The very same people who tell us that we need more women in politics hate Premier Danielle Smith.
She is a woman, but not their kind of woman. Whether you like Danielle Smith or not, she can do what most politicians can not. She can talk for hours with out notes on many different policies. She talks with nuance, and understands the complexity of public policy.
She can talk for hours about subjects like "Carbon Capture & Storage", or alternate energy but because she doesn't promote the "Green Agenda" it does not matter that she knows far more than her critics.
Point being, those who insist on "tick boxing" usually have a very limited understanding of the issues.
Yup and she also seems to genuinely care what happens in her province. Whether you agree with her or not, I have the impression she is acting in good faith with what she believes. Which I find relieving, even when I disagree on points. I hear from friends in other provinces and all they know about her is 'oh she's soooo right wing, isn't she?' Legacy media has done a fabulous job of erasing all nuance and respect for the office of premier.
Why is there a media outside of the propaganda arm of the government and the rest of the people and institutions in power? A month ago Harris was a political liability, and would surely lose. Then Obama took the cake away from Biden, and all of a sudden she's black female Jesus. What a joke.
I agree with everything you wrote except the subhead: "All style ..." She lacks even that. She's clumsy, inarticulate, vapid, and charisma-bereft. She has the fashion sense of a suburban real estate broker.
Whether male or female, leadership has become a glittering gong show of competing adults in an ever-increasing reactionary political system. The erosion of fair and just, of honest and humane appalls me. The very nature of politics has now created the divisiveness humanity is struggling to overcome.
Unfortunately there is a lot of style and little substance in politicians' speeches and in the media covering them everywhere. Trump is good at getting people excited at rallies by saying things like "build a wall" (which he never did). Harris, well what is she really going to do? or is she trying to build a cult of personality also?
In my opinion the American people are desperate for change but are mistaking what they think is change via Harris is really just a vibe, a different vibe than Trump. Harris smiles a lot, is using positive words - e.g. "joyful warriors", and this feels like hope for many. It is likely that she intentionally has not said much about policy to this point and has focused on portraying as different an image about leadership as she possible can - sullen vs. happy, positive vs. negative while she pulls policy together.
A question: "Out of 380 million people in the US, are Trump and Harris the best the country could muster?".
Something about how you framed the comment makes me think of the 'sunny ways' that was a huge part of the prime minister's campaign here in Canada in 2015. Beware the 'joyful warrior' catch phrases without solid policy to back them up.
Based on social visits with friends here in British Columbia, Kamala Harris' name comes up often - at a picnic, on a walk, over coffee, at a dinner. And it's all the same sentiment: "Kamala Harris is amazing." The mood before she suddenly replaced Biden on the Democratic ticket was "gloomy," for so many of my friends. The prospect that Trump would win was "terrifying" several people have explained to me. This includes one friend who is trying to see if they can send an e-Transfer to a longtime friend in the USA and accompany the "gift" with some effusive comments about Kamala. He explained to me that if Donald Trump is elected that "America will invade Canada." Much as this is a story about the US presidential election, it is on the minds of many here in Canada who are passionate, fearful and hopeful about the outcome of the US November election.
I subscribe to Canadian Substackers so I can get some perspective and/or information about things Canadian. I’ve noticed you trending away from Canadian issues and guests since before your summer hiatus, and now I see your last many posts are all American-based. Is Canada not interesting enough for you, Tara? I get that the US is a behemoth hard to ignore, but this piece says nothing American Substackers haven’t already been saying about Harris for weeks and months. I also notice you’re courting MSM again. Are you perhaps looking to get a job at the recently de-woked Times, perhaps?
I’m surprised at the level of inflated hype big media are giving Harris. After years of losing trust with the public they choose to go all-in for Kamala. What is their end game? If she wins, the public will realize they got duped and more trust will be lost. If she loses the media did themselves no favors by playing a propaganda role Goebbels himself would be proud of. Either way, big media has degraded itself further during this election and finally revealed themselves as the propaganda wing of the Dem party.
Your phrase 'it matters which woman' is the key. I've seen otherwise intelligent and enlightened female friends in the US getting instantly on board with Kamala, before she's even spoken much to policy, out of some kind of twisted solidarity. Allies are people who share your views on policy, not just your biology.
The only question to me is who will run the country? Will it be the same silent Cabal that has run it under Biden, or Will Harris believe her own BS and decided that she is a leader and exercise her presidential powers.
Love this Tara. The Kamala facade appears to be a 100% media fabrication. Unbelievable. At what point does trust in media fall to zero?
The very same people who tell us that we need more women in politics hate Premier Danielle Smith.
