I really don't think you understand how differently a lot of people think. Again, I know people personally for whom it is neither of these. The discussion about Trump's racism is a case in point. My views on racism are fairly well known on this board if not fully expressed (only because it'd probably be a waste of time). Suffice to say there are people who are not at all Trumpers or hard-core conservatives who think I'm way too liberal on issues of race, social justice, etc. Ergo, people in this category think Trump's racism has been far more exaggerated than I do. Another issue that's come up - from people who think Trump is a joke - is thinking the whole Russia thing was blown out of proportion, never should have been impeached, what's the big deal everyone does it, etc. Point is, just because something is convincing to you or me doesn't meant it's convincing to others. Points of distinction that seem irrelevant to us are quite important to other segments of the population.


It's not always about policy. Sometimes how they present themselves is just as important if not moreso. Buttigieg is a common one here, but Klobuchar not so much. Warren came up sometimes. There's more going on than ideology for some people.

DNC speaker lineup is out and it's a great list:

https://twitter.com/NewsGuyGreg/stat...58889777704961

NYTimes says that potential VP candidates are on the list in case they don't get selected, so don't read anything into that, as I did before reading the Times article :D.

Rice booming today on the futures.

3 people under 50

People of twitter are making hay about the fact Stacy Abrams is a top VP candidate, but not on the list.

Should I read anything into PredictIt futures on Harris going through the roof right now? Rice was at 45-40 like 20 minutes ago and now Harris is 75ish

SI

There are a few "I've been told it's Harris" tweets floating around now, no idea how legit the sources are.

CNN is saying that Karen Bass was told she is not the pick.

L. Ron Hubbard is devastated.

I'd be surprised if it wasn't Harris. Checks all the boxes and an obvious pick. What's the worst thing about her, that she was a prosecutor? So President Law and Order is going to attack her for being too tough on criminals?

Praise Xenu

SI

Not surprised at all. Good choice.

From March 15. As I recall, several folks here disagreed with my prediction. ;)

Seems like she's been the obvious choice for a while but the obvious choice isn't always the one made. One of the strongest candidates from a field of flawed candidates, too.

SI

If only you lived near someplace where you could bet on these things and make some cash!

SI

I am happy with the pick.

Actually, she wasn't the obvious choice until fairly recently. The two most common concerns were baggage and the adversarial relationship with Biden during the primaries.

Safe pick from the safe candidate. I really thought the BLM thing would have killed her pick.

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I’m still voting for them but yucky.

PredictIt

She's been the betting favorite for as long as the 90 days PredictIt goes back. Not an overwhelming one - like 80% - but a lot of that time bumping around in the 40s and 50s so it's basically been her vs the field.

SI

She was always the favorite،. She just wasn't a slam dunk.

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Curious who would you rather he have picked?

Well, I lost money on Duckworth on PredictIt and then on Rice on PredictIt.

I'm pretty bad at this stuff.

Well, now that this is settled, how soon will Republican operatives come out with TV ads using clips of Kamala to attack Joe Biden?

It's not someone as old as him, a woman, and not white. Well done Joe Biden

I'm sure about 5 seconds from now...

It's a very savvy pick to further blunt the "Biden will abolish the police" attacks - which made no sense in the first place.

I didn't have the guts to drop money on Harris today, but I was pretty sure Rice was a smokescreen.

Yeah, for starters, they can get some gems from this one.

They ain't slow.

Kamala. It’s time. Let’s go. pic.twitter.com/ZsZVrIiofY

— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) August 11, 2020

(Yes, I assume that had several ready to go.)

I forgot that Trump donated to her a few times back in the day.

She's hand down the best pick available IMO. The pick is going to get ripped for a few days because that's just the political climate we live.

big deal, Sportsdigs had it 2 weeks ago

That's be quite ironic coming from Republicans... (a vast majority of them who probably think forced busing was wrong)

WWE Wrestler James 'Kamala' Harris Dies at 70 | PEOPLE.com

this is the trippiest coincidence of all time

Trump and Trump Jr. already out with statements and the best nickname they have for Harris? Phony Kamala.

Well, they are busy saving America from the Rona.....Oh wait

I don't think the attacks from the primary work. Once a person has accepted the VP slot they obviously are on that person's side. It may fire up Trump voters, but I can't see it swaying any swing voters. Who is the person that thinks, I was going to vote for Biden, but Harris said he was a racist so now I'm voting for Trump?

That's crazy!

Warren destroyed her progressive credibility and didn't even get picked lol

lol ...yeah there is that

I was going to say a good Republican attack on Harris is pointing out she was jailing homeless mothers who couldn't get their kids to school while letting a banker committing massive amounts of fraud to go free. But that banker was made Treasury Secretary.

Called this on 5/31

I could see this getting some play as well. Biden did a good job of burying the creepy old Uncle Joe reputation.

