Harry Reid Is Quietly Laying The Groundwork For Elizabeth Warren To Be Vice President

[workinclasszero]

BY IAN MILLHISER JUN 6, 2016 8:00 AM


There are several good reasons why presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton might want to choose Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) as her running mate.

Warren is a forceful critic of Republican candidate Donald Trump. As the architect of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Warren helps insulate Clinton from charges that she is too close to Wall Street. And Warren is popular with many liberal Democrats that Clinton may want to build bridges towards in the wake of a bruising primary against Sen. Bernie Sanders.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/06/06/3784898/harry-reid-quietly-laying-groundwork-elizabeth-warren-vice-president/

[immoderate]

1. Elizabeth is a voice against the corporatocracy that Hillary wants to co-opt.

She shouldn't fall for it.

--imm

[Fumesucker]

2. Get that difficult woman out of the Senate where she is causing so many problems

And into a nice safe ceremonial job where she will be in no position to influence things.

[geek tragedy]

4. it's all an evil conspiracy, it always is with Hillary, right? nt

[Fumesucker]

13. Hillary wouldn't be where she is if she didn't game everything out

That's politics in the big leagues, every word is considered and weighed, every decision has ramifications and contingency plans are made for every conceivable set of circumstances.

Clausewitz said that war is just politics by other means and war is largely about deception and contingency planning.

[geek tragedy]

14. but you're presuming it was to achieve nefarious rightwing ends

rather than to win the general election

[Fumesucker]

16. Elizabeth Warren has been a thorn in the side of the pragmatic moderate centrists since her election

Principled people always are.

[geek tragedy]

18. I like how principled and pragmatic are mutually exclusive attributes in the view of some nt

[Fumesucker]

19. One of those places where theory and practice seem to diverge

In theory pragmatists can be principled however observational data on principled pragmatists is sparse, noisy and less than encouraging.

I for one am never sure where pragmatism leaves off and the end justifies the means takes over.

[geek tragedy]

20. pragmatism is simply choosing that which works and rejecting that which fails

actual activists, as opposed to peanut gallery observers, do not have the luxury of adhering to that which fails

[Fumesucker]

21. That depends a great deal on point of view

I'm reminded of Twain's War Prayer where Mysterious Stranger says to be mindful that the prayer you pray for yourself does not bring calamity on your neighbor. But everyone agreed at the end that he was quite mad.

[geek tragedy]

22. not really, people who are trying to make a real difference in the world

and in the lives of others don't have the luxury of sticking to failed ideas and courses of action just because such ideas and courses of action allow them to feel better about themselves

[Fumesucker]

23. I paid a price in friendships back in the day over the Clintons

Defended them in a time and place that was not a popular thing to do.

Then I found out I was in the wrong, they were lying to me and to the country.

Fool me once, shame on you.

[geek tragedy]

24. that's arguing about politics, not activism nt

[Fumesucker]

25. It speaks to character, they left every supporter in the country twisting in the wind

All so they could deny the truth a little longer.

What price have you paid for the Clintons, personally?

[geek tragedy]

27. To what incident are you referring when you talk about

how they were lying to the entire country, and you felt embarrassed for having defended them?

[azurnoir]

29. is that what you're calling the 3rd way's objectives?

well honesty is a good start

[Live and Learn]

12. Hadn't thought of it that way but you have a point. nt

[Orsino]

3. I would find it difficult to name a better VP...

...nor a target the Establishment would more happily nerf.

Warren on a ticket would help win my vote and enthusiasm, however.

[Garrett78]

5. I don't see that happening.

Warren is needed in the Senate and wouldn't provide the ticket with balance.

I think a relatively young POC (and probably a male) who isn't from the Northeast would make more sense.

[Skwmom]

6. It's the story they want to sell before the CA primary and to keep Warren in line.

[thucythucy]

33. "...to keep Warren in line."

You don't seem to have much regard for her intelligence or political savvy.

[Demsrule86]

7. Great choice. nt

[cynatnite]

8. "That ticket would alienate all the white men"

Can't remember who said this on MSNBC, but it made me laugh.

[workinclasszero]

9. "That ticket would alienate all the white men"

What a joke eh?

I'm a white man. SMDM

Some people need to get out of the stone ages and join the rest of us LOL

[AzDar]

10. I certainly hope not... that would mean abandoning all she purports to stand for.

[CharlotteVale]

17. +1

[Live and Learn]

11. What a waste that would be. She has much more power where she is. nt

[PoliticAverse]

26. I think that would be part of the point of getting her to be VP. n/t

[Live and Learn]

34. I think you are right. Hopefully, she is too smart for that. nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. I'd vote for that ticket....if the Hillary part is removed.

[Live and Learn]

35. LOL Me too. nt

[Vinca]

28. That would make me happy.

As long as Hillary gave her more to do than attend state funerals.

