"Elizabeth Warren Has Been My Candidate...Now I'm Waiting For Her Next Step"

[appalachiablue]

'Elizabeth Warren has been my candidate since before day one, and now I'm waiting for her next step.' By Mark Sumner, Daily Kos Staff, March 4, 2020.

Elizabeth Warren has been my candidate. She was not just the person I wanted to see win the primaries and the White House; she was also the person I was cheering for even before she entered the race. The reason for that was not her stance on health care, or her position on a wealth tax, or even her firm support for the Green New Deal. The reason was, and is, that Warren has the single quality that I always look for in a presidential candidate. It has nothing to do with beer drinking, stars twinkling, or even the eloquence required to make a moving inspirational speech. It’s not how she stirs a crowd. It’s not even that she agrees with my positions up and down the chart. The quality that I endorse above all others and that Elizabeth Warren has in spades is simply this: overwhelming competence.

For 40 years, my father was the city administrator for a small town in western Kentucky. I watched every day as he dealt with the water supply and the street repair, the police and the parks department. He raised the bonds that permitted things as uninspiring, but absolutely necessary, as a sewage lift station. At the same time, he also managed the construction of affordable housing and kept the local collection of KKK bastards from turning the July 4 parade into a racist display. He poured over the books every night, worked with regional and state authorities every day. He left behind no grand monuments, to himself or anyone else, other than a city that was clean, well-run, with good services and balanced books.

And that became the quality I looked for in a candidate, the quality that I believe Warren has above all others: simple competence, the dedication to do both her best and what she thinks is best, even if it’s not always expedient. To realize that building that sewage lift station is more damned important than adding more tennis courts in the park, or giving the police a new squad car, or any of a dozen other things that might be far more visible and easier to champion.

I believed she would do what is needed to be done more than I believed this about anyone else.

I still believe this, but then … this is an elegy of sorts. Not a very pretty one. The sewage lift station of elegies. An ode to the campaign for that person who would have sat up all night going over the numbers one more time. Someone who would always find a way to fund the thing that was necessary and not act out of anger, retaliation, or simple self-aggrandizement. Competence doesn’t mean just doing well what’s always been done. It means looking for new opportunities, a willingness to overturn outdated ideas, and a recognition that what was good enough then is not necessarily good enough now. Competence is hard work, collecting good information, making sound decisions. It’s being just and fair and innovative.

Competence is always progressive. Because conservative ideas are not supported by the evidence. Any evidence...

SEE 450+ Comments & Recs,
More, https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/3/4/1924239/-Elizabeth-Warren-has-been-my-candidate-since-before-day-one-and-now-I-m-waiting-for-her-next-step

[ancianita]

1. AMEN!

An ode to the campaign for that person who would have sat up all night going over the numbers one more time. Someone who would always find a way to fund the thing that was necessary and not act out of anger, retaliation, or simple self-aggrandizement. Competence doesn’t mean just doing well what’s always been done. It means looking for new opportunities, a willingness to overturn outdated ideas, and a recognition that what was good enough then is not necessarily good enough now. Competence is hard work, collecting good information, making sound decisions. It’s being just and fair and innovative.

Competence is always progressive.

THANK YOU!

[appalachiablue]

5. Warren is the best, and Mark's article is a fine tribute. I look forward

to her continuing public service for years to come!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

2. Elizabeth needs to endorse Bernie... PRONTO!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[ms liberty]

4. No, she needs to do what she thinks is best. n/t

[Alex4Martinez]

59. So with you.

Words can't say.

[ms liberty]

3. This. n/t

[iscooterliberally]

6. 'Overwhelming competence' - to the point that her face could end up on our money.

I really think she's that kind of great. Even if she doesn't get the nod, I hope whoever does recognizes that and brings her on board. Our country really needs her. Especially now.

[Fiendish Thingy]

15. Leaders like Warren come once in a generation

Love the way you put it - “her face could end up on our money”...when you think that no president since JFK has been immortalized on US currency, that’s, as Biden would say, a BFD.

I hope she has the opportunity to run again in 2024 (hopefully due to the 2020 Dem winner choosing to only serve one term), and that the US doesn’t miss out on the chance for her excellence to guide the nation.

[iscooterliberally]

18. She could also replace RBG on the Supreme court maybe?

Who knows? I hope you're right. I think she still has a shot even if it's not this time around.

[KPN]

21. Me too. I hope she runs again in 2024 regardless

of who wins. She’s the future of sustainable democracy in America, if it is sustainable. We need fundamental change. She understands that need, it’s urgency and knows how to and has the ability to get things done. Not to mention she’s as smart and as tough as they come.

For now, I hope she stays in as long as possible — till the convention if she can. Her voice in nationwide political debate is important in building support for fundamental change.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

30. She's almost old enough, according to recent tradition.

I’ll be looking for Adam Schiff next time round.

[LisaM]

39. I think you could have said this about Gore, Kerry, HRC.... (and it's a beautiful piece).

We've had plenty of candidates like this who are quietly brilliant (and, who by the way, cultivated allies in the Democratic party).