Kamala Harris On Joe Biden Accusers: ‘I Believe Them’

The Federalist is helping Biden by selling Kamala is a cop shirts. What's that message do other than reassure former GOPers that Biden has no interest in defunding the police?

The people running The Federalist are remarkably dumb.

Trump donated to Kamala Harris twice as private citizen: NBC News - Business Insider

"Records show that Trump donated to Kamala Harris' campaigns twice while he was a private citizen"

Who is this classy lady, and what has she done with Sarah Palin???

Congrats To The Democrat VP Pick! Here's Some Advice And Lessons That We Have Learned - SARAH PALIN

Yeah, that was a really nice message. Maybe being lost in the wilderness for a few years has changed her.

dola

A lot of the GOP is going full bore on Harris not being black enough to be black.

I don't know why this would be shocking, considering Trump also donated to Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Harry Reid and Rahm Emanuel in the past.

And add a vote for Harris means it was never about morals but to screw trump.

The mental gymnastics these people go through is truly impressive.

Isn't getting advice from Palin on how to be a VP sort of like taking lessons from the Ford family on how to run a NFL team?

They're taking the racist bait hook, line, and sinker.

Businessmen feel politicians might be for sale?

Story at 11

Those who fail can more easily point out the potholes.

I know this has already been forgiven by his voters, but, I have no principles and will do whatever I think will make more money, isn't a better message.

dola

Trumpers moving on to Kamala is a whore.

That will get the suburban women back.

Say what now?

Longstanding rumor on the right that she gave oral to a male superior for a promotion. I'm assuming that one has popped up again.

Eric Trump liked a whorendous choice tweet.

Whorendous is becoming a popular attack.

This is just a hypothetical question, not meant to be morbid. If Biden were to pass away before the election, would Harris be the presidential nominee or would the DNC or their delegates vote on a replacement candidate?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...s-over-part-2/



The RNC has a similar rule

It would probably be Kamala at this point. I really can't think of another realistic option.

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We now have at least one law professor saying that she is not a natural born citizen because her parents were not citizens. She was born in Oakland, but according to him that is not enough to make her a "natural born citizen."

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Welcome to Obama is a Kenyan Part II.

I don't think that's necessarily true. For whatever reason, her presidential campaign never really caught fire with Democratic voters, peaking at 15% after the early debates. She dropped out of the race when her poll numbers dropped into the single digits.

I think you'd see a lot of angry Sanders, Warren, Bloomberg, Klobuchar and Buttigieg voters if she was anointed by the DNC.

Oh, there would definitely be people upset. That is going to be true of whoever would be picked. But if he passed after the nominations are official next week, I can't see any way they could pick someone else. They are never going to pick Sanders (and really, how can they pick someone who is not an actual member of the party?). No one has enough delegates to make a real power play, not that the delegates would be bound after the convention anyway.
Optically, it would be a terrible look to nominate her as Vice President, in essence saying that she is ready to take over as president if something happened to Biden, and then not put her on the top of the ticket if he died before the election.

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That's been a rumor in California for a long time.

I think that rumor goes to any female politician.

exactlly. god forbid a woman enjoys sex, and yes, I am aware this isn't necessarily about that.

Let me make sure I have this right for how this onion is being pulled back or let me know what incremental connection I'm missing:

Human Trafficking is awful
Sex Trafficking is awful
Child sex trafficking is awful
Adults who participate in child sex trafficking are awful
Adults who have money fund this trafficking and are awful
Adults who have money are elitists and they're awful
Elitists are made up of Hollywood elitists and they're awful
Hollywood Elitists are liberals and they're awful
Liberals are child sex traffickers and they're awful

She dated Willie Brown, so it probably evolved from that.

IMO, her record is remarkably clean and full of accomplishments all things considered. It's one thing to just be a voice of opposition, or to even just exist in the comfortable world of Congress on your own terms where you can just vote and develop and maintain your political identity. It's another to actually work in the imperfect systems themselves, especially in such a high profile and flawed place like California, as both a DA and AG, especially the latter, whose role isn't always fully understood by voters. It's impossible to do that without developing some things to criticize, but that's the cost of being in the battle rather than just complaining about it from the private sector or Congress.

Sadly, there are a certain section of voters that more interested in "purity test" than actually getting things done. That segment is never going to be happy with anyone.

One of the most useful documents I have in my office has Harris' name on it. Just a huge California AG-developed detailed reference guide to a type of legal issue I deal with a lot. It's gold. I got it at a training her office either put together or produced materials for. Sadly its becoming outdated. I don't think they produce stuff like this anymore. But its a small daily reminder of the practical functionality and organization she brought to whatever office she was heading.

They donated so that she wouldn't go after them for their Trump University scam. And it worked, she didn't pursue charges.

If anything this would be a GOP ad showing how for a few grand she can be bought.

What? She donated all that money to charity. So you are saying she sold her integrity for a few thousand that in no way benefitted her? Sure.

