Althouse: Social media didn't care about Kamala.

August 22, 2020

Social media didn't care about Kamala.

From "Michelle Obama won the Democratic convention" (Axios):

86 comments:

Kevin said...: Social media didn't care about Kamala.

Nor did Democratic Primary voters.

Trend alert!; 8/22/20, 1:34 PM
doctrev said...: Donald Trump at 1.4m views? Bull. The man defines modern politics, and the common thread behind all the low-watt failed politicians on the list is Trump.; 8/22/20, 1:34 PM
Pianoman said...: Now we know who Biden's replacement will be.; 8/22/20, 1:41 PM
Earnest Prole said...: One-fifth the numbers of Republicans John Kasich and Cindy McCain.; 8/22/20, 1:43 PM
Lucid-Ideas said...: The Republicans had 'I like Ike'
The Democrats have 'I like Mike'

Tomato tomata.; 8/22/20, 1:45 PM
Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...: So - Biden has a slight lead over Trump amongst the illiterati.; 8/22/20, 1:59 PM
tcrosse said...: Evidently Kamala's being a POC is necessary but not sufficient.; 8/22/20, 2:03 PM
WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/22/20, 2:06 PM
Gunner said...: Speaking of Cindy McCain, her hellspawn Meggy has been obsessively tweeting about some poisoned anti-Putin Russian guy we should go to war with that country over.; 8/22/20, 2:10 PM
Yancey Ward said...: That is why she dropped out of the race in December. Nothing has changed- hitching your wagon to Joe Biden is the same as hitching it to large boulder.....or a small one.; 8/22/20, 2:15 PM
Yancey Ward said...: Seriously, the woman has zero charisma, and she backs that up with less intellect than Shelob Clinton.; 8/22/20, 2:16 PM
Pianoman said...: @Bleach-Bit: The Dems have to love SOMEONE, and Barack can't run again.

Q.E.D.; 8/22/20, 2:23 PM
stevew said...: I don't get the MO love either. What has she ever accomplished that justifies the fawning?

As for Kamala, ouch.; 8/22/20, 2:25 PM
RMc said...: So...the top 10 are (in order): Former first lady (by far); former Dem president; actual Dem candidate; current GOP president; some kid; former Dem president; former GOP prez candidate; widow of former GOP prez candidate (!); former Dem prez candidate; and finally, current Dem VP candidate.; 8/22/20, 2:25 PM
RMc said...: So...the top 10 are (in order): Former first lady (by far); former Dem president; actual Dem candidate; current GOP president; some kid; former Dem president; former GOP prez candidate; widow of former GOP prez candidate (!); former Dem prez candidate; and finally, current Dem VP candidate.; 8/22/20, 2:25 PM
Christy said...: Let's see if I understand. This represents the captured comments on stories published by MSM about the Dems convention this past week. Stories which overwhelmingly cheered Michelle, Barack, Kamala, and Joe. So at this pep rally Michelle won the "I love her, too" vote. Facebook and Twitter didn't get counted. Rose McGowan's much retweeted response didn't count.

This is cherry picking data to get sciencey support for the chosen narrative. Aka BS.; 8/22/20, 2:26 PM
Tomcc said...: It's of no consequence to me, but it is somewhat satisfying that it reinforces my already negative perception of this "social media" blight.; 8/22/20, 2:27 PM
Kevin said...: Everyone loves Michelle - and I don't know why.

Sounds like the title of a song from Crack Emcee.; 8/22/20, 2:31 PM
Amadeus 48 said...: But 90% of those Michelle conversations were snarks.; 8/22/20, 2:33 PM
Rabel said...: Neal Rothschild at Axios wrote, "It [an AP fact check] concluded that while the Trump administration did own the policy of separating families, the reference to "cages" was misleading."

The AP actually said, "But what she did not say is that the very same “cages” were built and used in her husband’s administration, for the same purpose of holding migrant kids temporarily."

Rabel's fact check determines that Neal Rothschild at Axios is a dog-faced lying liar who lied about what MS Obama said and about what the AP said in a single sentence.

