Recent searches
Search options
Because Tim Walz’s name is floating as a VP pick, here are some impressions as a person who’s lived with him as a governor here in MN 2019.
The short of it: I'm not excited, but…could be worse, as the locals say.
The slightly longer of it: 
1/ #uspol
He’s not particularly exciting. He has all the charisma and fortitude of wet cardboard, and is •pathologically• conflict-averse. Don’t expect him to say anything bold…ever.
The flip side of that is that he is •extremely• non-threatening. That’s how he won and re-won statewide election here in MN. The GOP’s attempts to attack him never stuck. It was like they were trying to shoot bullets into oatmeal. In particular…
2/ #uspol
…Walz knows how to be non-threatening to whiteness. He just won’t set off white alarm bells. Just won’t. Even more: I’d say his presence is actively •calming• to white fragility.
I grudgingly admit it’s a politically useful tool. I do think the Walz White Calming Field helped shield our Black AG Keith Ellison, for example, who singlehandedly rescued the botched prosecution of Derek Chauvin. That could be an asset to counterbalance the misogynoir backlash against Harris.
3/ #uspol
@inthehands Walz’s bio as a veteran and teacher from rural America are also important. And give him credit for partnering with a very progressive indigenous Lt Gov in Peggy Flanagan. Also MN faired better than our neighbors during Covid due to his leadership.
@andyw350
His handling of COVID was mediocre in my view, but certainly miles better than the appallingly low bar set by our immediate neighbors.