Senator Elizabeth Warren on What Comes Next

Image from Huffington Post

I love this woman. I can't express how much, she's just awesome. So awesome, that I really think if she'd been the candidate or if she had been the running mate, we might have had a very different outcome on Tuesday night. I am all in if she runs in 2020, and think of the slogans that could go with that number! She's tremendous.

[Excerpt]

President-Elect Donald Trump

This wasn’t a pretty election. In fact, it was ugly, and we should not sugarcoat the reason why. Donald Trump ran a campaign that started with racial attacks and then rode the escalator down. He encouraged a toxic stew of hatred and fear. He attacked millions of Americans. And he regularly made statements that undermined core values of our democracy.

And he won. He won — and now Latino and Muslim-American children are worried about what will happen to their families. LGBT couples are worried that their marriages could be dissolved by a Trump-Pence Supreme Court. Women are worried that their access to desperately needed health services will disappear. Millions of people in this country are worried, deeply worried. And they are right to be worried. . .

Read more at: Medium

Presidential Candidates, Summed Up in Brief

Dan, my blogging adversary and friend from Las Vegas days (we've each since moved away) posted his quick takes on the presidential field thus far, on his much more successful blog, Las Vegas Badger. I thought it was an interesting idea, so here is my take.

Hillary Clinton: It's hers to lose, but the attempted "death by a thousand cuts" by her opponents may hurt her.
Lincoln Chafee: Has gone from Republican to Independent to Democrat. . .and made little splash in any of them.
Martin O'Malley: Who?
Bernie Sanders: The anti-Trump speaks completely unfiltered, but does so with substance.
Jim Webb: Eh.
Joe Biden: Prone to blunders, but a good guy. Won't win.

Jeb! Bush: Just say no to a third Bush.
Dr. Ben Carson: Completely inexperienced, and a bit of a nutbar.
Chris Christie:  Four years too late, too much scandal, and rude to boot.
Ted Cruz: Crazy dad, pandering, smarmy and unctuous son. Plus, too much religion in the politics.
Carly Fiorina: Only claims to fame are spectacular failures.
Lindsey Graham:  Closest (almost said closet) thing to a GOP candidate I'd vote for, and I still wouldn't vote for him.
Mike Huckabee:  No preachers for president please. Anyway, his media back catalog of crazy will sink him.
Bobby Jindal:  Religion in politics is his stock-in-trade, and he's not ready for prime time.
John Kasich: A former FOX "News" guy for president? No thanks.
George Pataki: Not crazy enough to stand out in this field.
Rand Paul:  Plagiarist chip off the old block, but not really a libertarian.
Rick Perry: Oops.
Marco Rubio: Stay thirsty, my friend. Try again next time.
Rick Santorum: Fluke runner-up last time will get nowhere this time.
Donald Trump: A bullshitting buffoon who will make a mockery of the entire field, but might make them look normal by comparison.
Scott Walker: Bland and boring, has his fans but will only rise to the top if it's by process of elimination.
Jim Gilmore: Who?

There are others, but I doubt they're worthy of notice.

Personally, I'd like to see Hillary Clinton win the nomination, and the general election. She would have been fine with me last time, if I hadn't liked Barack Obama (and his supporters) more. She's capable, smart, tenacious and tough. Bernie Sanders would be terrific too, but I'm afraid if he won the nomination, he'd lose the general election (too Socialist, irascible, elderly, unkempt and Jewish for the general public, I fear). I love him though, and you'd better believe I'd vote for him over any GOP candidate. Martin O'Malley made no impression on me in particular, and both Lincoln Chafee and Jim Webb may trend too Blue Dog for my tastes (besides having little to no zazz). Given my choice in a perfect world? Senator Elizabeth Warren for the win, any other Democratic candidate (but preferably a younger heir apparent) for Veep.

This team would be fine with me too.

I fear that Jeb! Bush will win the GOP primary having both the most well-known name, and generally being in the more sane column. I think having the last three Republican presidents all from the same family, with one of them having served two terms as Vice President in the one before that, is just too much. Way too much. Even if the previous Bushes had been terrific at their jobs. Instead, we had a middling Poppy and a disastrous Dubya. Jeb!'s motto should be, "Third Time's the Charm?"

