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Eminentoes
The One and Only Elizabeth Warren
Losing a Democratic primary in Massachusetts should no doubt improve her presidential chances.
You can make it in Massachusetts.
At least that’s what an '80s-era state slogan assured. But as a Democrat, to paraphrase Frank Sinatra, if you can’t make it here you can’t make it anywhere. That’s the problem facing a political neophyte whose big political dreams extend beyond the tiny northeast state.
Elizabeth Warren’s boosters angrily demanded that the United States Senate confirm her to lead the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) before Barack Obama had even nominated anyone for the post. The president’s appointment of former Ohio attorney general Richard Cordray should have been a lesson to Warren’s fan club not to allow their wishes to outpace reality.
The Harvard Law School professor never made it to a Senate confirmation. Now her online admirers want her in the Senate. They await Warren’s announcement whether she will challenge freshman Scott Brown. But that hasn’t stopped her supporters from envisioning the Massachusetts gig as a stepping stone to the presidency.
“Four years in the Senate could well make Elizabeth Warren a serious contender for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination,” the Nation’s John Nichols writes, holding that “even if Warren never goes presidential” her mere presence in the august body would be a boon for America. A quick online search reveals numerous “Warren for President” sites. Some envision the Wall Street scourge’s White House-run coming before 2016.
Most enthusiasts foresee a post-Obama presidential run, with a perfunctory election to the U.S. Senate serving as the staging ground for the grander ambition. But defeating the most popular politician in the Bay State will be no easy task. A Public Opinion Strategies poll released last week showed Scott Brown’s favorability rating at 62 percent. Massachusetts voters describe the Republican senator as “an independent vote” by a 2-1 margin. The poll, commissioned by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, shows Brown leading Elizabeth Warren 53-28 percent.
Warren’s numbers versus Brown aren’t in themselves damning. An interested party commissioned the survey. The president will likely have coattails in New England. And the vote is fifteen months away. Who gave Brown a shot at winning one month before his election?
But Warren’s numbers vis-à-vis her competitors for the Democratic nomination should concern her. Though she performs slightly better than Newton Mayor Setti Warren and City Year founder Alan Khazei, the three Democrats are all mired in the twenties while the incumbent’s take of the vote exceeds 50 percent no matter the hypothetical opponent.
Losing a Democratic primary in Massachusetts is no way to launch a presidential run.
Candidates certainly can grow on electorates during campaigns. But can a campaign grow on a candidate? The inquiries and indignities of a run for office don’t seem to suit Warren.
After just an hour of questions on Capitol Hill in May, the Treasury advisor tried to abscond. “Congressman, you are causing problems,” a departing Warren angrily told Congressman Patrick McHenry. “We had an agreement for a later hearing.” The North Carolina congressman responded, “You are making this up, Miss Warren.” Warren insisted she had appointments more pressing than the one with Congress.
When one of those appointments turned out to be with Vanity Fair’s Suzanna Andrews, it surprised nobody. Elizabeth Warren wowed The Daily Show audience. Michael Moore tapped her as a talking head for Capitalism: A Love Story. The Boston Globe even named her “Bostonian of the Year” in 2009.
She loves good press. She hates anyone questioning her authority, even when she doesn’t have any. Though never nominated, let alone appointed, to lead the CFPB, Warren tried to establish new federal mortgage rules. The power play violated the legislation establishing the bureau. Czars tend to have that effect on democracy.
Warren thankfully doesn’t seem interested in appointing herself Senator as she had appointed herself CFPB head. The unelected legislator is thinking about going legit by becoming an elected legislator. But election requires shaking dirty hands in Somerville and Billerica and answering the inane questions of twentysomething local TV reporters. Do they know that her face once graced the cover of Time?
Warren is a star among MSNBC viewers and readers of the Daily Kos. Her anemic numbers in Massachusetts show that she isn’t playing in Pelham, Peabody, or Pembroke. Elizabeth Warren is the most famous woman that nobody has heard of.
Before Elizabeth Warren can lead the free world, she will have to lead Scott Brown in a poll taken beyond Harvard Yard. That will involve pesky questions and interacting with her lessers. Does the woman Robert Kuttner calls a “progressive super-hero” really want to lower herself by becoming a mere U.S. Senator?
