America has now been Introduced to the Avuncular Rumpled White Man!
88) Tim Walz was the man Kamala Harris was looking for…to be her running mate
The suspense is over, Kamala Harris has chosen Tim Walz to join her on the Democratic Ticket for the 2024 Presidency!!
The title of this post was generously borrowed from a POLITICO.COM story about the type of Vice Presidential running mate Harris wanted as she seeks to break the highest glass ceiling in American politics.
“When Harris’ top aides at the time privately mused about the kind of partner they wanted to see on the ticket, they spoke about an avuncular, and at times rumpled white man with broad appeal across the industrial Midwest” - Christopher Cadelego - Brown Walked so Walz could run 08/07/2024
Avenuclar (def:)- coming from the Latin noun avunculus, which means "maternal uncle," but since at least the 19th century English speakers have used avuncular to describe uncles from either side of the family, or people who are uncle-like in character or behavior
Rumple (def:) - to make something become creased (= not smooth) or messy:
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As a fellow history teacher, I’m sure I would have enjoyed having Tim Walz as a colleague at my school, going to department meetings with him. He seems like a really swell guy, with a certain heartland charm and appeal that can’t be mistaken. Yet, I can’t shake the fact that this pick for VP had more to do with fragile egos and less to do with who gave the Democrats the best chance to win the Presidency.
One of the other finalists was a US Senator who used to be an astronaut and a decorated war veteran. The other one was a very popular Governor from a rust-belt State, who really appealed to a whole lot of people, and who is proudly of the Jewish faith.
Once Biden stepped aside and it was the Harris show, I thought Mark Kelly would be the best pairing with her. But, over the last week or so, I became increasingly more and more impressed with Josh Shapiro.
For Kamala Harris, the Democratic Nominee to make this pick feels incredibly safe in so many ways. Meanwhile, we are living during incredibly unsafe times.
“I believe he’s probably the wrong choice, a step back toward the Democratic Party’s instincts to triangulate instead of the boldness the Harris campaign has displayed so far.” Nate Silver - Tim Walz is a Minnesota Nice choice 08/06/2024
I still hope Kamala History makes more history! She has an incredible opportunity to seize over these next three months.
Conservatives will do what they can to tear Harris-Walz down, and despite their vitriol I’m still whole heartedly supporting Harris-Walz. But, I just feel like there was a missed opportunity, even if this pick is supposed to bring more “Democratic Unity”.
I still pray this election season can bring out the best in American politics, and not the worst, as so often has been the case.
Peace and Blessings,
-JPJ