The win in the general will depend entirely upon the mood of the country at the time, and just how well anybody can keep the momentum going through these next two summers. Ugh. That's a long slog. And we just can't know what will be going on politically. It's a tough hat trick for one party to extend a two-term presidency into another four or eight in the White House. But the rules are different in this 24/7, post-Citizens United, rapid news cycle era. At present, there's just no way to know.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren's Electrifying Anti-Citibank Speech

I love Elizabeth Warren, and haven't been shy about saying so. Since the first time I saw her--probably on Real Time with Bill Maher some years ago--I was smitten. I was thrilled when I heard she was running for Senate, and even happier when she beat Scott Brown (and hell, I'm gay, and he's a looker*). I'm an unapologetic Warrenite.

So, naturally, I knew I'd get around to watching her speech before the Senate about the fairly stupid, greedy amendment shoved into the federal spending bill, which was effectively written by Citibank. The amendment returns the burden of a potential bailout of the banks to taxpayers, should they once again gamble with our money and lose it. And they will, particularly when you realize that the Republican Congress loves to deregulate, and hates any restriction on big business. And Democrats can be as bad sometimes.

That's why I love Warren. She may be a Democrat, but she is dedicated to consumers and citizens, not to corporations, and she doesn't appear to have been corrupted (please don't fall under their spell, Lizzie!). She is unafraid to call out Citi, and is heedless of the fact that other Democrats are not on board with her. She's blazing a trail, and she's making some waves. So, I queued up the video, and noticed it was almost 10 minutes long. I figured I'd watch a little, maybe skip ahead. . .but I watched it all, and it went down easy. She's tremendous. Watch for yourself.

And I'll say this: if Right Wing World can only throw slurs like "Fauxcahontas" at her, over her claim that she has some Native American ancestry? I've got to wonder what in the world they're smoking, and point out, they've got nothing. And they've got no one like Elizabeth Warren.

[Excerpt]

Elizabeth Warren Rips Citigroup For Weaseling Wall Street Giveaway Into Government Spending Bill

[NOTE: This clip is from Hardball. The un-embeddable stand-alone clip is available at the link below.]

As promised, Elizabeth Warren has left blood and teeth on the floor. During the final debate over the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, before Warren was a senator, she was asked about an attempt to defang the unborn agency. "My first choice is a strong consumer agency. My second choice is no agency at all and plenty of blood and teeth left on the floor,” she said at the time, comments that were unsuccessfully used against her in her subsequent campaign. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post


*A little joke, lest anyone wonder. Not the good looking part, the notion that it would matter!

Sarah Palin Channel's Latest Folksy Video

'Cause ya know ya wanna see it, also.

[Excerpt]

Sarah Palin Channel's Latest Video Is Just A Bunch Of Word Salad


 
The latest video on Sarah Palin's eponymous online network was billed as a rebuttal to Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D-MA) Netroots Nation speech, but some of Palin's points were just too incoherent to follow. In the video posted Friday, Palin responded point by point to eleven "commandments" that Warren outlined in her speech to the progressive confab last month. Warren's sixth point, that fast food workers deserve a living wage, drew so much scorn from Palin that she stumbled over her words a few times. . .

Read more at: Talking Points Memo

Elizabeth Warren is Unhappy with Mitch McConnell Over Blocked Student Loan Bill

Image from source, PoliticsUSA

I make no secret around here that I love Elizabeth Warren. I'd vote for her for any office she'd run for up to and including (wishful thinking ) president. I think she actually and honestly cares about what she's doing. And her big student loan bill came this close to actually passing. In fact, it passed by a majority about as large as Eric Cantor's loss on election night, but didn't quite make it to supermajority. Yes, Senator Mitch (duck and cover) McConnell mounted a filibuster threat, and that was that. Not because the bill was bad, but because it a) was a Democrat's idea and b) was paid for by raising taxes on the super-rich. Oh, woe is them.

Here's what I've got to wonder though. Every time Republicans block legislation that is popular with broad swaths of the electorate, students, minorities, women, aren't they just shooting themselves in the foot electorally? I mean, I know that Americans have notoriously short memories, and that they are unfortunately easily misled. But in this era of the Googles, John Stewart and Bill Maher, I've got to think voters are going to be reminded come election day.

