Thirty-two supposedly undecided voters gathered in Aston to hear Kamala Harris try to win them over.
I am undecided. Partially. I am decided against Donald J. Trump, but not in favor of Kamala.
I don’t know about the 32, but she moved me in her direction.
She was calm, cool, collected, cogent, and passionate, standing up for 75 minutes. Her policy points bored me. I’ve heard them all before. Her incessant anti-Trump rants, with the addition of the recent remarks of former Chief of Staff John Kelly who called his former boss a fascist. I’ve heard it all before.
Actually, there were a couple of points that rang my bell, but I’ll get to them in a moment.
What interested me more were some personal revelations.
Such as, she prays every day. Sometimes more than once.
After she got the fateful call from Joe Biden, with him saying he would drop out, the gravity of the situation struck her.
She called her pastor because she felt she needed spiritual advice and support.
She reminded me of another vice president, Harry S Truman.
Upon becoming an accidental president, he expressed his reliance on God and asked for prayers from the American people, stating that he felt like “the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen” on him.
It was humility, and I saw that in Kamala, too.
I know her mother died 15 years ago, and she said she still grieves for her, but remembers her when she was healthy, before being struck by cancer.
My mother died 17 years ago, turned into an empty shell. But I remember her as happy, and well, as I did Wednesday, which was her birthday, and I grieved.
There were two questions that resonated greatly with me. A female Realtor asked specifically, what Kamala means when she says the rich will have to pay their “fair share,” given that 40% of Americans pay no federal income tax.
It took her a while to restate her promise that no one making less than $400,000 would pay more, but dodged when moderator Anderson Cooper asked if that meant people earning $500,000, $600,000, $700,000 would pay more.
It depends, she said. So, specifically, she did not answer.
A marketing guy said Delco people were authentic, and there were questions about her authenticity, as her far left views have shifted to the center.
She started with fracking, but Cooper threw in others, such as Medicare for all, and decriminalizing illegals.
Here she said as vice president she had traveled the country, gained experience and perspective. Ah, so close. If only she had gone farther, as I had suggested in a recent column.
OK, it’s not all about me.
She didn’t have a good answer on how to combat anti-Semitism, few people do, and when side-stepping a question about the U.S. sending arms to Israel, which results in Palestinian deaths, she neglected to mention that the war started by Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel.
Cooper reminded her she called Trump’s desire to build a wall “stupid,” but she now favors $650 million to build a wall.
Is that wall stupid, asked Cooper?
The way Trump wanted to do it was stupid, she replied.
The most remarkable thing that happened was the first questioner was identified as a student at Bryn Mawr, and a Republican.
A Republican at Bryn Mawr. Was this CNN or Pranked?
Stu – Well she was hanging out at Famous yesterday which means she does have some good sense! Obviously, not a perfect situation but I look at the people who were closest to Trump during his time in office; Kelly, Milley, Esper, Bolton…and Pence, and there are others. And when you listen to Liz Cheyney. This election is about more than policy, it is about the soul of our nation. It is about what many of our fathers fought for in WWII. We all realize there are problems in our nation and many of our friends are comfortable with a soft dictatorship where the oath is to an individual and not to the Constitution. We can take four years of disagreeable policy; we cannot take four years of Trump and what he could set up for the future. So, she might not have the best answers because she is presiding over the broadest political coalition in our history, but to me, the answers might not have the most clarity, but the choice does. Stu, as always, thank you for your perspective and wisdom.
Larry, you already said everything I wanted to point out. Kudos to you, and to Stu.
Excellent comments. Thank you.
I could not have said it better Larry. 👍👍
You make some good points, and thanks for the compliments.
People believe that those closest to him during his first Administration (yes, first) are motivated by altruism and love of country. It just might not be the case. Neocons, generally, are motivated by imposing American”values” on other countries, generally by using big economic and militaristic carrots and sticks.
Who does this benefit, certainly not the countries we force ourselves on. We are so effective at destroying economies and democracies in other regions immigrants from those places swarm our shores.
Has anyone read the Economic Hitman?
The point is, there just might be another reason for those closest to him to not support him for a second term. It’s called self-interest. There is a big political realignment taking place in the USA. The Neocons are now Democrats. Dick Cheney is voting for Kamala Harris. That is all you need to know.
I totally agree. I never thought I would see the day when the loving, compassionate Democrats embrace Cheney — the “greatest genocidal war criminal” of all time.
