The unique perspective and provocative opinions of Joe O’Neill
Dem Notes
The Democratic National Convention hit the enthusiasm trifecta: freedom, faith and football.
“Madame President.” What would Shirley Chisholm say? We say: “Thank you.”
“The path that led me here in recent weeks was no doubt unexpected. But I’m no stranger to unlikely journeys.”—VP Kamala Harris—aka “, La.”
Think back to the debate debacle. What a political 180. Some have termed it going from “despondency to delirium.” It looks like a Barack (“Yes, she can”) Obama sequel in enthusiasm and pride. And presidential nominee Harris, along with VP nominee Walz, are now TikTok sensations among young voters. Walz’s popular account is now known as Tim.
“Hope is making a comeback.”—Michelle Obama at the Democratic Convention.
The campaign raised $82 million during the week of the DNC.
Let’s hear it for former (Republican) congressman Adam Kinsinger, who spoke at the convention. He is not a “RINO Judas.” He’s an actual, country-first patriot.
Some Obama alumni, such as Eric Holder and David Plouffe, are gravitating to the Harris campaign.
The Harris-Walz campaign has a National Republican Engagement Director, Austin Weatherford.
Joe Biden has now gone from an awkward-optic octogenarian to arguably the most consequential one-term president in history.
“The one thing about Tim Walz is that he kind of dropped out of a Norman Rockwell painting. He looks and sounds like small-town America.”—Democratic political analyst David Axelrod.
Harris made a smart, strategic stop in Dearborn, Michigan right before the Chicago Convention. It has the largest number of Arab Americans of any city in America. She sat down with its mayor, Abdullah Hammoud.
Merch update: The union-made, $40 Harris-Walz camo hats have been an instant hit.
Endorsement update: “March for Our Lives,” a youth-led, advocacy organization committed to ending gun violence, has made its first-ever political endorsement and announced support for VP Harris for president. Harris has underscored her commitment to passing universal background checks, red flag laws and an assault weapons ban.
Upon Harris’ election, Biden could become a de facto “President Emeritus,” an adviser role with a party shout-out for a job—and career—well done.
No, Harris was no “DEI hire.” As we’ll see in the debate.
No weed-wacker: Harris is the first major party presidential nominee to support marijuana legalization.
Harris trivia: She’s been a president before—of the Black Law Students Association at Hastings College of Law.
Pro-Palestinian protests could impact the election. But nothing should be more impactful than a candidate who’s a proven Islamophobe.
More than 12% of Americans identify as multi-racial.