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mother earth

(6,002 posts)
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 10:57 AM Dec 2014

Is Hillary really inevitable? Not so much it seems...MoveOn wants Warren.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/09/us/politics/looking-to-nudge-senator-elizabeth-warren-into-2016-presidential-race.html?_r=0



WASHINGTON — Some Democrats are “Ready for Hillary.” MoveOn.org is ready for Elizabeth Warren.

The liberal group is poised to spend $1 million on a campaign to draft Senator Warren, the Massachusetts Democrat, into the 2016 presidential race, an indication of an appetite among some activists for a more progressive alternative to Hillary Rodham Clinton.

MoveOn.org’s executive director, Ilya Sheyman, said the group planned to open offices and hire staff in Iowa and New Hampshire, the states that kick off the presidential nominating process, and ultimately to air television ads in those states. The group will begin its push with a website, “Run Warren Run,” allowing supporters to sign a petition urging Ms. Warren to pursue a White House bid and featuring a video about her.

“We want to demonstrate to Senator Warren that there’s a groundswell of grass-roots energy nationally and in key states and to demonstrate there’s a path for her,” Mr. Sheyman said. He added that the effort was not being made in coordination with Ms. Warren and that the group advised her staff about it only last weekend.

Ms. Warren, who is entering her third year in the Senate, has fast become a favorite among liberal activists for her unapologetic brand of economic populism, but she has also repeatedly denied any interest in pursuing the presidency.

“As Senator Warren has said many times, she is not running for president,” said Lacey Rose, Ms. Warren’s press secretary, regarding the draft effort.

Such comments have not, however, dissuaded her admirers. MoveOn.org is set to survey its eight million members for one day starting Tuesday, with the expectation that they will affirm its support of the effort to nudge Ms. Warren into the race. She is well regarded by the group, having gotten its support in her 2012 race and joining members on conference calls during her time in the Senate on such issues as student loan debt.

Mrs. Clinton is a popular figure among Democrats and enjoys a wide lead in early polls, but some progressives are wary of her style of politics and believe that widening income disparities in the country call for a more confrontational figure.

Ms. Warren, a former Harvard law professor, is the most sought-after candidate among this liberal bloc, but others could fill the void if she remains on the sidelines. Former Senator Jim Webb of Virginia has already opened an exploratory committee, and Senator Bernie Sanders, a liberal independent from Vermont, and Gov. Martin O’Malley of Maryland have also discussed presidential bids.

Asked about Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Sheyman said the group’s effort was unrelated “to any other candidate,” but added that MoveOn.org members want a Democratic nominee who fits the moment.

“Voters are looking for bold solutions about how you fix a rigged system in which middle- and working-class families are falling behind,” he said.

Whether there is significant energy behind the “Run Warren Run” effort may be known soon: MoveOn.org is planning a kickoff on next Tuesday in Des Moines.

