The Good and the Weak

In the interests of joy and of being unburdened by what has been, it's a day to be ambivalent about our Democratic nominee for President. A very pro-Israel tweeter is largely wrong:

Asking for 350 million friends. pic.twitter.com/BqlZPtxmXJ

— Hillel Fuld (@HilzFuld) August 29, 2024

The Vice-President did not kneecap President Biden. After the latter's disastrous debate against Donald Trump, it became clear to an increasing number of voters, then of pundits and prominent Democrats, that the incumbent would be a sure loser in November. (And in the unlikely event of victory, he probably could not serve another four years.)

These powerful Democrats included former President Obama, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, National Democratic Redistricting Committee chairman and former Attorney General Eric Holder, and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. And no one crosses Nancy Pelosi and lives to tell about it.

At a critical time, in the moments following that epic June 27 debate, the Vice President had been queried about the President's performance of that evening and defended him defiantly and eloquently, remarking "He got into a groove where it counted. Our president showed that he will win the election." It was something that she had no choice but to do because she couldn't be seen undercutting the President. Nonetheless, she was as positive as possible without getting laughed out of the room.

Vice-President Harris was given two- two- primary tasks, one by President Biden and the other by the Constitution. In the first, she to take major strides in helping secure the southern border, a task nearly impossible without cooperation by the United States Congress, and very difficult with. She made little progress, as should have been expected.

The vice-president is constitutionally empowered to cast the deciding vote in the United States Senate in case of a tie.  She set a record by doing so 32 times and was very effective performing that task.

Nevertheless, the tweeter is essentially correct that Ms. Harris refuses to be interviewed for the new position. Tonight, CNN will broadcast a taped interview with the Democratic presidential nominee. Infamously, however, she agreed to appear only with her Emotional Support Governor and running mate Tim Walz. (In the interests of full disclosure, credit must be given to this person, something I've never wanted to do.)

Coincidentally, this puts Harris into a role in which she has excelled. As vice-president, she is de facto required to cast the deciding vote in the Senate as her male supervisor, President Biden, wishes. And now she has bowed to the justified demands of the press that she be interviewed, and will do so only in the presence of another man. I am woman, hear me roar!  Such progress! 

Yet, if the sentiment was good enough for the late Bill Withers, it should be- and apparently is- good enough for Tim Walz and Kamala Harris.

 

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