The Democrats are seemingly wandering aimlessly in the political landscape. Their once promising presidential candidate, Kamala Harris made a long-awaited public appearance recently. The Californian fundraiser she attended, deemed ‘Emerge’, aimed to inspire Democratic women to venture into politics. Interestingly, Harris gave them a masterclass on exactly what not to do when seeking office.
During her 15 minute limelight, Harris indulged in overused campaign rhetoric. She condemned the Trump administration for supposedly deserting America’s cherished ideals. Apparently, robust border security measures and law enforcement are cause for disgust in Harris’s view, revealing principles alien to many a patriotic citizen.
Trading policy was another area of combat for Harris. The question of ‘What would Kamala do?’ has haunted economic experts and global traders alike, only for us to realize she unmistakably aligns with left-wing radicals Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. A surprising endorsement, considering these two figures actively fly around the country in private jets to promote socialist economics.
But the cherry on top was Harris’s stirring narration. Her animated oration, punctuated by theatrical hand movements and laughter, invoked childhood tales of zoo animals. She veered so dramatically off-topic to discuss an unrelated video of elephants at a San Diego Zoo, leaving the proverbial audience scratching their heads, much like when Joe Biden begins recalling a story from his dusty memory vault.
“Allow me a moment to digress,” said Harris at a point during her discourse. She found herself amused, but her audience perhaps not so much. Eager for interactivity, she pushed for audience participation: “Who saw that video from a few weeks ago — the one of the elephants at the San Diego zoo? Google it if you haven’t seen it.”
The basis of Harris’s elephant analogy was the animals’ protective circle formed around the youngest during the recent earthquake at the San Diego Zoo. She laudably repackaged this behavioural observation into a brave political statement about protecting the most vulnerable.
In Kamala’s world, her narration was compelling and meaningful. With thoughtful nods, meaningful eyebrow raises and laughter, she dictated the metaphor like she was delivering a riveting story to a group of preschoolers during storytime at a public library.
She reflected on the pleasing scene and laughed heartily. Inviting her audience to ponder over it, she spoke as though they were incapable of thinking independently unless she steered them towards it. ‘What a powerful metaphor,’ she enthused, presumably to stir awe in her audience.
Returning to her teleprompter, she elaborated: “Inciters of fear are most effective when they divide and conquer, when they separate the herd, when they try to make everyone think they are alone, but in the face of crisis, our instinct should be to immediately find each other.” Thus, Harris’ narrative implying the strength lay in unity had to be spelt out to avoid ambiguity.
It’s commendable that her California audience appeared enlightened, sitting through her speech. What is awe-inspiring though is that Harris earnestly believes such content appeals to a broader American audience.
Going back to her elephant narrative, we are reminded of Harris’s political history. It’s as though she’s compelling her electorate to gloss over her contentious term in office and the catastrophic campaign. Much like the elephant’s famed memory, American voters are also known for their excellent recall abilities, a trait that would prove her undoing.
Placing the spotlight momentarily on Iran, the Iranian Revolutionary government recently responded to President Trump’s first 100 days back in office. They were not kind in their assessment, echoing the harsh criticisms found at broad anti-Trump gatherings.
The editor of Kayhan, a trusted confidante of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, didn’t hold back in his expressions. He termed Trump delusional, narcissistic, and a liar, language that wouldn’t be out of place at any domestically organized anti-Trump event.
However, the editor of Kayhan delivered a more alarming message to the American President. In echoes of bleak predictions from the Supreme Leader himself, the publication threatened violence against the highest American office, demanding exact vengeance for the loss of, as they called him, the martyr Qassem Soleimani.
There’s hope that Homeland Security is diligently ensuring Presidential safety against such threats. But it’s equally essential they scrutinize local supporters of the Iranian regime, who dangerously paint it as an innocent political force.
With all eyes on Biden and Harris, it’s clear that their political narratives and performances are an endless source of critique not only domestically, but also abroad. Their attempt at narrative crafting, as exemplified through the elephant story, ultimately fails to resonate with their intended audience.