Vance and Walz Square Off In VP Debate

By
Jennifer Gray
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Well, would you look at that—a civil and, dare I say, informative debate in 2024! Tuesday night’s showdown between Democratic nominee Gov. Tim Walz and Republican nominee Sen. JD Vance gave us something that’s been in short supply lately: actual policy discussion without turning into a WWE match. Imagine that.

Both Walz and Vance stayed in their comfort zones, hitting the familiar talking points on the economy, health care, energy, and immigration. No shockers, no big bombshells, just a good old-fashioned policy debate. Now, was it groundbreaking? Hardly. But was it important? Absolutely.

Let’s face it, in this election cycle, anything that doesn’t involve mudslinging feels like a breath of fresh air. But here’s the real kicker: this debate managed to showcase a bit of bipartisanship that we’ve been sorely missing. I’m sure Kamala Harris and Donald Trump were glued to their screens, and I can bet they both left thinking their running mates did a bang-up job. But the most crucial takeaway? Both candidates emphasized that America can do better and that we can actually tackle the problems we face by working together instead of just running on nostalgia or bitterness.

Here’s what really cracks me up, though: the nearly two-hour debate made it crystal clear that you can’t run a campaign purely on “good vibes” or on a platform of resentment. It’s almost like the candidates realized we need something resembling a plan to lead this country. What a concept!

Let’s not kid ourselves, though. No minds were changed on Tuesday night. The pundits will pick apart what was said about immigration and abortion, the two issues where Walz and Vance are miles apart. But fundamentally, they were just parroting what their respective presidential candidates have been spouting all along. So, what’s next?

It’s simple: we need another presidential debate, and soon. The media needs to stop obsessing over personality clashes and start focusing on what really matters—what the American people want and deserve. We need Trump and Harris to face off again and actually talk about the issues with more depth than we’ve seen so far. Because let’s be honest, last month’s debate was more of a circus than an enlightening conversation.

Oh, the horror! Some Democrats are actually mad that JD Vance and Tim Walz managed to have a civil debate without turning it into a full-blown mudslinging festival. And who are they blaming for this monstrosity of manners? Walz, of course! Because how dare he not go full flamethrower on Vance? Apparently, the new strategy is to throw a tantrum because Walz didn’t spew enough venom. Are you kidding me? Since when did being civil become a political sin? Guess the Dems are more interested in drama than actual discourse—heaven forbid we have a debate that focuses on, you know, the issues.

Here’s the bottom line: Vance and Walz gave the electorate something they’ve been missing—respectful, informed debate. Now it’s up to Trump and Harris to do the same. We need another debate, maybe even two or three more, because the country deserves nothing less. Let’s see if the top of the ticket can match the level of maturity and civility we saw on Tuesday. Fingers crossed, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.

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