What Elizabeth Warren Is Quietly Telling Democratic Insiders

[BlueMTexpat]

Sorry for posting a NYT link again. But I apparently still have some free articles left this month, so I've selected some of the most salient parts of this excellent article. It describes how Elizabeth Warren is the consummate Democratic team player.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/26/us/politics/elizabeth-warren-democrats.html

...
In phone calls, text messages and small gatherings before her rallies, as well as in one-on-one meetings over hot tea at her Washington condominium, Ms. Warren is simultaneously courting and assuring Democratic town leaders, statewide officials and the chiefs of the country’s largest unions.

The outreach is not just an effort to avoid the confrontational approach Mr. Sanders took in 2016, when he inveighed against party insiders and the committee itself, which he correctly believed was favoring Hillary Clinton. Ms. Warren is also trying to allay concerns among Democrats that, as a progressive candidate proposing sweeping change, she may not have enough mainstream appeal to compete with President Trump in the general election.
...
Ms. Warren’s campaign events often begin out of public view, when she meets with a small groups of Democratic officials in gatherings, called “clutches,” for pictures and a few minutes of conversation. While the size of her crowd last week in St. Paul — roughly 12,000, her campaign said — drew headlines and attention on social media, her meeting beforehand with a few state lawmakers may have been even more memorable for them.
...
While Ms. Warren has been careful to avoid directly criticizing Mr. Sanders, her regular references to being a capitalist withstanding, she is also quietly taking steps within the party to make clear that she does not want to create a competing power base should she become president. She was one of the first Democratic candidates to sign a pledge circulated last month by the Association of State Democratic Committees vowing not to create any parallel political or organizing infrastructure that would compete with the national or state Democratic parties. ...

If you have a NYT subscription or still have some free articles left this month, I encourage you to read the whole article.

[qazplm135]

1. she's a Democrat and team player through and through

If Bernie simply emulated her over the years, he'd probably be President right now, even with all the same policy positions.

[BlueMTexpat]

2. Possibly.

But I don't believe that Bernie has ever had quite the same gravitas or knowledge of law and economics. JMO.

[qazplm135]

5. Maybe but if he was someone

who'd spent the last few decades working inside the party like she has, and was a clear team player, if not already President, he'd be leading right now.

Plenty of really smart folks in Congress, what separates Warren IMO is that she understands coalition and team building, and working together to get to a resolution as opposed to my way or you are a neoliberal.

[BlueMTexpat]

7. I concur with you.

[FakeNoose]

34. Bingo! Bernie was never a team player and we all know it

Liz Warren deserves our support because she has given so much in return. She's a team player through and through, but Bernie is not. Why hasn't he joined the Democratic Party and yet he thinks he deserves to be our Party's standard bearer?

[pnwmom]

40. My FB feed includes a Warren site that's supposedly full of Warren people.

And yet a bunch of them were criticizing her yesterday for saying something nice about Seattle's Democratic mayor, and calling the Mayor a progressive.

I wonder if Sanders people go on that site. Because there were a bunch of supposed Warren fans criticizing her for supporting the Democratic mayor who beat the socialist in the 2018 race.

[BlueMTexpat]

43. The remarks you mention

sound more like those that would come from supporters of candidates who are NOT true Democrats.

Shame on them!

[pecosbob]

3. Can we stop already with the linking of Warren with Sanders?

It's almost like some are tying to marginalize this candidate.

[BlueMTexpat]

4. Which one?

Personally I don't like the linkage. But the fact is that it will continue to be made.

The point is to distinguish one from the other. I find that Elizabeth Warren is much more economically fact-based, is much more willing to listen to and take advice and learn from experts, had a real epiphany where she determined to become an activist Democrat and has staunchly and steadfastly remained wholly supportive of the Democratic Party.

That hardly marginalizes HER.

[pecosbob]

13. I simply bridle anytime I hear Warren described as socialist

and I dislike her being compared with Sanders. Not that the article you linked does so...it's always in the DUer's comments. I get triggered when I see someone trying to marginalize her as an extreme candidate.

