In the closing weeks of the campaign, Vice President Harris has repeated two sets of statements that are logically opposites.
The first set shows her as a caring uniter and revolves around several sentences. "The vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us," is one standard line. Accepting her party's nomination, she said: "Our nation… has a fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness… of the past, to chart a new way forward—not as members of any one party, but as Americans."
At her Ellipse speech on Tuesday, Harris again evoked unity: "America, for too long we have been consumed with too much division, chaos, and mutual distrust," she said. "And it can be easy then to forget a simple truth: It doesn't have to be this way. ... It is time to stop pointing fingers. We have to stop pointing fingers and start locking arms. It is time to turn the page on the drama and the conflict, the fear and division."
The second set shows Harris displaying so much anger and hatred directed towards former President Trump - that her claim as a uniter falls flat on its feet.
Harris has used the following words or phrases to describe Trump: Fascist, unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance, out for unchecked power, unfit to serve, dangerous, and petty tyrant. We are sure we have missed quite a few other insults. How can Harris's characterization of Trump fall under the umbrella of her unity messaging?
In her interview with Bret Baier of Fox News, Harris shifted uncomfortably in her chair, expressing raw rage toward former President Donald Trump. [Watch clip starting 19:32 to 20:45]. At a public appearance the day after the Fox interview, Harris, sounding scary, with her body language ominously in sync, screamed: "[Trump] should never again stand behind the seal of [voice steadily rising] the President of the United States. Never again! Never again!! Never again!!!" She has repeated these exact words, building them to a crescendo, with pronounced anger in her voice, hands pointing downwards, and face twitching, at numerous appearances since.
The obvious question is: How can a uniter express so much distaste for the leader of a movement who won 74 million votes in 2020 and 65 million votes in 2016? What happened to her sermon: "It is time to stop pointing fingers. We have to stop pointing fingers and start locking arms?"
Harris's approach is paradoxical, confounding the GOP and Independent voters she so desperately needs to win in the battleground states. These voters see that far from locking arms, Harris and Biden have done the exact opposite, of attempting to lock Trump up. Indeed, last week, in New Hampshire, Biden expressed a desire to imprison Trump: "We got to lock him up." He quickly recognized the blunder and attempted to backtrack: "Politically lock him up."
On The View and with Stephen Colbert, Harris was asked if she would have done anything differently from Biden, and on both occasions, she confirmed that nothing was different. "Nothing comes to mind," she said on The View.
So, it is safe to assume that Harris was 100% behind Biden when he made remarks at a White House press conference in November 2022. President Biden took a question from Phil Mattingly of CNN [See 00:20:16 in this C-SPAN video clip:]
CNN: "Last month, you said the rest of the world is looking at both the good guys and the bad guys. You noted you're going to the G20 in a couple of days. You will come face-to-face with many of those leaders, at the same moment your predecessor (Trump) is considering launching a reelection effort. How should those world leaders view this moment for America and your presidency?"
After a long answer, Biden said, "We just have to demonstrate that he will not take power if he does run, making sure he—under legitimate efforts of our Constitution—does not become the next president again." Exactly nine days later, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the appointment of Jack Smith as Special Counsel to investigate Trump's role in J6 and his handling of the classified documents. This is "moving past the bitterness?"
Two days ago, Biden, in a Zoom call with Latino voters, made one of the biggest gaffes this election cycle. "Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a 'floating island of garbage. Puerto Ricans are "good, decent, honorable people....The only garbage I see floating out there is his (Trump's) supporters — his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it's un-American." Essentially, Biden had called all of Trump's supporters garbage.
Harris has tried to distance herself from Biden's gaffes, but she has not apologized to Trump or his supporters. The best Harris could do was to say regarding Garbage-gate was: "Let me be clear: I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for."
However, Harris is right regarding one claim: "The vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us."
The vast majority agree (73%, according to the RCP average) that the country is on the wrong track. The vast majority (61%) disapprove of Biden's (a.k.a. Harris's) performance. Vast majorities agree that Biden and Harris have ruined our economy, destroyed America’s global standing, and weakened our borders. Voters care more about these factors than Harris's faux unity message.
TIPP Takes
Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, And More
1. TIPP Tracking Day 19 – Trump Holds A One-Point Lead As Race Coasts Toward Election Day
Late surge among suburbanites, independents, and minority voters lifts Trump.
2. Electoral Showdown 2024: Latest Win Probabilities – November 1
What do our three simulation models say?
3. Strikes Hit South Beirut After Israeli Evacuation Orders: Reports - AFP
At least 10 strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs at dawn on Friday, Lebanon’s official news agency said, after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders for buildings in the area.
The Israeli military has repeatedly bombarded south Beirut in recent weeks, while also carrying out deadly strikes elsewhere in the capital and across Lebanon.
4. Israel Wants To Enforce Any Lebanon Ceasefire Deal, Netanyahu Tells U.S. Envoys - Reuters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. envoys that Israel’s ability to counter threats to its security from Lebanon and return displaced people to the north were key elements of any ceasefire deal with Lebanon.
The envoys, Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein, were in Israel on a new push to secure ceasefires in both Lebanon and Gaza. Lebanon’s prime minister on Wednesday expressed hope that a ceasefire deal was imminent.
