Tim Walz may well lose the debate, and I am here to tell you that's okay.
Don't take my word for it, according to credible reporting Tim told Kamala before she chose him that he is really not a good debater.
Now this might just be the Harris/Walz campaign trying to set low expectations and if that's the case then consider this diary as helping them out. However if this is the campaign's plan, it sure isn't being talked about much.
But I don't believe this is the plan here, I honestly believe Tim might not be so good at this debate stuff.
You see, Kamala's professional history makes her an excellent debater. Being a criminal prosecutor sets her up to be ready for a sparing match. In fact in many ways that's the core job description of a prosecutor. But Tim's career path cultivates a completely different mindset.
What do teachers want? They are looking for, and they are looking to provide, substantive answers to direct questions presented in the absolutely most non-confrontational way possible. I get that teachers have to be ready to deal with unruly students and that could really help against Vance, but that's not the default setting for a teacher either. And when a teacher disciplines an unruly student they know that they have the last word with some form of punishment as the expected outcome. ... Vance isn't going to have that fear hanging over him.
And what are military people trained to do? They are trained to provide direct answers to questions without any fanfare or push back. And again, the military chain of command provides the ranking officer with severe disciplinary measures to be used against non compliant lower ranks. But this isn't something Vance is concerned about here, and Tim knows this.
Contrary to the intended goals of debates, direct and substantive answers without sharp elbows don't usually score high marks in the modern era. Debates used to be hours long affairs a 100 years ago and candidates could use that time to provide substantive answers. In that format someone with Tim's background would absolutely crush it.... But that's not how modern debates are set up.
Again according to reporting, Tim is extremely nervous about letting Kamala down and this isn't the normal "playing down you side's expectations", it sounds like he really is concerned.
I say all of this not to dump on the guy, I LOVE Tim! I think he is the perfect fit for Kamala and in the end they are going to crush the Orange Goblin and his suckup venture capital sidekick in November!
I only wanted to create this diary because if the reporting is correct and Tim doesn't hit a home run .... DO NOT FREAK OUT!
It's going to be okay.
During the convention Kamala told us there's going to be good days and bad days, we just have to stick to the plan. It's going to be okay no matter what happens at the VP debate.
Again this sure could be the campaign down playing expectations and if so that's great. But I can say from personal experience... I think of myself as being able to hold my own in almost any conversation but I am an abysmal debater. I would not be surprised if Tim is the same.
VP debates often don't move the needle. This is an extremely unique cycle so all bets are off, but I won't be surprised if the outcome of this debate doesn't make any difference one way or the other so please don't panic if things don't go as well as Kamala's debate.
I am absolutely in Tim's corner and will be cheering him on... But I don't have highly inflated expectations either.
End of public service message, now back to the regulatory schedule program.
