Sometimes a great speech or performance changes everything.
Gavin Newsom went on Fox and steamrolled over Sean Hannity.
I think it is a big deal.
Gavin Newsom had already emerged as a presidential aspirant, impatiently waiting for something to happen that would allow him gracefully to replace Biden. This TV performance re-positions and re-defines Newsom. Before, he was marked by his office, his ambition, his height and big hair. He seemed somehow too Hollywood, too California, too blue-state, too liberal to win in the Upper Midwest. Now it is different. He comes across like a mainstream moderate Democrat, a fearless and articulate spokesperson for Democratic policy.
Gavin Newsom projected confidence, affability, and the ability to marshal facts and details to counter -- indeed demolish -- the Fox/GOP talking points that Hannity had prepared. Hannity offered a series of "Gotcha" questions and facts. Newsom batted them back.
I was reminded of tennis pro Jimmy Connors at his best. He was noteworthy for changing the game of tennis. His return-of-service strokes came back harder and faster than the incoming serve. That was Gavin Newsom on Fox.
The best way to explain Newsom's game-changing performance -- and I do think it unsettled the 2024 political environment -- is to show it. Click. It is five minutes long. It is a good investment of a reader's time. It is insight into the future.
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| https://youtu.be/CgItv37nfSs |
This shows what Newsom can do, and if he did it to Hannity, he can do it to Trump, DeSantis, and others. Part of this clip shows him defending Biden's health, vitality, legislation, and track record. He does it far better than does Biden. That is an opportunity, but also a concern. It would be good if Biden could do this for himself. That demonstrates a vulnerability.
I was a teenager in 1964, but I remember Ronald Reagan's televised campaign speech on behalf of Barry Goldwater, "A Time for Choosing."
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| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VBtCMTPveA |
Pow! It changed the political landscape. Reagan represented Goldwater better than did Goldwater. He made Goldwater's case and for a moment Goldwater's campaign appeared to have a chance of success. But the speech also diminished Goldwater. American conservatives saw what Goldwater could not do. They saw an alternative. The leadership Reagan projected led him to be governor of California and then U.S. president. The Newsom performance could have this Reagan effect. Newsom vastly outshines Biden.
Newsom has baggage. Sexual baggage doesn't seem to matter anymore; Republicans gave up on that issue. Homelessness in California is a issue, as are housing prices, and Newsom was photographed having dinner not wearing a mask. Republicans will try to weigh that Napa dinner --privilege! -- against leading an insurrection to overthrow an election -- the righteous voice of the people! -- and that argument will feel legitimate to about 40% of Americans. Newsom seems comfortable with himself about the "dinner scandal," and that diminishes its importance. If Newsom is OK with himself and it, then we can be OK with it, too.
Newsom comes across as a confident leader. I had badly underestimated him.
18 comments:
I think most Democrats think that Joe is just getting too old. It happens to the best of them. The Golden Years just suck. I think his wife and advisors have to have a sit down with him and lay out the facts. It's a little too much. Just enjoy the rest of your term and retire into the sunset. Let someone younger go after Trump. You've done your job and done it well. Now it's time to retire gracefully. Well done, Sir.
Gavin sounds like he could easily take on Trump in a debate. Most people in the country are tired of Trump and all his faults, regardless of how his court cases turn out. Trump is toast. He can only win if Joe stays in the race. There's a lot of Democrats that can smack Trump. Let them line up, debate, and see who gets the chance to destroy whatshisname. Make the race fun again.
He was great. Hope he actually runs. The clip was worth listening to.
Of course, Newsom would be a better D candidate than Biden (and Harris).
Newsom did not do a very good job explaining away homelessness in California, nor address why it has grown during his watch. And though illegal immigration is high, it's not the illegals who are increasing the homeless numbers in California.
This 5 minutes just scratches the surface. Monday night's show hour is only part of the full conversation; more was added this week in later shows.
Perhaps he is hesitating about a run, hoping to be the VP candidate for Biden. Together, both could win over any challenger from the R side. Biden could then step down after swearing in for his 2nd term.