Also, fuck him.; 8/22/20, 2:38 PM
mandrewa said...: So in other words it is as if most people don't know that this is about deciding whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris will be President. How is it possible for Harris to get so little attention?; 8/22/20, 2:38 PM
WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...: everyone love Michelle.

Why?

She lies a lot; 8/22/20, 2:39 PM
Bob Loblaw said...: Donald Trump at 1.4m views? Bull. The man defines modern politics, and the common thread behind all the low-watt failed politicians on the list is Trump.

"Out of the top 100 DNC stories..."

They probably excluded any story that had a significant Trump element because it's no longer a "DNC story".; 8/22/20, 2:58 PM
Temujin said...: Voter enthusiasm.; 8/22/20, 3:09 PM
DavidUW said...: Wow. She’s even less popular than I thought. Great job “Joe”.; 8/22/20, 3:27 PM
Crazy World said...: Michelle like her husband is a bitter and miserable person, racist too. Bless her heart.; 8/22/20, 3:31 PM
Stephen said...: They cried when she lost, she won the popular vote, and she should be President today according to the media, the entertainment industry, academia, and the Washington establishment. (I also think she'd be preferred overwhelmingly by Democrats to the current nominee.) If they think DJT stole the election, shouldn't justice for Hillary be a popular social media theme? Silence speaks volumes.; 8/22/20, 3:47 PM
Lawrence Person said...: The Biden-Harris ticket brings all the excitement of sitting through a 45 minute PowerPoint presentation on term life insurance.; 8/22/20, 4:03 PM
walter said...: Kamala: (nervous laughing); 8/22/20, 4:17 PM
Ken B said...: What about Tulsi Gabbard? Or Tara Reade?; 8/22/20, 4:30 PM
Drago said...: Interesting point by a leftist who refused to accept the transparent hoax that was the russian collusion lie:

Michael Tracey@mtracey Aug 21
Did anyone notice that nobody brought up Trump's impeachment at the Dem Convention. Frantically portrayed as of earth-shattering, world-historical importance at the time, but apparently didn't even warrant a mention

Because the dems know the ukrainian phone call hoax was all a lie as well and that Eric Ciaramella and Vindman and Yankovich and all the other liars have been exposed along with the Igor Danchenko, the Brookings Institute employee hanging out in DC who went out drinking with his buddies and made up all the "russian contacts" Steele needed to launder the FusionGPS lies mined by Nellie Ohr into a hoax dossier which was then fed to the entire deep state to attack and frame Trump.

Danchenko just happened to be a long time pal and former student of Yankovich.

What an amazing little insular world these deep state hacks inhabit.; 8/22/20, 4:33 PM
Howard said...: The VP candidate's job is tonot be a star.

Mission Accomplished; 8/22/20, 4:51 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Kamala Harris did not catch fire in the primaries — for whatever reason. Why did the Democrats — whoever made the decision — believe people would take to her when they simply picked her out of the group?; 8/22/20, 4:54 PM
tcrosse said...: Michelle, ma belle, sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble.; 8/22/20, 4:54 PM
Ann Althouse said...: I mean, I understand why they wanted to believe, but why weren't they more skeptical and practical?; 8/22/20, 4:55 PM
LA_Bob said...: Yancey Ward said, "...hitching your wagon to Joe Biden is the same as hitching it to large boulder.....or a small one."

No. It's the same as hitching it to a box of rocks, because that's what Biden is as dumb as.; 8/22/20, 4:55 PM
Amadeus 48 said...: Why did Kamal get the nod? Well, she didn’t lose any primaries.

They either think they cannot lose or they think they cannot win.; 8/22/20, 4:57 PM
tcrosse said...: Why did the Democrats — whoever made the decision — believe people would take to her when they simply picked her out of the group?

For that matter, why Biden? Who's driving this bus, anyway?; 8/22/20, 4:59 PM
LA_Bob said...: "Kamala Harris did not catch fire in the primaries..." Heck, she left the scene before there was any chance she might catch fire (and her two chances were slim and none).