[vi5]

30. Well, it would get me to do more than just vote.

As it sits now, HRC gets me to drive myself to the polling place, press a button and then drive home. Hopefully I'll be able to combine it with another trip out that day since that's still a lot more effort and work than I want to put in for her in any capacity. But I'll have to.

But unlike almost every other election there will be no monetary donations, no phone banking, no driving others to the polls, no even bothering to chime in and argue with anyone who is bashing her or who doesn't support her. 1 vote and that's it.

But with Warren on the ticket. I'll do all of those other things and more.

never going to happen though. Elizabeth is not a quiet, ceremonial person she's a firebrand with her own opinions and the guts to back them up. And Hillary is pure self centeredness and she will never have someone on the ticket who might overshadow her.

[libdem4life]

31. Nope...two white women in their late 60s. That's me, so I get to say that.

Huge Mistake in so many ways. If for only the optics of it...but there are many more. No VP can mitigate the high HRC negatives ... which likely would be a career ender. Maybe if they could talk Joe into staying?

Sidelining Warren will bring mass defections...mark my words. I'd also be shocked if she agreed. An endorsement is a long way from joining the ticket.

Just Say No, Elizabeth...please.

[thucythucy]

36. As opposed to two white men in their sixties

which optics are oh so acceptable and logical and correct? Granted, it's pretty much all we had for the first two hundred or so years of the republic, which I guess makes the optics that much more acceptable, but personally I think it's past time we moved on.

Two women on the ticket would be awesome. Even more awesome would be Elizabeth Warren as VP, breaking any tie votes in the Senate, attending cabinet meetings, and having her own shot at the bully pulpit and the presidency in 2020 (should President Clinton choose not to run) or 2024 (if she did).

"Mass defections." Really? People who might have voted for Clinton won't vote for her because of Elizabeth Warren as VP? Who are you talking about, specifically?

Not to mention, it'll drive Trump completely around the bend. The GOP will have to amputate his tongue and remove his voice box for the duration, just to keep him from tripping over his own misogyny.

I don't think it'll happen, but just the idea has me smiling.

[libdem4life]

40. Well, there is always the point where what feels good doesn't look good.

My first class in Feminism...the first offered (in summer school) at the Liberal Arts College...was my last 3 units to graduate. It was a curious phenomenon.

I have tremendous pride in the Woman's Movement. But there is such a thing as pushing the envelope. And, IMO, this qualifies. First of all it's never going to happen, so is merely rhetorical. And second of all, it's a politically dangerous position...no power with substantial criticism and a career ender.

Ms. Warren is a school teacher...a professional instructor...an academic with a passion for The People. I believe that this is a method to silence her...get her out of the Senate and the committees where she has real power, people listen to her and get her caring for their needs. She will NOT have that opportunity under a Clinton Administration. Someone mentioned it earlier...everything must be scripted, calculated, focus grouped to death. No, that is not Senator Warren.

Now I saw something about Mark Cuban...LOL. A mega-wealthy basketball team owner, snarky, loves and creates turmoil, makes fun of people and laughs it off and thrives on publicity. He's the perfect fit. Really.

Let's see...Option 1 or Option 2? Who fits the best. If I had a case, I'd rest it right here.

ETA: I'm fine if it's a woman...but the world is not yet ready for it, and we'd be foolish to "try it out to see if it works". But definitely NOT Ms Warren. So as PC as it may be, it's just not the right set of circumstances, IMO.

[MoonRiver]

32. Why would Warren want this job?

She refused to run for president, so exactly why would she want to be Vice President. It makes NO sense.

[thucythucy]

37. You're probably right.

It's a happy thought though, TWO women on the national ticket. If you ask me, after two hundred plus years of men men men as president AND VP, it's about fucking time.

[Garrett78]

38. Sadly, though, I suspect we aren't there yet.

Meaning I think Clinton will choose a man, partly as a way of somewhat reducing time spent dealing with sexist attacks and partly as a way of soothing those Democrats who might (whether they admit it or not) not be fully comfortable with having a woman POTUS.

My preference is for a relatively young POC (probably a male) who isn't from the Northeast. To provide balance and to help make sure systemic racism is front and center as an issue to address.

[thucythucy]

39. That would work for me as well.

I'm not sure geography matters that much anymore in the digital age. I remember when Clinton picked Gore there were all these pundits saying "two southerners is a dumb move" but it seemed to work fine.

Having a ticket that, by it's very composition, addresses systemic sexism AND racism would indeed be sweet.

Best wishes on this fine spring day.

[stevenleser]

41. I was dead set against this for a long time. I'm warming up to the idea. Here are my criteria for a

VP Pick. Its actually very straightforward:

1. Is credible to step into the job of President if necessary.

2. Can help move the President's legislation through the congress.

3. Is a good attack dog versus the other side.

4. Will be a loyal ally to the President.

5. Won't hurt the ticket.

Warren does pretty well on most of these. The added trick this time is that I think the GOP VP Nominee will be Gingrich and he is one of the better attack dogs I have seen. She has to be able to stand up to him.