Uh, we are not “embracing” Cheney. Liz Cheney stands against literally EVERYTHING I believe. Expect for this one issue, that Trump is a clear danger to the United States of America. That’s as far as our “embrace” goes. If you were thinking clearly, this would tell you something very important. Get it right.
So I believe what you are saying is that the criticisms of Trump from MANY prominent Republicans, is not true? It’s amazing that many Trumpsters CONSSITENTLY make excuses for his words, his behavior, his utter lack of knowledge or commitment to our Constitution. Once again, it is Trump who is the victim of lies. To support him is to believe that hundreds of people, most who have spent their life serving our Country with honor, are lying. Judges and Jurors are crooked, And the Media is the enemy of the people. Alternate reality.
You are making many assumptions that just might not be true. What evidence is there that Trump lacks knowledge or commitment to our constitution? I can’t think of a single instance where he operated outside the bounds of his authority. Help me understand what I am missing.
Why can’t those who have served our government, (not necessarily our country, however) be lying? You do recall that the DOJ lied to get a FISA warrant to spy on Trump through Carter Page? I trust you also remember that the 51 current and former intel officials lied when they signed the letter saying that Hunter Laptop was Russian disinformation. Job Biden also lied on national TV during a debate when he referred to that letter.
So enough of this notion that these people, including Liz and Dick Cheney are doing this for their love of the country. You have no idea what is motivating these people. It could also be the money they get from government contractors, money that is at risk with another Trump Presidency.
Hmm. There was the small case of January 6. Trump’s attorney (Eastman, now disbarred for doing so) admitted to Pence’s attorney that the Supreme Court would rule 9-0 against him refusing to accept the States’ certified electors, but urged him to do so to keep Trump in office. I’d call that a lack of “commitment” to the Constitution. That’s when Cheney broke with him. Prior to that she voted 92.9% of the time for Trump administration policies.
Then, of course, Trump himself wrote that the “massive fraud” which he knew was nonexistent, “allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.” That fits nicely with him doing nothing while his fans were chanting “Hang Mike Pence.” It also fits nicely with his description of Jan 6 as “a day of love” and promising to pardon the rioters and folks who assaulted and hospitalized police officers.
Especially since it fits exactly with Trump has already said: Do I believe that people who dedicated their entire lives to public service, like Marine Corps generals (Kelly, Mattis) or a U.S. Army General (Milley), Navy admirals (Steve Abbot, Fred Byus), US Air Force General (John Barry), or a Boy Scout and seriously sincere Christian like Mike Pence–or as Trump complained “too honest”–who refused to endorse Trump because “anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States”–not to mention hundreds of other Republicans are all lying because they are “neocons”?
Instead, I’m supposed to ignore what Trump has said himself, and believe in the guy who said windmills cause cancer, that Covid was just the flu and go away soon and cheats at golf.
Look, if we were looking at one isolated person saying this stuff, without any other reason to believe it, I’d say, yeah, who knows what the truth is?
But let’s take a look at JD Vance’s advice to Trump in 2021: “when the courts, because you will get taken to court, and then when the courts stop you, stand before the country like Andrew Jackson did and say the Chief Justice has made his ruling, now let him enforce it.”
Trump’s favorite president: Andrew Jackson. He even had his portrait moved to the Oval Office.
So, there is plenty of evidence that Trump has no commitment to the Constitution. I’m trying to think of something to show that he does. What d’you got?
Use of the armed forces to go after “the enemy within”–you know, like Schiff and Pelosi? Labeling the press as “the enemy of the people”? Or was it his claim that we could solve crime with one “really violent day” that convinced you of his love of Due Process and the Constitution? Just wondering.
There is a lot to dispute in what you say. Too much to respond to here.
I will just say that there is plenty of evidence that Tromp does respect the Constitution, including the fact that nothing he did as President violated it.
He was a good President while in office and despite concerns with the integrity of the results power was transferred peacefully.
Those who charged the Capital Building with intent to cause violence deserve punishment, but that does not in any way mean Trump incited them to do it. Many were there that day and did not charge the capital building. And it’s been reported that Trump instructed General Milley to provide troops to protect the capital building and the directive was apparently ignored. Wonder why?
Heh. “Your Honor, my client does respect private property. This is proven by the fact that when he was unable to pick the lock, and the burglar alarm went off, he peacefully left the scene.”
I am stunned that the presidential candidate who called for lowering the rhetoric is now in effect calling for Trump’s assassination. That says more about her character than it does that anyone else’s. That alone should disqualify her for the highest office in the United States of America.