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She allegedly gave the money to charity in 2015 when he declared he was running. Mind you, this is just a claim by her team and they have not shown where the money was donated to.

Trump donated in 2011 and 2013. The idea that this money was given away is silly. She held on to it for 4 years all the way through an election.

Mnuchin also didn't need to donate much to get himself out of massive mortgage fraud. So yes, I think she sells her integrity for pretty cheap.

So, 4 grand buys a get out of jail free card? How did any drug dealer ever get charged? They couldn't swing a couple of grand?
The far left is a stupid and gullible as the far right.

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Why did anybody in California ever hire a lawyer, when at the fraction of the cost you could buy the AG.

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money is fungible

A drug dealer is a red flag and not something we view as acceptable as a public. White collar criminals on the other hand have a societal expectation that they are above the law (and are).

So explain to me why Steve Mnuchin wasn't prosecuted? Why was Harris the only Democrat he donated to?

Also love that it is "far left" to think someone who committed billions in mortgage fraud should be charged with breaking the law. How far left do you have to go for a crime to be considered a crime in your book?

Because they were a federal bank, so it needed to be done federally. She did get billions from state banks, and worked to pass the law to close the loophole that Mnuchin used to skate. But of course according to you, a few thousands in donations would have saved those other banks billions. If they only knew she was that cheap.

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No it didn't. They broke California law. Prosecutors in her office built up a strong case and wanted to file a civil enforcement, but she declined to do so. You can read the official memo.

OneWest Package Memo

Again, why were they given a pass? Why was she the only Democrat he was donating to? You can't argue that she's "soft on crime". She was prosecuting homeless women over truancy laws.

Kamala took their monies via civil asset forfeiture which she supported.

"Under prosecutors disagree with the AG. Film at 11". It is the kind of thing that comes up all the time in that position. You have to decide whether you actually do have a case or not. This would not be the first time a DA or an AG didn't agree with her staff.
She did prosecute several mortgage lenders and won billions of dollars for the state. What do you think the chances are that some/most/all had board members that had donated to her? Was their money not enough? They didn't give the secret handshake?

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Btw, for the record I am very much for campaign reform. Large donations buy access to candidates that should be curbed. I don't disagree at all that money has too much influence in politics.
But what you are suggesting is straight up bribery. I have a feeling that it would take way more than a few thousand dollars given to a campaign to make that worth while.

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Why do you think Mnuchin chose some random district attorney to donate to out of all the Democrats in the country? Do you think its a coincidence that that one Democrat had the power to cause massive legal problems for his fraudulent bank?

Are people really surprised that the Democratic establishment is bought and paid for by the financial sector? Wasn't it a red flag when Obama did jack shit for 8 years despite their massive fraud schemes?

Don't worry, I am sure the guy who spent his life in the Senate fighting for credit card companies will change that.

I am sure he did for why most people do it. He wanted access. I am not saying that is fine, either. He just doesn't prove a quid-pro-quo. Again, I am quite for campaign finance reform. I don't buy the idea every donor then completely owns you and you are willing to break the law for for them.
I also agree that democrats in general are too cozy with Wall Street. I wish for stronger regulations on that sector. Guess what, though? Allowing Trump to win is not going to fix that. I wish Biden wasn't the candidate. He wasn't my first, second, third or fourth pick. I still will vote him. Because the alternative is so much worse.

Good question. Biden is looking older and older everytime I see him, he needs a better makeup team. My guess is there will be backroom dealings but Harris will still end up as the nominee.

Some of us just don't think it's as big of a problem as you do. For example, a while back you scoffed at the idea that anyone would get prosecuted for insider trading when the SEC demonstrably has it as one of their top priorities and are constantly prosecuting people for it. Do a crapton of people still get away with it? Absolutely, but that's true of pretty much every law on the books - our desire to make laws is far stronger than our desire to enforce them and it has been since at least before Prohibition and perhaps forever.

I agree with GrantDawg that it doesn't past the smell test for a few thousand in campaign contributions to get this done here. I also agree with you that there's a lot of issues in ignoring white-collar crime. Just saying that we should see the problems for what they are, not what IMO is a grossly exaggerated caricature.

You think she was bought for a $2,000 price tag in a Senate campaign where she raised $9 million?

His wife donated like $10k for her District Attorney campaign. And his bank donated $6k.

I'm sure just an honest gesture from them.

I know most people don't think it's a problem. Looting a store for some Nike shoes is a big problem that requires the National Guard. Destroying $30 trillion in the world's wealth through massive fraud is not a big deal.

Wonder why one gets a pass and the other gets folks with bayonets on their guns?

So, somehow now the people that disagree with you think that looters should be stabbed. Same old, same old. The reason the Bernie bros turn off so many people. "If you don't agree with my every point, then you hate poor people." It is not a winning argument.

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