Remember Reagan’s “Morning in America”? I do–and it was the first phrase that came to mind when Kamala Harris and her just-announced choice for Vice-President, Tim Walz, appeared together at their first event, in Philadelphia.
The folks that the late Molly Ivins dubbed “the chattering class” have been almost uniformly enthusiastic about the choice of Walz, offering a wide number of reasons. I was excited and gratified by that choice for two rather different reasons: first, as a policy nerd (I know–you hadn’t noticed!), I especially love his strong support for public education. (I agree with most of his other policy positions too.). Second, he’s a mensch. Long before he entered politics, when he was still a high school coach, he sponsored his school’s first gay-straight alliance–understanding that having a straight, married, macho coach as a sponsor would send a strong anti-bullying message to those teens who might be inclined to pick on gay kids.
But what really has me pumped up is that both Harris and Walz are such happy warriors. They smile. They joke. They laugh. (Has anyone ever seen Donald Trump laugh? He snickers on occasion, but–unlike normal people– he never laughs. And his idea of “jokes” are almost always cruel put-downs of someone who has displeased him.)
The reason this new team and their joyous approach has made me so much more positive than I was a few weeks ago was perfectly described by Bill Kristol in a recent essay in the Bulwark. Kristol isn’t usually one of my favorite political pundits, but–as the saying goes–he hit this one out of the park.
As he noted, in their first appearance together, Harris and Walz were happy warriors.
I want to believe that being happy warriors is superior, not just morally and aesthetically but also practically and politically, to being sullen and resentful ones. We’ll see if that’s the case in the year 2024.
I’ll add that Harris, Walz, and Shapiro weren’t just happy warriors. They were distinctly hopeful and future-oriented ones.
Again, I want to believe that’s what most Americans want. That we want leaders who live in the present and will work to make America better in the future, not figures who scowl at the present and fear the future. And certainly not candidates who justify extraordinary mean-spiritedness in the name of an embittered nostalgia for an imaginary past.
To which I respond “Yes yes yes!!”
I am so very tired of the politics of nastiness and incivility, tired of the thundering diatribes of theocrats (aptly described as members of the Handmaid’s Tale faction of the GOP), of the insistence that America needs to return to the “verities” of a time that never existed except in the minds of unhappy White guys…I have to believe that most American voters are equally tired of living in the GOP’s gloomy, rancid, hate-filled fantasy world.
Kristol made another very important observation with which I entirely agree.
Finally, I was struck that the mood in Philadelphia was, if I can put it this way, all-American. Watching Shapiro and Walz and Harris—an Easterner and a Midwesterner and a Californian, men and women of such different backgrounds and religions and races—I thought: You know, this is America.
It’s an unoriginal thought, to be sure. And as I thought it, an unoriginal—and for that matter an out of date and out of favor—phrase for some reason popped into my mind: the “melting pot.”
The image of the “melting pot” has never really described America. Many people have suggested better images—a mosaic, for instance—to capture American openness and pluralism and integration. Still, for some reason the phrase stuck in my mind.
In much the same way, images of that introductory gathering in Philadelphia made me think of “Morning in America.” Not the same morning that Reagan envisioned, rather obviously, but the dawning possibility that America might return to a politics that celebrates the art of the possible– a politics of inclusion rather than exclusion, a politics that moves us, however incrementally, toward the vision of human equality outlined in the Declaration of Independence.
A forward-looking politics.
Maybe the morning sun will even shine in Indiana……
YES ! Hopeful and Happy and GOOD.
Yes! Change for good. Morning in America translates a refreshed start and clean air you can fill your lungs with. Love the metaphor. Morning in America with Harris and Walz. I’m in. 🤗
Suddenly FAUX NEWS is wondering why they didn’t talk “policy”? My best advice to Dems is: don’t get stuck in the weeds. Maybe this ticket has realized that you get more votes tickling the amygdala of the voters than you do with sometimes incomprehensible policy statements.
Attack the fear mongering with hope and faith that we can do anything, if we do it together. Take a page from FDR: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Interesting that today’s Morning in America was introduced in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania whereas Reagan’s was introduced in Philadelphia, Mississippi. And we all know what the unstated message was in Mississippi.
With regard to diversity, I prefer the term “tossed salad” which implies coexistence and togetherness, without losing culture and identity. We must view each other as fellow humans without demanding they surrender to assimilation and conformity – my definition of “melting pot.”
Good morning, America!
Aren’t you glad Biden stepped aside? 😉
I’m more geopolitical and federally focused, and the insiders at NATO said all the leaders saw Biden’s decline and were worried that Trump would win in November. Now they have hope, too! The mainstream media almost led us straight into a disaster by keeping Biden’s cognitive failure hidden from the public until the very public debate with Trump.
I never heard of Walz as governor of Minnesota, but what I’ve been reading says that Kamala made a good choice. And speaking of diversity, MN now has an actual tribe member of Native American Indians as governor. I believe that’s a first in the US. I did know that MN is very progressive and ranks in the top 5 states to live in. Indiana is a bottom 5 state. 🙁
Adding to our recent post on DEI, it quickly became a business strategy because it’s a superior team-building strategy. The last thing you want is a bunch of homogenous ideas coming from similar people. It’s good to leave your comfort zone. In fact, it nearly always provides superior results. We let FEAR dictate too many of our decisions – FEAR, it’s the common thread of the MAGA crowd.
After a few years of college in small-town Indiana, I moved to Orlando and Miami, FL. After a few years of culture shock (out of my all-white racist shell in rural Indiana), it was the best thing that ever happened to me. The melting pot allowed me to experience new worlds and discover what makes the US such a strong country. I was introduced to Cuban coffee around 2 pm. Perfection!!
Hope ie alive and well, this morning!
I watched the rally in Philly and saw the teacher, coach, dad, and helper to just about anyone who needs it, no matter who they are. He is smart and experienced motivator. Plain spoken, small town roots, funny and gregarious. The pure joy makes me smile. It also energized me to continue to do the small things to let the powers that be know that I am here. I have a voice and a vote. I will use both to demand attention to the common good and equality before the law.
I enjoyed learning that Walz credits his attitudes in part to his Lutheran heritage – and is an active member of the most liberal Lutheran group. His ELCA has advocated for most of his progressive causes for decades. Just might have rubbed off on him.
The way this is working out makes me feel good about my determination to maintain and express a glimmer of optimism over the last four years.
Hoping they can smile and joke through the rigged Electoral College. Unfortunately, due to the brilliance of the Founders, the number of votes doesn’t really matter; it’s where the votes come from…
I love watching Harris and Walz, they seem to radiate joy. Quite a change from Maga sourpusses. Vote blue. ☺
Know how to do the Harris Walz? Take two steps forward and no steps back. Repeat.
Part of Reagan’s success was the he was able to put a happy face on serious policy questions.
Lester,
I guess you can’t call the electoral college fair and balanced?!?