5. UNRWA Chief Says Israeli Forces Damaged Agency’s West Bank Office; Israel Denies Claim - Reuters
Israeli bulldozers damaged the office of UN aid agency UNRWA in the West Bank’s Nur Shams camp, Philippe Lazzarini, the agency’s chief said, with Israel disputing his account in the latest exchange between both sides.
The Israeli military, however, issued a statement denying responsibility for any damage to the building.
6. Iran Preparing Strike On Israel From Iraqi Territory Within Days: Report - Reuters
Israeli intelligence suggests Iran is preparing to attack Israel from Iraqi territory in the coming days, possibly before the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5, Axios reported, citing two unidentified Israeli sources.
The attack is expected to be carried out from Iraq using a large number of drones and ballistic missiles, the Axios report added.
7. Blinken, Austin: No Evidence Russia Is Helping North Korea Develop ICBMs - UPI
Russia is losing 1,200 soldiers every day in its war on Ukraine, and it remains to be seen how Russia might repay North Korea for sending 10,000 troops into Russia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters during a press conference.
Also attending and commenting were South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun.
8. China Presents 'Most Sophisticated, Active Cyber Threat' To Canada, Security Agency Says - UPI
China presents "the most sophisticated and active cyber threat" to Canada, according to Ottawa security officials, who accuse Beijing of targeting all levels of their government and public officials for valuable intelligence.
According to the Canadian Center for Cyber Security's National Cyber Threat Assessment report for the upcoming year, China conducts cyber operations against Canada to achieve high-level political and commercial objectives – from espionage and intellectual property theft to repressing dissents who have fled the nation.
9. EU Investigates Temu Over Illegal Products - D.W.
The European Commission opened an investigation into the Chinese online shopping platform Temu, suspecting it is doing too little to stop the sale of illegal products.
"We want to ensure that Temu complies with the Digital Services Act. Particularly in ensuring that products sold on their platform meet EU standards and do not harm consumers," European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. Temu said it would cooperate with the EU.
10. U.S. Bans Entry Of Esquel Group's Products Over Alleged Uyghur Labor - UPI
The United States announced import bans on products produced by Hong Kong-based Esquel Group, one of the world's largest textile and apparel companies, and a handful of related firms, on allegations of using forced Uyghur labor.
The company, along with Guangdong Esquel Textile, Turpan Esquel Textile and Changji Esquel Textile, were added to the Department of Homeland Security's Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List over allegations of using cotton sourced for the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China.
11. North Korea Says Missile Fired Thurs. Was New ICBM, Hwasong-19 - Kyodo News
North Korea said that a missile it test-fired a day earlier was a new intercontinental ballistic missile called the Hwasong-19, according to its state-run media.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "expressed great satisfaction" at the successful test-firing of the new missile, calling it the "ultimate version" of an ICBM. He also said his country's "hegemonic position" in the development of means for nuclear delivery is "absolutely irreversible," according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
12. Japan Law To Punish Cyclists For Phone Use, Riding Drunk Takes Effect - Kyodo News
A revised Japanese traffic law took effect Friday, introducing prison terms and fines for cyclists who use their mobile phone or ride while under the influence of alcohol.
People caught using their phone – for calls, texts, or just looking at it – face imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to 100,000 yen ($650). If they cause an accident, they face a prison term of up to one year or a fine of up to 300,000 yen. Riders found with more than 0.15 milligrams of alcohol per liter of breath face prison terms of up to three years or fines of 500,000 yen.
13. Spain Braces For New Rainfall After Catastrophic Floods - BBC
Locals are bracing for more heavy rain in the hard-hit Valencia and Castellon regions, posing a new flooding risk for already-saturated ground.
At least 158 people have died after the record-breaking rains and subsequent flash flooding. Spanish paper El Pais reports that emergency teams are struggling to restore basic services in Valencia.
14. EU Greenhouse Gases Dropped Sharply In 2023 - D.W.
The European Environment Agency (EEA) reported an 8% fall in EU-wide emissions linked to global warming in 2023, citing a significant decline in fossil fuels and a rise in renewables.
The 27-country bloc is the world's fourth-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after India, China, and the United States. In 2023, renewable energy was the leading source of electricity generation in the EU at 44.7% (up from 41.2% in 2022), ahead of fossil fuels at 32.5% and nuclear power at 22.8%.
15. N.Y. Doctors Report First U.S. Cases Of Sexually Transmitted Ringworm - HealthDay News
Despite the name, ringworm isn't any kind of worm but instead is a fungus, Trichophyton mentagrophytes. It's more commonly known as jock itch (when it affects the groin area) or athlete's foot and can produce a round, itchy rash.
Until now, transmission of the fungal infection through skin-to-skin sexual contact has been rare, although cases have been reported in Southeast Asia and France since 2021, researchers reported.
16. Study: Americans Still Spending More Time At Home Since COVID-19 - HealthDay News
Researchers reported in the Journal of the American Planning Association that people spend nearly an hour less daily doing activities outside the home. Experts say that not going out has become the "new normal" post-COVID.
Researchers have said that this decrease in time spent away from home appears to be a lasting consequence of the pandemic and will affect society on many levels. For example, cities will need to rethink their dependence on folks who commute in for their workdays, noted the researchers, who are urban planners.
