Thank God It’s Over
That was alright, I guess. Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage last night, closing out the Democratic National Convention. She hit mostly biographical notes in the beginning, smartly introducing herself to voters who never had the opportunity, the way they might during primaries, to hear about her background. Then she pivoted to framing former President Donald Trump as an existential threat to American democracy, to the security of our country, and to the rights of normal people.
“You are going to remember where you were on this night,” said MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow. “This was an inflection point in history.”
I’m not sure I would go so far.
It was fine! Harris did an OK job. But there was nothing especially surprising.
Harris has worked hard to cast “Project 2025″—a book of policy initiatives routinely published by the conservative Heritage Foundation, which this time contains a somewhat concerning chunk about turning civil servants into political appointees, swapping them out more easily with each administration—as an authoritarian handbook, acting like Trump has made his malevolent plans known.
She criticized his (actually fairly popular) foreign policy approach, striking more hawkish notes than he tends to: “I will not cozy up to tyrants and terrorists, like Kim Jong-un, who are rooting for Trump,” she said at one point. Trump responded, via Truth Social, that “the tyrants are laughing at her, she’s weak and ineffective.”
She touted how she wants to create an “earned pathway to citizenship” to address the influx at the southern border, claiming it will once and for all be brought under control. This is kind of an insane claim given that she’s had significant influence on Biden administration policies as the border czar.
“President [Joe] Biden and I are working to end this war such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination,” said Harris at one point, addressing a sore within the Democratic Party that’s been festering beneath the surface all convention.
Again, nothing surprising. She’s an OK speaker. She refrained from any awkward wine aunt giggling. She wasn’t obviously on beta blockers. She managed to stay away from talking about her beloved Venn diagrams. Harris has never been the strongest speaker, so the fact that it went smoothly and stayed concise was notable. (Happy for Maddow that it gave her the high she wanted, though.)
The anti-Hillary: One notable part of Harris’ strategy is that she has had the identity-politics route available to her this entire time, thanks to the nature of her demographic characteristics. She could have chosen to run an “I’m with her” campaign, round two, but has made a deliberate choice to just let voters and media coverage fill in the demographic details on their own, emphasizing the first-woman-president part far l
Article from Latest
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.