palestine is just the thing Harris doesn’t need to be saddled with.

        • @ccunning
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          71 month ago

          serving in the IDF

          wut?

            • @ccunning
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              101 month ago

              Pennsylvania Governor and potential Democratic vice presidential nominee Josh Shapiro on Friday sought to distance himself from a recently uncovered op-ed he wrote in college, in which he identified as a former volunteer in the IDF and argued that the Palestinians are too “battle-minded” to pursue peace with Israel.

              “While he was in high school, Josh Shapiro was required to do a service project, which he and several classmates completed through a program that took them to a kibbutz in Israel where he worked on a farm and at a fishery,” Shapiro’s spokesperson Manuel Bonder told The Times of Israel.

              “The program also included volunteering on service projects on an Israeli army base. At no time was he engaged in any military activities,” Bonder added in a statement responding to an inquiry regarding the nature of his volunteer work.

              Sounds like he was trying to talk himself up in the article he wrote right out of high school. Definitely seems he worked on an IDF base but probably not for the IDF.

              Either way, probably good he wasn’t the pick. The opposition wouldn’t be concerned with such nuances.

              • Coelacanth
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                31 month ago

                Yeah, the facts and his actual current opinions matter much less than optics. Still, he has further vulnerabilities too besides Israel so I’m very positively surprised by the Walz pick. Dems seem to be on the ball and have their finger on the pulse of America for once.

        • @Rapidcreek
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          -341 month ago

          Walz is a low risk, medium reward pick. Shapiro is reverse. Can’t win the Presidency without Pennsylvania. I think the jabber that the far left came up with regarding Shapiro is shameful and embarrassing, but the choice is made and it’s time to move forward.

            • @Rapidcreek
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              1 month ago

              Shapiro was high risk and high reward. Now that the decision has been made, I hope you can cheer for the Philly ward ladies to deliver Pennsylvania.

          • Coelacanth
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            131 month ago

            I don’t think Shapiro guarantees PA. His approval is good, but it’s not crazy high like Beshear. And his vulnerabilities make him too risky of a pick, you don’t want to halt the positive momentum and alienate the young voters you have finally gotten energised.

            • @Rapidcreek
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              -71 month ago

              Not that it matters, but the political tactics in Pennsylvania are a bit different. Shapiro’s popularity in rural communities would be quite beneficial.

          • @P00ptart
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            21 month ago

            I think you’ll be surprised by the number of surprise states going blue for this election. A lot has happened since 2020 on Trump’s side, and none of it has been good.

            • @Rapidcreek
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              21 month ago

              Maybe true. Hopefully true. Ground game is everything, though.

          • @[email protected]
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            1 month ago

            Yeah, but you celebrate the genocide. I know you post a lot so the arguments between us from months ago will be far back in the history, but there is nothing surprising about someone who justifies genocide siding with the candidate who served in the military that is currently committing genocide.

            • @Rapidcreek
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              -71 month ago

              I’m not siding with any candidate. I don’t care who the democratic VP candidate is. Try again.

              • @[email protected]
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                61 month ago

                I don’t need to try again, but when you post seemingly innocuous opinions that tangentially touch on your support for genocide without referencing it, and I see it, I will post so that others will know that they are interacting with something posted by someone that supports genocide.

                • @Rapidcreek
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                  -41 month ago

                  Please practice on your soapbox.

      • @[email protected]
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        71 month ago

        His position on almost everything isn’t that much different from corpo Dems. I was reading through one of those “know your politician” sites and I was fuming saying “wtf does he even bring to the table other than mayyyyybe PA and keeping wall st happy?”

        • @Rapidcreek
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          -51 month ago

          I doubt it. There isn’t a politician in the country that candons flag burning and defacing public property.

          • @[email protected]
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            31 month ago

            Why do you guys keep assuming it’s some generic nothingburger rather than looking up the actual complaints?

            • @Rapidcreek
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              -41 month ago

              Lots of people died under that flag, friend. You can call it a nothingberger but that hardly makes it so for a majority of the US

              • @[email protected]
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                21 month ago

                What? You don’t seem to even understand the issue. You refuse to look up the actual criticisms of Shapiro, assuming it’s an issue about flag burning, which you say no one would object to. It’s not about flag burning.

                • @Rapidcreek
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                  -41 month ago

                  I don’t rightly care. You’re the the one who seems kerpluxed. No politican is going to go along with the demonstrations. Actually, the US has shown restraint compared to the Europeans. A place like Philadelphia or Boston does not take bullshit demonstrations and that’s before the cops show up. I am happy that you have found a social cause to support. Shapiro is not going to be the nominee, so again, I really don’t care at this point.

              • @hark
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                -11 month ago

                If people are dying under the flag then we should destroy the flag to prevent others from dying under it.

        • @Rapidcreek
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          -11 month ago

          If there is a difference you should explain it.

          • @[email protected]
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            11 month ago

            I’d spend more time on a response to someone that doesn’t make bad faith arguments and supports genocide.

            For you, though? No.

  • worldwidewave
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    431 month ago

    This is going to be one entertaining VP debate

  • katy ✨
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    311 month ago

    hell yes about time we had a cat daddy in the white house <3

  • @BertramDitore
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    301 month ago

    He was coincidentally the keynote speaker at the Esri UC a few weeks ago (a big GIS conference/industry trade show), he was surprisingly entertaining and thoughtful. He used to be a geography teacher, and you could really tell by how well he connected with people. That was my first exposure to him, and I was genuinely impressed.

    • @[email protected]
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      181 month ago

      Wait what, he knows GEOGRAPHY? What kinda 'merican does he think he is?

      No worries, my cat says I’m to vote Harris-Walz and D down the ticket, and she knows best.

  • @pjwestin
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    171 month ago

    Thank God. I can’t believe this actually came down to, “one of the most popular Democrats in the country vs. the worst possible choice for every state except PA (debatably).”

    • Beaver [she/her]
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      81 month ago

      Gotta make sure everyone knows since the election is very soon in American campaign time.

    • @A_A
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      31 month ago

      just went through this article and in every way it’s a great guy, at the border between Gen x and boomer.

  • @APassenger
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    141 month ago

    I so want this to be true. I’d lose my mind and donate more.

    Is she like a real politician who cares about peolple? I’d love to see it.

  • @Rapidcreek
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    111 month ago

    Looking forward to his pro tips. Need some help with my mower.