Why I think Warren will continue to rise in people's estimation.

[LAS14]

Mainly, I see myself as evidence. I've watched my own opinion of her wax and wane, and the reasons are articulated by smart pundits a week or so after my opinion changed. I'm on a definite high about Warren, and I'm expecting her to gether more followers in more states once Iowa and NH and SC are over and she can get herself known.

I started out as a 75 year old who was "passionate about the golden mean." A friend and I were typically the most centrist in our left leaning crowd. He was the one who invented the term.

When Warren appeared on the political scene I didn't pay a lot of attention. I live in Massachusetts and she was the Democratic candidate. Of course I'd vote for her. I didn't have to follow her positions.

When she announced for President I didn't even consider her, no more than I would have considered Sanders. My first choice in this forum was Buttigieg. Then, when Biden announced, I switched to him for "electability" reasons.

But, of course, I began to actually hear what she had to say. I'm not sure exactly why she was so much more palatable than Sanders, but she was. And then it hit me. Climate change! We simply didn't have time for a middle of the road approach. We had to go for broke. We either made "big changes" quick or we'd be too late. So I switched to Warren. I was enthusiastic for her because her clear-headed enthusiasm was contagious. I love the way she dashes out on the stage, and hangs around for selfies, and doesn't waver from her well thought out positions.

But then, in the second debate, when they were asked for a show of hands for eliminating private insurance I was shocked that she (enthusiastically) raised her hand. I watched in dismay as opponents and supporters alike began to say this was suicidal. I wondered what she would do! Would she recant? Just never revisit it? Same for "no middle class taxes." On that one I half thought she should be admired for not giving the RW a sound bite, but... I never abandoned her, but I was waiting to see.

AND THEN SHE GAVE ME SOMETHING TO LOOK AT! No way am I ever going to understand it. But if Nobel laureate Paul Krugman says it works out, then I'm happy to once again be unambiguously for Warren.

I can't be the only life-long champion of the golden mean who is turning a new leaf! Let's watch and see what happens when she begins spending more time in those swing states.

[LAS14]

4. It's something to talk about for the endless 2 year cycle of politicking.

Excellent point. A detailed plan giving her tons of extra media exposure. Even though, as I said, ordinary people can never do anything but rely on the judgment of those they trust.

[Hoyt]

2. Except Krugman didn't say that. He said Public Option has better chance of

becoming reality.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=333314

[BeyondGeography]

3. He said the math works out

And anyone who thinks the public option won’t be opposed just as ferociously as MFA is wrong:

AHIP CEO speaks out against Biden's healthcare plan

The CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans said a healthcare plan proposed by Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden is not much different than "Medicare for All," which the industry strongly opposes, according to The Hill.

In an interview with The Hill, AHIP CEO Matt Eyles spoke out against Mr. Biden's healthcare plan, which aims to strengthen the ACA while also introducing a public health insurance option. Mr. Eyles said the public option, which would be similar to Medicare, would lead to too much government involvement in the healthcare system.

"If you're creating a government-run option that essentially leverages price controls, and relies on a government-administered system, that doesn't create what would be a competitive playing field," Mr. Eyles told the publication. "We're viewing Medicare for All and all of these other … variations on it, as similarly bad."

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/payer-issues/ahip-comes-out-against-biden-s-healthcare-plan.html

[highplainsdem]

6. No, Krugman said experts will debate whether her math is accurate. He basically just gave her an

A for effort, made it clear he thinks the public option is much more feasible, and even suggested Democrats talk less about health care.

He thinks Warren might be able to achieve some of her more modest goals IF she "wins big" next year.


https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/01/opinion/did-warren-pass-the-medicare-test-i-think-so.html

Well, the Warren plan is now out. And I’d say that she passed the test. Experts will argue for months whether she’s being too optimistic — whether her cost estimates are too low and her revenue estimates too high, whether we can really do this without middle-class tax hikes. You might say that time will tell, but it probably won’t: Even if Warren becomes president, and Dems take the Senate too, it’s very unlikely that Medicare for all will happen any time soon.

-snip-

Am I enthusiastically endorsing this plan? No. I still think that a public-option-type plan, which lets people buy into Medicare, would have a better chance of actually becoming reality — and may well be where a President Warren actually ends up if she gets to the White House. And the plan’s optimism on costs and revenues could be wrong.

-snip-

So what has Warren achieved here? Realistically, her health care plan is more aspirational than her other plans. Enhanced financial regulation and universal child care are things she might well be able to accomplish if she not only wins, but wins big, next year. Medicare for All, not so much. And may I say, it would serve the public well if these topics — plus climate change! — got more attention in future debates, and health care a bit less.

Warren’s task was, instead, to counter criticism that she was being evasive on a big issue. I think she has met that challenge.

Basically he's patting her on the head for doing her homework, after she painted herself into that political corner, and advising her to focus on something else.

[ritapria]

7. The Dems Must Takeover the Senate in 2020

If they don't, nothing is going to happen

[LAS14]

8. Absolutely. We've got to donate and talk and do whatever at the senate level! nt

[Hoyt]

9. Warren, nor Sanders, will help us win Senate, or even Prez.

[LAS14]

10. Did you mean...

"Neither Warren nor Sanders"

or

"Warren, not Sanders" ?

[Demsrule86]

11. Warren and Sanders will not have down ballot coattails in any of the red and purple states we need

to win the Senate. In fact I fear for our house majority if Warren or Sanders is the nominee...although I do think Sanders has a better shot at the presidency as he has some ties to the rustbelt from last time.