Democrats were appalled at “lock her up”. Now they simply changed the pronoun.
Harris is finally revealing herself to the American public. And the democrats embracing the Cheneys and other war mongers is beyond unbelievable.
Saying that she is calling for Trump’s assassination IS rhetoric, and the fact that you do not recognize that indicates you are not very smart.
This column is certainly accurate, in depth, and insightful. I wish that most of the American Public would pay attention to the Candidates in this way. However, I flat out do not understand your need to analyze Harris. If we were facing an election where both candidates were “normal” for example, Kamala Harris v Mitt Romney (sorry, it’s hard for me to think of a “normal” Republican), analysis would be meaningful and important. In our current situation, with a psychopath who wants to use our U.S. Military against protesters I hardly think in depth analysis is warranted. MAGA’S and many Republicans don’t care about FACTS. ( once again, look at the comments from the Right-wingers. on this post. Look at the consistent election denial among their ranks.) These people, no longer a tiny minority, base their decision on an alternate reality.
It appears to me that you are looking for something magical to endorse Harris. WHY? I recently saw Liz Cheyney speak. She is a remarkable, courageous woman. She has met with Harris and had meaningful conversations. Liz Cheyney said, (I’m paraphrasing) that she and Harris disagree on much, however she believes Harris is “dedicated to obeying the Constitution and working for the betterment of the American people” She said flat out that Trump is a clear and present danger to our democracy. I believe her. Now more recent revelations have confirmed this belief. So I ask you, Stu, what exactly are you looking for? You already know Harris won’t give straight answers on some of her “flip flops”. Are you really going to take a chance that a wanabee dictator will win this election? The prospect of a Trump presidency keeps me up at night. Not FRACKING.
Your point is: DONT VOTE FOR TRUMP. I’m not, but the default is NOT Vote for Kamala. Not for me. Is she is the lesser of two evils? Yes. So was Hillary, for whom I reluctantly voted. I voted Libertarian in 2020, and didn’t hear all this “he will destroy America” then.
I would have reluctantly voted for Biden. Kamala said she has to earn every vote. She has not yet earned mine.
tRUMP = the real-life Manchurian Candidate.
The most important aspect every voter must respect is that we are not electing a high school class president!
We are in earnest need, after Biden’s weak kneed, provincial and almost always naively misguided domestic and foreign policies, of electing a Commander in Chief, like him or not personally.
Kamala has shown herself to be inexperienced, incoherent, unwise, ignorant of the national and world situation, dangerously fickle and exceedingly silly. She might make an amusing high school class president; she would certainly make a compelling host of Saturday Night Live with her endlessly funny word salads, but could she be a Commander in Chief of the most powerful nation in this tumultuous world?
Agree that both party leadership committees ought to resign and admit their towering incompetence for the candidates they have given us all, but we have a serious choice, warts and all, to elect someone who will protect and strengthen the USA, or to elect one who will weaken the USA as Biden has done since his first day in office when he opened our southern border by his first Executive Order, (how stupid and Anti-American can one man be?) with Kamala’s blessings?
Strengthen and protect the USA or not? The choice is with our votes.
With his word salad and incoherence and time in office, Trump himself has actually shown himself to be inexperienced, incoherent, unwise, ignorant of the national and world situation, dangerously fickle and exceedingly silly. I think that is what you meant to say Gardner.
You are right, Wanda. When you first mentioned Word Salad I thought that you were talking about Gardner. It applies to both. Incoherent untrue rambles.
Precisely, and Trump would be an unmitigated disaster in that area.
As Stu noted in an earlier column, Trump (1) will be “a domestic and international laughingstock, threatening our friends (as in NATO), and siding with Russian dictator Vlad Putin” (2) “He will sell out Ukraine in a New York minute”; (3) is “sub average intelligence. He is an arrogant, thin-skinned crybaby and bully.”
I would add that Taiwan (Trump: “they should pay us to protect them”) and probably South Korea will also be toast. To Trump, America’s alliances make us “no different than an insurance company.” Yeah, he seriously said that. JFK saying “Ich bin ein Berliner”–what a chump! What a weak president. Ditto Reagan, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down that wall.” Idiot. Germany should have paid us. If they didn’t, we should let the Soviets “do whatever the hell they want” to it.
