Staff Reports
Vice President Kamala Harris has made her allies’ heads spin by selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, following the surprise announcement that President Biden decided to bow out of the 2024 presidential race. Speculation had run rampant, but it seems Harris has opted for a partner whose track record may not inspire confidence in many voters, especially those whose memory extends beyond the last Twitter cycle.
Walz, currently in the middle of his second term after first taking office in 2018, is no stranger to controversy. His handling of the Black Lives Matter riots in Minneapolis during 2020 left many scratching their heads. Instead of taking a firm stand on law and order, he publicly denounced Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin before the dust had even settled, claiming the infamous video of George Floyd was “disturbing.” Well, it looks like Walz has become quite adept at playing the blame game, as he managed to ride a wave of outrage instead of taking a measured response to unrest in his own backyard.
If Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is Kamala's VP pick…
Here's a reminder of what he allowed to happen to Minneapolis.
He'd let the same happen to the rest of America.
SHARE THIS EVERYWHERE TO REMIND PEOPLE. pic.twitter.com/EAfBGYH5qZ
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) August 5, 2024
To add to the soap opera, recent reports have uncovered that Hennepin County prosecutors felt pressure to go after Chauvin and other officers involved, with some withdrawn from the case due to ethical concerns. The narrative around that trial has become so convoluted that one might need a trellis to decipher where the facts actually stand. It’s stunning how Walz, faced with this chaos, has now positioned himself as a significant player on the national stage without a single clue on how to effectively govern.
As if Harris and Walz weren’t already off to a rocky start, the governor has not shied away from tossing mud at former President Donald Trump, labeling him as a “fascist.” This choice of words not only reveals an alarming trend among progressive leaders who seem to have an aversion to reading a history book but it also underscores a campaign strategy built on fear. Walz has been quick to warn voters that this “weird” and “fascist” group threatens the very fabric of democracy. It’s a classic case of projecting one’s insecurities onto the opponent—a political tactic as unoriginal as it is transparent.
Walz’s glowing remarks about President Biden as “one of the most highly effective presidents” might induce chuckles in anyone who has experienced recent gas prices. In a world that is grappling with inflation and international instability, a governor who praises the current administration’s “accomplishments” appears to be living in an alternate reality where America’s problems are merely fodder for political banter. Perhaps he’s trying to distract voters from picking apart the glaring failures of his own party.
With each day, it becomes more evident that the Democratic establishment is scrambling to reclaim lost ground. Harris and Walz’s tour of battleground states couldn’t come at a better time, as polls show rising tensions in the race since Biden’s exit. With the Democratic ticket now firmly steered in a radical direction, one has to wonder just how high the stakes have been raised as Harris attempts to ride the political whirlwind created by Walz’s remarks and past actions. As history shows, choosing a running mate based on their capacity to flounder effectively might not be the winning strategy that Harris may hope for in the long run.
