His “locker room talk” (oops, I mean youthful comments from college) about Palestinian’s battle-mindedness is the kind of thing you’d expect from the most racist and conservative thinkers in the early 20th century when aimed at any other group besides people from the Middle East.
It’s a tragedy that the extent of America’s reckoning with colonial racism is half-heartedly renaming Columbus Day. As for the bigotry, the violence, and the dehumanization that underpinned Columbus‘s exploits we have yet to even begin to grapple with, let alone acknowledge, their existence both past and present.
There was a great quote about the UK riots from a Muslim community leader along the lines of, “the government is willing to condemn the violence in the streets, but not the Islamophobia that is responsible for promoting the violence.” Our society can tolerate condemnation of specific, past acts of colonialism, but start explaining why those actions occurred and that’s a faucet they don’t want opened for fear they may not be able to close it again when needed.
I think and have always thought it should be Kelly, since his name was first floated. He’s the only one who makes sense. I think it will be.
Shapiro is AWFUL and will actually cost her votes. Which is historically not really a thing. But I know that for me personally, if Shapiro is the pick, I’m not voting. For the first time in my 28 years of being an adult. I simply cannot justify it.
I see the VP as an indication of the brand the candidate wants to take. If she picks Shapiro, she's leaning into the Hawkish "Stand With Israel," which is really continuing Biden's policy. That will cost her.
Kelly isn't my favorite politician, but at least he or Beshear would be way better. Either one of them could make a mockery of JD Vance.
1. Astronaut is a cool job. Space ape shows he’s fun and has a sense of humor. This is the least reason. But it plays well on social media
2. He will be the first President or VP we have had since 2004 with military experience. Seeing as we are most likely going to war, this will be a good characteristic.
3. The border is an even bigger issue than Israel. (If polling is to be believed) He lives 2 hours from the border. He can speak to the issues as a first hand account/resident, and he’s been critical of Biden
4. He’s pro-smart gun legislation, but is vocally pro-2A
5. Historically, Senators tend to make the best VPs in terms of forwarding agendas. Particularly when it is someone as bi-partisan as Kelly, meaning he has friends on both sides of the aisle to work with
6. The attacks on Harris as a “San Francisco Liberal” started the moment her campaign did. Kelly is a good balance for that.
The issue with Walz or Beshear is whether or not they do the most good in the Gov mansion. And I think a case can be made that they do.
I think all the names floated, with the exception of Shapiro are wonderful.
I think Kelly gets her the votes and talking points Harris needs to win the election.
That's a good point about Kelly on the border. I've always found Democrats saying, "I live here, I see that Republican talking points are BS" is a good strategy.
And spot-on about being an astronaut. He'll look really cool standing against Vance.
I am so excited it’s Walz and not Shapiro. But as a liberal teacher who works at a Charter school, there is a huge difference between school vouchers and charters. Some of my immigrant friends would not have had the consistency of the same school when their families got evicted from their housing if it weren’t for Charter schools. I don’t agree with giving kids vouchers to attend private schools, but Charters allow for a much needed diversity in education. Our charter, for example, gets to focus on public speaking. I really wish the left would stop demonizing Charter schools.
I don't doubt that charters can help individuals; I just think they're a band-aid on a systemic problem. It'd be better to improve public education as a whole.
Do I love being on the same side as Ted Cruz on this issue? Fuck no, but I really think liberals need to be cautious assuming charters are a left/right issue!
As someone who has taught public speaking to students who come from non-English speaking backgrounds with success, I can 100% say our charter is helping individuals conquer the #1 fear in America. Because our charter school accepts students from all areas of the district (Las Vegas, the largest school district in the US), the student body is diverse with some students coming from high income households and many from low income households. There is diversity. I come from California where schools were essentially segregated depending on where you live. Charter schools make it so you can enroll a student near your work so it’s more convenient as well. I agree the school system needs an overhaul, but include charters. We want more schools, not less.
