I heard he doesn't like tater tot hot dish.

With the BIG MONEY Walz saved by shopping at Menards he should be able to afford some decent attack ads.

That's funny. Just last night saw an old commercial for Menards on "The Video Garage."

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

He's a former teacher who coached Pop Warner football in rural areas. An incredibly normal man because he came from a very normal background. Repeatedly won a red district. Even has a veteran background.

I'm telling you that he will be incredibly well liked in the midwest and rust belt. Not really sure how you attack him but I guess they're going to go with "he's not rich and has to go to the hardware store himself".

I'm amazed! Great work by Harris as I'm guessing she was getting pressured to take Shapiro by donors and the West Wing branch of the advisor class.

Is that the attack here? I honestly don't get it. I wondered if maybe the joke here was that Menard's went out of business years ago and I didn't notice. Or is it that he should be buying more involved things than an air filter? That part of the clip actually seemed more like a mistake that they put it in there, than an attack. But I'm the kind of guy who wouldn't know if Menard's went out of business years ago, so I'm assuming there's a lot I could be missing here.

It will be fascinating. Walz's record is liberal, but he presents as a moderate/conservative Dem.

Harris is betting that low-information conservative-leaning voters in the Midwest are going to respond more to his vibes than his record.

I know we still have Menards in my area.

We've been to Menard's a few times when visiting IN and have wondered "hey, why can't we have these??" I assume they're doing fine.

Trump did say former football coaches should replace military generals, so VP is pretty close

So much to lke about this pick....

Walz and his wife went through IVF, Harris campaign says https://t.co/W985F5hORJ

— Betsy Klein (@betsy_klein) August 6, 2024

WHAT THE FUCK

?

The negative attacks Walz's looks like it will be that he did nothing to stop the "BLM riots" and he got a DUI in 1995.

Dont forget he didnt serve the country during either world war.

why would she choose someone from an already blue state instead of a battleground state

is he at least somewhat progressive? or are we looking at another Tim Kaine

Walz appears to be the right pick to me.

esplain?

He's going to absolutely kill on Gameday or McAfee or something similar talking about football.

Has to be odd knowing that VP is what you're going to be doing either for four months or eight years.

I will need to hear Walz's position on couches before I'm certain what to make of this.

When was the last time the winning ticket had a VP that delivered a battleground state? I think that's been overblown. Harris is from CA, Pence from IN, Biden from DE, Cheney from WY. None of those states were in play so maybe it was Gore in '92? I like the Walz pick. He'll play well in the upper midwest.

Hopefully not missionary or doggy

It is kind of humorous watching all of the #NeverTrump Republican pundits patiently explain to us why Walz is a bad pick and that the Dems will come to regret it.

These are the folks who, through laziness and miscalculation, let Trump take over their party in 2016.

It's like Rich Kotite showing up to give someone coaching advice.

Gore was actually a controversial pick, because it was considered important to have regional balance. He was picked because he helped reinforce the youthful change image.

Don't forget, Dems hate the Jews.

While VPs, outside of Palin and a couple others, haven't meant much in the past I'm not willing to bet on much of anything in today's political climate. GenZ is more politically engaged than past generations so while a Walz may not help a ton, there's risk that someone else could hurt the ticket.

The important takeaway here is Kamala has already shown that she's willing to go against the establishment and party money to make the right decision. That's more telling the Walz pick in itself. This is the type of unforced error the dems have been unable to avoid in the past.

I agree. Shapiro being the other front runner, was fhe wrong pick despite being in a battleground state, especially with the Israel related issues. Walz keeps the momentum going.

I think the importance of the VP pick has grown in the internet/soundbite era, during the election cycle at least. I think there's a larger, more accessible megaphone available to those who want to/know how to use it, though many have just opted for the traditional, more secondary role.

3 point bounce in Wisconsin for this.

“So it’s 2019 and I’m in the Wuhan Province at a wet market…” pic.twitter.com/mNDE17M6Ye

— Aubrey Strobel (@aubreystrobel) August 5, 2024

I think comparing him to one of the most beloved comedians of all time is a smart move.