[BlueMTexpat]

16. OK, fair enough!

And I also bridle at that characterization.

[blm]

19. GOP smears every Dem as a socialist, Dems following their lead is annoying

the hell out of me, too. Some who know better are just doing it out of political opportunism. Hard to respect that.

[qazplm135]

8. they are the two most progressive candidates

with almost identical policy positions...so hard to see why they wouldn't be linked and has nothing to do with marginalization.

It's true that the overlap among their supporters is overstated, but it's also not nonexistent either.

And I plainly don't believe that come primary time that Bernie and Biden supporters will have the other as their secondary candidate...that's name recognition.

Once we get down to the nitty gritty...we will see more sorting along ideological lines IMO.

[BlueMTexpat]

12. I also concur with

you here.

[Recursion]

15. That's not remotely true. Their plans on finance and banking are polar opposites

"Progressive" isn't even a particularly good word to describe her positions, for that matter, except under the same big umbrella by which you could call any Democrat "progressive".

[BlueMTexpat]

17. Then it is very good

to keep pointing out these differences!

Thanks for doing so!

[qazplm135]

18. it's almost like I used the words "almost identical" for a reason

then huh?

[Recursion]

22. But I used the words "polar opposite"

The only thing I can think of they have in common is speaking angrily on TV, which seems to be enough for some people.

[qazplm135]

24. well that's not remotely true

if that's the only thing you think they have in common.

[BlueMTexpat]

28. I don't believe that

Elizabeth speaks "angrily" on TV. To me, THAT is something that we should shut down immediately.

[Captain Zero]

32. kick for sounds good to me NT

nt

[underthematrix]

6. This article made me smile. Warren has a great strategy.

[BlueMTexpat]

10. Thank you for

your comments!

The ultimate goal is to win the GE and she is fully on board with that, whether she is the nominee or not.

[underthematrix]

59. You're welcome

I'm so committed to having a Democratic president that every candidate's good fortune is my good fortune.

[Blue_true]

56. She is also a very hard worker.

She is showing up early to rallies and staying late, then she is on to the next stop to do the same.

[underthematrix]

60. She's not only hardworking she's so so so so smart. Her grasp of complex policy issues

is amazing.

[Farmer-Rick]

11. We really need a woman president.

Us men had our chance, time for the women to show us how it is done right.

[BlueMTexpat]

14. I must admit

THAT factor also figures into my support for her.

[qazplm135]

25. oh definitely

no more old white men. Sorry, not sorry.

[FiveGoodMen]

39. Ann Coulter, then, right?

Reverse sexism isn't going to get us anywhere.

[Farmer-Rick]

41. Well, if she wants to challenge the chosen one

All the power to her.

It's well past time for a woman president. We all know that. It has nothing to do with men being abused by reverse sexism. It has to do with the fact that No Woman has been our president in the past 243 years. It's time to break that glass ceiling.

[FiveGoodMen]

62. The reverse sexism that I'm talking about is the assumption that a woman would do better.

I'm fine with a president of whatever sex/orientation/race … doesn't matter.

But pick them on the basis of what they've said and done.

To assume that women are better than men at running a country is just as mistaken as if someone claimed that only men could do it.

[Farmer-Rick]

65. I think just because women gain some power

Doesn't mean men lose out. Incels, MRAs and PUAs imply this along with their Nazi ideology. But when a minority is given equal status it does not put the once dominant group in a powerless position. Look at South Africa.

No need to worry, men aren't being abused like women are. They still have access to a whole lot more power than women do, even if I think a woman president will do a better job.

[FiveGoodMen]

66. I'm not worried about women having power

I'm worried about choosing candidates according to symbolism.

[treestar]

57. +1

Who wants the first female president to be just because she's female? And not because she is the one for the job at the time?

[mountain grammy]

67. Yes, we do.

[honest.abe]

20. Excellent. Warren knows the big picture.

[StevieM]

21. The DNC did nothing to help Hillary in 2016 nor could they have if they had wanted to.

It is an impotent, toothless organization.