Maybe we need to evolve up to the level of our candidates. I am never going to apologize for the Dems nominating Gore, Kerry, and Hillary Clinton. Never.

[hangaleft]

42. I respectfully disagree

I believe Liz is head and shoulders above the others.

[LisaM]

45. That's fine.

I don't, but either way, I still won't apologize for any of them. And I could have seen any one of them working all night.

[Liberty Belle]

7. I hope she endorses Sanders to solidify the progressive base, not divide them.

Anything else would seem a betrayal to her progressive values and followers.

Biden has had way too many bad votes through the years on the Iraq War, Patriot Act, and so much more.

[Boomer]

17. It doesn't matter to me who she endorses

Because I have my own 2nd choice, and her opinion isn't going to change that.

Hint: It's NOT Sanders.

[hangaleft]

43. I, too, will not be persuaded by Liz' endorsement

I also have a distant second choice.

Hint: It’s NOT Biden

[KPN]

22. I don't see her endorsing Biden.

[wnylib]

24. Why do Sanders supporters

lump Warren with Sanders?

Sanders is a socialist outside of the Dem party who attacks it. Warren is a progressive member of the Dem party who supports the party and progressive reforms within it. Sanders would take over the party.

Sanders calls himself a democratic Socialist, but does not seem to appreciate the finer points of democracy, e.g. working with others to achieve goals, or accepting the existence of opposition.

Warren, OTOH, works with others and actually achieves reforms. She is smarter, more flexible (a necessity in a democracy), and more accomplished than Sanders. She would hurt her chances of achieving more reforms by aligning with Sanders.

[Jakes Progress]

31. Why wouldn't she want someone to beat trump?

[Sucha NastyWoman]

32. Not really

She says she is a capitalist, not a socialist.

The most progressive former Senator in the recent past, Senator Barbara Boxer endorsed Joe. I consider myself very Progressive, but I want a real Democrat. We need the strength of the Party to succeed in this fight.

[notinkansas]

44. So much more indeed.

Don't forget about Anita Hill. And the bankruptcy bill that has put an entire generation of young people into indentured servitude because there weren't decent jobs available when they graduated.

He has a lot to answer for.

But honestly, I really don't want to hear his answers.

[dlk]

57. Bernie and his supporters have much less than kind to Warren

I would be very surprised if she endorses him. Do we really expect the woman to step aside so the man can win?

[matt819]

8. Numbers

I hang out here. But I’m not as much of a political junkie as others here. So, a question. Given the numbers as they stand now, could a come from behind Warren surge of any kind give her enough delegates to win the nomination? If not, what would be the thinking behind staying in the race?

I’m not a fan of labels, but the progressive label has been attached to Warren. Does it naturally follow that she would endorse Bernie if she dropped out?

[deurbano]

20. I think she could stay in for a combination of several reasons, including:

1. It's not over and things obviously can change quickly
a.What if Sanders has another heart attack or someone leaks his more detailed medical results and they are worse than described?
b.What if Biden says or does something(s) more definitively concerning?

2. No one gets a majority of delegates (seems unlikely except in the case of 1. a. ) and she could be the brokered compromise.

3. She wants to have the greatest possible influence on the party platform.

(I'm sure there are other possible reasons.)

I hope she doesn't endorse anyone but the nominee.

[localroger]

46. I have a feeling she might either stay in or suspend without endorsing

Bernie has given her several reasons to be really pissed at him, not least of which is making elements of her own platform harder to sell to the people who need them most. Even though his agenda is technically much closer to hers, I don't think she trusts him to actually get it implemented.

On the other hand I don't think she trusts Biden to even try for most of her planks.

If she stays in I will vote for her. If she suspends I will climb aboard the Biden bandwagon regardless of what Warren does, but she might want to leave her supporters free to follow their own consciences in a decision which could swing either way.

[deurbano]

54. Agreed, and it's pretty amusing that the same cultists who flooded Twitter w/snake emojis

are now outraged that Warren hasn't dropped out to support their Chosen One. These cultists (not saying all Sanders supporters) are even more delusional than I realized in assuming all (or even most?) Warren voters would switch to Sanders.

[blm]

26. Influence over the Dem platform. Warren is all about ACTION not talk.

Or shout.

[BlueWI]

9. Great editorial!

Warren deserves our props with the vigorous race that she has run and her stellar career in the Senate.

[DarthDem]

60. Indeed she does

[KSNY]

10. Nice

Hopefully, whichever Democrat is elected, he will implement her plans.

Second, hate to be a nitpicker, but you pore over books.

[proud patriot]

12. God I just Love Her

[bluboid]

13. BRILLIANT!

"...The quality that I endorse above all others and that Elizabeth Warren has in spades is simply this: overwhelming competence." BRILLIANT!

[CanonRay]

14. Me too.

[stage left]

16. Elizabeth Warren

is the best and I love her.

