Top VP Contender Rep. Karen Bass Denounces Past Cuba Comments | Talking Points Memo

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#122

Biden needs to nominate someone who has name recognition among all voters and an ability to skewer Trump daily in the same way that he tweets lies, innuendoes and insults. I understand trying to balance the ticket, but Bass doesn’t meet either of these criteria. There are many other candidates who do.

Biden should also wait until the convention to announce his pick. We don’t want to give this fascist White House any advance notice. And let’s build up some suspense among voters so they watch the speeches.

Once announced, I want our VP candidate to stalk Pence for a full week before their convention. Then I want her to lay siege outside whatever venue they set up for Trump to hide behnd during their convention.

The visual of an uppity woman swinging a shillelagh at a 13 ft. wall built for Trump to hide behind would be primo and set off our supporters in a way like nothing else could. I want Republicans to be on the defense from now until election day.

Biden just needs to act presidential and announce his excellent choices for the Cabinet in a very deliberate, orderly way over the ensuing weeks leading up to the election. The more we give people a chance to contrast what Trump chose as his Best and Brightest with who we propose the better. It will also allow Biden to lay out his agenda in each area in a short, concise way that doesn’t get boring.

Meanwhile, let’s let the woman VP candidate do the heavy lifting on the campaign trail. If you want it done in a threatening way to white supremacists, let an intelligent black woman who isn’t afraid of anything go after them.

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#123

Do people even know what socialists and communists are these days? They’ve been throwing those terms around for so long that they really don’t what these terms mean anymore. Do they even know what “democracy” means? Probably not.

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#124

Kamala Harris will do. That the only people upset by her are hard core Biden supporters bothers me not one whit— who the hell else are they going to vote for?

VP candidates are supposed to be able to throw punches— she can. She has won 2 statewide races in the nation’s largest state. Is she perfect? No. Is Biden? No. Do we need to beat Trump? Do I need to answer that?

Rice— I would be comfortable for with her if she ran for something before. I have no idea what her political chops are.

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#125

People do know what “incompetence” means.

#126

Plus Empathy? Compassion? Who’s he trying to kid? Hippy!

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#127

He’s too politically correct. It’s ruining our society, the political correctness. Everyone agrees on that. Blah blah the poor blah blah the meek in spirit.

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#128

Agree with everything you said. Rice would definitely be good in the job, but I’m not sure if she would fill the bill for moving the campaign along.

Harris could also do any job well that is asked of her once Biden is in office and needs someone who can handle big initiatives. She hits all the bases for everything else you stipulated as well.

But best of all for me, she’s younger and adds an edge to the election. We need someone who resembles the next generation and can highlight their concerns.

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#129

Just go with Harris or Warren.

#130

If it weren’t for this honorable gentleman, our party might still be in a dogfight between Bernie (I assume) and gosh knows whom. He should maybe get the Peace Prize. (Kidding there, but he’s one of the greats.)

#131

Perhaps the miscreants can be held in a damp, dark place for the first few months until we have time to deal with them.

#132

Hillary Rodham Clinton has a whole life history devoted to public service. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again now. Her character, background, and experience would have made an excellent President. Sadly, she also was a pretty lousy candidate. And it is a national tragedy that the skills to faithfully execute the office are so unrelated to the skills required to apply for the job.

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#133

Testosterone problem? I didn’t know Jim Jordan was from Texas

#134

Biden needs a VP covering his back who has both swords drawn. Hillary had that strength but it scared a lot of people away from her. So, she ran with Tim Kaine who brought a more measured, thoughtful and compassionate aspect to the ticket. Biden has a similar manner to Kaine. That is part of his appeal. I keep thinking of Harris’ “That little girl was me.” moment. She has the same formidable “Don’t mess with me” strength that Pelosi had when she clapped at Trump. Plus, because of her performance on the debate stage, there are few who doubt she could take over for Joe , if necessary. Although I have no doubt Rice could do the same, I’m not sure as many people have that view of her.

#135

If your class project ended in a paper, I would like to read it. I am a big Harris fan and think she is Biden’s best choice. During the campaign, he can be the elder statesman returning unity, leadership and decisiveness to the WH while she is the promise of the future.

#136

Hence the early, rabid and perpetual attacks on Ocasio-Cortez. I said months ago that she’s getting the Hillary treatment, and sadly it’s true.

Times change, I hope, but the seeds are planted now, ready to be activated whenever they desire … such as an election twenty years from now.

Does anyone, supporters or not, think Clinton wouldn’t be president now if it hadn’t been for sustained personal attacks that began the moment she appeared on the national stage?

Yes, she had flaws; all politicians do. But most don’t have an entire industry building a deep well of suspicion and scorn for two decades. Only the potential game-changers get that treatment.

#137

This relationship between Cuba and the USA is an American issue. It is NOT an issue owned by the Miami ex-Cubans. They ran away. It is not their call nor dose diplomacy between the two have to pass their muster. The relationship has been under their control since the 60’s and look at what a disaster it is. The brief shot the USA had at making life better for Cubans was when Obama ignored the Miami Cubans and moved forward. Trump blew that up to kiss Cubano ass and look at where we are now. Besides, all the Cuban joints in Miami suck. You can’t even get a good cup of Cuban coffee there as everything is gringoed out.

#138

I like what I have seen of Rep. Bass, but I don’t see the upside to her as a veep pick. Unknown to nationwide voters; no geographic import; no significant media, executive, or national election experience; and this Cuba baggage.

#139

One more reason to pick Val Demmings.

Bass just has WAAAAAAYYYYY too much baggage from the past to answer for.

Demmings would be a kick-ass choice.

Harris would open the door to “East and West Coast ELITES” types of attacks (which would also be true.)
Warren is out of the running due to past commitments to things too far left.
Bass has way too much tape of her saying outrageous things, AND has the same optics issue as Harris.
Susan Rice has too much Obama/Clinton baggage (not her fault, but there you go…)
Duckworth, just not enough “OOMPF” when I see her speak.
Val Demmings is the way to go. Just enough experience, unassailable Law and Order cred, very smart, and solidly Democratic Progressive, AND would help drag Florida across the finish line for Biden.

Other than those 6, the “dark-horse” vote is settiling on Michigan Gov. Gretchen Wihtmer.

I want to see a Biden/Demmings ticket.

After that ticket crushes Trump/Pence;
Kamala Harris for AG.
Warren for head of the SEC.
Bernie for head of HHS
Tammy Duckworth for head of the VA.
Susan Rice as Secretary of State

Lots of possibilities to flesh out the remainder of the Biden cabinet.

#140

Yep. That does it for me, too. Hope Biden makes another choice.

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#141

Nope. Next!

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