"Zeitgeist Of The Moment"
By Mike Bibb
Super Gavin Newsome Lifesize
Cardboard Cutout, available on
eBAY.
"You gotta be honest with yourself. Do you represent the zeitgeist of the moment?" — California Governor Gavin Newsom's remark during a CNN interview with Jake Tapper, Sep. 14, 2026.
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Alright, now we're getting into extraordinarily specific political terms — which means most people will probably have no idea what the various contenders are talking about.
The candidate might not either, other than some speech writer thought inclusion of a highfalutin sounding term makes an office-seeking contestant seem more serious or smarter.
In this case, Gavin must have concluded inserting "zeitgeist" during an interview was an impressive, intellectual thing to do.
After all, if elected President he'll be hanging with all kinds of global officials, speaking multiple languages when deciding if we're going to die in 2032 from polluted air, warming atmosphere, rising seas, nuclear war, oceans full of plastic trash, rusty electric wind turbines, runaway migrant invasions, an abnormally powerful El Nino, orbiting Flock Cameras filming everything and everyone in the universe and conferencing on the widespread disdain of modern automobile's stop-start systems.
Or, is AI going to save us from our own stupidity, speculative bitcoin investments and other "existential threats?"
If given the opportunity to voice his concern, a simple "Zeitgeist" would confirm Gavin is truly one of the genuinely knowledgeable policy planners and deep thinkers of our time.
FYI: "Zeitgeist (tsit'gist') n. [German, time, spirit] the trend of thought and feeling in a period." — Webster's New World Dictionary, 2002 by Wiley Publishing, Inc,
Personally, when entering a voting booth, I normally don't think in terms of "Golly, I wonder which one of these guys/gals really represents the zeitgeist of the moment?"
Maybe, because the application of a German word, in an American election discussion seems kinda out of place.
Not that it's inappropriate — just weird sounding.
Apparently, not to Gavin.
The word came into conversation when Newsom was asked by CNN commentator Jake Tapper, if he would run for President if former Vice President Kamala Harris decided to enter the contest.
"I don't know if she runs, but we'll see. I wouldn't run if she ran" he replied.
Wondering why, Tapper inquired about Gavin's instance not to campaign against Kamala, he replied "Of course not. Why should I? I wouldn't do that to her. I wouldn't do it to me."
Have to respect his friendship with Kamala — whether it's real or politically motivated.
Doesn't hurt he's profoundly enamored with his own self-esteem, either.
Perhaps Gavin was simply overwhelmed by a zeitgeist of the moment experience?
Who really knows?
Newsom and Harris have been involved in California politics for a long time.
He was Mayor of San Francisco, California Lt. Governor, then Governor.
She was San Francisco District Attorney, California Attorney General, California U.S. Senator, then Joe Biden selected her as his Vice-Presidential running mate.
After the Democrat National Committee pulled Joe from running for reelection in 2024 because of his obvious cognitive issues, the DNC installed Kamala — without primary election approval — to be its Presidential candidate against Donald Trump.
Following the campaign, and spending over a billion dollars in about three months, Kamala lost to Trump.
She soon returned to California and purchased a $8.15 million oceanside home in Point Dume, along one of Malibu's exclusive coastal areas.
Trump flew to Washington to pick up where he left off after his 2020 defeat. Only the second time a President has served non-consecutive terms — 2017-2021 and 2025-to present.
Grover Cleveland was first — 1885-1889 and 1893-1897.
Completing his single chaotic term, Joe ambled back to Delaware to ride around in his classic Corvette, write about his nearly 50-year-long adventures in Washington — the parts he can remember — and have lunch with newly pardoned son, Hunter.
Throughout this entire process, I've never heard any of them mention "I'm representing the zeitgeist of the moment."
Until Gavin. Perhaps, that's how he talked on planet Krypton, before coming to Earth as Superman, and secretly assuming the role of newspaper reporter Clark Kent — prior to entering politics.
Since he worked in the press, and understood the importance of media clarity, he probably should have said "in the hilarity of the moment."
Less confusing to voters who don't speak German.
At least, 9.9-out-of-10 folks would have a better idea what he was really trying to say.
Of course, after four years of listening to "Border Czar" Kamala's 12-minute word scrambles, rambling descriptions and hand gestures when trying to explain if the border is open or closed, maybe even "zeitgeist" begins to make sense!!!