I know I’m gonna get torched here, but the dredging up 30 year old articles and viewing them through a 2024 lens is poor form. It’s cheap “gotcha” journalism.
I get that everyone does it, but I prefer to think people can change. I’m certainly a much different person at 49 than I was at 18, and I think most intellectually honest people would say the same.
I actually agree, Kevin. But the difference is that Shapiro has shown he still holds those views. If he had come out and said, "I was twenty, it was stupid, and here's how I've changed," then that's a different story. In that case, I would be more sympathetic and forgiving. After all, we were all young and dumb once.
But he hasn't. His modern statements are some of the most pro-Zionism in the Democratic Party. He recently referred to the I/P conflict as "thousands of years of fighting," showing he still believes this is some biblical battle between Jews and Arabs. That's untrue.
Given the old statements are a continuation of his current thought, I think they're more than appropriate to criticize today. Again, that would be different if he had evolved.
On Sept. 23, 2011, Shapiro tweeted in support of a speech given that day by Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations. Shapiro called the speech "one of the finest, fact-based speeches ever re Mideast peace." Here are some excerpts of the Netanyahu speech in question:
"We just don`t want the Palestinians to try to change the Jewish character of our state."
"We withdrew from Lebanon in 2000 and from every square inch of Gaza in 2005. That didn`t calm the Islamic storm, the militant Islamic storm that threatens us. It only brought the storm closer and made it stronger."
"Without Judea and Samaria, the West Bank, Israel is all of miles wide."
"[T]o defend itself, Israel must . . . maintain a long-term Israeli military presence in critical strategic areas in the West Bank."
"Why not? America has had troops in Japan, Germany and South Korea for more than a half a century. . . . France has forces in three independent African nations."
Thanks for the context, Ben. This is why I believe Shapiro's old comments are still worth scrutiny. He clearly still believes the same thing, but has learned to whitewash his rhetoric.
The fact that he is even being considered for the role should tell us that Democrats are just unserious about reading the room and million miles away from the voter base.
I don't understand the sentiment here. Kamala was rendered invisible as a VP, I don't expect her choice will have any more say than she did prior. The position of her running mate is a public ideological plea for further funding. She would sooner be undone by a meme than a mate
Harris will be no more or less zionistic than Biden before her. America's view on Israel is binary and thats across party lines
I think the VP choice is an indication of what the President wants their brand to be. By picking Kamala, Biden showed he was open to "passing the torch" to a younger POC generation.
It's the same with Harris' pick. If she picks Shapiro, she's indicating that she'll be a steadfast Zionist. Alternatively, someone like Tim Waltz will show she's more leaning toward a pro-labor administration.
Also, I must push back on the idea that America's Israel policy is binary. I think Biden was very far away from other Dems, in that he armed and enabled this genocide with no limits. Even centrist Dems have called for a ceasefire.
Ultimately I just dont think expressing disapproval for Harris while still agreeing to vote for her is fruitful. The only thing that threatens the democrats into attempting change is pushing the overton window further left with votes for other people
Biden was ardent that he wanted a woman of color for his running mate and that in itself is a shrewd racialist position built around a photo op. He wanted to evoke the nostalgia of him and Obama, when honestly the best version of Biden was created by the Onion. Harris' border policy was "Dont come here" and thats all I can remember of her Veep time because if the goal was to pass the torch, they would have built her up to something better. Unless we have already forgotten that Biden was publicly undercutting her a month ago when he thought he could still run
Centrists Dems have to engage with their constituents while still voting the party line. I like The Squad yet I'll raise you one Leftist Darling AOC parroting Israeli talking points. Dems are structured, via lobbyist, to never not be at a stalemate with themselves. I dont expect Harris to be a less worse zionist because she picks another white man and not this one - think about that for a second, her pick has to be another cis-het white man and everyone agrees to the point where even Romney was a thought
You'll get no complaint from me on the way the DNC machine demands a strong party line. Your mention of AOC is a sign of that.
