Readers sound off on Harris's VP pick, Israel's supporters and animal agriculture

In picking Walz, Harris previews her leadership

Hallandale Beach, Fla.: When a presidential candidate chooses a running mate, it says a lot about who they are and what kind of president they’ll be. Do they pick someone inexperienced and polarizing who will deepen our divisions? Or do they pick someone with the judgment to make tough decisions, and the character to believe that every voice counts and everyone deserves an equal chance?

By selecting Tim Walz to be her vice president from a pool of outstanding Democrats, Kamala Harris has chosen an ideal partner — and made it clear exactly what she stands for.

Walz doesn’t have just the experience to be vice president, he has the values and integrity to make us proud. As Minnesota’s governor, Tim helped families and businesses recover from the pandemic, established paid family leave, guaranteed the right to an abortion and put common sense gun safety measures in place to keep communities safe. But Tim’s signature is his ability to talk like a human being and treat everyone with decency and respect — not all that surprising considering that he served in the National Guard for 24 years and worked as a high school social studies teacher and football coach before being elected to Congress.

Like Harris, Walz believes that government works to serve us. Not just some of us, but all of us. That’s what makes him an outstanding governor, and that’s what will make him an even better vice president, ready on day one. I couldn’t be happier for Tim and Gwen, their family and our country. Paul Bacon

Radical as apple pie

Jersey City: I don’t know if it’s more hilarious or tragic, but was there anyone who didn’t know that the first words from the Trump/Vance ticket on Democratic vice presidential nominee designate Walz (or whoever it proved to be) would be “radical liberal”!? Would all real Republicans please stand up to these leaders and point out that the only people who might view former prosecutor Harris and school-lunch Gov. Walz as “radical liberals” were the forces we defeated in WWII? These are the definition of middle-of-the-road real Americans. If we have ideas better than theirs, let’s talk about them, not just code words of bigots. The radicals in this race thus far are our misbegotten Republican nominees. John Esche

Tipping the scales

Bloomington, Ind.: We‘ve witnessed an astonishing transformation of Kamala Harris from near-obscurity to being a viable presidential candidate in just a couple of weeks. This unparalleled rise wouldn’t be possible without the full-fledged support of our national media. This includes social media and most mainstream news and information providers. Hollywood is gushingly blue-checked and they’re not bashful about it. Late-night talk has become a platform for smearing Trump and promoting Harris. More than 90% of American journalists are left-leaning and have tenacious disdain for Trump. They will rarely, if ever, say anything positive about him. So, will the deceitful press and entertainment industry decide who will be the next leader of the Free World? If the election goes Harris’s way, it would be hard to argue that our national media didn’t play a major role. Scott Thompson

Vote your values

Lockport, N.Y.: Donald Trump: “Christians are notorious for not voting; if a given candidate doesn’t check every ‘Christian’ box, they feel they’re betraying God by voting at all.” President Biden: “Our democracy’s at stake.” Whatever one’s beliefs or non-belief may be, let’s remember: The agendas/policies pursued by a given president (and therefore that person’s party) are bound to impact all of us in some way. If people of faith value freedom (including the First Amendment’s freedom of speech and expression, which also guarantees the right to practice one’s faith according to the dictates of conscience), then it behooves all believers to register to vote for the 2024 election, and then confidently vote for candidates/parties whose agendas closely match with their own values. We can’t just sit this one out. This year, more than ever, freedom’s at stake. Christians, especially, need to show up and show out at the polls. Lloyd Marshall Jr.

Supporting from safety

Manhattan: I fail to understand how pro-Israel people volunteer to go to Israel and help the Israelis while the pro-Palestine protesters stay safe in the U.S. and don’t volunteer to help the Palestinian people. It’s a shame! If you really care, put your body with the rest of your mouth. This is not a fun time for anyone, and it is unfortunate that it is being made into parties, demonstrations and parades instead of doing something worthwhile, even if it means sacrificing your comfort. Marilyn Levin

Worlds apart-heid

Brooklyn: I need to correct a few of the glaring inaccuracies in Voicer Toby Block’s letter. First, non-Jewish residents have long been treated as second-class citizens. Secondly, it is forbidden for Arabs to dig wells — so much for alleged access to water in a very arid region. Hence, the miracle of Israeli agriculture comes at the expense of Arabs. Thirdly, Palestinians have been subjected to constant brutality, including rape and torture, for more than 100 years. Lastly, Zionist settlers are a perennial violent threat to Palestinians. I honestly don’t know how Block can say abject nonsense and keep a straight face — this in light of recent statements from Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who said that starving 2 million Gazans is “justified and moral.” Way to go, Bezalel! With sentiments like those, who needs Block’s Western civilization? Safe to say that the terrorist Zionist regime is long overdue for whatever misfortune comes its way. Nick Smith

Invested in conflict

Ottawa, Ontario: Every time there is a hope for Hamas-Israel peace, someone derails it. That makes you wonder if there is any real desire for peace. Also, besides destruction, war is a business for weapons. Could that be the reason someone derails peace proposals? I wonder. Anant Nagpur

Temper, temper

Whitestone: Re “Mayor looking into dustup between top NYPD official and reporter for Daily News” (Aug. 7): I would like to know what qualifications Kaz Daughtry has in order for him to be NYPD chief of operations. Has he passed any civil service promotion test? I would ask the media to obtain and report his test scores along with other qualifications for such an important position in the department. As an NYPD official and representative, I don’t think it’s appropriate to get into the face of a newspaper reporter because the reporter did a report on something with a negative overtone regarding some action by him. An apology is in order. Gene O’Brien

‘Elections’ in name only

Brooklyn: A tip of the hat to the Daily News’ editorialists (“Judicial elections without voters,” editorial, Aug. 8) for spreading some sunshine on those less-than-transparent judicial conventions that pick state court judges. Except for that fabulous brainbox Alan Flacks, no good government group seems to pay any attention to this unlevel playing field. I hope The News’ ongoing spotlight will finally someday open judicial selection to election by voters, not party bosses. Auxil Benevosoc

Simply unsustainable

Bethesda, Md.: Weather conditions just about everywhere have seen record temperatures along with devastating consequences, including fatalities. These heat waves and storms are not isolated incidents, but signs of a troubling trend, highlighting the urgent need to address climate change, particularly through sustainable practices. Animal agriculture significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions while driving deforestation and pollution, to say nothing of the unimaginable cruelty to animals and negative consequences to human health. Eliminating meat consumption, supporting local, plant-based agriculture and investing in renewable energy sources can collectively make a substantial difference. We are all in this together, and we are all affected by the negative consequences of doing little or nothing to solve the problem. Animal ag is not going to fix itself; we must dispassionately look at and address the problem. Shemirah Brachah