Meet Tim Walz, who lives in a van down by the river pic.twitter.com/FDPLXXs8gs

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 6, 2024

This is what happens when you replace all of the pros with zealots.

JD Vance wrong-footing Democrats by campaigning for Harris today in Pennsylvania. pic.twitter.com/DO31sTjeFn

— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) August 6, 2024

I don't think/care if it's been offensive to anyone, and it's been super effective so far, but leaning so hard into the singular word 'weird' could turn it into the left's version of 'woke' turning it useless. Now that the hook's been I wish they would abandon the word entirely (but still imply it), and let MAGA shoot themselves in the foot with it.

I think it's two different things. Woke just meant things I don't like. Another way to say "black" or "gay" without actually saying it. It became useless because it always was useless. No one using the word can actually describe what it means.

Weird is just that, calling someone weird. If anything, it's tame compared to what most people would call someone who's life revolves around kids genitals.

Sure it can get overused with time but I think it's been a positive because it's one of the rare times where liberals actually go on the attack. Most of the time they're cowering in fear that someone might point out that they support free school lunch or something.

That is certainly true. My wishful thinking is that they make the exact same attacks just without that word, because it's easier for the GOP to defend themselves against a single word than the substance behind it..

Is the sign supposed to say Kamala Shags?

JD Vance looks like if Jason Street from Friday Night Lights went through with the shark stem cell injections.

I just cannot get enough of RFK. The more details that trickle out of that bear story the more hilarious it gets.

I think the word weird has enough legs to get through this election. Im in favor of its continued use through then. The issues themselves just arent of a lot of concern for some but they understand and hear weird.

It works because they ARE weird. Flying flags, wearing Trump gear, talking about off the wall shit, making your entire identity about one man, etc...comes across are very weird to most people.

so are you saying Dems are gonna Waltz to victory?

that will definitely make her more popular, baby! oh, behave!

Jesus slowly backs away from last 2000 years...

They just opened one in Richmond just south of Lexington and we always go when we visit our daughter in the Florence area just south of Cincy.

I hear you save big money with Menards

AT Menards.

:thumbsup:

the best thing about menards is the large lion statue at the base of the conveyor belt ramp up. I always feel obliged to boop its nose

Add tamponTim to the attacks.

I'm sure attacking him for putting free feminine hygiene products in schools will help with that gender gap.

News to me https://t.co/VYCrhpfcdM

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) August 6, 2024

There is also a claim of "stolen valor" buzzing, because Walz retired as a CSM, but he is being paid in retirement as SM. That's because you have to be in rank for so long to get the full retirement at pay scale. My friend retired as a Senior Chief in the Navy, but is only getting paid in retirement at the Chief rate. He is still recognize as a Senior Chief because he earned the rank.
In Walz's case, he received the rank but retired before he finished required course work.

It's a VP battle between couches and coaches.

I think trump will replace vance by the end of the week

They are obsessed with children's genitals. It's all they can think about.

They should have him do a bunch of sports podcasts and just talk football.

Let's ask Obama how weird it is for people to make their identity about one man. Flying flags is definitely not very weird to most people; I wish it was a lot weirder in perception than it is and there was a lot less patriotism, but that's not the country we live in.

Trump is going completely nuts on Truth Social. He is wish-casting that people are calling for Biden to come back and run. Literally no one but him is.

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Here's hoping he continues to melt down, and gives people an even clearer choice.

This one is good.

Tim Walz changed the state flag to look more like Somalia.

I can't believe this fine specimen of a human being was arrested for making threats against Kamala Harris among other people.

just....wow. (Yes, this is real.)

Yikes. It sucks that there are never any repercussions for his deranged rants.

“What are the chances that . . . “

I’d guess low.

I think I saw that Trump only has one campaign event this week in Montana. Maybe his staff know he's become unhinged. And Vance going to the battleground states with a Kamala sign behind him isn't going to help. What a disaster.

Heck, it’s sort of reminds me of what went through my head at 15. “And then she’ll break up with him, and then she’ll want to start dating me. And then he’ll get mad and challenge me to a FIGHT. And I’ll kick his ass, and everyone’s gonna see it and . . . “

This all actually happened to me....I mean, not dating the hot chick, or winning the fight, or being popular stuff, but the fantasizing about it part.