But where I differ is that I believe Biden was FURTHER than the party line on Israel. We had centrists like Whitehouse and Schumer criticizing Israel far more than Biden did. When Israel invaded Lebanon in the 80s, Reagan told them to withdraw. Biden didn't even try.
It's not that I think the DNC line on Israel is good, just that Biden was materially worse than it. And I see Shapiro as another Democrat who is worse on Palestine than the median.
$kamala's momentum is artificial and fleeting. A fascistic, privileged sociopath appointed behind the scenes by the masters of of the Democult Party, boosted by a bunch of national polls that just happen to show her in the lead to inspire the party faithful, and all of you Dems have fallen into line as quickly as fundamentalist Christians open their wallets to televangelists.
You'll be telling me in a few months that we have a democracy to be endangered in the first place, and therefore we must cancel elections in order to save it in the second.
We'd be better off selecting presidents and congresscritters by lottery.
I'm an American Jew and I think Josh Shapiro is a twat. That's not antisemitism, that's my opinion of the governor. There is also the sexual harassment settlement against a senior aide of the governor, Mike Vereb, who only just recently resigned his position. Shapiro defended Vereb:
Shapiro has largely avoided comment on the allegations and Vereb’s resignation. He also drew blowback from legislators when he told reporters to “consider the source” when asked about concerns raised by Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland, regarding Vereb remaining employed for months despite the allegations.
I guess almost $300k settlements are the way things get done in Pennsylvania.
His “locker room talk” (oops, I mean youthful comments from college) about Palestinian’s battle-mindedness is the kind of thing you’d expect from the most racist and conservative thinkers in the early 20th century when aimed at any other group besides people from the Middle East.
It’s a tragedy that the extent of America’s reckoning with colonial racism is half-heartedly renaming Columbus Day. As for the bigotry, the violence, and the dehumanization that underpinned Columbus‘s exploits we have yet to even begin to grapple with, let alone acknowledge, their existence both past and present.
There was a great quote about the UK riots from a Muslim community leader along the lines of, “the government is willing to condemn the violence in the streets, but not the Islamophobia that is responsible for promoting the violence.” Our society can tolerate condemnation of specific, past acts of colonialism, but start explaining why those actions occurred and that’s a faucet they don’t want opened for fear they may not be able to close it again when needed.
That's a fantastic point, Graem. The UK violence shows us where Josh Shapiro's racism will take us. It's another reason to ditch him entirely.
josh shapiro is a zionazi into supporting genocide
No lies detected.
Josh would be the absolute worst choice.
By far! Especially considering the other options are also good without this baggage.
Agreed!
That’s what I’ve been posting to comments on this & other platforms. Please Kamala, do not choose Shapiro, it will be disastrous to her campaign
I think and have always thought it should be Kelly, since his name was first floated. He’s the only one who makes sense. I think it will be.
Shapiro is AWFUL and will actually cost her votes. Which is historically not really a thing. But I know that for me personally, if Shapiro is the pick, I’m not voting. For the first time in my 28 years of being an adult. I simply cannot justify it.
I see the VP as an indication of the brand the candidate wants to take. If she picks Shapiro, she's leaning into the Hawkish "Stand With Israel," which is really continuing Biden's policy. That will cost her.
Kelly isn't my favorite politician, but at least he or Beshear would be way better. Either one of them could make a mockery of JD Vance.
For me Kelly checks the following boxes:
1. Astronaut is a cool job. Space ape shows he’s fun and has a sense of humor. This is the least reason. But it plays well on social media
2. He will be the first President or VP we have had since 2004 with military experience. Seeing as we are most likely going to war, this will be a good characteristic.