[Excerpt]
 
Elizabeth Warren Declares War on Mitch McConnell After He Blocked Her Student Loan Bill
 
"Well, accountability is exactly the right word. I plan on fighting back on this, and I hope that everybody else does too. One way, I’m going to start fighting back is I’m going to go down to Kentucky and I’m going to campaign for Alison Lundergan Grimes, . She’s tough. She’s feisty. She endorsed the student loan bill, said she wanted to bring down interest rates for Kentuckians, and so my view is, I’m going to get out there and try to make this happen for her. . ."

Read more (with video) at: PoliticsUSA

Sen. Elizabeth Warren Urges Passage of ENDA

As if I could love her more.

[Excerpt]
 
Elizabeth Warren Urges Senate Colleagues To Pass ENDA



After clearing a significant procedural vote on Monday, legislation banning workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity was pressed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in a Senate floor speech in advance of a final vote later this week. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Reason Number 1,427 Why I Want Elizabeth Warren to Run for President

This is Senator Elizabeth Warren questioning banking regulators about illegal foreclosures. From the sound of things, the regulators look out for the banks, not citizens. And Sen. Warren draws that out meticulously. If Hillary Clinton won't run, get this lady to run! And Hillary does run, I want to see Clinton/Warren 2016!

Elizabeth Warren for Prez or VP in 2016!

I'm serious she's awesome. Don't believe me? Check this out. And then, let's get the Hillary Clinton/Elizabeth Warren or the Elizabeth Warren/Alan Grayson ticket moving!

[Excerpt]

Here, Let Liz Warren Help You Enjoy The Rest of Your Day!



We wish that we could have a video like this one EVERY MORNING, that is how much it pleases us to watch Elizabeth Warren embarrass bank regulators in front of a live audience. She should take this show on the road because we are INTO IT! . . .

Read more at: Wonkette

Court Rules Obama Recess Appointments Unconstitutional

Hmm. Not sure what to think about this one. There have of course been recess appointments in the past, notably by George W. Bush. I've got to wonder if this will cause a few dominoes to fall, or The Supreme Court will stop that from happening. I've got to think that "undoing" anything done by recess appointees is going to be damned tricky. And, I'm very suspicious of the motives of those who brought the complaint in the first place.

Either way, I suppose it's a subject that has to be settled for precedent. Democrats squealed when Dubya did it. Republicans did likewise when Obama did it. But you have to understand the impulse to try it, particularly with all of the appointments--even uncontroversial ones--being routinely filibustered.* It's a shame that Harry Reid didn't have the opportunity to neuter the filibus. . .oh wait.

[Excerpt]

Appeals court panel rules Obama recess appointments to labor board are unconstitutional

President Barack Obama violated the Constitution when he bypassed the Senate to fill vacancies on a labor relations panel, a federal appeals court panel ruled Friday. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit said that Obama did not have the power to make three recess appointments last year to the National Labor Relations Board. . .

Read more at: Washington Post


*Isn't it Ironic Department: If the Senate hadn't been so filibuster happy, and so openly hostile to the President's appointees, it's very likely that Elizabeth Warren would have been appointed to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau,  and would not be a Senator right now.

After Spending $9 Million To Defeat Her, Wall Street Watches Sen-Elect Warren Join Banking Committee

I pulled the entire quote from the article excerpted below, because it made me laugh out loud. A hearty Nelson Muntz Ha-ha! to Wall Street! And a heartier you go girl! to the wonderful Elizabeth Warren!

Image from ZD-Net

[Excerpt]

After Spending $9 Million To Defeat Her, Wall Street Watches Sen-Elect Warren Join Banking Committee

Get 'em, Liz! Image from source.

