Presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee VP Kamala Harris has chosen a running mate in Governor Tim Walz. I used to work in politics ,and think I pay attention, but if a month ago you’d have told me the Democratic VP candidate was going to be a Midwestern Lutheran angler/hunter former High School football coach I’d have probably laughed in your face. And that’s before I knew what he drove!
Let’s just get this out of the way right now: Vote for who you want. There are going to be plenty of websites and people in your life telling you whom to vote for — we will not be among them (unless Dan Gurney is resurrected and runs as an independent).
When President Biden, a known car guy, stepped down my best search revealed no similar car interest in VP Kamala Harris (although I did discover, via commenter V10omous, that former President Trump once owned a pretty sweet Lambo). Most career politicians, for whatever reason, are not usually car people. This ends up occasionally causing huge problems.
Is Minnesota Governor Tim Walz a car person? I think it’s safe to say he is.
Out of all potential Democratic VP nominees, Tim Walz undoubtedly has the very best car. That should count for something. https://t.co/yqbV0DjhYq pic.twitter.com/SI7ZHgkFnA
— lichen appreciator (@tjdfotographist) August 2, 2024
First, let’s go to what he drives: A baby blue 1979 International Harvester Scout II that he reportedly works on himself. From his local paper:
He owns and tinkers around on a vintage blue International Scout, a four-wheel-drive vehicle that International Harvester stopped producing in 1980. He has custom plates that read, “ONE MN,” his campaign slogan for his gubernatorial bid.
Also, he has a dog named Scout, presumably after his truck. There’s ample evidence on the web of him driving the Scout, so it’s not a garage queen (although, for state business, he seems to be ferried around in the usual mix of SUVs).
A Scout is obviously an amazing car choice. The Fort Wayne-built truck was manufactured by International Harvester during its foray into consumer vehicles and, being a 1979 model, it’s a Scout II. Walz gives off extreme Grandpa energy, and the Scout, while being a great truck, is definitely not hip in the way a Bronco is nor tough in the way of an old Blazer. I think it would sway more youngsters if he had a Pajero Evo, but we’ll probably have to wait for our first Millenial gearhead Veep nom for that.
Ok, he’s got a great truck that he seems to own simply because he likes it, but is he a wrench? Let’s look at the evidence.
He’s constantly reminding people to get their oil changed or take care of their cars:
But does Governor Walz change his own oil? You can totally be a car person and a gearhead without doing any of those things, but you’re not likely a wrench.
Here are some photos of him working on his car, but perhaps they’re staged?
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who is picking up momentum as a possible VP pick, is the proud owner of a 1979 International Harvester Scout that was built in Fort Wayne. pic.twitter.com/vv8s0Gh9ZW
— Fort Wayne Politics (@FWPolitics) July 30, 2024
Actually, wait. There’s definitive proof in this Tweet:
A favorite from my Walz archive. pic.twitter.com/IXOzUnRne1
— Matt Wagenius (@mattwagenius) August 5, 2024
Governor Walz, in the middle of the election, took apart the headlight connector on a Ford Edge and explained how to fix it using some shrink-wrap connectors. Even that itself might not be enough proof, but it’s the way he called out the cost of doing it yourself (just $7.99 at NAPA!) and his light chastising of Ford for the quality of the harness that really makes it for me.
Again, having a cool car is not at all a reason to vote for someone. Neither is being able to work on your own car. However, if the Harris-Walz ticket is elected this might be the right time to push for a national Right-to-Repair law.
Sounds like I’d rather have him running for PotUS than the current VPotUS. Not saying I’d vote for him, per se, but I’d like to see more down-to-earth types who have a grasp of the world around them outside of their political bubble. Someone willing to keep a Scout running and use it as intended certainly seems like they might fit that categorization.
If I were president I would still drive my old cars on some occasions. As far as I can tell, the Secret Service is still under direction from the president. If presidents can basically take over a golf course to get in 18 holes, maybe I rent out VIR to drive my Lotus.
There are several examples of presidents driving on closed courses with supervision and/or ride-along agents.
Ain’t no one ridin’ shotgun in my single-seat Lotus! And supervision stops at guarding the entrance. They are not telling me to slow down.
I mean, what’s the point of being president if you can’t even control your own self?
Well it has become largely a puppet position, so…
Holy moley his dog Scout is a rescue, too. I love this guy!
