Environmental activists urge Kamala Harris to go big on climate: ‘She’s got to seize the moment’ | With the largest US fossil fuel lobby group at the Democratic convention, some urge VP to prioritize crisis in her speech

3 comments

1. Shouting from the rooftops before the election would be a mistake. If the Dems take the White House *and* Congress, then yes, they can swing for the fences. Investigating and arresting corrupt Supreme Court Justices should be their first move.

2. I’m not as concerned over Harris’ lack of focus on the climate *for the campaign* for a couple reasons.

   The main strategy of the campaign has been to focus messaging around economic populism and freedom, and the throughline on the environment has been a short but sellable tagline for “clean air and pure water” in stump speeches, particularly from Walz.

   I think it’s smart messaging to focus on just a few points, as that’s what is going to reach the undecideds, who care about the economy above all else. Muddying the waters with too many messages won’t help when we only have a couple months of runway. Also, more broadly the climate is unfortunately not currently a persuasive part of the zeitgeist as can be seen in the EU elections.

   That said, I’m only okay with not going full out on the climate during the campaign because I trust her administration will deliver if they also get the House and Senate. Walz passed a law in Minnesota to enforce carbon neutral energy production by 2040, and Harris’ selection of him is an implicit endorsement and indication of her direction on climate action.

   There are three key pillars that need to be delivered on in her administration for us to have a hope of a functioning society: 1) climate action, for a liveable Earth, 2) reducing the cost of living, to improve lives and give people a reason to vote again, and 3) voting reform, to take away disenfranchisement as a tool from the fascists. (Edit: Oh and 4) Supreme Court reform. There are a lot of messes to clean up, and it will take a lot of political capital to achieve all of these.)

   Focusing on just one of these pillars for the campaign is an okay strategic decision, so long as they deliver on the other end.

3. Ugh…THINK PEOPLE..THINK.

   Her path to winning, and avoiding the climate nightmare that is Donald Trump is not going on a climate tirade in her speech, its appealing to everyone, and not pushing away independents or fed up republicans.

   Once she wins, she can address this stuff.