Hillary Clinton is not the only presidency-bound pantsuit-wearing woman

[bemildred]

You may have heard that there’s a new memoir out by a wily blond politician, a woman who rocks a pantsuit and could well run for the U.S. presidency in 2016. This politician, who left a job as a law professor for the tactical battles of the Senate floor, lays out a progressive, populist agenda in her new autobiography. It’s easy to imagine a wide swath of Americans casting a ballot for her.

Her name is Elizabeth Warren. Perhaps you thought I meant the other blond, pantsuit-wearing law-professor-turned-politician with a memoir out in bookstores?

Ms. Warren, a Democratic Massachusetts senator since 2013, resembles Hillary Clinton in many ways – they are both tough, shrewd, accomplished survivors, and grandmothers to boot. (At least, Ms. Clinton is on her way to becoming a grandma.) They are of similar age: Ms. Warren is 65 and Ms. Clinton is 66. But in the essential matter of narrative, they are poles apart.

A compelling story is crucial to a successful political trajectory, especially in U.S. presidential politics. Ms. Clinton’s is wobbling slightly at the moment, as she’s portrayed in the media as Marie Antoinette in mid-heel pumps. First there was her quote about being “dead broke” after her husband Bill’s legal bills upon leaving the White House. Then the woman who earns millions for her books and upward of $200,000 for each speaking engagement said in an interview that she and her husband pay “ordinary income tax,” in contrast to the “truly well off.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/move-over-hillary-elizabeths-a-contender/article19395229/

[Unashamed Liberal]

1. Democratic Presidential Primary

I would support Warren if she was the nominee, just as I would support Clinton in the same situation.

I really love the way Warren's mind works, and I like her "no nonsense" approach. On the other hand, you cannot rule out the 20 years of national political experience that Clinton has.

Washington is a Cesspit of money and corruption, and although people criticize Hillary for being and "insider", it takes extremely thick skin (nay, scales) to be able to function effectively in that place. An inexperienced neophyte would be chewed up and spat out within a couple of months.

I think that was a big part of Obama's problem. He assumed that the Needs of the Country would override Partisan politics. (Naive)

So back to the topic: I would support either of these candidates - let the primary decide which. However, I think Warren has the ideas, but Hillary has the capability.

[apnu]

2. They were dead broke in 2000. That's true. And they do pay ordinary income tax.

None of their earnings from the books or speaking engagements are investment based income, its "earned income". So they pay tax at whatever income bracket they fall into. Probably the highest one, that carries the highest percentage. Plus they din't have an employer pulling tax out for them, making tax season pretty easy. I bet doing their taxes is a nightmare.

The only thing I think can be said about the 'dead broke' comment is, they had an easy path out of debt post-Presidency, like all Presidents. A unique advantage.

[bemildred]

3. I think the "dead broke" comment is a molehill, it is easy to misconstrue is all.

And we love to misconstrue things, we think it's clever.

That said, I think Ms. Clinton is going to have to convince the public that she is the person to clean up the mess in DC, that's what Obama did (and I give him some credit for that), and that before all is what the public wants.

And since she has a long track record and is a known personality, unlike Obama then, it's going to be a tough sell. I know my friends on the left view her and Bill with great skepticism, to put it kindly.

Ms Warren would likely do better to stay out of it this time around, but she may get drafted. I'm glad it's still two years away. A lot can change.

[karynnj]

13. I agree and think Hillary Clinton is extremely likely to be our nominee and the next President

As to Warren, this really is the only time that could make sense. Even if, heaven forbid, the Democrat loses, by "next time", she would be 69 years old. However, I think she may not have the intense desire to be President that is needed to make someone go through that grueling experience.

I am surprised and impressed that after experiencing 2008, that HRC is willing to go through all that again - even knowing the Presidency (and the first woman one at that) is a huge prize. She knows what the next two and a half years will be if she runs. She knows that every sentence she utters will be examined be many and parsed in the most negative way possible by some people. She knows that anything that "sticks" will then be put in the echo chamber and repeated ad nauseum. Even just as person on a message board following a candidate I thought was a great person and would be a wonderful President, I felt sick hearing distorted things repeated from a multiple of sources. I can only imagine how the candidate and his/her family, friends and team have to feel.

At this point, Clinton is signalling that she may be running. She is also out polling every Republican. No one seems to poll any other Democrat or generic Democrat against the Republicans, but that is because Clinton absolutely dominates the Democratic primary polls. While I may not support her in the primaries if there is someone I think better, I will support her if she is the nominee. I also might support her in the primaries if she continues to show she beats the Republicans and polls show her competitors are extremely unlikely to do so. Only time will show what the situation will be when voting starts in 2016.

[mylye2222]

14. We just have fist to see if she will run first,

and if she does which serious challenger might she have during primaries. You all know here I am not a fan of her, but, there is at least one reason, and powerfull one as we have witnessed its importance a few days ago: the SCOTUS!

[gwheezie]

4. I'll vote for either of them

I would like warren to further clarify her positions. I like what I've heard so far. I feel like I know Hillary and I like her. I need to know warren better in order to vote for her in a primary

I did not play in the ridiculous Obama vs Hillary wars and I won't do it in 16. Especially between women who will be our 1st female president and a dem.

[bemildred]

5. Yes. I think mainly I am against inevitability for anybody at the moment. nt

[VanillaRhapsody]

6. you people are really sad...

She said she is not running for Pres.