The Huffington Post’s Ryan Grim reported Tuesday that Sen.-elect Elizabeth Warren, a dogged consumer advocate whose critique of Wall Street excess was a centerpiece of her campaign, will join the Senate Banking Committee. Wall Street spent boatloads of money to prevent Warren’s election, but now, as the Center for Responsive Politics noted, she will have oversight of the rules and regulations under which banks operate. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

DNC, Day #2, Take Two

I wrote earlier that I felt disengaged from the speeches on day two of the Democratic National Convention. I blame that on a spectacular first night, and on a bit of a funk on my end. Despite that, things took a turn for the better, at least in my viewing. I was watching MSNBC, and was delighted to see Lawrence O'Donnell interviewing Senator Al Franken. I've been a Franken fan for as long as I've known who he is, but he's kept a low media profile as Senator. Turns out, he's still quick witted and sharp on policy. Too bad he didn't get a speech. [Story continues below]

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Shortly after that mini interview, Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke appeared, giving the best speech I've heard to that point. It helps that there's an emotional response to her, since she was viciously attacked by Rush Limbaugh, an attack that continues in Right Wing World to this day. Fluke has parlayed the uncalled for abuse into something positive, and good for her. May she annoy Rush and his sycophants (almost typed psycho-phants!) for a long time to come. [Story continues below]

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

As expected, Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts candidate for Senate, was great. This is a woman I'd be banging on doors for if I lived in her state. She's just amazing, and what have they got on her? Maybe she got a story about her ancestry wrong? Boo hoo, my Grandma always told me I was related to Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone and General Patton. I'm sure I've told others that, but who knows if Grandma was right.  So, if that's all they've got, they've got nothing. If there is any complaint from me, it is only that Warren may be a little too soft-spoken for an arena speech. [Story continues below]

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Of course, the really big part of the show--including the official nomination of Barack Obama for President--was the appearance of Bill Clinton on the stage. Still popular after all these years--and despite all of the Clinton Derangement Syndrome over the last 20 years--Clinton just knows how to give a speech, and to hold an audience. As with Fluke before, I'm delighted that he likely still irritates the shit out of them! Hey, I'm ornery that way.

Clinton put to rest any lingering doubts that he supports President Obama and his reelection. I still have to wonder if Hillary might run in four years, but there was certainly no sabotage going on here. This was not a tepid endorsement. And if my Twitter feed was any indication, Bill's speech was blowing the barn doors off, the screen doors off, the bomb shelter doors off. He was smokin', and not strictly off prompter either, there was a heap of ad-libbing going on there. Too long, by half, I'll admit. But stellar, just stellar.

No speaker at the RNC last week matched a quarter of the wattage Clinton displayed. No speaker offered a hundredth of the personal endorsement, nor positive arguments for their candidate. Whatever doldrums I was feeling in the early part of today's coverage has been eclipsed, dwarfed, obliterated by Clinton's speech.  It was the best single political speech I've ever heard in my life. I actually kind of feel sorry for the President that he has to try and top it!

Clinton's speech isn't yet ready for embedding, but it deserves its own post anyway. I'll post it as soon as I can get it!

Elizabeth Warren's 30-second Take-down of Mitt Romney

People are focused on the Scott Walker recall election in Wisconsin, and to date I still don't understand why the national Democrats aren't more invested in it. But for me, the real fight is in Massachusetts. That's where the seemingly eternal Ted Kennedy Senate seat was usurped by super-sexy former Cosmopolitan centerfold, Scott Brown. He's only had a partial term, and is now up for re-election. He's running against Elizabeth Warren, one of the most well-spoken, intelligent, educated, awesome women I've ever seen run for office. I'd vote for her for whatever she was running for!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Elizabeth Warren on The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell

I dislike Newton Leroy Gingrich almost as much as I do Karl Rove, or anybody named Cheney. But I like Elizabeth Warren exactly as much as I dislike them. I'd vote for her for whatever she runs for. People talk about President Obama adding Hillary Clinton to his ticket, which is a cool idea. But I'd be more excited if he recruited Warren. Okay, done gushing now.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

President Obama Makes Recess Appointments; GOP Pissed

"The left one is THIS big." Image from CNN

Boo-freakin'-hoo. Seriously. How many of these recess appointments did The Decider make? How upset were Republicans by that? And the Democrats in Dubya's time didn't pointlessly hold up almost everything just to be contrarians. When they were doing it, it was over ideological differences over the appointees. Now? Republicans are simply blocking anything the President wants, even if it was something they were previously for. If they are going to be so immature, I guess it's appropriate they're squalling like babies.

