As Democrats gather in Chicago, it is difficult to escape the feeling that something or someone is missing.
The first thing would be any sort of discussion about what Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have done in the past or plan to do if they win the election. Since the departure of Joe Biden, who appears to have believed he represented the second coming of Franklin Delano Roosevelt just as sycophants like Michael Beschloss told him, a sense of realism appears to have set in among Democrats that the Biden-Harris record – as well as the policies of the entire party – are immensely unpopular.
That is why Kamala Harris and her party have very little interest in discussing what they will do, especially if it requires them to weigh trade-offs or commit to anything other than promising everyone in sight access to the magical money tree Harris seems to have discovered.
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have been nominated. Joe Biden got polite applause, as is the norm for the Democratic Party’s fading grandfather before he was sent back to the nursing home that in this instance is the White House. Hillary Clinton performed like an aged band that can’t give up on the hope of one more tour.
By the end of the convention, a host of party grandees will have come on stage to testify to the wisdom, generosity, and statesmanship of a vice president whom they openly mocked until a month ago, and a governor whose presence is a testament to their impotence. They will hate every moment of it, which is why they will pivot to what Harris, Walz, and their audience really want to talk about: Donald Trump.
In Chicago this week, Trump is the real star of the show, but not in the way he has been in the past. If there is one difference between the Biden and post-Biden Democrat Party, it is in the way they talk about Donald Trump. Biden saw him as a personal rival. Harris, Walz, and their managers see him as a celebrity.
Joe Biden wanted to talk about Donald Trump. He just wanted to talk about Project 2025, abortion, “our democracy,” Putin, and lawfare. Harris occasionally makes allusions to these, part of her pitch to the MSNBC crowd, but it is hard to miss how broadly they have faded from the lexicon.
Instead, Harris’s campaign press releases and social media accounts have taken on the approach of a stalker, providing non-stop commentary on the latest developments regarding Donald Trump – where he is campaigning, how he is campaigning, and, in recent weeks, alleging he is not campaigning enough. It is all quite odd.
Make no mistake, however, it is also strategic. If there is one insight powering the Harris-Walz campaign, it is that Donald Trump is and remains the main character of U.S. politics. Every other character is defined in relation to him. Politics is divided between those who follow him because they support him and those who follow him because they can’t stand him.
Joe Biden’s failure to grasp this essential truth crippled his efforts and ultimately doomed his campaign. Joe Biden genuinely believed that he, rather than money, institutions, and COVID-19, defeated Donald Trump in 2020. He drew the erroneous conclusion that he could go head-to-head with his nemesis.
For four years Joe Biden sought to reduce American politics to a duel between himself and Trump, believing, when it came down to it, that he would win such a fight. In the process, he ignored inflation and the economy in favor of abstractions such as “democracy” and turned geopolitics into an extension of the domestic dual between himself and Trump that existed only within his head.
In the end, this belief, which appears to be one of the few principles Joe Biden clung to without the slightest moment of doubt, led him onto the debate stage in Atlanta and proved to be his undoing.
Kamala Harris and her handlers, perhaps stung by the fiasco of her 2020 primary campaign, do not intend to even try to make Kamala the star of the show. Not only would it be futile to try and compete with Donald Trump’s star power, but why would they even want to? Both Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden deluded themselves into believing that their policies were in fact popular and that if they managed to shift the discussion from the field of narrative, where Donald Trump’s charisma gave him an innate advantage, to policy, they would win. Biden persevered in this path, despite consistent polling data indicating most voters believed Donald Trump had done a better job as president, and would do a better job on the border, economy, and foreign policy.
Harris and the post-Biden Democratic establishment appear unburdened by such illusions. There is no better example of the shameless efforts to rewrite history than the campaign to erase Kamala Harris’s record as border czar. It is an indication that the Harris-Walz campaign realizes that border policy is a liability, and no amount of spin, no level of explanations will make voters change their minds. In fact, the more clearly the Biden-Harris border policy is explained, the less popular it will be.
The same is true of the economy and foreign policy. Joe Biden insisted on contrasting his economic record with Donald Trump in the face of overwhelming evidence the American people preferred Trump’s. He championed his purported support of Ukraine after Russia invaded, and of Israel after Hamas attacked, without considering that doing so merely reminded voters that no one invaded Ukraine or started a war in Gaza under Donald Trump.
In this approach, Harris-Walz 2024 is more reminiscent of Obama-Biden 2012 than of Clinton or Biden’s efforts in 2016 and 2020, respectively. Barack Obama won reelection in 2012 because, unlike Hillary Clinton in 2016, he was under no illusions that his presidency was viewed as anything other than a disappointment.
Whereas Hillary Clinton assumed promising to continue the status quo in 2016 would deliver victory, Obama grasped that the more he talked about his record, the less votes he would win. Obamacare may have borne his name, but Barack Obama avoided discussing it. Unlike Biden, who took credit for the spending that caused inflation, Obama avoided discussing his approach to the 2008 financial crisis, instead challenging Mitt Romney to explain what he would have done differently.
Obama instead fought the 2012 election on whether voters liked Mitt Romney or not, targeting his record at Bain, and painting him as a greedy, corporate machine.
