Tim Walz is the Real Deal

Tim Walz was here in Reno yesterday, and I went to see and hear him. There was a long wait and lots of preliminary speakers and music, but finally he came on and gave about a 30 minute speech to about 2000 people, filling the ballroom at the Grand Sierra Resort.

I didn’t hear anything new or that I hadn’t heard on news broadcasts as recently as that morning, but it was very interesting to see the man in person and hear him directly. The contrast with Trump and Vance (both of whom I’ve only heard and seen on TV) was stark.

First of all, there was the way attendees were treated – security was high, so there was a lot of hurry up and wait, but at every juncture, starting with registration, instructions were clear and polite, with particular attention paid to the needs of the differently abled. While most of the crowd stood, there were plenty of chairs for the ADA section; volunteers were continuously circulating with water and snack bars and making sure everyone was comfortable and safe. Self-identified Republicans for Harris-Walz were included and treated with respect. That, from what I’ve seen, was very different from Trump rallies.

There were several speakers – endorsements from the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and the Teamsters, and then Ed Helms, a comic actor known for his roles in the Hangover movies and the Office TV series spoke briefly to warm up the crowd – he was funny, engaging, and passionate in his introduction.

Finally Walz came on to a wildly positive crowd reaction. He hit all the notes including local references to the recent Davis fire near Reno, to the importance of re-electing Jacky Rosen to the Senate, and all the key issues. The crowd was with him all the way, and his speech was a stark contrast with the hate-filled incoherence of both Trump and Vance.

As I write this, the election is 27 days away. Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of their country – vote! Vote early, vote by mail, vote in person, but vote, and get all your friends to vote as well. Vote for who you want, but don’t fail to vote on every line in the ballot – do your research, decide where you stand, and take action. We can’t afford the luxury of lethargy – this one is crucial.