Meanwhile, good on you Mr. President! That's the kind of cojones we knew you had, but it's nice to have proof. Richard Cordray was not a controversial appointment. It's the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that the GOP is squicked out about. Isn't that nice? An agency designed to protect the taxpayers from greedy corporations. Yeah, I can see why Republicans are against that. But why to people keep voting for them?

[Excerpt]


Obama recess appoints consumer bureau chief

In a move that has angered Republicans, President Obama on Wednesday announced he's making a recess appointment of Richard Cordray to be the first director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, sidestepping the Senate confirmation process. . .

Read more at: CNN

Elizabeth Warren Responds to Karl Rove Attack Ad

Atta girl! I. Love. This. Woman!

Elizabeth Warren's First Senate Ad

Elizabeth Warren is quite possibly the only politician I'm excited about. Well, her and Alan Grayson. If I lived in either Massachusetts or Florida, that would be okay. But Nevada's choices aren't quite as exciting.

Tea Bagger Calls Elizabeth Warren a Socialist Whore

It goes without saying that Warren's response was far
more elequant and gracious than the guy deserved.
Image from Addicting Info

Yeah, really classy there dude. I know that some tea party people might say that you can't blame the whole group for the actions of one guy, but you know what? I've read quite a few right-wing comments on Elizabeth Warren (I'm a huge fan of hers, by the way), and this wasn't far off. But here's a tip for our tea bagger friend: Whores are capitalists.

[Excerpt]

Tea Party Supporter Heckles Elizabeth Warren, Calls Her A ‘Socialist Whore’

During a speech in front of a crowded VFW Hall in Massachusetts on Wednesday evening, Elizabeth Warren was heckled by a supporter of the Tea Party.

As Warren spoke to the audience, a man interrupted and complained about her support of the Occupy Wall Street movement. When the crowd attempted to shout him down, Warren intervened and asked them to let him speak. He said that he was unemployed and that the Tea Party has been protesting Wall Street longer than OWS. Warren then addressed his statements. . .

Read more at: Addicting Info

 

Elizabeth Warren Running for Senate

For the life of me, I cannot understand the right-wing opposition to Elizabeth Warren. She is one of the most forthright, intelligent, coolest politicians I've ever heard speak. I've caught her interviews on HBO, MSNBC and CNN, and she's never faltered. She's always entertaining and educational. Go, Elizabeth! Run! Run!

Senate Blocks Potential "Recess Appointments" by Obama

Image of the epically awesome Elizabeth Warren from
source, Raw Story

Huh. Big babies. Apparently this is all to prevent the appointment of Elizabeth Warren to a consumer protection position in the government. The article refers to Warren as "controversial." And that in a nutshell tells me more about the problems in our government than almost anything.

On what planet is Elizabeth Warren controversial? I've seen her interviewed by several different people, and seldom have I seen a smarter, more articulate, more succinct, more capable or quite simply cooler woman! I am truly baffled. When a person this clearly qualified has to be blocked by a special trick maneuver, I have to wonder why. Could it be that they know she'd do a good job, and that they really don't want consumers to be protected?

[Excerpt]

Congress nixes chance of Obama recess appointments

Republican senators on Friday forced the US Senate to stay in session over its week-long Memorial Day break in a bid to prevent President Barack Obama from nominating a controversial head of a new consumer protection bureau.
Obama has the right to make so-called "recess appointments" any time the Senate breaks for four days or more. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Bailout Overseer Not Being Treated Seriously

Photo from source, TPM Muckraker

If you're like me, after the election of Barack Obama, you probably let out a big sigh of relief. After years of paying extra-special attention to the news and politics, we thought we could take a breather. I've even diversified my blog, with lots more fun stuff and frivolous stuff.

But, we were wrong. Stuff is worse than ever, and George W. Bush still has more than a month to go. Remember that big ol' financial bailout? Did you think that somebody was overseeing that? Um, not so much. There is this lady who has been on the case for just. . .well, just days. And she hasn't even really gotten set up yet. Check it out. . .

[Excerpt]

Bailout Overseer: We're Still Trying To Get Office Space

Elizabeth Warren, the Harvard Law professor who chairs the Congressional Oversight Panel, which is monitoring the Treasury's spending of the bailout money, appeared this afternoon before a House commmitee to testify about the report -- better characterized as a set of questions -- the panel released this morning. . .

Read more at: TPM Muckraker