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Is Hillary really inevitable? Not so much it seems...MoveOn wants Warren. (Original Post) mother earth Dec 2014 OP
What can moveon do to increase Warren's world experience? Thinkingabout Dec 2014 #1
One hopes for a true representative of WE THE PEOPLE, not just the status quo with plenty of world mother earth Dec 2014 #2
Why should we be asking anything except for the best qualified person and it should Thinkingabout Dec 2014 #3
'Best qualified'? earthside Dec 2014 #6
One should ponder why ISIS has morphed into reality at all, could it be mistakes we've made along mother earth Dec 2014 #7
ISIS is reality, it is not a nation but their intent is to make the world their nation. Thinkingabout Dec 2014 #9
No candidate is perfect, while it may be a "disqualification" for you, for others it is not, mother earth Dec 2014 #11
Warren is flawed in several ways .... Scuba Dec 2014 #4
She is without a credible challenger Proud Public Servant Dec 2014 #5
So far, she "isn't running", after DesMoines, things could change. Having said that, I agree with mother earth Dec 2014 #8
Since Hillary and Warren sits in the same position on the issues, going further to the left probably Thinkingabout Dec 2014 #10
HRC is no progressive, she is deeply entrenched in centrism. I have much admiration for her, but mother earth Dec 2014 #12
Well, you have to include HRC so there will nit be a problem, huh. Thinkingabout Dec 2014 #13
Anyone who thought the world was going change COMPLETELY overnight was INSANE. The TeaLeft really RBInMaine Dec 2014 #15
I don't recall MoveOn.org being considered TeaLeft nuttery, non-reality corps., nor do I ever mother earth Dec 2014 #16
What's INSANE is calling people the TeaLeft, HappyMe Dec 2014 #23
Ridiculous waste of time. Warren IS NOT RUNNING and COULD NOT WIN if she did. RBInMaine Dec 2014 #14
You know what's a waste of money? Campaigning and voting at all, may as well have Obama mother earth Dec 2014 #17
lol, you unintentionally make me laugh a lot. So misguided! nt Logical Dec 2014 #21
What do you care if they "waste" their money. HappyMe Dec 2014 #24
Two problems with you OP's headline wyldwolf Dec 2014 #18
Yeah, so much Derek V Dec 2014 #19
Inevitable? Nope~ blkmusclmachine Dec 2014 #20
The DU Moveon bashers are out in full swing as usual. davidpdx Dec 2014 #22

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
1. What can moveon do to increase Warren's world experience?
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 11:12 AM
Dec 2014

Though Hillary may not be inevitable, neither is anyone else. Also, Hillary is not selling herself as inevitable, another cognitive dissonance among those saying and asking questions. Just because Moveon gets behind Warren does not mean she is inevitable either. Let them run the primaries, bring their record and let's go.

mother earth

(6,002 posts)
2. One hopes for a true representative of WE THE PEOPLE, not just the status quo with plenty of world
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 11:21 AM
Dec 2014

experience.

The issues at hand are those of returning democracy and actually taking the centrism and big money out of our government, out of decision making that affects every aspect of our lives. As far as one can see, the only candidates that ever make the cut through our "democratic" process are the centrists that serve the oligarchy. This country wants progressive candidates, that's what we voted for twice with our president, what we got was centrism that serves TPTB. How's that working?

Maybe it's just me, but I think we can do better. Why is it always Clinton & Bush? Seems like that's what we need to ask. No family, no one name should be inevitable, yet that's what's shaping in the background, another Clinton vs. Bush. Tired and old doesn't begin to describe it, inevitable status quo, same old, same old.

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
3. Why should we be asking anything except for the best qualified person and it should
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 11:26 AM
Dec 2014

not matter what the name would be. Are you saying if Warren's name was Bush or Clinton it would disqualify her? I have become concerned about her vote on the ISIS resolution, I don't get a strong feeling she is really ready to take the big decisions which will face a Commander in Chief.

earthside

(6,960 posts)
6. 'Best qualified'?
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 11:40 AM
Dec 2014

That, of course, is a subjective determination.

Barack Obama was not as 'qualified' in 2008 as Hillary Clinton, especially in foreign policy ... as the Clinton campaign constantly reminded us.

Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, for example, certainly have more lifetime political experience than did Barack Obama when he ran for President.

As to the name ... for me, yes, it matters. We don't need an oligarchic Democratic Party where a small cadre of family members become our most acceptable leaders. And, for me, I simply don't like the notion that our first woman President would always have the asterisk by her name as having been the wife of a former President. It would be better to have a first woman President who made it on her own. But that is just my personal preference.

mother earth

(6,002 posts)
7. One should ponder why ISIS has morphed into reality at all, could it be mistakes we've made along
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 11:44 AM
Dec 2014

the way, say pre-emptive war based more on blood for oil profits, and the selling of action after 911 on an unquestioning and hurting populace? We've got to stop buying into centrism & MSM reality shaping.

Obviously, one wants the best qualified, but above and beyond, honesty, integrity and true progressive values, the route this country has yet to take. It's time to go left, and not apologize for the values of the left, embrace them & lead.

