Kamala Is the Agenda, and Only Kamala

I wrote earlier in the week about the electoral perils of being a media-created avatar, and to that submission I want to add another thought: That, in addition to the campaigning challenges, there exist concrete political perils associated with saying nothing of consequence while seeking public office. The more level-headed analyses I’ve seen this morning note that, while Harris delivered her speech well, it was (a) devoid of any substance, and (b) heavy on meta-themes that are typically offered up by Republicans. Both of those observations are true. But, while this may, indeed, help Harris get to 271 electoral votes, it would have the opposite effect once she had been sworn in. Jonah Goldberg often observes that the ultimate purpose of politics is not to win office per se, but to get your opponents to agree with your agenda. That way, you get what you want even if you lose. In last night’s speech, Harris (slightly) helped herself get closer to winning office. She didn’t, however, advance anything else.