An IH Scout not ‘tough in the way of an old Blazer’? Now that’s a bullsh!t statement.
Yeah, I’ve seen Scouts put through absolute hell and just keep trucking…..very slowly, but trucking still.
During a Leno interview I found out that due to security concerns past presidents and VPs are never allowed to drive … and ouch, that’s a price I could never pay … even if I was from the USA. (Bush apparently can only drive his truck on his own ranch. Biden was only allowed to drive his Vette on a closed course).
It’s sad but Walz will likely never get to drive his beloved Scout again if he and Kamala get elected.
Joe drove a Ford F-150 Lightning prototype around Ford’s skidpad when it was announced.
Anecdotally, I think it was the first times I’d heard him speak.
Didn’t Obama drive a C2 Corvette around on White House property with Jerry Seinfeld on an episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee?
I’m really hoping Tim Walz doesn’t win election to the Vice Presidency, because he’s storing my winter tires in his garage.
Just to clarify, he’s holding an 8 track of Billy Joel’s seminal 1980 album, Glass Houses.
Please provide Tim Walz with a gratis Autopian Membership and an Autopian Member Tee Shirt.
Please keep this site free of political stories, they’re totally unnecessary.
Every political story is one less interesting car story.
Politicians are not interesting.
Taillights are interesting.
make your own website
Tim Walz chooses Max Finkel as his Autopian name. That’s a story right there.
see what I mean, man? you’ve got the knack for this. go get em
Thank you, I like your spirit!
I believe you meant “keep the politics of the party I oppose out of this site.” Don’t worry, it’s quite common.
Don’t be an amateur mind reader
Looking at the world through a political lens limits your mind. Free your mind. One day, you may understand this.
… This is a car story. Right to repair is a car story.
If that’s how you see this, I would definitely recommend against visiting the sister site The Couchopian
In fairness, I think Matt did a fairly admirable job keeping politically-charged aspects out of the article. A brief description of why it’s relevant that the site is publishing a brief story on an individual most Americans hadn’t/haven’t heard of, and that’s largely it.
The final sentence about right to repair had more “energy” than the rest of the article.
Matt is a very thoughtful writer.
There’s lots of stories on this site everyday, none of us are obligated to click on all of them. I don’t care about supercars or hypercars, for example, so I skip those ones.
Am I the only one that would like some back story on the pig he’s holding?
It’s the upper midwest, that kind of thing happens.
I bet ya David Tracy is looking to get his own Scout and is browsing the classifieds this very minute.
Only if he can find one that’s German, made of carbon fiber, and electrified.
Nah, he could borrow Andrew Collins’
I would posit that a ’79 Scout II is much “tougher” than a ’79 K5 Blazer.
IH engines were highly renowned for their over construction. A 304 / 345 / 392 SV8 in a Scout 800 or Scout II was the same engine used in a school bus or any other medium duty truck. Their high nickle content blocks are amazingly durable.
I’m cool with anyone that drives an old Scout and will stop to pet a random cat.
Your user name really drove that comment home.
It’s a good start, but there’s far more beyond that that can turn someone perceived to be cool into a possible monster. Heck, take Bill Cosby as an example. Went from “America’s dad” to a convict.
I’m even more pleased with this news after I’ve read the article.
The only way he could be MORE Minnesotan is if we find out that he has a boat and a snowmobile.
And eats Lutefisk. <blech>
The man with the terrible smell.
Guy’s originally from Nebraska.
Yeah, but he has the spirit. I’m not from Minnesota either, but I lived there from 1996-2007 and consider myself an honorary Minnesotan.
So? It’s not like he had a chance to choose where he was born.
Considering the qualifications for PotUS and VPotUS, where one is born can be very critical.
Is there a difference?
A car guy who got a DUI while going 96 in a 55 zone.
in 1995.
but 96mph, further proof he’s a car guy.
In a 55 zone – while drunk – one that didn’t make a good choice back then.
Tipsy Tim or Wino Walz I can see the headlines now…
EDIT
Damn it he lied about it as too. well I guess he’s a politician after all.
I suspect people will forgive him his mistake or not care, but lying about it is less forgivable in my book. (not that anyone else is a saint in this election cycle).
https://alphanews.org/court-transcript-sheds-new-light-on-walzs-dui-arrest/
I was just starting to like the guy too.
