Denison Forum
Dr. Jim Denison
Last night’s vice presidential debate between Tim Walz and J. D. Vance had no decisive winner, according to a poll conducted just after the event. Unsurprisingly, Democrats overwhelmingly sided with Walz, while Republicans overwhelmingly picked Vance as the winner.
The debate was widely watched for at least three reasons. One was that one in five Americans said they did not know the candidates before the debate. Another was the obvious desire of viewers to learn more about the two parties and their visions for the future.
And another was the fact that when the presidential inauguration takes place in 110 days, one of these two men will be a heartbeat away from the Oval Office.
Of the forty-five people who have served as president of the United States, eight died in office. The vice presidents who succeeded them were a varied lot: Andrew Johnson was impeached, avoiding conviction by a single vote, while Theodore Roosevelt became one of our most admired presidents and Harry Truman helped end World War II.
Consequently, what happened last night could shape our national future and invites us to consider two imperatives.
Beware the illusion of immortality
If you were seeking a unifying theme for the day’s news, human mortality and finitude would be high on your list. For example: More Here