Donald Trump is not Mitt Romney, but Harris and her team seem to have realized they have the same problem Obama did. They cannot defend their record. So, rather than seeking to contrast records or policy platforms, they want to make the election about Donald Trump in isolation. They will call him old, and unstable, and in effect suggest that even if voters want the Donald Trump of 2019 back, they cannot have him.
This is a campaign waged from a position of weakness. But the difference between Harris-Walz 2024 and Biden-Harris 2024 is that Harris-Walz 2024 are aware they are operating from a position of weakness and, like Obama in 2012, are operating accordingly.
An insult-fest negates Donald Trump’s greatest strength, which is not, contrary to what has perhaps been the case before, his comic timing, but his successful record in office. It allows Democrats to neutralize Biden’s unpopularity and reset the election so that their overwhelming financial and institutional advantages can prove decisive. It not only allows Democrats to avoid policy, but it will then drive the media to question Republicans about the attacks, preventing them from discussing policy as well.
A DNC focused on Colbert-tier roasts of Donald Trump may demean our nation, but it is smart politics for the Democrats in 2024 – which is why the GOP needs to avoid being drawn in and get back to the winning strategy of contrasting policies and records.
Walter Samuel is the pseudonym of a prolific international affairs writer and academic. He has worked in Washington as well as in London and Asia, and holds a Doctorate in International History.
This is NOT a factually accurate article for the following reasons:
1) While the Democrats are NOT discussing the specific details of their plans for the next four years, the Democrat Party Platform for 2024 has been on-line and readily accessible by the public for at least a few months now. Like 2020, the public so far apparently continues to research almost nothing, and as such most of the public remains uninformed of what the Democrats have planned for the next 4 years. Don’t expect the MSM, which is nothing more than the propaganda arm of the DNC, to tell you what’s in the 80 pages that are on-line. It’s up to YOU to take the effort to educate yourselves.
While the plan was originally drafted earlier this year with the idea that Biden would continue to be the lead puppet (POTUS) for the major Democrat financial donors, that set the party’s agenda based on WEF and NWO standards, the plan appears to have been slightly modified as of late to emphasize Harris and Walz. From an overall perspective, it is basically a carbon copy of the previous version. So, if anyone wants to know the Democrat game plan is for the next 4 years, if the Democrats remain in the White House, take the time to read the document. The 2020 version spelled out quite clearly what the Dems planned for Biden’s first term, and they managed to get more than half of it enacted into law so far.
2) Democrats hate ALL Republicans by default, because they tend to slow down the Democrat agenda to “transform the United States” as Obama had the courage to say out loud in 2007. Pity that the majority of the public didn’t ask Obama what he felt needed transforming at the time. It might have boxed him into a corner, he couldn’t wiggle out from or at least perhaps opened a few people’s eyes back then to what he was really advocating for. Oh well, that’s in the past and we’re stuck with the damage Obama went on to inflict on the country.
Remember how the Democrats called Reagan, H.W. Bush and G.W. Bush every vile name they could think of non-stop? They scream and yell at Trump more, because he dares to fight back and not just sit with a stupid grin on his face and take it. That is what a fighter does. Plus, the Democrats are extra ticked off at Trump, because he actually fights back when attacked and goes after their ruinous policies on multiple fronts. Going after their policies is what really ticks them off. He doesn’t just talk about doing something. He actually did it over his entire first term, despite the constant obstruction from both Democrats and a cabal of RINOs in Congress.
The Democrat Party has spent decades to undermine the country to its current level, and they have NO INTENTION is allowing anyone to roll back their successes when they are so close to achieving their final goal of a purely socialist United States. Only Reagan and Trump have ever dared to take on Democrat socialist policies head on in the last 50 years. So, the Democrats view Trump as an existential threat to them being able to achieve their final goal within literally a couple of more years. Maybe less, if they can get enough illegals registered to vote in a number of states across the country. That effort is already well under way, while the RNC is finally getting around to pushing back on that effort.
When you put an 89 year old person in jail for 10 years for peacefully praying outside an abortion clinic you are living under Communism!
It’s fairly simple the “Democrats”, in light of truth in advertising I’ll call them what they now unmistakingly are: Marxist communists; they don’t just hate Trump, they hate America, and all its icons, and institutions. That goes from Constitution, to Declaration of Independence, electoral college, Supreme Court, constitutional republic, individual rights and freedom, free elections, and most of all the American people, period! The choice in this election is very clear between return to a constitutional republic, free elections, and freedom; or communist dictatorship, fake elections with “approval, or else!” as in Venezuela, and slavery. This is the election where we need to decide whether we want to continue as a free nation, or whether America, and the American dream of freedom, equality in opportunity, and the pursuit of happiness, property, and private life unfettered by the clutches of government, are over. It is a decision between life, or national suicide. Choose life!
It is truly remarkable to witness the Democrat Party morph into a Marxist-like political organization. Without question, KH is a neo-Marxist, who was tutored by her father,i.e. a died int the wool communist. This is similar to the same instruction BO received in his youth when he was tutored in Marxist theory by Frank Marshall Davis. Leaders of the party such as Bernie Sanders openly espouse Marxist ideas and stand on podiums preaching Marxist philosophy. The American people need to wake up to how the Democrats are poised to push our beloved Constitutional republic toward a government-controlled entity similar to China and Russia.