So far, we've negotiated our integrity and values over to a middle of the road GOP stance, it doesn't sit well with democracy that's gone off the tracks BECAUSE of extreme right values & catering to big money. The smell of corruption won't wash away easily, only when we embrace our progressive values will we find our true strength of character. World experience? Seems like euphemism in the state we find ourselves in.

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
9. ISIS is reality, it is not a nation but their intent is to make the world their nation.
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 12:35 PM
Dec 2014

As I stated before Warren's vote on the ISIS resolution has placed negative thoughts on her ability or wiliness to handle serious security decisions required of Commander in Chief. If she should decide to enter the primary and win this vote will haunt her. Going to the left may not be the answer either, don't think there will be enough support to get those far left and unwilling to compromise is going to fix our problems. I can see you are against the Clinton and Bush names, ergo disqualifying someone because of their name, don't know about this.

mother earth

(6,002 posts)
11. No candidate is perfect, while it may be a "disqualification" for you, for others it is not,
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 03:40 PM
Dec 2014

advisors and the ability to root out the truth are two very good tools in decision-making. World experience is more than foreign policy, and what she may or may not lack could be enhanced with a good choice in VP/running mate, just as Biden was Obama's choice. The same things were said of Obama, when that call at 3 am in the morning comes, remember in the debates?

Proud Public Servant

(2,097 posts)
5. She is without a credible challenger
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 11:39 AM
Dec 2014

Just as Romney was inevitable (and he was; the WH never even bothered preparing for any other challenger) in 2012 because his only opponents were gadflies.

Bernie's great, but he's not a credible challenger; aside from his age (which is an issue whether you want it to be or not), he IS a socialist and has NEVER been a Democrat, and those things will kill him in the primaries even if they endear him to DU. I like O'Malley and dislike Webb, but neither of them are up to taking on Hillary, either (my sense is they're both running for VP, and that their efforts will be futile).

So who would be? Well, I'd say Hillary's biggest vulnerabilities are her corporatism; her elitist, creature-of-Washington status; and the perception that she has no core and will say and do anything if she thinks it will boost her electability (i.e., her authenticity problem). So a credible challenger would have to be an authentic, charismatic populist espousing genuine Democratic values; being younger wouldn't hurt either, since we Dems have never been a party to nominate senior citizens nor (since 1956, anyway) a party that nominates last season's loser (that's very, very much a GOP thing). Warren's the obvious choice, but she ain't running. Schweitzer could have had a go before he both imploded with gaffe after gaffe and decided to play footsie with Romney. I can imagine a couple of others -- Sherrod Brown, Ron Wyden, maybe Russ Feingold -- there's no sign any of them are interested.

What does that tell you? To my mind, one thing more than any other: the Party has done a terrible, terrible job of developing its talent. The GOP's going to have a free-for-all in 2016, which is actually what a party primary should be; we, meanwhile, seem poised to line up listlessly behind a candidate who disappoints the base and has yet to articulate any reason to elect her beyond "She's Hillary!" The whole Party should be ashamed of itself that it's come to this pass.

mother earth

(6,002 posts)
8. So far, she "isn't running", after DesMoines, things could change. Having said that, I agree with
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 11:55 AM
Dec 2014

you wholeheartedly, though regardless of Bernie Sanders age and affiliation, he's another true blue we desperately need involved, and hell yeah, I'd vote for him...I'd love to see Warren and Sanders team up, too good to be true? Perhaps, but one can hope. That aside, you are right on,

yet to articulate any reason to elect her beyond "She's Hillary!" The whole Party should be ashamed of itself that it's come to this pass.


Seems like the new way of politicking no longer involves discussion of real issues, afterall we ignore voting polls and the GOP got their majority with absolutely zero discussion of the issues/problems (that they brought on all of us to begin with & somehow that was left unsaid)...which further leads one to ponder the ignorance of ignoring when exit polls don't line up with the votes & audit trails are never a goal...yeah we've gone off the rails in so many ways. The mantra should be, GO LEFT, the progressive and ONLY road yet to be taken. Why is it we only do the right thing when no alternative is left?

