Monday, September 30, 2024

Kamala Harris's Word Salads

Presidential contender Kamala Harris is said to be the worst extemporaneous speaker in the history of US presidential politics. But, she has shown herself to be awesomely adept at spewing meme-worthy soundbites, ill-timed cackles and of course, cringe-worthy word salads!

Be sure to read these examples out LOUD and be impressed!
 
"The passage of time" word salad in her speech on March 21, 2022 in Sunset, Louisiana touting efforts to bring high-speed Internet to communities in the state:
"...and erm, talking about the significance of the passage of time, right, the significance of the passage of time. So when you think about it, there is great significance to the passage of time in terms of what we need to do to lay these wires, what need to do to create these jobs and there is such great significance to the passage of time when we think about a day in the life of our children". 
 
"Work together" word salad in remarks made on May 13, 2022 in a meeting on climate at the US-ASEAN special summit:
"Our world is more interconnected and interdependent. That is especially true when it comes to the climate crisis, which is why we will work together and continue to work together to address these issues, to tackle these challenges, and to work together as we continue to work, operating from the new norms, rules, and agreements that we will convene to work together on to galvanize global action".
 
"Seriously" word salad in remarks made on July 05, 2022 on the Highland Park Shooting in Illinois:
"...And we got to take this stuff seriously, as seriously as you are – because you have been forced to have to take it seriously".  
 
"Moment in time" word salad in her speech on April 25, 2023 at a political event on reproductive rights at Howard University, her alma mater in Washington, DC:
“So, I think it’s very important, as you have heard from so many incredible leaders, for us at every moment in time – and certainly this one – to see the moment in time in which we exist and are present, and to be able to contextualize it, to understand where we exist in the history and in the moment as it relates not only to the past but the future. And I will say to everyone here that we are living, I do believe, in a moment in time where so many of our hard-won freedoms are under attack, and this is a moment for us to stand and fight”.
 
"Inspiring" word salad  in her address on September 25, 2024 to the Economic Club of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:
"We need to guard that spirit. We have to guard that spirit. Let it always inspire us. Let it always be the source of our optimism, which is that spirit that is uniquely American. Let that then inspire us by helping us to be inspired to solve the problems that so many face, including our small business owners".
 
"Holistic/holistically" word salad in interview on September 25, 2024 with MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle:
"Some of the work is going to be through what we do in terms of giving benefits and assistance to state and local governments around transit dollars and looking holistically at the connection between that and housing and looking holistically at the incentives we in the federal government can create for local and state governments to actually engage in planning in [a] holistic manner that includes prioritising affordable housing for working people".
 
Somebody actually suggested a better term: word vomit.

Word salads are not only her thing! She's good at geography too. During an appearance on the syndicated “Morning Hustle” radio program on March 01, 2022, she was asked by co-host "Headkrack" to explain the (Ukraine) conflict “in layman’s terms for people who don’t understand what’s going on and how can this directly affect the people of the United States?” 
 
And thus, she spoke SLOWLY as she informed her fellow citizens:
"Ukraine is a country in Europe. It exists next to another country called Russia. Russia is a bigger country. Russia decided to invade a smaller country called Ukraine, so basically that’s wrong". 

And who can forget her famous retort when she defended her decision to not go to the US-Mexico border during a combative moment in an interview on June 07, 2021 with NBC’s Lester Holt in Guatemala: “And I haven’t been to Europe”.

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