"I mean, I understand why they wanted to believe, but why weren't they more skeptical and practical?"

They were practical. Least bad apple in a very bad barrel.; 8/22/20, 5:02 PM
Michael K said...: Why did the Democrats — whoever made the decision — believe people would take to her when they simply picked her out of the group?

She has the big California money behind her and that seems to be all that counts. She and Hillary are the money machine after Nancy.; 8/22/20, 5:03 PM
Wince said...: Ann Althouse said...
I mean, I understand why they wanted to believe, but why weren't they more skeptical and practical?

Some train wrecks are intentional?

"Bravo, Gomez, you're a born saboteur."; 8/22/20, 5:07 PM
Mary Beth said...: Why did the Democrats — whoever made the decision — believe people would take to her when they simply picked her out of the group?

Polls, probably. Given a list of names, people picked her. Unfortunately for the DNC, it was because of name recognition, not because they wanted her. Either that or people who only talk to like-minded people picked her. They like her, everyone they know likes her, and they can't imagine that other people don't.; 8/22/20, 5:11 PM
David-2 said...: "I mean, I understand why they wanted to believe, but why weren't they more skeptical and practical?"

They fully understand that unless they're wildly successful in vote stealing they're going to lose this election.

So, being sufficiently hard-nosed and practical, they chose the most plausible 2024 candidate they liked least so they could burn her now and get her completely out of the way then.; 8/22/20, 5:11 PM
Mary Beth said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/22/20, 5:13 PM
Kate said...: It worked for Joe. He wasn't catching fire either until the eDem rescued him.

Dem voters are more likely to support an old white guy they weren't excited about than they are a younger poc woman they weren't excited about. Who'd'a guessed.; 8/22/20, 5:13 PM
Mary Beth said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/22/20, 5:14 PM
Francisco D said...: Ann Althouse said...
Kamala Harris did not catch fire in the primaries — for whatever reason. Why did the Democrats — whoever made the decision — believe people would take to her when they simply picked her out of the group?

They had no other viable choice. The Biden people were committed to a Black woman as VP. Kamal is the only experienced campaigner (Joe won't be out on the road) and the minor players like Susan Rice have no experience or name recognition.

In any case, they know that they will lose. That's why they are not sacrificing their younger talent.

When Trump wins, there will be a major kerfuffle in which the Democrats will do more than their usual law fare, rioting and gaslighting. They will try to shut down the country. Kamala will be remembered in 2024 for that. This is her last dance. It makes you wonder if the Democrats dislike her as much as the general population.; 8/22/20, 5:19 PM
Mr. O. Possum said...: Would have been better for the Democrats to pick a Southern African-American. Trump's approval ratings among registered African-American voters is very high compared to past Republicans, and North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia may be very close.

Biden already had California in the bag without her. Not clear what she brings to the ticket, except name recognition.

If Trump's polls show he's in trouble with women and/or African-American voters, I would not be surprised if he dumped Pence and put former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley on the ticket. She can help swing NC and GA.

I wouldn't put it past Trump to make big news that way. And it would soften his image.; 8/22/20, 5:20 PM
Rory said...: "Why did the Democrats — whoever made the decision — believe people would take to her when they simply picked her out of the group?"

It's a top-down organization. The money people picked the ticket, taking people who will protect their interests. They don't need for people to take to the candidates, just vote for them. They figure that they can distribute enough crumbs and raise enough hell to intimidate enough people to pull their ticket across the line.; 8/22/20, 5:33 PM
Tommy Duncan said...: Blogger Ann Althouse said...

"Why did the Democrats — whoever made the decision — believe people would take to her when they simply picked her out of the group?"

Kamala covered the requirements:
*Female
*Person of Color
*Crazed Liberal
*Flexible

It is the last requirement that put her over the top. Kamala will be whatever they ask her to be. She will advocate for whatever position they dictate. She'll do whatever needs to be done. -Just ask Willie.; 8/22/20, 5:35 PM
wild chicken said...: Harris's parents are academics, no? She lacks that bouncy po-girl energy that Palin, Warren or even Abrams has.