[yardwork]

19. I feel the same way. Warren would be the best president of the field.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

23. Yep. Same reason I voted for Hillary -- "overwhelming competence".

[blm]

27. ✔️

[llmart]

25. She is absolutely the whole enchilada.

She's passionate, energetic, sincere, extremely intellectual and experienced...I could go on. She was my first choice. I just can't help it that we live in a country that isn't truly progressive. We take itsy bitsy baby steps forward, several back, on and on while the rest of the world moves on without us.

Some day people will look back on the reluctance to vote for a woman as unthinkable, but at this point in time, we don't have that in this country. Millions of our fellow citizens voted for the most ignorant, uneducated, hateful human being and he ended up in our White House taking us backward decades. It'll take decades to get those millions back under their rocks.

[appalachiablue]

35. Very well said, she is outstanding and the US isn't progressive.

It was on the path with FDR and LBJ but things seriously changed.

The Daily Kos article reminded me of the strong anti-intellectual' streak in this country.

[llmart]

38. Exactly.

I'm reminded every day of the strong, anti-intellectual streak in our country whenever I read about what my fellow citizens are doing or saying. There was a time in my lifetime that the country, as a whole, valued those who were erudite and highly educated and articulate and had the credentials behind that. Now our daily discourse, especially on news programs is nothing but yelling and talking over one another. Add to that the conversations are so dimwitted I can't be a part of it. The number of people who know all about the Kardashians and their lives but nothing about the candidates for office is mind boggling.

[FM123]

28. Elizabeth!

[Jakes Progress]

29. Twice now, the most qualified candidate for president

was a woman.

Twice now, this country ignored that fact and went with varying levels of misogyny.

We won't make it if we keep ignoring 50% of the best and brightest.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

34. Sad but true.

[Delmette2.0]

53. I am Warren all the way.

Elizabeth Warren has shower beyond proof that she understands where most of us at at. Let's begin with "You didn't build this alone." Ms Warren has gone on to support so many other issues that help everyone including families in "the fly over states" yes that includes my Montana.

[beachbumbob]

33. will what is best for the democratic party and the country be trumped by EGO?

[olegramps]

36. What we are starved for are decent people. Not the immoral gangsters that dominate the Repubs.

[DIVINEprividence]

37. I think Warren will stay in

because Bernie said a woman couldn’t win and called her a liar for calling him on it. She still has a nice war chest. She will peel voters away from Bernie. Notice how much Bernie’s colleagues dislike him. Nobody likes a self righteous hypocrite socialist who is a millionaire with 3 houses who votes in lockstep with the NRA.

[notinkansas]

49. umm - no

Bernie is not a hypocrite.

He is a democratic socialist - the happiest countries in the world are socialist. And we currently have many socialist institutions in this country already. We could do without all the socialism for the rich, though. He may be a millionaire, but just barely and only recently. Even so, he is most likely one of the least rich senators. NRA rates him as a D-; that's hardly high praise.

Sooo.

Bernie or Elizabeth are exactly what this country needs. Desperately.

[hangaleft]

40. I've supported Liz' candidacy for president since she announced her candidacy for the Senate

I couldn’t agree with the OP more. I wish I could rec this 100 times.

[Nitram]

41. Well said! Exactly the reasons Warren is my first choice for president.

[mopinko]

47. i hope she sticks it out for a few more contests. she was so close to the threshold

in so many states yesterday. and the combined warren/bloomie totals show, to me, that a third of the party want more than an old white guy, however lovable he may be.
i think she would be smart to stick it out a while, now that the field is so narrow and see how many delegates she could carry into the convention.

if there was any fairness in the world, bernie would be the one getting leaned on to drop out. warren has a very narrow path, if bernie gets out right now. bernie has none. he always had a 30% ceiling. i said it from day one, and now we have the data.

but...

imho, a warren/biden contest would really lay out the direction the party should take into the future.
it would be a healthy debate that would benefit the party and the country.

if only the skunk would leave the garden party.

[BeckyDem]

48. For me she was an educator who can explain what the corruption involved and

how to remediate it. Better than ANYONE. I love her. I hope she will now join Sanders to help remediate this insane corruption we face and set forth policies she has long fought for.

Thank you for the thread.

[calimary]

50. Good read!

[BobTheSubgenius]

51. I was mightily impressed by EW for the same reason.

When I saw her answer pretty important questions about complex issues, her answers were ALWAYS well-thought-out, well-phrased and well-fleshed-out.

In short, she things about things deeply, and comes up with answers that, while you may not agree with, are nonetheless complete and very firmly grounded in fact and reason.

I found the same qualities in Pete B, and would be thrilled to have either ascend to the White House.

[Prof.Higgins]

52. My dream ticket now is Biden and Warren. She is sagacious, lucid and eloquent. n/t

[MoonlitKnight]

55. If she got a vote for every time someone said the thought she was best

...but “I’m voting for _______ because I think he can beat Trump.” She would have all of the delegates.

[dlk]

56. Heartwarming post. I hope Warren doesn't give up at this point

There is still a ways to go in the campaign and a lot can happen in the next few months. Especially with the age and health of her competitors. She has so much to offer our country. America deserves her competence and leadership. It would be the true change so many millions of us have been waiting for.

[Faux pas]

58. Kicketty Kickin'