3. The border is an even bigger issue than Israel. (If polling is to be believed) He lives 2 hours from the border. He can speak to the issues as a first hand account/resident, and he’s been critical of Biden
4. He’s pro-smart gun legislation, but is vocally pro-2A
5. Historically, Senators tend to make the best VPs in terms of forwarding agendas. Particularly when it is someone as bi-partisan as Kelly, meaning he has friends on both sides of the aisle to work with
6. The attacks on Harris as a “San Francisco Liberal” started the moment her campaign did. Kelly is a good balance for that.
The issue with Walz or Beshear is whether or not they do the most good in the Gov mansion. And I think a case can be made that they do.
I think all the names floated, with the exception of Shapiro are wonderful.
I think Kelly gets her the votes and talking points Harris needs to win the election.
That's a good point about Kelly on the border. I've always found Democrats saying, "I live here, I see that Republican talking points are BS" is a good strategy.
And spot-on about being an astronaut. He'll look really cool standing against Vance.
I am so excited it’s Walz and not Shapiro. But as a liberal teacher who works at a Charter school, there is a huge difference between school vouchers and charters. Some of my immigrant friends would not have had the consistency of the same school when their families got evicted from their housing if it weren’t for Charter schools. I don’t agree with giving kids vouchers to attend private schools, but Charters allow for a much needed diversity in education. Our charter, for example, gets to focus on public speaking. I really wish the left would stop demonizing Charter schools.
I don't doubt that charters can help individuals; I just think they're a band-aid on a systemic problem. It'd be better to improve public education as a whole.
Do I love being on the same side as Ted Cruz on this issue? Fuck no, but I really think liberals need to be cautious assuming charters are a left/right issue!
As someone who has taught public speaking to students who come from non-English speaking backgrounds with success, I can 100% say our charter is helping individuals conquer the #1 fear in America. Because our charter school accepts students from all areas of the district (Las Vegas, the largest school district in the US), the student body is diverse with some students coming from high income households and many from low income households. There is diversity. I come from California where schools were essentially segregated depending on where you live. Charter schools make it so you can enroll a student near your work so it’s more convenient as well. I agree the school system needs an overhaul, but include charters. We want more schools, not less.
Terrible choice, and I didnt even know about the "suicide," which sounds physically impossible.
Send this to KH's team.
Ha. My hopes were worth it. ;-)
🫡
I know I’m gonna get torched here, but the dredging up 30 year old articles and viewing them through a 2024 lens is poor form. It’s cheap “gotcha” journalism.
I get that everyone does it, but I prefer to think people can change. I’m certainly a much different person at 49 than I was at 18, and I think most intellectually honest people would say the same.
I actually agree, Kevin. But the difference is that Shapiro has shown he still holds those views. If he had come out and said, "I was twenty, it was stupid, and here's how I've changed," then that's a different story. In that case, I would be more sympathetic and forgiving. After all, we were all young and dumb once.
But he hasn't. His modern statements are some of the most pro-Zionism in the Democratic Party. He recently referred to the I/P conflict as "thousands of years of fighting," showing he still believes this is some biblical battle between Jews and Arabs. That's untrue.
Given the old statements are a continuation of his current thought, I think they're more than appropriate to criticize today. Again, that would be different if he had evolved.
I don't want her to pick Josh Shapiro for a number of reasons. I really hope she doesn't.
On Sept. 23, 2011, Shapiro tweeted in support of a speech given that day by Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations. Shapiro called the speech "one of the finest, fact-based speeches ever re Mideast peace." Here are some excerpts of the Netanyahu speech in question:
"We just don`t want the Palestinians to try to change the Jewish character of our state."
"We withdrew from Lebanon in 2000 and from every square inch of Gaza in 2005. That didn`t calm the Islamic storm, the militant Islamic storm that threatens us. It only brought the storm closer and made it stronger."
"Without Judea and Samaria, the West Bank, Israel is all of miles wide."
"[T]o defend itself, Israel must . . . maintain a long-term Israeli military presence in critical strategic areas in the West Bank."
"Why not? America has had troops in Japan, Germany and South Korea for more than a half a century. . . . France has forces in three independent African nations."