So much for “City on the Hill” “Beacon of Freedom” “Leader of the Free World” Nope, we’re in the insurance business, presumably selling American defense to the highest bidder. (BTW, Taiwan is one of the American defense industry’s largest, multi-billion dollar customers. It goes, and American jobs go with it, as well as increasing the trade deficit. But, you know, Xi is a friend of Trump’s, and an “incredible guy.”)
And of course, we want to limit the influence of the Russia-China-Iran-North Korea axis. Best way to do that–give Putin a big win in Ukraine? Biting off pieces of other countries, is, according to Trump, “genius” and should be met with immediate capitulation. That worked out so well when Chamberlain did it, so let’s imitate that–who can forget how it resulted in “Peace in our Time”?
Oh, and along the way let’s impose punitive tariffs on all our allies, so they will end up doing more business with China and Russia, and less with us. If you pay attention, and I try to, the EU has been planning a whole set of retaliatory tariffs if Trump gets in–designed to hurt the American economy as much as possible. (It’s called a “trade war.”) They got caught flat-footed by Trump before, and have vowed not to do so again. And, why should they provide a united front with us against China, if they’re identified and treated as equal enemies? Just asking.
More generally, I don’t know how anyone can forget how Trump was literally laughed at when he addressed the UN or how he kissed Putin’s, er, ring, at their summit.
As for Harris being a SNL skit, did you notice Trump deciding to stop taking questions at a town hall and just dance for 40 minutes. I swear, he stole that bit from the old SNL “Sprockets” skit: “You grow tiresome. Now I shall dance.” Had SNL done that as a Trump skit, instead of it being real, folks would have howled about unfair it was.
Your points are well taken. It’s just that you’ve got the candidates reversed.
Stu, it disappoints me that you are looking for an avenue, any avenue, to come to terms with Kamala and somehow find her sufficiently acceptable for you to vote for her. You’ve got zero enthusiasm for her and do not really believe in her, but are so blinded by your dislike of Trump that you refuse to approach this in a logical manner with regards to what is best for the country.
I’ve been a longstanding fan of yours but you have really lost my faith as we close in on this election. You are a respected member of the city and likely hold sway over a swath of voters, and I feel like you are not thinking critically about your decision here.
Phil – I think you’re missing Stu’s point(s)… You are not wrong in saying that he is searching for any reasonable avenue – that is for certain. But he is doing it for and with good reason.
Many of us here are really not Happy with Harris – for many reasons (as Stu has pointed out). However – the alternative is significantly worse if the Orange Manchurian Candidate takes official office. I don’t personally believe all the hardcore gloom-and-doom predictions, but I do believe that we will be worse off in many ways if “it” becomes President.
And he is an “it”….as in idiot.
Caveat Emptor! Or at least in this case, the voter.
Phil, I make it a point to tell people how I will vote, not how THEY should vote.
Your analysis is correct. I AM looking for a reason to vote for Kamala, because Trump is unworthy of the office. It’s not TDS, it’s the majority of his policies and actions.
In 2016, I was able to vote for Hillary, because while I found her grating, I believe her to be a centrist, while I have deep suspicions of where Kamala’s head is at.
I am still undecided about her, but not about Trump.
A whole lotta TDS going on today. It’s a shame. Those seemingly afflicted are just chock-full of utter hatred. And miserable. More of a brain damage thing as opposed to a medical problem. No cure. What a terrible way to exist. Those suffering this mental plague have my sympathy. Sincerely.
Look at the pot calling the kettle black!!
Randy, Freeze, Bogart, Larry, and Naomi — thank you for your voices of reason. I have spent many hours of the last week working the polls for the Chatham County Democrats. Our role is to provide information, hand out sample ballots, check for voter photo ID, advise as to precinct status, among other things and to BE NICE to all. Listening to the MAGAt greeters at the opposite tent, I’m becoming increasingly depressed at their conspiracy mongering and hatred of our institutions. What unpleasant, odious people so many of them are.
Wanda – I think you have a misspelling. you said, “what unpleasant, odious people so many of them are.”
I think you meant to say “…what unpleasant odorous people…” LOL
I don’t get close enough to smell them Randy, but they are a singularly unpleasant bunch and love to be provocative to the Democratic volunteers. It has the potential to escalate and when it gets too bad, I just call the Chief Judge who puts them in their place.
Trumpicans are the new ‘Whig’ party. The “No Nothing” party. Sic semper evello mortem tyrannis.
MAGA is the reform party. It takes positions on the most important issues of the day. You may disagree with those positions but that doesn’t meant they aren’t thought out.
Trump is going to win, all you lefties, get started with your nervous breakdowns now.