It's the common touch.; 8/22/20, 5:39 PM
wild chicken said...: "but why weren't they more skeptical and practical?"

Yeah that had to take some real arm twisting. Pretty ugly stuff, can't wait to read the post mortems.; 8/22/20, 5:42 PM
AllenS said...: Except for the black woman from Georgia who failed at being elected to whatever, maybe nobody else wanted the VP job among the better known Democrats.; 8/22/20, 5:45 PM
wbfjrr2 said...: Because, if they are like my liberal friends, they don't observe and absorb facts. There is only the religion of their chosen narrative.

Example: the "good people" lie they believe.; 8/22/20, 5:53 PM
Mark Jones said...: "Kamala Harris did not catch fire in the primaries — for whatever reason. Why did the Democrats — whoever made the decision — believe people would take to her when they simply picked her out of the group?"

Assuming facts not in evidence. What makes you think THEY think people "would take to her"?

Who else are they gonna vote for? Donald Trump? I think they chose Kamala Harris because she'll do as she's told by the DNC when she's in the Oval Office. She already demonstrated a willingness to prostitute herself (literally) to achieve wealth and power.; 8/22/20, 6:04 PM
Howard said...: The deep state and the globalists like her so that turns into money. The bad cop IRL is never popular. She's got just as much or more charisma than Mike "Yes Mother" Pence. Nother nothingburger to keep the chicks clucking.; 8/22/20, 6:09 PM
phantommut said...: Harris got so much fluffing from the NYT and WaPo early on it's obvious she was the DNC's first choice this cycle. Checked all the boxes and I believe the assumption was her "law and order" background would play well in flyover country. The latter didn't play, she's toxic with Urban Blacks who've been abused by politically ambitious prosecutors, she has all the charm of oatmeal, and the political instincts of -- dare I say it? -- Hillary Clinton. She's a drag on a Presidential candidate who can't afford more drag and an indication the DNC should be known as the DuNCe.; 8/22/20, 6:18 PM
Earnest Prole said...: Why Kamala? It’s simple. Once you limit yourself to a woman of color, she’s the only one left that’s acceptable to the big-money Democrat class.; 8/22/20, 6:31 PM
Rhonda said...: I scanned, and I’m a man so that means I didn’t really read it, but the name missing from that list? The woman who says she got 3 million more votes than President Trump, who is most hated political figure of my lifetime (60), yet He rates as a top 5 draw at Their convention? And they say TDS doesn’t exist.; 8/22/20, 6:36 PM
Gk1 said...: This is the proverbial marketing problem of "why aren't the dogs eating the dog food? Is it the packaging?"

What Mark Jones said. The DNC picked Harris because she will do what's she told once Joe is pushed into a nursing home if they win. No questions asked. If she needs to get down on all fours and blow the chinese, she'll do it while giving hand jobs to big tech. That's what it means to be a democratic voter, sit down, shut up and we'll decide who you can vote for. Do you want those table scraps or not?; 8/22/20, 6:43 PM
Michael K said...: She's got just as much or more charisma than Mike "Yes Mother" Pence.

Close but Pence does not have her nasty edge. She and Hillary are both angry nasty bitches. Watch the Kavanaugh hearing if you have forgotten.; 8/22/20, 6:51 PM
MayBee said...: 1- The press loves Kamala.
2- The Dem POTB thought they could replace Michelle Obama - all the white women's black best friend- with new best friend Kamala. The affection would transfer
3- This makes it even funnier that Michelle didn't mention Kamala in her speech.; 8/22/20, 6:52 PM
Michael K said...: When Trump wins, there will be a major kerfuffle in which the Democrats will do more than their usual law fare, rioting and gaslighting. They will try to shut down the country. Kamala will be remembered in 2024 for that. This is her last dance. It makes you wonder if the Democrats dislike her as much as the general population.