She is a woman, but not their kind of woman. Whether you like Danielle Smith or not, she can do what most politicians can not. She can talk for hours with out notes on many different policies. She talks with nuance, and understands the complexity of public policy.
She can talk for hours about subjects like "Carbon Capture & Storage", or alternate energy but because she doesn't promote the "Green Agenda" it does not matter that she knows far more than her critics.
Point being, those who insist on "tick boxing" usually have a very limited understanding of the issues.
Yup and she also seems to genuinely care what happens in her province. Whether you agree with her or not, I have the impression she is acting in good faith with what she believes. Which I find relieving, even when I disagree on points. I hear from friends in other provinces and all they know about her is 'oh she's soooo right wing, isn't she?' Legacy media has done a fabulous job of erasing all nuance and respect for the office of premier.
And Smith is batshit crazy, but hey, "she understands "nuance". Science, not so much. Fiscal policy - meh...
Why is there a media outside of the propaganda arm of the government and the rest of the people and institutions in power? A month ago Harris was a political liability, and would surely lose. Then Obama took the cake away from Biden, and all of a sudden she's black female Jesus. What a joke.
I agree with everything you wrote except the subhead: "All style ..." She lacks even that. She's clumsy, inarticulate, vapid, and charisma-bereft. She has the fashion sense of a suburban real estate broker.
Whether male or female, leadership has become a glittering gong show of competing adults in an ever-increasing reactionary political system. The erosion of fair and just, of honest and humane appalls me. The very nature of politics has now created the divisiveness humanity is struggling to overcome.
The only question that matters: Is she likely to be a better or worse President than Trump?
How sad is that...
Great piece, Tara. You rock!
Never underestimate the amount of easily swayed Leftwaffe women.
Unfortunately there is a lot of style and little substance in politicians' speeches and in the media covering them everywhere. Trump is good at getting people excited at rallies by saying things like "build a wall" (which he never did). Harris, well what is she really going to do? or is she trying to build a cult of personality also?
In my opinion the American people are desperate for change but are mistaking what they think is change via Harris is really just a vibe, a different vibe than Trump. Harris smiles a lot, is using positive words - e.g. "joyful warriors", and this feels like hope for many. It is likely that she intentionally has not said much about policy to this point and has focused on portraying as different an image about leadership as she possible can - sullen vs. happy, positive vs. negative while she pulls policy together.
A question: "Out of 380 million people in the US, are Trump and Harris the best the country could muster?".
Something about how you framed the comment makes me think of the 'sunny ways' that was a huge part of the prime minister's campaign here in Canada in 2015. Beware the 'joyful warrior' catch phrases without solid policy to back them up.
Based on social visits with friends here in British Columbia, Kamala Harris' name comes up often - at a picnic, on a walk, over coffee, at a dinner. And it's all the same sentiment: "Kamala Harris is amazing." The mood before she suddenly replaced Biden on the Democratic ticket was "gloomy," for so many of my friends. The prospect that Trump would win was "terrifying" several people have explained to me. This includes one friend who is trying to see if they can send an e-Transfer to a longtime friend in the USA and accompany the "gift" with some effusive comments about Kamala. He explained to me that if Donald Trump is elected that "America will invade Canada." Much as this is a story about the US presidential election, it is on the minds of many here in Canada who are passionate, fearful and hopeful about the outcome of the US November election.
I subscribe to Canadian Substackers so I can get some perspective and/or information about things Canadian. I’ve noticed you trending away from Canadian issues and guests since before your summer hiatus, and now I see your last many posts are all American-based. Is Canada not interesting enough for you, Tara? I get that the US is a behemoth hard to ignore, but this piece says nothing American Substackers haven’t already been saying about Harris for weeks and months. I also notice you’re courting MSM again. Are you perhaps looking to get a job at the recently de-woked Times, perhaps?
I subscribe to get a left of center female Canadian view of US politics.
I’m surprised at the level of inflated hype big media are giving Harris. After years of losing trust with the public they choose to go all-in for Kamala. What is their end game? If she wins, the public will realize they got duped and more trust will be lost. If she loses the media did themselves no favors by playing a propaganda role Goebbels himself would be proud of. Either way, big media has degraded itself further during this election and finally revealed themselves as the propaganda wing of the Dem party.
Your phrase 'it matters which woman' is the key. I've seen otherwise intelligent and enlightened female friends in the US getting instantly on board with Kamala, before she's even spoken much to policy, out of some kind of twisted solidarity. Allies are people who share your views on policy, not just your biology.
Superb.
The only question to me is who will run the country? Will it be the same silent Cabal that has run it under Biden, or Will Harris believe her own BS and decided that she is a leader and exercise her presidential powers.
Well said TH. Keep it up.