But it is nice to see that the NY Times is still lying. It says a lot about what HRC had to contend with when she ran for president and how hard a time she was always going to have.

[comradebillyboy]

23. Absolutly right. The NYT has always smeared Hillary...

[saidsimplesimon]

26. Is Hillary Clinton running in 2020?

Warren is running and positive articles are my focus.

[comradebillyboy]

44. That's nice...

[BlueMTexpat]

29. I didn't like

the comment about the DNC and Hillary either.

THAT was a smear that was perpetrated to harm and did harm Hillary's candidacy tremendously.

[thesquanderer]

35. re: "The DNC did nothing to help Hillary in 2016"

DNC chair Debbie Wasserman resigned after email leaks showed the ostensibly neutral organization favoring Clinton over Sanders. See this article from The Guardian.

Her replacement, Donna Brazile, confirmed that the DNC had not been neutral in that contest, see this article from Vanity Fair.

Elizabeth Warren agreed, see this article from the BBC.

[StevieM]

42. The emails, hacked by Vladimir Putin, showed no such thing.

They showed a bunch of staffers talking about the fact that HRC would be the nominee, AFTER that was already clear based on what the voters had already done with their votes. They don't show the DNC actually doing anything to help her--not that they could have done anything even if they had wanted to.

Donna Brazille wrote what people wanted to hear, and what she had to write in order to get publicity and sell books. And her examples were ridiculous. She pointed to a joint fundraising agreement which was also arranged between the DNC and Bernie Sanders.

Elizabeth Warren, along with others like Keith Ellison, repeated the lie that the DNC rigged the primaries. But just because they said it that doesn't mean that it was true, or even possible.

Still, I can't deny that the lie has been told very effectively. It is kind of like the fake email scandal--total nonsense, but incredibly well sold.

[thesquanderer]

45. Do you have some reputable links to back up your perspective?

Because if it comes down to believing reputable sources like The Guardian and Elizabeth Warren vs. an anonymous poster on the internet, I've gotta go with Guardian and Warren.

[StevieM]

47. Elizabeth Warren didn't actually site any actual examples.

She just gave her opinion. And her opinion on this matter is ridiculous IMO.

[thesquanderer]

50. Still, I give more credence to Warren's opinion than that of an anonymous poster on the net. (nt)

[betsuni]

49. Donna Brazile walking back her lie about rigging: "I found no evidence, none whatsoever."

Elizabeth Warren walking back: "the overall primary process was fair and Hillary made history."

[thesquanderer]

51. Thanks. I found the full quote...

"I agree with what Donna Brazile has said over the last few days; that while there was some bias at the DNC, the overall 2016 primary process was fair and Hillary made history."

So I guess it's a matter of interpretation. To me, saying that there was some bias, but overall it was fair, is not a total repudiation of a DNC thumb on the scale.

[betsuni]

52. Brazile said there was no rigging and Warren agreed.

The DNC is some people who meet occasionally and organize the convention and debates.

[questionseverything]

55. the repubs held debates 2 months before we did

the sanders campaign was begging for the debates but the dnc didn't see the need

by giving the rnc a 2 month head start I feel trump was given a huge advantage, wether the dnc did it to help hc or not it really hurt us

[betsuni]

46. +1

[lark]

27. Seems like every day news about her just gets better and better.

Think she's moved up on my personal primary list from #2 to 1b -- lol.

[BlueMTexpat]

30. Nice comment!

[Johnny2X2X]

31. Warren needs to be on the ticket

One way or another Warren should be on the ticket, she brings the middle class with her.

[BlueMTexpat]

36. I just do not see

her as a VP candidate though. I don't believe that she does either, although that could always change, I suppose, depending on circumstances.

But it's my understanding that it's either the top spot for her or she continues to work in the Senate AND for other Dem candidates. Whatever happens, she won't take her followers and go home in a snit. She's making that clear.

