Recently I was at an informal conversation of a dozen people, ranging in age from myself, to a Freshman in high school, including two local legislators. We spent about 1.5 hours together, and I jotted down the topics that came up - by my count, there were eleven. I didn't know most of the group. We were all Democrats. The conversation reminded me of how complex the issues and citizens are, and how important it is that our leaders and ourselves recognize the importance of being a community.
A community moving towards win-win for all is better than a community where for one to win, someone else has to lose. In this middle of the month of October, 2024, we are a divided country. My opinion: particularly this year, the Democratic Party has the best sense of community, an easy choice this year. I invite you to read on. If you haven't seen them, PBS Frontline has had two recent one hour programs worth watching. Harris/Trump; Vance/Walz. Equal time is given to each. I've watched them both.
Election Day is less than three weeks from today. Personally, I voted a couple of days ago. I would have voted earlier, but had some unresolved questions about a couple of non-Presidential issues on my ballot. Since this post crosses lots of boundaries - states, etc - I'll comment solely on U.S. President. As every year, in 2024 I've been actively involved in the political process. On Election Day, I'm an alternate election judge - available on call if needed. Elections are the life-blood of a free society. I pay attention.
My very strong preference in 2024 for President/Vice President are Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. This is not a close call. I'm lucky to have one photo I took of them together, in Minneapolis in late October, 2022, VP Harris was in town to support the reelection of Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, the other person in the picture.
Kamala Harris is possibly the most qualified candidate for President we've ever had, with career long record of public service.
Tim Walz is my Governor. I've met him in person only once, in 2006, when he was making his first run for Congress. Eight times he has stood for election in Minnesota, and eight times he has won, the last two for Governor of my state - a state that works.
I almost pity the opposition research folks who have to try to cast Tim Walz in a negative light. Sure, they try, but not successfully. He'd be a very worthy successor if needed. I tend to think of him similarly to Harry Truman, who had to assume the Presidency 3 months into his term as Vice-President in 1945, near the end of WWII and later had to manage the Korean Conflict. Truman was a rural kid too, and when the chips were down, he performed. In my Oct 1 blog about Tim Walz I said this about our state: Minnesota is a state that works, and a lot of that is due to community minded leadership of Governor Walz and a strong and effective Democratic Party (DFL). The word "community" is my key word. By no means, does this mean that all is perfect here. No place is perfect. But Minnesotans work well together, and there is a very strong sense of community. We experience this in person every day.
The Presidency is not a place for rigidity. Look no further than Hurricanes Helene and Milton to see the reality facing any person who gets the job.
Like many, I watched Joe Biden's disappointing performance in the June 27 debate. I'm 2.5 years older than Biden, so I have a bit of perspective about age. It became clear that this single bad night might be fatal to Biden's candidacy, On July 8, I wrote to the five people I thought would most likely be in the communication loop to make successor decisions if needed (one of the five was Gov. Walz). I said this: "I remain a strong supporter of Biden/Harris. If the decision is made to change course, I think it is time for the Democrats to consider actively a "Team of Rivals" approach which was apparently Abraham Lincoln's strategy to deal with division."
On July 21, President Biden left the race, and asked his vice-president Kamala Harris to run. Later she picked Gov. Walz as her running mate. The rest is history. Did I have anything to do with this and later decisions? I doubt it, but I also believe that every single one of us when given the opportunity should be willing to step onto the court. with, at least, our own opinion.
I have also taken the position that the old Republican Party no longer exists, even though there might be a "Republican" label on the ballot. MAGA is not Republican. I maintain that anyone at any level on any ballot who played the election denial card at any time after the 2020 election does not deserve a single vote in 2024. Along with President, who we select as our Congress, state legislature and state constitutional officers have huge implications.
Project 2025 has oft been referenced in past weeks. It is not a theoretical threat from the MAGA fringe. At the very least, check it out. There are many internet references: take your pick. I have described it as a nuclear weapon, armed to destroy democracy if implemented.
I have labeled my party, the Democratic Party, as the party of WE; the MAGA bunch, the party of ME. At this time in history there is a great qualitative difference. The WE side tends toward inclusive, community, tolerant, looking forward; the ME side tends to individual orientation, power and control, fear and loathing, looking backward". Partly it plays out in the tendency I see in my party, to squabble about this and that - a healthy democracy accepts argument; while the MAGA bunch seems more the "shut up and do what you're told" contingent. In the WE side 'freedom' is for all of us; on the ME, it is for the winner. There are still many moderate Republicans, but they have basically been banished from their party and I hope they take back the label in the future. Liz Cheney and others represent this significant faction. I think they know this is necessary.
I have often used this illustration I did in the late 1980s. I have hi-lited three places on the illustration: far left, the far right and myself. The extremes tend to get the "news", and are essentially mirror images of each other. Political Scrum 2024
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