About the Author
Daniel J. Flynn, the author of The War on Football: Saving America’s Game, blogs at www.flynnfiles.com.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (38) | Leave a comment
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Timothy L. Pennell| 7.25.11 @ 7:00AM
This is what you get with these broads who haven't gotten LA*D, for 40 Years.
Ya get your Maureen Dowds. Ya get your Arianna Huffingtons, and your Katrina Vanden Heuvels.
What ya get is a bunch of frustrated Liberal Broads, who can't get a MAN, but are afraid to embrace their Inner Lesbian, and , instead, endlessly take it out on the rest of us.
Think - Hillary Clinton.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 7.25.11 @ 7:28AM
That's classic.
Tomp| 7.25.11 @ 8:02AM
Well stated.
R Martin| 7.25.11 @ 8:17AM
Decorum prevents me from commenting on Mr. Pennell's characterizations of those hideous, toad-faced, leftist squid. I won't blame their warped philosophies on some sexual inadequacies. So I'll just remain silent. He's right.
skip| 7.25.11 @ 8:02PM
In the exercise of appropriate decency I learn from you stereotypical liberal woman are hideous toad-faced squid.
I do believe I will be in everlasting awe of your descriptive skills should you ever decide to drop all pretense of decorum.
PAUL| 7.25.11 @ 8:41AM
Timothy - I think Hillary has embraced her inner lesbian.
Purpleguy| 7.25.11 @ 11:36AM
well, isn't our sexism showing today ... i hope your wife or girlfriend sees this... and you won't be getting LA*D anytime soon - or maybe that's why you hate women.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 7.25.11 @ 1:54PM
Relating truths doesn't connotate hate, it's connotates reality. That's one issue liberals can't deal with and never had been able to deal with, the truth.
chuck| 7.25.11 @ 10:24PM
I think Purp has embraced his inner lesbian.
Howard| 7.25.11 @ 7:52AM
Elizabeth Warren is the Jon Huntsman of the Democratic Party. That is to say, a creature of the Mainstream Media. Sure if the vote was limited to the New York Times, CBS, NPR, etc. both Warren and Huntsman would be the choice for President/Senator and GOP standard bearer respectfully. However, thank goodness, the moron media while it has too much influence, does not have total control (yet).
Teaghan| 7.25.11 @ 7:58AM
OUCH Tim! But you're so right on the money.
PCC| 7.25.11 @ 8:26AM
"Her anemic numbers in Massachusetts show that she isn't playing in Pelham, Peabody, or Pembroke."
She's not playing in Pittsfield, either.
Pecos Pete| 7.25.11 @ 8:49AM
I sort of like the idea of Ms. Warren for president and Debbie W-S for vice president. Now that's a Democrat offer that I would enjoy watching play out in the press and the voting booth.
Nancy in NC| 7.25.11 @ 9:12AM
Is it just me, or has anyone else noted that the DIMS seem to find all the butt ugly women?
Maybe that's why they hate Bachmann and Palin so much.
Purpleguy| 7.25.11 @ 11:38AM
an airhead might be a good f*, but not for running the country
J.C.Eaton| 7.25.11 @ 11:44AM
Have you experience in that regard, sir?
W| 7.25.11 @ 4:03PM
JC'
Purp said "might" which implies that he does not know whether an airhead or a non-airhead would be a good; obiously the Purp has not experience other than wishful thinking.
These lefty liberals always say they are for "women's rights," but then their statements show they are sexist pigs who want to use women, as did their leader, Slick Willie, followed by the Wiener, John Edwards, Spitzer,the latest Wu, and of course the Kennedys, as examples.
Doctor Right| 7.25.11 @ 2:18PM
So you're FOR having sex with Hillary Clinton, but you think she's an airhead?
...Interesting...
