Who will Biden choose as running mate?

[acbytesla]

I think Trump is notable in politics for being something of a naked singularity. I think most career politicians enjoy a lot more cover from the establishment they contribute to and are a part of. They're also a lot better at concealing their venality and foolishness from the voting public. But Trump has, improbably, made a career out of putting that on display. So he looks a lot different from other politicians because other politicians put a lot more effort into hiding what they really look like.

Nope, that's not it.

I worked in politics. I was an intern for a Democratic US Senator an aide for a Republican congressman and I worked for a mayor in the midwest. Every single one of these politicians were kind, civil and genuinely nice people. Trump is not like any of them. Trump is a vile, self centered bully. I have met only one person in my life who was that self centered and that person went to prison.

 

[Venom]

"at least he's honest"

 

[theprestige]

Nope, that's not it.

I worked in politics. I was an intern for a Democratic US Senator an aide for a Republican congressman and I worked for a mayor in the midwest. Every single one of these politicians were kind, civil and genuinely nice people. Trump is not like any of them. Trump is a vile, self centered bully. I have met only one person in my life who was that self centered and that person went to prison.

OLOL There are plenty of accounts of Trump being extremely nice and easy in person.

 

[theprestige]

"at least he's honest" : rolleyes :

Ha. That would indeed be a silly claim. That's not what I'm saying, though. I wouldn't call it honesty. In his own obvious way, he's just as deceptive as the rest. It's more like a carelessness for the conventional proprieties of the political class. It's the obviousness.

 

[Loss Leader]

Harris ran away with this poll, but I don't understand how Duckworth ended up tied for second. True, she's a minority, but she's not a person who can excite the people of color to come out to vote.

 

[acbytesla]

OLOL There are plenty of accounts of Trump being extremely nice and easy in person.

I'm sure if he was talking about himself.

 

[theprestige]

I'm sure if he was talking about himself.

That's not what's reported by people who have met him one on one.

 

[acbytesla]

That's not what's reported by people who have met him one on one.

Actually it is.

 

[Stacyhs]

Psychopaths can be very charming in person. It's how they get away with things for so long until you get to know them.

 

[timhau]

I would agree with that. Except I don't think there are many people like Trump.

I don't know about that. I think conmen are more like each other than the people who fall for them.

 

[Firestone]

Brace yourself: America is about to act really awkward about Biden’s female VP pick

Whoever ends up as his running mate doesn’t get to be a candidate; she has to be a complement. Because Biden is often defensive, she’ll have to be calm; because he’s older, she’ll have to be exciting; because he’d be president, she can’t be too exciting lest she outshine him. She also needs to be ready to lead on Day One — Biden is, after all, 77 — but ideally, she’d also be a “surprising” choice we’ve never heard of. Because if we’ve heard of her, a chunk of the population will have already decided they don’t like her.

In other words, she’ll be expected to perform the tedious emotional support that women have spent the past five to 50 years raising awareness of, responsible for not only her own work, but also the work of making this older White man look good.

 

[Craig4]

That's not what's reported by people who have met him one on one.

Many people are saying...whatevs.

 

[Belz...]

"Address the argument, not the arguer."

He wasn't talking about you, but the op-ed.

 

[Belz...]

Brace yourself: America is about to act really awkward about Biden’s female VP pick

Wow, there really is no way to win with some of these guys.

 

[theprestige]

He wasn't talking about you, but the op-ed.

So was I.

 

[Belz...]

So was I.

That rule doesn't apply to people who aren't members.

And it wasn't an ad hominem because of the nature of the argument being responded to.

 

[theprestige]

Wow, there really is no way to win with some of these guys.

Heh. I keep telling you the mainstream media is not your friend. But this is the Perspectives column in the Style section. It's probably okay to expect this kind of article there.

 

[theprestige]

That rule doesn't apply to people who aren't members.

It's not only a rule. It's a principle. The principle applies everywhere. The rule was implemented here in an attempt to uphold the principle.

And it wasn't an ad hominem because of the nature of the argument being responded to.

Maybe ad hom isn't the right word. My point was that acbytesla decided to tackle the question of whether the Nation was the author or the publisher of the argument, rather than set aside who the arguer was and examine the argument itself. I think he assumed I was making an appeal to authority - the Nation said it, and that's important. Actually I was just saying, here's where it was said. Whether it's important is up to you to decide after you examine the argument. Which I guess acbytesla has decided they're not going to do.

Whether that's because they don't like the Nation, or because they don't like the claim, or because they just don't care about the question, is anyone's guess.

 

[Belz...]

It's not only a rule. It's a principle. The principle applies everywhere.

You wrote it specifically to match the MA here. I reasonably interpreted that you were talking about the rule itself. If you were refering to a larger principle, fine, but don't expect others to conform to your own values.

My point was that acbytesla decided to tackle the question of whether the Nation was the author or the publisher of the argument, rather than set aside who the arguer was and examine the argument itself.

No, he was taking issue with the contention that the Nation endorsed this view, when op-eds are a different matter. Acbytesla doesn't need to address every issue you imagine he could address. He only needs to address the issues he feels are worthwhile. And he's right, but you have failed to acknowledge that.

 

[theprestige]

You wrote it specifically to match the MA here. I reasonably interpreted that you were talking about the rule itself. If you were refering to a larger principle, fine, but don't expect others to conform to your own values.

Not expectation. Hope.

No, he was taking issue with the contention that the Nation endorsed this view, when op-eds are a different matter. Acbytesla doesn't need to address every issue you imagine he could address. He only needs to address the issues he feels are worthwhile. And he's right, but you have failed to acknowledge that.

It was not my contention that the Nation endorsed this view. My wording was misleading. I thought once that was cleared up, people might be interested in the argument itself, for why Biden should not pick Harris.

If acbytesla doesn't think it's worthwhile to discuss the merits of the people on the short list for this role, in a thread on that topic, that's fine. As long as we're clear that's what's happening.