this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2024
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[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world -1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

They push a center-right president onto the stage

Like, 90% of the US Senate is center-right or worse. You're in a country that is governed overwhelmingly to the right of the popular political view. I don't think the VP pick is going to meaningfully shift any of that. Running Walz as your VP isn't going to turn the US Senate into the Minnesota Governor's Mansion.

How about you offer actual progressives some goddamn enticement for once and offer it to Jamaal Bowman, who the Dems primaried in favor of a genocidal AIPAC stooge?

Because the US has a huge geopolitical strategic interest in staying friendly with Israel and a vanishingly small interest in cultivating support among progressive New Yorkers.

[–] archomrade@midwest.social 2 points 1 month ago

Because the US has a huge geopolitical strategic interest in staying friendly with Israel and a vanishingly small interest in cultivating support among progressive New Yorkers.

This is an excellent explanation for the way things are but a really terrible reason to keep them that way

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Am I the only one who thinks we need to pick someone no older than ~50 for VP? Based on the idea that VP is an understudy position?

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's not an understudy position. The role of VP has historically been a way to "balance the ticket" between factions in the party. So, a Kennedy from Massachusetts and Johnson from Texas. Or California's Reagan with a Connecticut Bush.

More recently, the VP has been a means of whipping votes in the House (Cheney and Ford) or the Senate (Gore, Biden, Pence) and raising money from affiliate donor networks (all of the above, but Harris and Vance more than ever).

If you want a Presidential job training program, look to the governor's mansion or the State Department. But by the time you're VP, you're not training. You're in the game.

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's absolutely been used as an under study position in the past. It can be all those things too.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It’s absolutely been used as an under study position in the past.

Name one VP who was a practical understudy for the job of President and I'll name you ten that were equally if not more qualified for the job.

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Explain how Dick Cheney was an understudy to Bush Jr.

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Cheney was a very unique case. In some ways he wielded more power than Bush. That's not normal in any sense.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Cheney was a very unique case.

The VP after Cheney was Biden, a man with more years in the Federal Government than any three 2008 primary rivals combined.

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Did you look at the list at all? It's not at all uncommon for the VP to be considered the next presumptive nominee. Which is what an understudy does.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It’s not at all uncommon for the VP to be considered the next presumptive nominee.

That's very different from being less experienced

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I never said less experienced. You're supposed to have experience. Under study means you're getting an inside track to be ready if you need to step in and then you should have a better resume next time hiring is done.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Under study means you’re getting an inside track to be ready if you need to step in

When you've got Timothy Chalmette as your President and Anthony Hopkins as your VP, the concern isn't whether Hopkins will have the exposure to fill the role.