Huffpo: The Political Win That Could Make Elizabeth Warren the Next President of The United State

[RiverLover]

I wasn't going to post this op ed here, but what the heck, it'll be fun to see some heads explode...

The Political Win That Could Make Elizabeth Warren the Next President of The United States
1/15/15

...On its face, Weiss's withdrawal might seem like a relatively small thing. But in politics, this is the equivalent of a large earthquake, and a big boost to Elizabeth Warren's political influence.

A presidential appointee is almost never withdrawn because of opposition from the president's own party. The last case I can remember is in 2005 when George W. Bush withdrew the Supreme Court nomination of his friend Harriet Miers after she was opposed by Republican Senators and activists. As Joe Biden is known to say, "This is a big deal".

This political earthquake is a barometer of the growing influence of Sen. Warren, without whose outspoken opposition -- joined by a grassroots campaign which generated over tens of thousands of signatures -- the nomination would have sailed through.

Four weeks ago, I wrote a piece on The Huffington Post entitled The Speech That Could Make Elizabeth Warren the Next President of the United States. Much to my surprise the piece went totally viral. Over the next few days, the piece was "Liked" by 243,000 readers, reposted by over 37,000 people on their own Facebook pages, and Tweeted by thousands more (including by Mark Ruffalo to his 1.2 million followers). The piece seemed to have touched a nerve in the political zeitgeist. The response indicated that there's a hunger for new leadership which is not bought and sold by corporate America, whether it's another Bush or another Clinton.

Even as Jeb Bush is staring to lock up Republican donors in the money primary that hugely influences who wins the actual voter primary, and Hillary adds top Clinton and Obama advisor John Podesta to her potential campaign staff, there's a growing grassroots outcry for a Warren candidacy....

[Thinkingabout]

1. Weiss is still working in the administration, kinda like Warren failed to get confirmation,

This is how politics works.

[RiverLover]

2. Yeah I know. nt

[calimary]

3. But it's important to frame it this way. It's a victory. Period.

WORK it! It's a talking point. An advantage. Positive and active messaging. Bragging rights (but be gracious!). Framing. Perception management. If you've got it, flaunt it! USE it - or lose it!

The hapless mitt romney still has "loser stench" all over him. He's got an uphill fight to disabuse most of America from thinking of him first as a loser. Now how's that gonna work out for the guy, fighting to change that perception - which is reinforced every time the words "President" and "Obama" are said together? He arrives with more baggage than anybody, and they're all loaded down with baggage. I think he's got more baggage to lug around than even jeb bush, but HIS baggage is his fool idiot dry drunk brother. Because the last thing we all remember and have on record as far as mitt romney? He LOST. Americans tend to love an underdog but they don't as often cotton to losers. Sometimes, but not often. That's the takeaway and what all the questioning of the wisdom of his trying a third time centers on. That's where the media goes, first. The first line of his epitaph will be how he ran against Barack Obama and lost. He's the reason Barack Obama is a two-term president. He's the guy who got beat. A loser!

Now, Elizabeth Warren on the other hand just scored a win. That's how it's being worded, reported, portrayed, framed, and therefore, inevitably, viewed. Message sent and delivered. She's a winner! Adding another win to her score chart does nothing but good. And considering the more prominent position that Harry Reid appointed her to serve in the Senate Democratic leadership, where she got a seat at the table (and she isn't afraid to make use of it), you have a win on top of a win. She's only gaining momentum. Hers is not so much of an uphill battle as romney's is. Not nearly! She's on a roll. And that manages the public perception - and the unfortunately all-important media perception - very nicely in OUR favor. The stronger she gets, the more clout she'll have, and it'll be her decision how to use that clout. Does make one wonder if that might eventually change her mind about running for President. Or else, she'll contribute her much-expanded clout to help the Democratic nominee, and then have an even louder voice than before. Meanwhile she'll be gaining the gravitas that maybe in eight years or so - she might actually entertain the notion...

[RiverLover]

4. Winner! :-) She is on a roll! And what a great influence on our party.

I think its now or never for a presidential run, though, considering her age. After her AFL-CIO speech, many were coming out saying she sounded like a candidate, and it makes me wonder if that's why she finally said no, future tense. There are so many important battles going on right now in congress, and TPP fast track authority is coming up, she needs to be taken seriously to fight & not be seen as someone who's just grandstanding for votes.

Speaking of Mitt, he said "No no no no no no No!" to a presidential run a year ago. I read the lack of possible GOP candidates changed his mind. hmmm...

I just hope we don't have 2 conservatives running in the GE.

Meanwhile, we're so lucky to have Liz in the senate. She really is doing a lot of good for citizens, just shaming the Wall Street dems and walking the talk of true populism.