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
10. Since Hillary and Warren sits in the same position on the issues, going further to the left probably
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 12:46 PM
Dec 2014

is not going to change the issues much. Hillary is accused of being a corporatist but no more than others in politics, they have to go to Wall Street and corporations for campaign funds, we do not have the means to provide the funds needed. It is about $1 million per state per election and maybe even more, those funds will not get there without help of Wall Street and corporations. This is a fact of life. Warren spent $42 m on her campaign for senator, got funds from corporations, this was just one state, it will require much more. I invite all who wants to run, there will be the same issues on many things.

mother earth

(6,002 posts)
12. HRC is no progressive, she is deeply entrenched in centrism. I have much admiration for her, but
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 03:44 PM
Dec 2014

simply feel we need a candidate that is going to change things, as we were promised in the last elections. Hope and change did not work nearly as well as we had hoped or needed.

We've got to stop apologizing for being dems, and live up to the height of our democratic principles, go left, America, be progressive & reinstate rule of law and democracy, for all.

We need a candidate that serves and represents the 99%.

 

RBInMaine

(13,570 posts)
15. Anyone who thought the world was going change COMPLETELY overnight was INSANE. The TeaLeft really
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 06:59 PM
Dec 2014

needs to find the planet Earth. Hillary will win the nomination and anyone who claims to be "progressive" is INSANE not to support her because doing that only helps the Repbublicans. Leftist purity is as bad as right wing purity. It's all insanity.

The Hillary bashers are the TEA-LEFT NON-REALITY CORPS, a bunch of INSANE folk who actually thought Nader and Kucinich could win a national election. Total nuttery.

mother earth

(6,002 posts)
16. I don't recall MoveOn.org being considered TeaLeft nuttery, non-reality corps., nor do I ever
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 07:43 PM
Dec 2014

recall them urging a candidate to run...NOR are they extremists of any direction.

RBInMaine, I guess you do feel HRC is inevitable. Then it's business as usual, all is well, the race of another Bush/Clinton round II is imminent. Centrism and the unification of both parties, OTOH, has delivered us a Congress and gov't that is completely dysfunctional, not to mention a SCOTUS that delivers to the oligarchy too.

Nothing to see here, folks, and it's on to 2016 for more of the same, thank heavens for sensibility & clear choices. What can I say, forgot to drink the Kool-Aid today, I guess.

HappyMe

(20,277 posts)
23. What's INSANE is calling people the TeaLeft,
Wed Dec 10, 2014, 10:12 AM
Dec 2014

and insisting that people stfu. Hillary needs ALL of our votes - that's true. You are doing NOTHING to convince people. A campaign run on insults means you don't have shit otherwise.

 

RBInMaine

(13,570 posts)
14. Ridiculous waste of time. Warren IS NOT RUNNING and COULD NOT WIN if she did.
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 06:54 PM
Dec 2014

Please, enough of this insanity. MoveOn is WASTING tons of money they don't have on a pipe dream. I guess they've been smoking that pipe.

MoveOn advertised they had a "secret weapon" to save the Senate. Yeah, how did that work out for them?

An admirable wish but not one with any merit or reality. STUPID WASTE OF MONEY.

mother earth

(6,002 posts)
17. You know what's a waste of money? Campaigning and voting at all, may as well have Obama
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 07:46 PM
Dec 2014

pull a name from the hat that has the ONLY two names in it that are capable of exercising their "world experience".

HappyMe

(20,277 posts)
24. What do you care if they "waste" their money.
Wed Dec 10, 2014, 10:20 AM
Dec 2014

The "inevitable" one has gobs of money. She certainly doesn't need any MoveOn dollars.

This makes me wonder what the Clinton people are afraid of. Any potential primary candidate is always shouted down.

wyldwolf

(43,865 posts)
18. Two problems with you OP's headline
Tue Dec 9, 2014, 08:30 PM
Dec 2014

1. She isn't inevitable.
2. Moveon would have very little influence on the outcome of the nominating process.

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