I agree about this. They will feel they have nothing to lose. What does concern me is the upper levels of the military who are mostly pissed that no war means no promotions. People like McCrystal may think they have a future in politics with Democrats. He has already shown his preferences. Below O-6, I think we are safe but I don't trust these Obama generals. Mattis is so dumb that he was trying to get the military to buy Theranos vaporware.; 8/22/20, 6:55 PM
Michael K said...: Earnest Prole said...
Why Kamala? It’s simple. Once you limit yourself to a woman of color, she’s the only one left that’s acceptable to the big-money Democrat class.

I agree and she has had them behind her all along.; 8/22/20, 6:56 PM
PubliusFlavius said...: 2.5 Months to Freedom!

Remember those song hooks that got stuck in your head....well one of my faves has been ruined for a couple weeks now.

Please Lose miss Lotus Blowjob,

por favor Mi Dios

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys2vTiXWhB8; 8/22/20, 7:13 PM
minnesota farm guy said...: To try to answer Ann's question: Why? Look at the cast of characters above Harris. Bernie is male and a communist- and would outshine joe on an age for age basis; Warren is a shrieking harridan and is white, enough said; everyone else in the primaries at the end was male and in the ludicrous politics of the DNC this is disqualifying; I think Susan Rice is an "inside" person and thus would not campaign well; Michelle of course is the kind of person who likes to stand back and cheer until someone challenges her to get in the fight - she doesn't have the fire or the guts; can you or I think of another Democratic woman who has any kind of reputation in statewide politics - oh I forgot those that do - Klobuchar for example- are white.; 8/22/20, 7:30 PM
Stephen said...: Unknown: "If Trump's polls show he's in trouble with women and/or African-American voters, I would not be surprised if he dumped Pence and put former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley on the ticket. She can help swing NC and GA."

That would be exciting. We'll be guaranteed to have the first female VP and the first Indian-American VP. The winner would also be the front runner for 2024.; 8/22/20, 7:30 PM
Meade said...: "I would not be surprised if he dumped Pence"

When Trump gets a dog, disowns Ivanka, and when John Dingell is maybe looking down instead of up, Trump might... might dump Mike Pence.; 8/22/20, 7:45 PM
Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...: She was a low level sister, I never met her.; 8/22/20, 7:51 PM
David Duffy said...: Did anyone listen to her speech and take note? I didn't, I read the transcripts. It's awful, just awful. Her whiny voice I'm sure did not add inspiration to the awfulness of the words.

From Senator Harris:

"They [her parents] fell in love in that most American way—while marching together for justice in the civil rights movement of the 1960s." Who in hell falls in love like that? "that most American way." What a bunch of lefty bullshit. How about falling in love while having a cup of coffee. And staying in love over a cup of coffee.

"When I was 5, my parents split and my mother raised us mostly on her own..." Yep that's where the leftist bullshit comes home to roost. Like Obama, the black father is absent, but being black and being abandoned is where you get the white guilt angle on politics. More bullshit.

"She [her mother] raised us to be proud, strong Black women." That was the role of the black father, who split. More leftist claptrap.

It's just awful not because it's bullshit, and race, race, race, but because this bullshit is bad for everyone in the country.; 8/22/20, 7:52 PM
Yancey Ward said...: I think the answer is given by multiple commenters to Althouse's question- once Biden limited the choice of females who could be plausibly described as "Black", the choices were pretty fucking thin.; 8/22/20, 7:53 PM
Yancey Ward said...: And Meade is correct- Trump ain't going to dump Pence- it would be completely out of character.; 8/22/20, 7:54 PM
Joe Smith said...: I've never understood the slavish devotion to Michelle...she's not much to look at and she's not very smart.

I don't get the appeal...; 8/22/20, 8:04 PM
Joe Smith said...: Kamala's got to be pretty pissed.

She did a lot of 'favors' only to slide pretty far down the list...; 8/22/20, 8:06 PM
Drago said...: Unknown: "If Trump's polls show he's in trouble with women and/or African-American voters, I would not be surprised if he dumped Pence and put former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley on the ticket."

There is no way most of Trump voters will accept Nikki Haley. She's George W Bush in female form.; 8/22/20, 8:35 PM
Michael K said...: An interesting essay on what could happen if Biden's handlers decide to steal the election.