Kamabla is absolutely THEE worst nickname he has come up with. I'd just assume it was a typo if he hadn't used it repeatedly. Sad. Low energy.

Well, he can't call her what he really wants to call her.

I'm not even sure I understand the put-down with Kamabla he's going for. One article I read said it was a dig at her Indian heritage. Is that it?

First I thought maybe it was a dig at her being half-black (bla). Then I thought maybe he was going for "blah." Then I thought it was another bit of GOP projection and insinuating some sort of NAMBLA connection with Dems.

Any way you slice it, it's pretty stupid, even for Trump.

So, basically the anti-Fetterman.


It's already worked on Joe Manchin.


They're all over Chicagoland. I go to my nearest one all the time. My wife calls it my happy place and I don't correct her on that.

I've never been to a place where I can buy a 2x4, cat litter and a gallon of milk. I wish they had built one close to me rather than in Richmond - although my younger duaghter just moved into an apartment as school is starting back that is almost directly across the street from this new one, so we'll have plenty of chances to go.

JV Vance is a brutal nickname.

first impressions of Walz, who I knew almost nothing about other than the photo of him signing the free breakfast/lunch for kids bill with all the kids around him are generally good-seems like a solid midwestern Democrat, loved that he was a social studies teacher like I was, had a few understandably nervous moments and tells which i would like to see him work on during these next 90+ days of the campaign but he didn't mispronounce or otherwise get names wrong, seemed with it and in the moment, like how he made sure to mention his main competitor for the job Shapiro and I think won't be as much of an attack dog as Shapiro would have been which is a good thing for the campaign I think.

Tim Walz Will Debate JD Vance If He'll 'Get Off the Couch'



Savage.

Walz makes Kamala look a lot younger whereas Shapiro probably makes her look considerably older.

Otherwise I’m Counting down the days until Shapiro can primary Fetterman

Looks like a Bill Hader SNL character.

Shapiro is such a good speaker he'd be too likely to outshine Harris.

Anyone else surprised that Hilary Clinton did not make the list? I would have thought Hillary would be a guarantee mention on any Trump listing of the Lunatic Left.

Really good talk Walz did at the annual ESRI GIS conference in San Diego in July. Definitely a map geek and a teacher at heart.

Walz at ESRI Conference in July

A sad reminder of where things are: Michigan Senate Republican primary, integrity was on the ballot but soundly defeated. Trump-endorsed Mike Rogers won with 63% of the vote, Justin Amash got 16%. Rogers unfortunately appears to be promoting the usual 'red meat' nonsense across multiple issues. This result isn't a surprise, but did provide a chance a candidate I could feel good about voting for. So much for that; it'll be another 'which one is least bad' election to replace Stabenow.

Walz is very much a Great Lakers Midwesterner in sensibility, manner of speaking, and life story. He reminds me of a *lot* of people I've known in Wisconsin and Minnesota (including myself I suppose :D). I'm not saying he'll change enough votes to nab Wisconsin and Michigan, but it sure doesn't hurt. And I could see even some rural voters in those areas at least give serious consideration to possibly voting for Kamala because he's on the ticket.

It's frankly an inspired pick and except for Illinois and if you consider Ohio part of the region (I don't - to me Ohio is Rust Belt), the Great Lakes haven't been represented in either the Presidency or the Vice Presidency (and I consider Reagan to be a Californian despite being born in Illinois).

Tim Walz was my Representative and is my Governor and I like him and I like Minnesota and think and feel that it is well-run here.

It is pretty common among people I know to take pictures with him and post them on Facebook to the assumption that there will be lots of likes and whatnot.

I do live in a pretty educated left bubble, though.

I'll just say it feels super-weird to me as someone who has lived within an hour or two of a Great Lake my whole life to put Ohio in the Rust Belt. I've never considered it as anything other than a member of the Great Lakes/Midwest region and it doesn't really make sense to me there.

I'm enjoying the Republican dissonance over Harris only being selected due to her identity, Shapiro only being passed over due to his identity, and that their opponents are the ones obsessed over identity.

