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.