Vee

They're not going to care.

I agree. That's what a lot of the debate was about IMO. He's trying to look past MAGA, but I don't think it will work out for him down the road any more than others.

What a class act, anywhere I saw him. RIP.

That's never going to happen for some people, but he remains dramatically unpopular. I don't need him to be fully destroyed, I just need him to lose. Meanwhile:

I believe a fair amount of polling, I just don't think it shows that and I don't see or hear that narrative coming out of most pollsters. In most of the key states Harris is still up on Trump, or at the very least tied in ways that are not good for him. There is a reason pollsters still say she now has the edge and has had it for some time. If that changes then that's another story.

Lucky and Liz had kids young and look appropriate enough given those onscreen circumstances. Jonathan himself had kids as early as '03. The talented veterans are not the issue, the issue is they cast a twunk who's a bit too old to play Aiden. But if he can act I guess it's whatever at this point.

The Bulwark likes Walz (but prefers Shapiro, of course) and despises Trump. I don't have much use for the Bulwark people or trust them in the long-term because I remember who they are and where they come from, every single one of them. When we win they should be disposed of because they'll do the same to us. But I appreciate their killer instinct because I remember that from the 2000s too, and frankly Democrats need more of that to destroy MAGA (which will not end immediately, it'll take awhile). I do think they're right that the Trump cult may not take well to nice Vance from last night - it's not who they wanted or needed up there, but it's how he burnishes his brand to attempt a run in '28. Anyway: Polling:

The ubiquitous Judith Light (OLTL) is in Billy Crystal's new Apple TV thriller series.

I don't think he's regaining that much momentum in that many polls, though - Harris is still up or tied/variable in most key states. And again, most of the media is saying it was a tie, not calling Vance the winner, and Vance was nailed by the 1/6 question. So where's the comeback narrative? Vance isn't surging as a VP so there isn't any redemption narrative for him, and not much has changed. Hopeful tweets from Republican journalists at Politico don't make a narrative work; if they did Romney would've won. Oh, and there's this:

Kelly Monaco differing with management over her story/pairing and making a fuss BTS is not going to get FV fired.

He isn't, though. It's widely being seen as a draw/tie, and the big takeaway was Walz nailing Vance on J6. Walz was def not a skilled debater but I'll take a tie and that key clip for us. That's all we really needed, and we got it. They needed Vance to do a comeback tour for Trump and be a MAGA attack dog - he didn't and wasn't.

The Times, CNN, CBS, etc. calling it a draw and noting Walz's killer moment on 1/6 at the end. So much for the comeback tour.

And we're done. Did no harm, didn't shift votes to Trump, was remarkably civil and nice to listen to at times, and Walz drew blood several times particularly at the end. Good enough for me. I won't be the only one saying this: Vance is looking past Trump, angling for 2028 as a different, kinder and gentler Republican candidate all over again.

Lizza is apparently on leave from Politico per this case. He is more entrenched in the Beltway than Nuzzi so I don't see this ending well for her.

This debate has officially become comfy, civil and boring. Which is good AFAIC. Walz has been strong enough and Vance has agreed with him too much, and while he's a skilled debater Vance has had his share of bad moments (as has Walz). The second half of the debate was much quieter and more comfy. So the needle is unlikely to seriously move - this will never be the JD Vance ticket. The Beltway is gonna be disappointed. Lord, Vance is trying to put over RFK and Tulsi. You can tell Vance actually likes Walz. MAGA and Trump will not be happy. Hand it to Tim Walz to actually make JD Vance look vaguely human. Walz may have actually just made the strongest case to America for going back to being decent that I've seen in a long time. He even charmed JD Vance! The Times allows for the truth: It is a draw, but the coziness is what people will remember. Walz nails Vance on refusing to answer if Trump lost in 2020 as a closer. This ending is very, very strong from Walz and Vance falters and babbles about Facebook.

I generally agree with this. Oh, Vance just agreed with Tim again. This VP debate is getting strangely mellow and comfy between these two lol. Which I don't hate. It reminds me of pre-Tea Party politics. The key thing developing here is that Vance is not the attack dog tonight that both the campaign and the Beltway hoped for to shock the race back on track for them. The longer this goes on the more he agrees with Walz, gets cozier and more polite with him and likelier to go out for a beer with him after the debate lol. He is nodding along and agreeing with Walz on 60-70% of what he's said over the last hour at least. The crucial thing IMO is that people aren't going move from Walz to Vance, or Harris to Trump over this debate. Jonathan Swan attempts to spin it lol:

Vance is deep in the weeds over the abortion section, which I knew would happen. Not going well for him. They've both had some rough moments, but while Vance is very slick (and much more skilled in this format than Walz) he isn't moving new voters to him and Trump, and no one's gonna forget the abortion section or him losing it with Margaret Brennan. Walz's answers are also largely heartfelt, human and ground level, unlike Vance - most are quite good. So as much as a VP debate ever matters or doesn't (usually the latter) I am not expecting a massive change. Which is fine by me. Vance has agreed with Walz/Harris a few too many times tonight - and then answers the gun control question by saying we need to strengthen doors and windows. "I don't love my answer," he admits. Walz is very good on guns. Vance doesn't seem to notice he can be seen nodding along to many of Walz's answers.

So far Vance hasn't landed a real blow. I thought he'd be nastier. Without the MAGA backdrop of the rallies he's bloodless and seems without fire. He's very smooth as a wonk which would play well 15 years ago but (like Paul Ryan) he's disconnected from any real life people or issues, and while Walz clearly has nerves every answer he's given has been strong and talking about people and IMO lands much better for voters. His answers have feeling behind them. Nothing here so far is going to move people away from Harris/Walz or to Vance/Trump. The CBS moderators should be credited - they have pressed Vance on key issues repeatedly, possibly due to online pressure over the last couple days re: their lack of fact-checking, and supported Walz's points. This is likely as good as it's gonna get for Vance in this, and he's been mediocre at best. Wait for abortion. Vance is now throwing a tantrum about the CBS anchors fact-checking him and defending Haitian slander. Holy shít. The moderators just muted Vance as he rambled on and on. "Thank you for explaining the legal process," Brennan snarks at Vance. He just lost.

I think Levi will be in C or D stuff for years to come - he's become radioactive and he doesn't have the superstar cachet Mel did that has just barely gotten him out of the gutter, and even then Mel is not headlining any really huge films. Anyway, onto the debate!

The gift that keeps on giving for me and @DRW50: