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    Tim Walz Is Too Good at This
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    Tim Walz Is Too Good at This


    Tim Walz Is Too Good at This

    https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/09/tim-walz-authenticity-politcian/680065/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_content=edit-promo

    View 43 Comments

    43 Comments

    1. theatlantic on

      Mark Leibovich: “Tim Walz is trying very hard to make it look like he’s not trying too hard. [https://theatln.tc/1h3NrVL7](https://theatln.tc/1h3NrVL7) 

      “…Walz likes to emphasize that he was not out there gunning for this job like some try-hard politician would. He didn’t go looking for this assignment. He was just minding his own damn business one day, puttering around at home: playing with his dog, or inspecting his gutters and picking up some new downspouts at Menards. 

      “Something authentic like that.

      “…In early September, I set out to get a closer view of the pop-up populist persona—to see this happy accident in action. I wanted to get a better sense of how much of this character was real, how much was a bit, and how the whole Walz phenomenon was evolving beyond his homey debut.

      “…When [Kamala] Harris picked Walz, she knew that this would be an abbreviated race, with limited time to make an impression. The campaign clearly saw Walz as embodying an archetype of American masculinity that would stand in contrast with the noisy grievance guys in the red MAGA hats and creepy venture-capitalist types like Vance, who can’t order a damn doughnut without breaking into hives. Walz is a much more approachable avatar for would-be Harris supporters, those classic rockers, tellers of dad jokes, and football-watching wearers of Taylor Swift friendship bracelets. They are content to sit at home and mind their own damn business unless called upon, in which case they’re happy to pitch in and help. How could these dudes—who ideally live in places like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin—not relate to Tim Walz?”

      Read more: [https://theatln.tc/1h3NrVL7](https://theatln.tc/1h3NrVL7) 

    2. chimarya on

      It’s fantastic to see a positive male role model in such a spotlight. He seems to be a full fledged regulated person who can handle chaos and criticism without going ballistic. Those who get to call this man neighbor and friend are lucky.

    4. Minguseyes on

      Seeing MAGA nuts criticise Walz as being less of a man by supporting a woman leader made me realise who’s buying all those dick lengthening pills they keep advertising.

    7. barneyrubbble on

      So, he’s a good politician. Nothing wrong with that. We have a defecit of good politicians these days. It’s a noble undertaking when done by the right people.

    8. coffeepot_chicken on

      >It’s a bit of a mystery why Walz has largely stopped doing national media, especially given how effective he was over the summer. The campaign seems to have trapped him in the same hyper-protective Bubble Wrap it has placed around Harris, and that was placed around Biden before her. This strikes me as a massive waste of Walz’s talent, but what do I know?

      Sometimes when things just seem to be going your way, you might hesitate to do something to mess things up or ruin your own positive momentum. It seems to me that’s where the Harris campaign is right now. Just very risk-averse and letting Trump make the mistakes. Maybe that’s ok.

    9. beefjerky34 on

      He is the epitome of what EVERYONE should want as a politician or leader. He’s been serving and taking care of others his whole life. I’d take that over someone who’s been leeching their way up the political ladder their whole life. If it wasn’t for trump changing people and making them crazy, I think Walz would probably be a lock for president.

    11. oculeers on

      This article tends to underplay the real nuts and bolts policy achievements Walz has made as governor. That’s why he was a good choice for VP, at least for me, because he is left-leaning and yet pragmatic and in tune with his constituents, the opposite of that imbecile Vance.

    13. StayPositiveRVA on

      God, the legacy media is just so, so hurt by being shut out by the campaign. This whole thing was a passive aggressive take down about how The Atlantic couldn’t score an interview.

      It not-so-subtly paints Walz as somehow being inauthentic and full of shit, while ignoring his competence in office, and Leibovich is left searching for a critique other than “Walz, a politician, chose to make strategic— but ethical and uncontroversial— moves to further his career in politics.”

      There is a cynical critique to be made in howHarris-Walz are playing up the America’s Dad schtick, but to write about that with the same level of ironic disdain as you’d write about the dude making up stories about Haitians to fuel a race war is something else.

    15. Darklord_Bravo on

      Watched Walz talking at a stop last week online. He’s very no nonsense, and incredibly smart. I like him.

      Both Pence and Vance have just come off as smarmy and creepy as shit any time I’ve watched them.

      Pence at least was wise enough to not stay involved with Trump post election. Can’t blame him, what with Trumps cult wanting to hang him.

      Vance apparently decided he had selective amnesia about his previous Trump comments in this shallow bid of a power grab. Talk about transparent.

    16. No-Condition-1382 on

      Tim Walz is almost too father like from what I’ve seen. If he gets into office as vice president, I hope he can be a positive role models for the kids of this country.

      My problem with a lot of politicians is that they come off as too serious. Walz sounds more like an average citizen. A nice change of pace after the last two cycles.

    21. AceOfTheSwords on

      Assuming he’s elected and continues to walk the progressive walk for the next 8 years, I look forward to all the hot takes on how Tim Walz Is Bad Actually coming out of the media woodwork in 2032 when it’s time to nominate a new presidential candidate.

    22. copacobana59 on

      I hate trump as much as the next guy but the media doesn’t do itself any favors by deepthroating the dems

    25. Montanajrs on

      This is a really insightful article. I love Walz. Great policies and message. That said, I’ve never completely been taken in by “I’m just here to help.” He’s a politician.

      I’m not a fan of Maher. But I remember watching him during the first Obama administration. He made a joke about the president and the audience booed and he said “he’s not your boyfriend” and I thought it was a good reality check.

    29. HorseNuts9000 on

      What a bizarre asskissing ‘article’. Walz is a joke and they’ve had to hide him from the public eye because he’s an insult to white men everywhere, and his only job was to appeal to them.

    32. thatmitchguy on

      Lol at most of these comments. Pretty sure 90% of you didn’t have the attention span to read the article, but you should have as it’s quite well written. It’s not a hit piece, and is very complementary of Walz, but it is a good reminder that these are all highly crafted political personalities and career politicians at work.

    38. MightyMightyMag on

      The article said nothing. It would’ve been returned to me had I tried to hand it in for senior high school English. I expect more from the Atlantic.

      I still like Tim a lot.

    39. trung2607 on

      He supported Lgbt community in a time where EVERYONE, even democrats were extremely hostile. If thats not sincerity idk what is

    41. a_rat_00 on

      > He is like a midwestern version of the Car Talk guys

      This is the most apropos label I’ve ever heard for Walz. He is the embodiment of Car Talk

    43. Libbrabrabry on

      3 more days ’til Walz stomps Vance in the VP debate. Ya’ll should be stoked to watch Coach vs Couch!