My developing Grand Unified Theory of Walz and why he was the right choice:

Walz is heterosexual, white, male, non-Ivy educated, from rural Nebraska, a veteran (non-commissioned), a hunter, a fisherman, a meat eater, and a former football coach. He is the exact sort of person that the GOP and the media have been telling us has no place in the Democratic party. Democrats are supposed to consider people like him deplorable, right?

But they don't. Democrats LOVE this guy. They embrace this guy. Hell, it is the far left that pushed him over the finish line. He was popular enough to be elected governor of Minnesota as a Democrat. It's hard to look at Walz and continue to believe the lies about Democrat elitism.

And then he takes the next step. His acceptance within the Democratic party raises the question--if it isn't rural blue collar identity that makes Democrats reluctant to support the GOP, then what does? It's the weirdness. It's the focus on kids' genitals. It's wanting to criminalize IVF. It's rooting for Russia over Ukraine. Etc.

Walz helps tie all the messaging together.

My favorite comment about him? He is everyone's dad before they lost him to Fox News.

FlAgS aReN't WeIrD

MAGA BOAT PARADE. CHARLESTON SC
PATRIOTS AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE. #NCSWIC#MAGA#MASA@realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/CJkd1nloqo

— Niki D (@niki_duong) August 3, 2024

I thought it'd be Shapiro but I'm fine with Walz.

Shapiro is good but maybe too polished that it would've come off disingenuous to certain people. Walz is more approachable. I could see Walz call Trump and Vance on their shit directly whereas Shapiro might try to high road it and look weak because of it.

I also think that having a California presidential candidate who is also tied to Washington DC and then a VP who is East Coast could've alienated the fly overs who already feel that their way of life is ignored or mocked. Walz is directly Midwest thus giving multiple states that always seem ignored some stake.

I also think it stuns Repubs/MAGATs again that in the political world there isn't the backbiting (visible) that normally infests campaigns. It's all been very on the level, as I think the majority of Democrats understand the stakes and are trying to stay unified.

It's not the American flags that are weird. It's the Trump flags next to it and the "Fuck Joe Biden" flags on the other side.

A normal person does not hang a flag outside their house that says "Fuck Joe Biden" in plain view on a suburban street. If your pickup truck has two flags at the back and one is the American flag and the other says Trump and you have a decal on your back window that says Let's Go Brandon am I supposed to take you seriously?

These are the people that you would drive past when you were a kid and your parents would tell you how crazy or awful people they were. Now your parents are electing them.

There is no question that there has been a noticeable shift in the polls since Biden withdrew. There have been five national polls released in the month of August, and all five have Harris leading nationally. Although the popular vote does not decide the election, trends in the polling are valuable to assess momentum. She will almost certainly get some kind of an additional bounce (maybe very small) after the Democratic convention.

So, Harris is a slight favorite right now, which is pretty remarkable when you consider that Biden was definitely trailing and falling even further behind before he withdrew from the race.

The cold water version of that, for the Dems, is that everything they are touching turns to gold right now and everything the GOP is touching turns to weird, and Kamala still only has a very slight lead.

I wonder if there is a section of people who a never Trumpers, but also couldn't see electing Biden, were going 3rd party until Kamala took over.

More likely was people staying home or even leaving the Presidential vote blank.

Dola: I do think it is interesting that someone who helped in the VP selection said Walz's main selling point was the he had no ambition to actually be President. Not only does it make him a Harry Truman like figure, it suggests Harris wasn't interested in crowning the heir apparent.

For sure. It is why Trump is always so vulnerable. He has his base but his ceiling is very low. If the dems drive turn out they can't lose.

I know Kennedy is just there to soak up right leaning voters that don't want to vote for Trump but it's amazing that anyone would support that psycho.

Only if that were a significant priority of she picked Walz - which I doubt.

Edit: To be clear, that sounds like pure BS - not questioning you at all.

That is literally what the person said it was.

WATCH: @kasie speaks with one of the few people in Kamala Harris' inner circle as she chose her running mate – @CedricRichmond – about the veep selection process and why she picked Tim Walz. pic.twitter.com/CV9MXF888q

— CNN This Morning with Kasie Hunt (@CNNThisMorning) August 7, 2024