[bemildred]

7. Well, you don't want to declare too early, that would be making it easy for the opposition. nt

[VanillaRhapsody]

8. that is not what she said

Nor does it align with the fact that she signed aletter f support for HRC.


So sad indeed....verging on pathetic

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

9. Yup, Elizabeth demonstrating her political smarts.

[Reter]

11. No she didn't

Well maybe she did say that in 2009 or so, but all she does is give yes hints lately.

[VanillaRhapsody]

12. what hint? Are you trying to read her mind again?

She has done nothing of the sort. Annoyed at being asked yet again..."I am not running .... I am not running...I AM NOT running for President"

Where is the hidden coded message in THAT?

[thesquanderer]

22. "I am not running" does not equal "I will not run"

It's a variant of "it depends on what the meaning of 'is' is." It was an unfortunately cute way of putting it, but Bill was right, tense has meaning.

[VanillaRhapsody]

23. yeah when you are a mind reader it does...

Not to mention she supports HRC......that supports my contention not yours...yeah words have meaning alright particularly if you have some damn respect for the speaker who said them. EW doesnt mince words or play games....that is what I like about her.

[MannyGoldstein]

15. So did Hillary

Why doesn't that count?

[joshcryer]

27. While SoS. After SoS she said she'd be deciding.

She may yet decide to be a doting grandmother not wanting to deal with the right-left vitriol that will no doubt happen if she were to run.

We'll see what happens after the birth of her first grandchild.

I expect she will run, because like Warren, Clinton is a fighter.

[Thinkingabout]

10. The DNC is in a really good position. We have several possible candidates and several

younger ones for the future. There is a big need for Democrats to be elected in all levels to get these stupid laws back off of the books on issues of curtailing abortion choices and anti gay laws. It is our responsibility as Democrats to get like minded people registered and then GOTV. We need to lift up all possible candidates and understand in the case of Hillary and Elizabeth, neither has announced they are a candidate and we need to present their good points and experience. Praise Hillary and Elizabeth without the negative.

[Sunlei]

16. We need Mrs. Warren on the Senate floor for at least this first full term & hopefully many more.

I'm sure she is honored many see her as Presidential material. But she has already said she is not going to run and supports Mrs. Clinton (if she runs) I take Mrs. Warren at her word.

[Beacool]

17. I like Liz Warren just fine, but would prefer if she stayed in the Senate.

Last edited Thu Jul 3, 2014, 11:55 AM - Edit history (1)

2016 is going to be a tough year, it won't be like 2008. The Democrats could have nominated a turnip in 2008 and that turnip would have won against the Republican nominee. After the two Bush wars and the economic collapse, American voters were ready for a change of party. The reverse may be true in 2016. We need a candidate who can do battle with the Republicans and the billions of dollars that they will pour into that election. I think that Hillary can handle them. There's also the fact that, despite Obama's low polls, she still outpolls everyone by a country mile.

Even if I weren't as strong of a Hillary supporter as I am, I would probably vote for her in the primaries for one main reason. I want to vote for the person who has the likeliest chance to win the GE. My main goal is preventing a Republican president from getting a chance to nominate the next Justice. Citizen's United, the Hobby Lobby decision, the gutting of the Voting Rights law, etc. should convince any Democrat that winning the brass ring is far more important than stamping one's feet in disapproval because one's candidate didn't get the nomination. If a block of cheese is nominated in 2016, I'm voting for that block of cheese.

Velveeta, anyone?

[joshcryer]

26. I would vote for Warren in the primaries.

But she's not running so I don't anticipate that.

I will then vote for Clinton because I think she is the most qualified and experienced candidate in my lifetime if not the past 75 years.

[Beacool]

28. Yes, that's more or less what Pelosi said too regarding Hillary's experience.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

18. Warren said that she is not running for president

end of story

[frylock]

19. hunh. first i've heard of that.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

20. that's what she said

at least so far

[frylock]

21. at least so far..

so not end of story? has Hillary even made an announcement that she is running?

[Liberalynn]

24. I will vote Elizabeth if she runs in the primary

but this year for the first time thanks to SCOTUS I am voting as a single issue voter, "pissed off woman." I want a Democratic woman nominee to win the primary. If Elizabeth does not change her mind about running then I will vote for Hillary unless their is another more progressive woman candidate who challenges her.

I will vote Blue in the national election no matter what but in the primary I want a woman to become our nominee. Reverse sexism maybe but at this point I don't care. If the conservatives want a war with women I say let's give them what they are asking for.

[joshcryer]

25. Run Warren, Run!

Please run!

[winter is coming]

30. Posting the same message repeatedly is considered spam at DU. n/t

[anti partisan]

31. I'm sick of hearing about politicians

Politicians won't get us out of this mess. Neither will political parties full of egomaniacs willing to listen to the highest bidding corporate raider for policy advice. "We the people" holding their feet to the fire will. Most of the country simply doesn't CARE about what happens, and are afraid that people will look at them odd if they do show that they indeed care! People's lives are at stake, literally, and a Messiah alone isn't going to save us. Warren seems like the Ron Paul for progressives. Where are all those Ron Paul 2012 libertarians? Probably building underground bunkers and stocking up ammo, cause I sure as hell haven't heard anything from them in 2 years!

[bemildred]

32. Yes. Most US-ians think of their government as some sort of foreign entity.

They either hate it and want it to do nothing or they are ready to die to protect it in some foreign place. The one thing they won't do for it it vote the incompetents out.