What if the political leadership of the country bows to the west coast? It is not at all clear that portions of the center of the country would not then threaten secession themselves. On what principled basis could it be opposed? At the least, our federal system of presidential elections would be replaced with a unitary system deliberately designed to drown out voices from the middle, making it more likely that a split from the middle will take place someday.

Harris has all the CA money behind her.; 8/22/20, 8:47 PM
Lucille Ballers said...: I don't believe that this is a reflection on Kamala at all. She was just announced as the VP pick on August 11th so all of her social media fanfare took place a week prior.; 8/22/20, 8:56 PM
Kevin said...: Kamala Harris did not catch fire in the primaries — for whatever reason. Why did the Democrats — whoever made the decision — believe people would take to her when they simply picked her out of the group?

Nothing wasn’t an option.

Better than nothing wasn’t available.; 8/22/20, 9:25 PM
Michael K said...: There is no way most of Trump voters will accept Nikki Haley. She's George W Bush in female form.

Agreed. Watch Noem in 2024.; 8/22/20, 9:40 PM
JAORE said...: Kamala Harris did not catch fire in the primaries — for whatever reason. Why did the Democrats — whoever made the decision — believe people would take to her when they simply picked her out of the group?

They floated several names out there before the final pick. Each met with derisive laughter and a hearty PU.; 8/22/20, 9:42 PM
Crazy World said...: He may as well have picked that Karen commie chick, the Castro lover babe.; 8/22/20, 9:58 PM
cassandra lite said...: "Social media didn't care about Kamala."

Neither did Dem primary voters.; 8/22/20, 10:34 PM
The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...: “The VP candidate's job is tonot be a star.

Mission Accomplished”

Unless the guy in the top slot is catatonic. Then the VP needs to be a star. Look, the Democrat Establishment doesn’t want to win. They’ve made a calculation that being in opposition to the Trump Folk Devil is more lucrative.; 8/22/20, 10:43 PM
cyrus83 said...: She's just not all that exciting as a pick, which is something the party base tried to communicate by mostly supporting other candidates - to such an extent that Harris never made it to Iowa.

I think even the Dem base knows she is on the ticket primarily because of gender and skin color, two qualifications which produced a very thin pool of candidates with enough national prominence to even be considered. Social media is not the same as real life, but it does make you wonder if there is buyer's remorse on Harris.; 8/22/20, 11:40 PM
effinayright said...: OMG.

I am getting creamed on other sites for arguing that Kamala Harris, who I would not vote for in a million years, is a "natural-born-citizen" eligible to become POTUS.

WHAT IS IT about so-called conservatives that they can continue to make up bullshit about how an 18th century phrase in the Constitution meant to prevent foreigners from subverting our newly declared independence somehow disqualifies people born in our country two centuries later to lawful immigrants or residents, or to US parents abroad, in view of the 14th Amendment, statutory law clarifying who is what, and the Wong Kim Ark case?

How can anyone seriously argue that a citizen-at-birth aka a person not requiring naturalization is NOT a "natural born citizen"?

In view of Wong Ark Kim how can they argue that Harris is not a citizen-at-birth?

It's a clear case of a manufactured "distinction without a difference."

Seems to me that this is the equivalent of arguing over how many angels can dance on a pin:

WHAT"S THE POINT, except to try to find ways to disqualify people we don't like?; 8/22/20, 11:44 PM
Big Mike said...: I mean, I understand why they wanted to believe, but why weren't they more skeptical and practical?

I suspect that there were political pros who were “skeptical and practical.” Biden may have been one of them. What else explains the lengthy delay announcing the vice presidential pick even though, as noted above, once you commit to choosing a black female as your #2, Harris Is the obvious choice? Biden made the unforced error of committing to choosing a woman, after which the BLM riots, a full court press from the media, and — no doubt — pressure from the billionaires who finance and therefore own the Democrat Party forced Slow Joe into further restricting his choice to a black woman.; 8/23/20, 4:14 AM