Thoughts on Michael Moore’s suggestion for a Harris/Whitmer ticket?

  • kescusay@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Whitmer would be fine. At this point, I’m just happy to see some party unity again. Moore is right that this was a courageous act on Biden’s part.

  • radivojevic@discuss.online
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    4 months ago

    If they play it right, maybe. But I’m not sure two women, one of them black, is going to win over those “undecided” votes. Those states aren’t the most progressive places.

    • gravitas_deficiency
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      4 months ago

      Yep - the safe choice for Harris’s running mate would be someone like Mark Kelly: veteran, astronaut, husband to a woman who survived a political assassination attempt, but also white, male, and heterosexual. I happen to think he’s also a pretty decent politician as well.

      • radivojevic@discuss.online
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        4 months ago

        Mark ticks most of my boxes, but he’s a little conservative on healthcare. Granted, it’s not like we can turn the US on to universal healthcare in the next 4 years anyway, so that’s not really a red flag. He’s a bit of a Zionist, but that’s a pretty complex issue, and while I’d prefer he have a more progressive approach to genocide, he wouldn’t be the commander in chief.

  • gravitas_deficiency
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    4 months ago

    I think Whitmer is fantastic, but I don’t agree that she’s an appropriate and pragmatic choice here. The running mate should be a white, middle-aged, heterosexual, vaguely religious dude, specifically to try to allay the concerns of the various idiots in this country who will be unsure about a “colored lady” being the president. It’s a big part of why Obama went with Biden as a running mate, after all.

    • Empricorn@feddit.nl
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      4 months ago

      Yep. It doesn’t feel great, but it would be in service to the greater good. After all, these racist boomers and their outdated beliefs will eventually die off…

    • Empricorn@feddit.nl
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      4 months ago

      Duh. Sorry, not trying to be condescending, but you and me are not the issue. I could vote Trump (gross) this year and it wouldn’t change anything in my state. We need someone to speak to the undecided voters. Someone they like and agree with. Yes, I agree that it’s insane for anyone to not know who Donald Trump truly is by this point, but with the Electoral College, these people will literally decide the election…

  • very_well_lost@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I think Harris/Kelly is the best political choice, especially for beating a Trump ticket.

    1. Kelly is from an important swing state for Democrats. Although Arizona has been shifting blue in recent election cycles, it’s still far from a Democratic stronghold, so picking Kelly is smart electoral math.

    2. Kelly is the husband of former congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who was the victim of an assassination attempt in 2011. Picking Kelly as VP will give the campaign a great excuse to talk about the issue of political violence while blunting Trump’s attempts to control the narrative in the wake of his own shooting. Who better than Giffords, who faced her near-death with courage and poise to make Trump look pathetic and weak for his response?

    3. Kelly is well liked and well respected both in the Senate and on the national stage. People know who he is, and his poise and experience is going to stand in stark contrast to Vance who is a nobody in comparison.

    4. Kelly vacating his Senate seat means another Democrat will be appointed to fill it, so no important Senate votes are lost. Unlike some of the other names that have been floated, Kelly would not cost Democrats and important governorship.

    5. He’s a freaking astronaut, and Americans love voting for astronauts.

    6. He’s a middle-aged white man, which sadly is going to matter to some voters. Kelly is palatable to just about anyone, and will somewhat blunt that “DEI” nonsense that the campaign is already going to be fighting against.

    • Eatspancakes84@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      You cannot choose a Senator from a Swing State. Far too costly. Also, Dems need to focus squarely on PA, Mi, Wi.

      • very_well_lost@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        As I mentioned, taking Kelly away from the seat wouldn’t cost Democrats anything in the Senate.

        But to go into a little more detail, It’s actually Arizona law that the person appointed by the governor must be from the same political party as the person leaving office. Kelly will be replaced by another Democrat, and since his term would have lasted longer than 150 days, Arizona law also stipulates that the replacement will serve out the rest of that term with no special election taking place. Republicans would have to wait until 2026 to get another shot at capturing that seat, which is two years for Kelly’s replacement to get a headstart on fundraising and campaigning over their eventual opponent.

  • TheRealKuni@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    The saddest thing about a Harris-Whitmer ticket would be losing Whitmer as governor two years early. But that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.

  • RupeThereItIs@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    That would be great, she’s been a great governor.

    Only thing that could be better is a Whitmer/Harris ticket or even a Whitmer/Shapiro ticket.

  • John Richard@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    You’re not going to beat Trump but handing the nomination to Kamala. She needs to earn it & if there are challengers then she needs to show she is a stronger candidate.

    • smnwcj@fedia.io
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      4 months ago

      The value of holding av real primary. Sadly that boat sailed. Having delegates hand pick a candidate without any voter input opens the process to undue influence from party politics.

      Kamala was at least chosen by the people as a VP. Can’t say the same for most of the randos throwing their hat in

      • BreadstickNinja@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        This will be the Trump campaign’s messaging tactic - try to divide and undermine party unity by suggesting Harris doesn’t deserve the spot. The friction between Clinton and Sanders supporters likely handed Trump the presidency so expect Republican astroturfers to come out of the woodwork seeking to promote a bitter contest for this nomination.

        Everyone with an ounce of sense knows there isn’t time or money to speedrun another primary season between now and the general. Harris is still at this point an underdog and we need the entirety of party resources focused on Trump and the MAGA agenda. Even Whitmer, who would be my first choice and who probably does have national ambitions, has been clear that she is putting country before ego.

        This is not the moment to screw around letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. We need solidarity to have a hope in November.

      • xmunk
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        4 months ago

        Sorry, which people chose Kamala as the VP? Last cycle we elected Biden and Harris was thrown on the ticket later - she didn’t even do particularly well in the primary.

        She’s been in the Whitehouse but that’s about it.

      • John Richard@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        The boat hasn’t sailed. I’m calling it now. If they coronate Harris without any process to show she’s earned it. If they ignore voices of alternatives and just hand it to her thinking black people will vote for her just cause of her skin color & women will vote for her just because of her gender, then their plan is to have Harris lose & blame the 66% of voters that said he should step aside.

      • John Richard@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Rightfully so… if the DNC thinks just changing the face but acting the same they did in 2016 and what got them to Biden having to drop out, then they’ll lose again… and they’ll do what they always do, blame their own voters – the 66%+ that said Biden should step aside.