If another Dem candidate wins the nomination, she could perhaps serve as a Cabinet Secretary in a Democratic Administration, assuming we win the GE. Whoever our candidate ultimately is, we MUST win the GE if we want our country to survive at all.

IMO, Elizabeth Warren is an "alpha," not a "beta." She needs to be in a position where she can actively promote HER agenda, not simply be a President-in-Waiting.

But I personally am a VERY strong advocate for her being in the Top Spot! I hope someday that you'll join us.

[pecosbob]

38. She most certainly should be a prominent voice in the next administration

There are NEVER ENOUGH Dems willing to stand up loudly and proudly for the middle class, the poor and the disenfranchised. IMO the times we live in call for educators as leaders, not administrators or enforcers. Education is the forefront of the labor movement in America today in case nobody noticed. Personally I think Warren could bring the best aspects of Wilson and Truman to a modern presidency. No bullsh*t and a clear vision of what is right and what is not.

[Beartracks]

33. Marking for later reading. Thx!

[bronxiteforever]

37. Well she is smart and thoughtful and electable!

She does continue to impress.

This is good for her and good for the Party!

[NurseJackie]

48. She's definitely a team player. She's a loyal Democrat who wants to BUILD and GROW the party....

She's definitely a team player. She's a loyal Democrat who wants to BUILD and GROW the party.... not someone who seeks to diminish, denigrate, demoralize, destroy, smear, tarnish and weaken the party for their own purposes. I cannot abide any candidate who thinks they are entitled to destroy-and-rebuild the party in their own image... no matter how popular he (or she) thinks they are.

The thing is... if someone seeking the Democratic party nomination is someone who engages in the kind of talk that promotes negativity... well, I think it's important to remember that negativity generates apathy. Apathy discourages party support and voting for other Democratic candidates... and that just makes it easier for the GOP and Trump and Russia to steal elections.

Senator Warren is someone who always impresses me with her conviction, her passion, and her demeanor. She's someone that I could listen to intently and be motivated by. Other candidates don't have a demeanor that captures my attention, other candidates fail to inspire me, and some of them downright annoy me (I guess that's to be expected... but it doesn't make them any less annoying and nerve grating).

In any case, what I'm trying to say is that Senator Warren is a candidate who's rising to the top for a reason. I could totally support her without reservation if she's our party's nominee.

[BlueMTexpat]

53. It's always good to "see"

you, NurseJackie!

Yes, she is a GOOD one!

There are several good choices. It heartens me to see so many good Democrats!

[defacto7]

54. Good for her. Excellent.

but quietly? Hmm... I may have to redefine quiet. Ha.

[DrFunkenstein]

58. As Someone Who Really Believed in Nader, But Voted Gore

This warms my heart. Warren seems entirely capable of reshaping the Democratic Party in the image of Paul Wellstone. Not by throwing incendiary bombs, but by calmly assuring the establishment that this is the new middle-of-the-road.

Crony capitalism is not a "moderate" position. It has nothing to do with being a "balanced" and "reasonable" candidate. It's just the rich calling the shots.

Warren seems capable of making progressivism seem entirely reasonable, and crony capitalism seem entirely unreasonable.

That doesn't happen with just fiery speeches, which she can certainly do. It is also about calming those in the Party who worry that progressivism will sink their own careers. Warren is pushing for big structural change, but knows which levers of power need to be pulled to make that happen.

[BlueMTexpat]

61. I believe this too.

In many respects, I believe that her political epiphany helps her much more than it hurts her.

She knows the fallacies in GOP proposals ... and how to rebut them, calmly, clearly and coherently.

[LincolnRossiter]

63. Warren seems like such a hard-working, genuine and intelligent lady...

Wish I liked her policies more. Still would be proud to support her as the woman who beat that sexist swine in the WH if she’s nominated.

[BlueMTexpat]

64. Thank you!

Much as I really hope that she will be the nominee because I really believe that she can be an excellent President and can win in the GE, I will proudly support your candidate if he is the nominee.

We must ALL come together to defeat the Aberration and Criminal in the WH!