The brilliance of Tim Kaine's speech

[brooklynite]

Some people, like President Obama, are compelling orators. Tim Kaine is not.

Some people, like Vice President Biden, are emotional, and can convey anger. Tim Kaine is not.

Kaine is, like Hubert Humprhrey, a "happy warrior", and invariably cheerful, which doesn't lend itself to twisting a knife in your opponent. So, what better approach to campaigning against trump than cheerfully making fun of him? Particularly, in a way that's sure to get under his skin.

[sufrommich]

1. I think Kaine is a weak pick,I'm not going to lie.

I think almost any of her other choices would have been better and Sherrod Brown would have been best. I hope he proves me wrong,but right now I'm less than impressed.

[tonyt53]

5. Exactly what do you want a VP to be? Except for Cheney, they have very little say in anything.

That includes Joe Biden. They have no legislative power except to vote to break a tie in the Senate. They don't make policy. What do you want?

[sufrommich]

11. It's not a question of what a VP does after the election.

The VP choice has to be helpful in winning the election in the first place. I think she needs a VP who can fire up a crowd and generate excitement,I just don't see him being capable of that.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

19. More unhelpful criticism of the Democratic Party nominees, nothing constructive. . . . nt

[Wounded Bear]

23. Not necessarily, and I don't think that is required this cycle...

Kaine will be very strong as a VP, with his respect and comity with other Senators. He's a January pick, not an August or November pick, although he will help bring VA along.

We have plenty of folks that can and will "fire people up."

[Cosmocat]

16. I get it, but

I agree, he is pretty vanilla.

However, it was not a throw away.

1) First, VA is pretty important, and Kaine pretty much seals the deal there.
2) It is interesting that there is now a thread on GD2016 http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512316334 about Trump pushing Catholics to the democrats. Well, Kaine is a catholic, as was ... Biden. This is part of the BHO math.

Again, I do like the Hubert Humphry comparison, not exactly as a hard left person, but his personality. I think he is sort of a less emotive Biden.

[OnDoutside]

17. Sherrod Brown was never going to happen. Let's deal in reality here.

Kaine's experience, both in elected office and fighting for social justice gives him an awful lot, and puts him ahead of most of the other competitors, even my favourite Elizabeth Warren.

He is a worthy pick.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

18. You criticize both Hillary & Tim, but offer nothing constructive. Consider self-deleting. .nt

[sufrommich]

22. What? You understand that I'm a Hillary supporter

and have been since the beginning right? I wouldn't exactly call professing that I don't think Kaine was the best pick mutiny.

[TimeToGo]

21. Taking Brown out of Ohio?

That would have been less than smart.

[tonyt53]

2. Nice description.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. He was every so subtly able to create mass appeal.

From reaching out to Hispanics, to dissatisfied Republicans, to religious folk, to true blue Democrats, it was a very inclusive speech that went out to a wide audience. It might have gotten lost to some between the powerful bookends of Obama and Biden's speech, but it wasn't lost on me.

[FSogol]

4. +1. Completely agree.

[tonyt53]

6. I agree with your agreement!

[brer cat]

26. I agree, Tommy.

I thought it was effective, and I like the fact that he comes across as calm and reasoned, which is what I think most people want in a leader. We don't need bombast or overly emotional appeals to counter the dumpster. He was mocking but in a very good way by making his points while slamming him with the "believe me" taunt.

[IronLionZion]

28. That's exactly why he's such a good choice

he appeals to so many different types of people. He checks off enough boxes for them to feel comfortable voting Dem this year

[NurseJackie]

7. Trump hates to be ridiculed and poked-fun at. And ...

... when he responds to such things, that's when he's most likely to fuck up and reveal more of his true self.

[mcar]

8. K&R

[Zambero]

9. My somewhat low expectations were greatly exceeded

Kaine comes across as being very down to earth, someone who will be able to communicate with Main Street voters, and capable of effectively delivering a blow without sounding strident. He offers a starkly favorable contrast to the GOP ticket. And aside from those traits, his fluency in Spanish is impressive as well. Kudos to Hillary for selecting him as the VP nominee.

[leftofcool]

10. Tim Kaine was the right choice!

[greymattermom]

12. It will give Trump or his audience pause every time he says "believe me"

and will make everyone think that when he says "believe me" he's lying. This could have long term effects on Trump because Trump has a serious language disability that he covers by saying phrases like "believe me", and he can't stop it.

[Blue Idaho]

13. I think he did a great job.

Was his speech filled with soaring rhetoric? No... But soaring rhetoric alone does not make for a good speech. The first requirement is that a speech have an authentic voice. That speech was Tim's speech - plain and simple. His casual style was really a conversation with the audience which kept them engaged and responding from start to finish.

I think he delivered the goods in both English and Spanish.

Finally, if you are going to have a four course meal, they can't all be Baked Alaska.

[Hoyt]

14. Kaine's hammering trump with that great "Buh-leeve me" impression was effective. He could dial it up

a bit, but I agree with poster above who said he appealed to a lot of different factions. And he's infinitely better than callous looking Pence.

[scheming daemons]

15. Yes... every time Trump punctuates a sentence with "Believe Me".... people will chuckle...

...and remember Tim Kaine's mocking of him.

[Wounded Bear]

24. Not to mention, they'll think of his tax returns....

the way Kaine capped off that segment with the crack about Trump's tax returns was fucking brilliant.

[bekkilyn]

20. I am impressed by Kaine's family's support for public schools.

Gives me some hope that maybe the current push to hand education over to corporate profiteers can be halted and maybe even reversed. We need more people in office that support something that is supposed to be a foundation of our democracy.

[ffr]

25. Getting under their skin is a republican weakness

that we should be exploiting to its fullest!

Drumpf

[Martin Eden]

27. When he speaks in Spanish, I wish he would translate the entire statement

Some idiots will think he's speaking code to illegals, but I just want to know what he said (he tends to translate part of the statement, but not all).

Overall I like Tim Kaine a lot, even though he's a centrist I might not agree with on every issue.

[geardaddy]

29. I was doubtful of Tim Kaine at the beginning, but that was because I didn't know much about him.

I was happy with his speech and the way it conveyed an everyperson's viewpoint.

[unitedwethrive]

30. I can report that on the ground here

the Kaine pick is helping to sway Catholics.