Related, the D's will have to work hard so that D challengers to Biden don't split the vote during the D primaries.
Newsom comes across as an arrogant know-it-all. A dominant personality with lots of statistics at his fingertips, but no warmth.
He is a very good at focusing on the pixels as a way to obscure what the picture shows. He did a good job with that tactic on the dimwitted Hannity.
I doubt that tactic would work against, for instance, Tim Scott or Nikki Haley.
Facts vs BS.
Rinse and repeat.
Gov. Newsom was extremely well prepared and caffeinated. Well done! I'll bet Hannity regrets the booking. I think he may have thought he'd be able to trash Biden and discredit Newsom but he went to a gun fight with a nerf pistol. Newsom's rapid fire responses do illustrate a generational difference; younger people talk faster and interrupting is no longer considered rude.
The larger issue is maintaining Democratic support for the administration. President Biden may decide to step aside but the window for that is closing, made smaller by the problem of Trump's trial schedule. It would appear the strategy is to "stay the course" and stress continuity over any dramatic change. I think that's wise, if not the only alternative.
The governor is impressive, as is Gov. Whitmer. Here's the thing:
Biden gets reelected, retires and VP Harris takes over...we then have a multi-candidate Democratic field in 2028, all young and ambitious. But at that point VP Harris will have an incumbent's advantage and possibly eight more years in office.
Newsom and the others may have to wait.
Gavin kicked butt, especially since he was on hannitys home court. Too bad they didn’t have a mediator, though; the talking over each other, not allowing each other to talk, isn’t the best format for information sharing.
Wow, ageist tirade. What is wrong with you? Are you a self-hating senior, a nasty GQP or an ungrateful, rude, pipsqueak brat?
Fun? You want fun? Grow Up
Ageism is Hate Against Older People. It is also a mental disorder. You need help.
PS - Also not very bright. It's a good thing when something is "golden." Gold is a precious metal used in jewelry. It also is held as an investment. It also is used as currency. Golden State Warriors, golden hair, the golden child, the golden touch, gold records, etc.
You need to learn the meaning of the word "golden." Google search gold (root word) and golden.
I like it! For a long time, Americans have been more interested in an actor than an actual leader, perhaps starting with President Reagan who illegally sold weapons to Iran and gave the proceeds to Guatemalan terrorists, qualifying him for sainthood among Republicans. They obviously prefer the mean and nasty act, while Democrats lean more toward someone who cares about the environment and all the people in it - even those who pick our crops. So why not Mr. Hollywood? He’s photogenic, articulate, and his heart is in the right place.
As Reagan once said, “Tear down this wall!”
I strongly suspect Governor Newsom won't be invited on yhe Fox Propaganda Channel anytime soon, if ever. Klannity trying to look like a serious journalist makes me wish Mike Wallace was back, or even Chris.
Anytime Sean Klannity gets shown up for the posture and lying fake that he is makes good television.
In general, interrupting is and always will be rude. What has changed is youngsters not being taught manners by their elders or boorish people choosing not to use the manners they were taught.
Anonymous’ thoughts are as clear as gold. 😀
I don't know from "most ". I know I have been saying for several years now that President Biden should go out
after one term and become a Senior Statesman, turning over the reins to a younger Generation, but apparently, I'm in a minority. I'll support him, but somewhat grudgingly. Dig knows we can't survive another 4 years of wannabe Fascism.
Anonymous, though you seem fairly intelligent, you don’t seem to understand how tedious your tirades are to “normal” people.
Mike S, I could obviously, be mistaken, but i have learned, long ago, that the terrorists in Guatemala were Ike Eisenhower and his henchmen, John Foster Dulles and Allen Dulles.
Quote, John Foster: “ Once - many, many years ago - I thought I made a wrong decision. Of course, it turned out that I had been right all along. But I was wrong to have thought that I was wrong.”
Exactly why Newsom is upping his visibility now- 2036 is too long to wait.
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