Thanks for the context, Ben. This is why I believe Shapiro's old comments are still worth scrutiny. He clearly still believes the same thing, but has learned to whitewash his rhetoric.
The fact that he is even being considered for the role should tell us that Democrats are just unserious about reading the room and million miles away from the voter base.
You say Shapiro
I say Sha-poo-poo
Let’s call the whole thing off!
I don't understand the sentiment here. Kamala was rendered invisible as a VP, I don't expect her choice will have any more say than she did prior. The position of her running mate is a public ideological plea for further funding. She would sooner be undone by a meme than a mate
Harris will be no more or less zionistic than Biden before her. America's view on Israel is binary and thats across party lines
I think the VP choice is an indication of what the President wants their brand to be. By picking Kamala, Biden showed he was open to "passing the torch" to a younger POC generation.
It's the same with Harris' pick. If she picks Shapiro, she's indicating that she'll be a steadfast Zionist. Alternatively, someone like Tim Waltz will show she's more leaning toward a pro-labor administration.
Also, I must push back on the idea that America's Israel policy is binary. I think Biden was very far away from other Dems, in that he armed and enabled this genocide with no limits. Even centrist Dems have called for a ceasefire.
Ultimately I just dont think expressing disapproval for Harris while still agreeing to vote for her is fruitful. The only thing that threatens the democrats into attempting change is pushing the overton window further left with votes for other people
Biden was ardent that he wanted a woman of color for his running mate and that in itself is a shrewd racialist position built around a photo op. He wanted to evoke the nostalgia of him and Obama, when honestly the best version of Biden was created by the Onion. Harris' border policy was "Dont come here" and thats all I can remember of her Veep time because if the goal was to pass the torch, they would have built her up to something better. Unless we have already forgotten that Biden was publicly undercutting her a month ago when he thought he could still run
Centrists Dems have to engage with their constituents while still voting the party line. I like The Squad yet I'll raise you one Leftist Darling AOC parroting Israeli talking points. Dems are structured, via lobbyist, to never not be at a stalemate with themselves. I dont expect Harris to be a less worse zionist because she picks another white man and not this one - think about that for a second, her pick has to be another cis-het white man and everyone agrees to the point where even Romney was a thought
You'll get no complaint from me on the way the DNC machine demands a strong party line. Your mention of AOC is a sign of that.
But where I differ is that I believe Biden was FURTHER than the party line on Israel. We had centrists like Whitehouse and Schumer criticizing Israel far more than Biden did. When Israel invaded Lebanon in the 80s, Reagan told them to withdraw. Biden didn't even try.
It's not that I think the DNC line on Israel is good, just that Biden was materially worse than it. And I see Shapiro as another Democrat who is worse on Palestine than the median.
This is why it's likely that the Harris pick for V.P. will be Josh Shapiro.
$kamala's momentum is artificial and fleeting. A fascistic, privileged sociopath appointed behind the scenes by the masters of of the Democult Party, boosted by a bunch of national polls that just happen to show her in the lead to inspire the party faithful, and all of you Dems have fallen into line as quickly as fundamentalist Christians open their wallets to televangelists.
You'll be telling me in a few months that we have a democracy to be endangered in the first place, and therefore we must cancel elections in order to save it in the second.
We'd be better off selecting presidents and congresscritters by lottery.
I'm an American Jew and I think Josh Shapiro is a twat. That's not antisemitism, that's my opinion of the governor. There is also the sexual harassment settlement against a senior aide of the governor, Mike Vereb, who only just recently resigned his position. Shapiro defended Vereb:
Shapiro has largely avoided comment on the allegations and Vereb’s resignation. He also drew blowback from legislators when he told reporters to “consider the source” when asked about concerns raised by Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland, regarding Vereb remaining employed for months despite the allegations.
I guess almost $300k settlements are the way things get done in Pennsylvania.
https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-josh-shapiro-aide-sexual-harassment-296d605f3533ca7a38e9f2983e533059