Occam's Tool| 7.26.11 @ 1:28AM
Purpleguy: I dated a woman who was a Truman scholar with a fantastic body in Medical School. Unfortunately, she was a Democrat at the time. Later, she became a corporate lawyer for Big Pharma. She was good in and out of bed. If she had been a Republican and Conservative, she could have run the Country. Bachmann is another example like my ex. (Although I have no knowledge of her in bed capabilities)
G. Field| 7.28.11 @ 1:33PM
Why do so many men get filthy mouths when commenting about popular woman who may want to run for office?
Doctor Right| 7.25.11 @ 9:36AM
Another Liberal ditz from "Hah-Vurd" and Massachusetts...
Seriously, why waste the keystrokes and give her free publicity..?
PCC| 7.25.11 @ 9:59AM
Actually, her pedigree is Oklahoma City, Houston and Rutgers before arriving in the People's Republic of Cambridge as a professor in the early 90's, so one might be forgiven in thinking that maybe, just maybe, she had a chance to avoid the Kool-Aid. Obviously, and regrettably, she has drunk deeply.
Gimbel| 7.25.11 @ 9:53AM
So I'll just remain silent. He's right.
http://www.summer-products.com
Mike| 7.25.11 @ 9:55AM
. Now that's a Democrat offer that I would enjoy watching play out in the press and the voting booth.
http://www.ainibag.com
http://www.jerseys-hats-store.com
Bill Diebold| 7.25.11 @ 10:17AM
Do liberals rank each other in their ability to ignore reality i.e. the loonier and more self aborbed the higher they rank amongst their fellow loons. This ditz is an example that mother nature has a twisted sense of humor.
mike daniels| 7.25.11 @ 10:51AM
I work with businesses that comrade Warren wants to regulate. All of them are strictly licensed at the state level and subject to FTC dictates and frequently targets of the class action plaintiff's bar. Her contribution would not be to regulate them but to drive them out of business. Then their customers could meet their credit needs by begging uncle sam or going back to Don Corleone
Ho Chi Mihn| 7.25.11 @ 10:51AM
Inisde baseball stuff. Who the f** is her and why does she matter? Scott Brown is on his way out anyway. That piece of s**t is a sellout.
Mike Hawk| 7.25.11 @ 1:04PM
Why do Pols think the Senate is a stepping stone to the WH. It isn't. O is a huge exception as we had two Senate lightweights running in '08. Usually if a sitting Senator is the nominee, he loses. Same for Veeps.
Nina| 7.25.11 @ 2:19PM
Elizabeth who? Never heard of her. I live in MA and I woudn't vote for ANYONE running for president from this state! Oh and labeling her a "progressive super-hero" wil do her good! Yep, that's what we all want more of...not progressives. Super-heros = men like Alan West!
W| 7.25.11 @ 4:05PM
Nina, my favorite female name, my sister is a Nina. I hope you pronounce it the correct way, Neena, and not Nyna. You have a great name and the right politics
Rich Meade| 7.25.11 @ 3:13PM
As Bob Grant used to put it; "She should be Secretary of Transportation, because her face could stop a train."
Willis| 7.25.11 @ 8:40PM
Or because she should be transported.
John Walker| 7.25.11 @ 3:15PM
Hey Dan, I live in Billerica, and I can assure you that if she comes here to shake hands there won't be many as we are one of the few MA communities to elect a Republican to the MA House. I say one of the few communities to have a Rebulican, but we (MA) doubled our numbers last election, and I hope this trend continues. As for Brown, well he is squishy, but 1,000% better than Coakley. Remember that, as things could have been worse.
Aarradin| 7.25.11 @ 7:14PM
I saw the House testimony where she refused to answer questions, and then left, with a made-up excuse about another meeting. It was easily one of the most arrogant exchanges I've ever seen. Look it up on Youtube, you'll be absolutely disgusted.
If we ever face the catastrophe of another Democratic President, I'm sure she'll get an appointment to something.
Nite| 7.25.11 @ 10:55PM
Elizabeth Warren is another one of Obama's radicals who wants to tell the American people what and how to do everything. She needs to stay in the University. Maybe she can corrupt more students.
Occam's Tool| 7.26.11 @ 1:29AM
However, this one is just another Libtard.
AgentRose| 7.26.11 @ 12:47PM
If the Nation is for her so is Stalin! (only a little inconvenient history)