JD Vance, by contrast, is a big deal. He’s the likely Republican nominee for president in 2028.
Tim Walz was a dud as vice presidential pick. He added zero to the ticket. In his one big moment — the vice presidential debate with JD Vance — he got beat. Badly. And looked hopelessly out of his depth.
None of this is to say that if Kamala Harris had picked someone other than Walz she would be president right now. History tells us that VP picks almost never make any real difference. And I think that’s true this time too. Had Harris picked, say, Josh Shapiro, she still would have lost.
To my mind then, Walz was a sort of historical blip. Plucked from relative obscurity by Harris and then, after losing, sent back to that relative obscurity. Which isn’t nothing! Being a governor of a state is a big deal! Being the VP nominee is a huge deal!
But, in politics, water usually finds its level. And Walz’s level was not — and is not — national politics.
This is obvious to anyone who has spent any amount of time covering or watching politics. It is not obvious, however, to Tim Walz.
Since the election loss, Walz has slowly but surely tried to fashion a narrative that he was under-utilized during the campaign. And that had he been properly deployed a) he would have shined and b) Harris might have won.
According to Google AI:
Main Character Syndrome (MCS) is a colloquial term used to describe a person’s tendency to see themselves as the central figure in their own life story, often with an inflated sense of self-importance.
Characteristics:
Exaggerated sense of significance
Belief that their experiences are more important than others
Self-centeredness and lack of empathy
Need for attention and validation
Drama queen tendencies
Difficulty accepting criticism
Viewing others as supporting characters in their storyMCS can have negative impacts on relationships, work, and overall well-being. It can lead to:
Strained relationships due to self-centeredness, Difficulty collaborating with others, Overconfidence and poor decision-making, and Increased anxiety and depression.If you suspect you have MCS, it’s important to:
Reflect on your behavior and identify areas where you can improve.
Develop empathy and consider the perspectives of others.
Set realistic expectations about your importance.
Seek professional help if needed to address underlying psychological issues.