It is laughable at this point. The Democrats are in control of the White House and the Senate and they are running for Hope and Change when it is their own policies that they are running against. Does anyone else see this.
I refuse to watch a minute of the DNC clown show. They can bash DJT all they want, because that’s all they can do. The liberal performance report card gets a glaring “F.” Trump made America a feared and respected nation while Obummer and Joebama made us a laughingstock to the rest of the world. Trump made us an energy exporter and stimulated the economy while the dummybrats bribed Iran and caused gas and grocery prices to skyrocket. I also saw the news that Commyla won’t debate Trump. Hmmmmm… could it be that she would get her liberal a$$ completely embarrassed by DJT before a national audience? VOTE TRUMP/VANCE!!!!
I can’t even fathom that citizens of America will vote for Harris, simply because they hate Trump. They will quite literally ruin this country because of their hatred for the man. Republicans are STILL being too nice. I’m not saying to insult people like DJT does-IMO that costs him more votes, but STOP BEING NICE and hammer home the damage being done to America! I tell anyone who will listen that this election is NOT about either candidate, it is about being willing to vote for DJT, even if you hate the guy-to save America!
“Democrats” are angry with Trump because he proved Obama wrong on the economy during Trump’s term in office. Trump’s economic successes occurred in spite of Obama’s insistence that “Globalization” (whatever that means) was slowing the economy so much during his 2 terms, and that this phenomenon COULD NOT be overcome.
ENTER PRESIDENT TRUMP – President Trump rapidly PROVED that the cherished Obama had been lying about the economy on the same scale as a wayward, street adolescent from an Oliver Twist movie… and that’s when the Trump Derangement Syndrome first started. Trump’s defeat of Hillary was NEVER supposed to happen – especially given the illegal surveillance by the FBI that was later proven by Judicial Watch.
In the present day, we now witness frivolous lawsuits and even convictions against Trump that no non-corrupt court would ever uphold. It’s all just a PR campaign against Trump for proving how badly the “Democrat” leadership led everyone astray. Plain and simple.
freedom thats what we want dont you get tired of a gov that wants to tell what to do and penalize you if you dont comply wake up your country is being destroyed
TDS……..being encouraged and spread by our MSM.
That explains all the screaming the speakers do… Wake up, idiots! Democrats have run the country 12 out of the last 16 years so it isn’t “Trump” who is the “threat to democracy”… its YOU. Its your cities that are in disarray so its no surprise the rest of the nation literally FOLLIWS YOUR LEAD!
Abortion & Trump Derangement drive Dems
CANT wont solve problems THEY Create
The fear of him drives them to frenzy They have absolutely no idea how economy works and what their policies should be if the nation is to prosper. Because they have it good and probably always had they have no idea you have to work to make things happen , and live accordingly to your means. Alms and hand outs weaken the men and that weakens the nation. That is what they fear . The strong men They need dependent weakling, little grateful slave.
Did it not smell like the Marxist Barack Obama was running for president last night?/
Actually, it’s not JUST Trump hatred driving the dems. it’s also the prospect of grabbing more power, the potential ability (and definite willingness) to be able to control every aspect of our lives whether we want it or not, the abortion issue and hatred of ALL republicans in general (and not just Trump).
Today’s Democratic Party leadership lives by the old adage Communist policies is, Communist policies does!
Real Americas Voice stated that the first day of the DNC convention Trumps name was invoked 150 times! Hmm. No policy platform to offer at all. Amazing that people are that stupid and ignorant to vote for this Marxist socialist party. Trump/Vance 2024
It’s not just Trump hatred, the Dim’s hate America’s freedom, the half-wit Obama said he wished that the founders had never put the 2nd Amendment in the constitution, he know that the 2nd Amendment is the only thing that is stopping them from just going all out Commie!
yersPresident Trump is pretty much the puppet master for this election. The dems continually look for their next move in reflexive response to whatever statement or position either he or senator Vance puts forward as they campaign. The only either Harris or Walz can put forward on their own are vote buying schemes aimed at low information voters. Anyone with at least an ounce of common sense would be angered at their tax dollars being used in this manner. I just wish someone would explain this to taxpayers would waste their vote on Harris or Walz.
The Maoist party is on full display in Chicago. How tragic that this is what the Democrat party has devolved into. Karl Marx must be thrilled!!
The last line of the article: “…the GOP needs to avoid being drawn in and get back to the winning strategy of contrasting policies and records.” That won’t happen because Trump is too self-centered to be smart about it. Trump is mentally deficient. It’s a shame that he’s our candidate. A damn shame. Harris was nominated for sainthood the evening of the 20th at the DNC. I think she’ll beat Trump. God save us.
All the democrat/communists want to do is turn the United States into a communist nation, regardless of the outcome. They are slowly turning the whole world communist.
Imagine being so far into someone’s minds that it effects every minute of their lives. Hate will kill you.. it withers your health and looks..