Sometimes I’m glad I’m only a resident not a citizen, so I can’t vote, but I sure wish we had candidates who were legit straight up people, and not having to choose the lessor evil one.
Many are happy you cannot vote
This would be true whichever way I’d vote if I could, but as there isn’t a candidate without a dodgy past to vote for I’m not worried about voting.
Reads like a campaign worker lied about it. Mr. Walz owned up to it, offered to resign his teacher job the next day, pleaded guilty to a charge, and quit drinking….this does not sound like what you describe.
Also, pro tip: if it smells like a political nutjob website, it probablty is a political nutjob website. Pardon me while I wonder about your motives…
I have no motives, I don’t have a dog in this fight.
Hmm, pathologically-lying sexual assault-condoning insurrection-instigating democracy-undermining hurricane-projection-redirecting-out-of-pure-insecurity court-packing hush-money-paying Russian useful idiot pseudostrongman dragging the world into a culturally and environmentally regressive swing to the right logorrheic coprolalic convicted felon racist sexist dictator-too-stupid-to-dictate somehow both shriveled and bloated orange nutsack with dentures, or a guy that got a substantial moving violation 29 years ago?
I know my vote is back into swing-territory with this new information!
LOL I hear you loud and clear and I agree.
My point was that NOBODY is a saint, everyone has a dodgy past, some of it very recent.
It’s a shame that we can’t have better candidates to vote for for those that can vote.
Hey, thanks for the even-keeled reply. I did some thinking about my comment and realized that, while I do feel very strongly about it, I didn’t need to direct it at you.
Funny you mention saints, because that exactly how I framed it in my head after the fact – we’re not electing saints, just people. I’ll definitely co-sign to the idea that “okay but could we get some people with slightly fewer skeletons in their closets?” To that end, I wish Walz didn’t have this DUI. On balance, you better believe I’ll take it, though.
Thank you.
The “saints” thing is interesting. I couldn’t run in an election either, as my past has skeletons too. So glass houses and throwing stones and all that lol.
I think at the end of the day it comes down to “do my values align with this persons values / voting record”. if so, then that is who we should vote for.
So the Florida vote is in the bag for Dems
It’s not great, and I’m glad it caused him to reevaluate his choices and quit drinking. Regardless, this hasn’t been disqualifying before. GW Bush had DUI, and his wife actually killed someone in a car.
Dubuya was a Republican. They have different rules.
I didn’t know IH Scouts could go 96 MPH
The 96mph part was apparently because the cop’s sirens and lights were off, and he thought it was some rando chasing and tailgating him.
There’s no real excuse for a DUI, and even “it was 30 years ago” is a bit thin, but unfortunately if we eliminate everyone with a DUI (or should have gotten one but didn’t get caught or had the money/connections to get out of it) there’s not going to be many candidates left.
I have first hand account that he is also a honorable man who does doesn’t haggle on asking price. My Dad’s a big International guy, and he’s always wheeling and dealing. Well, one day he gets a text from some dude in his International club about some part for a friend. My Dad is like “Yeah, I got a pristine one” and throws out a high asking price. Guy says my friend will be over in a couple hours. Couple hours later, Tim Walz comes over with two other guys to his suburban MPLS home. They’re hanging out for a while, looking at my Dad’s prized Harvester, plus some tractor he was building. Pays full asking price. Well, my sister was going over there, sees this. They end their hang, and my Dad comes in and tells them about this nice guy. My sister asks if he knows who that is. He’s like no idea, doesn’t pay attention to politics since Jesse left. And that is the story of how my Dad voted for a DFL candidate for the first time in his life.
To heck with Gurney, I want DT as VP. Rust you can trust!
Donald Trump?
David Tracy of course
“Hello, Secret Service? I need to borrow Marine One to go and liberate a Holy Grail Jeep. It’ll go with the others on the South Lawn.”
VP Tracy sees the South Lawn and just sees storage space for projects.
Imagine the ruts on the south lawn! and they were complaining the jet wash from the helicopters landing on lawns in the white house!!
Marine One’s undercarriage is now riddled with rust holes
It’s Rust You Can Trust, not Hair That Will Scare.
Right to repair!
Right to repair!
Right to repair!
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Four more gears! Four more gears!
Dunno, 10 is a bit much :D.