The thing that struck me about the Warren/Brown debate

[lunatica]

was the complete sincerity with which Elizabeth Warren spoke. She's no politician with the facile answers and the soundbites. She has me convinced that everything she says is the truth and that she means what she says with all her heart. She treats voters with respect and seems to know that they can listen to complex answers and learn the facts. She also comes across as highly intelligent and knowledgeable and yet very nice without even a hint of conceit or vanity in her.

I noticed her numbers went up immediately after the Democratic Convention which is when people start to pay attention to the elections in serious numbers. She came across as sincerely caring very deeply about the people she hopes to represent as well as all Americans. People are responding to her because she's real and that scares Brown so much that he tried to avoid the debate. It makes me wonder if his attempted avoidance of the debate was more to stop people from seeing Warren present her case than anything else. As long as it was all about ads and being able to manipulate the public with lies and innuendo and attacks against Warren he could stand a fighting chance against her. But once the public actually listens to her and watches her he's doomed. No one can resist sincerity when it's so obvious. And in the world of politics, especially our modern politics forged by Rove and SuperPACs, sincerity mixed with know-how and intention does get the public's attention.

The more I see and hear of her the better I like her. She's real. And to borrow a phrase, that's a big fucking deal.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. I hope

Last edited Fri Sep 21, 2012, 09:22 AM - Edit history (1)

You are right. She's an amazing person who has already brought about change - as much as she could. With the right HOR - she could harness the Senate to take her ideas to the next level. Cross fingers the people of Massachusetts see what you and I see.

[lunatica]

4. My point is you can't miss it when you see it

All that has to happen is for enough people to get the chance to see it, then it's word of mouth. The fact she's ahead tells me enough people saw it in the Convention. Now many more are seeing it.

There is no way people are going to see her sincerity and tell themselves they don't want their representatives to care about them.

[Voice for Peace]

15. agree she comes across completely authentic and everything else you said

love to see her win & work with the President.

[Cracklin Charlie]

24. Warren gave a great speech at the DNC

Her speaking style is very good, clear and concise, and not afraid to discuss big ideas and solutions.

She is the "Little Dog" to Bill Clinton's "Big Dog".

Little Dog 2012!

[PatSeg]

25. I first saw Elizabeth Warren on Real Time with Bill Maher

and she won me over immediately. She actually could make economics interesting and understandable. Anyone who has listened to her speak for ten minutes is bound to be a supporter. Such a genuine person and smart as they come.

[Berlum]

2. Warren's intelligence and sincerity are a precise antithesis to

the usual reeking Republican bullshit.

[ejpoeta]

3. she has been in a lot of documentaries discussing financial issues.

she has always said the same thing too. her stance hasn't changed. the little guy is getting screwed. she seems so sincere too. i agree. you believe her. and you certainly believe that she is looking out for the rest of us.

[B Calm]

5. She is going to be a great Senator!

[The Wielding Truth]

34. She will certainly be working unselfishly to perfect our union.

[lunatica]

6. And now that the country has had the opportunity to see the debate

I predict she'll get a flood of donations from out of state.

[Justice]

7. Excellent post, I agree - sincere.

Complete sentences and thoughts.

I thought she was a little softer in tone last night which I thought was great.

[klook]

8. After the debate last night, her web site was overwhelmed

I tried to contribute but it kept timing out. So I sent her campaign some $$ this morning.

I've liked her for a long time. This country needs her very much right now.

[lunatica]

9. That's great news!

I really hoped that would happen! If she's elected the entire country will benefit.

[freshwest]

55. Definitely. Having her in the Senate will help all of us.

[Eric J in MN]

12. Cool. I've donated to her, too. NT

NT

[sybster1000]

10. The first time I heard her speak, I thought "Presidential"

I love Hillary, but I don't think that she will run again. But this woman is amazing...I thought, "Could she be the first female President?".

[Marrah_G]

16. I think she could be

[Stevepol]

56. If she runs, she has my vote!

[BlueMTexpat]

20. That was my reaction to her too.

She is an outstanding individual who understands exactly how it is people helping each other and working together that helps us all.

[cascadiance]

40. For a long time I've been wanting to see a Feingold/Warren or a Warren/Feingold ticket in 2016...

I'd hoped that Feingold would have run against Scott Walker (who he probably would have beat too!) in the recall election. That might have helped him that much more to be part of the ticket too. But I really think a ticket with both he and Warren on it would be just the ticket we need to do things like drive home some meaningful campaign financing reform as well and constitutional amendments to get rid of corporate personhood amongst other essential things that need to get done in a short amount of time.

[SheilaT]

46. I've been thinking that for several months now.

She could be the right candidate four years from now, although she'd be quite vulnerable to the "lack of experience" claim.

On the other hand, she'd be a quasi-outsider, given that she has spent her life until now outside of politics.

But I would not yet jump on a Warren for President bandwagon. Let her get elected to the Senate first, and then see what the next four years brings.

[geckosfeet]

11. I saw some of the "debate" - Warren was speaking to Browns "debate" points,

and seemed to be forming coherent thoughts and argument on the spot. Brown was spewing talking points - like he was trying stampede the voters. It was odd. Brown was trying to get votes, Warren was debating.

I think that if you know you have a losing argument, like Browns voting record, then you don't talk facts and figures. You lie and try to stampede the voters. On the other hand, Warren had the faith in her principles to speak to and about them directly.

[mother earth]

13. I'm from MA & everyone I know is for EW. We can't afford Brown/Rmoney/GOP and their entitlements

for the rich mentality any more, no more lining wealthy pockets! If the "job creators" want MORE tax cuts, they can create jobs, it's the biggest tax cut there is.

We can't afford the wealthy's entitlement mentality any more. They've had ongoing slashes in taxes & have enjoyed molding deregulation to their benefit, that's why we're in this mess. No more!!!

Elizabeth Warren is a fighter for we the people, it's that simple. She's looking out for working & middle class America. We desperately need a return to values and accountability.

There's gotta be a sweep to get us out of this deadlock GOP stranglehold on this nation. The GOP can't ever truthfully say they care about this country or doing the work that needs to be done when they've held us all hostage for their own greed & ambition.

Let's SWEEP them all into the trash where they belong.

[Marrah_G]

18. I am also from Mass and love EW

I can only think of a few Brown voters that I know and I think even they have been starting to sway as the R party gets more and more nutty.

[mother earth]

23. If you are for Brown you like the 1% getting all the breaks, you can't afford him if you are working

class...he BS's his way & drives his truck to give the air he's an average guy. It's a con job.

If they like business as usual, he's their man.

[Marrah_G]

27. Some people are still stupid, no matter how much you try and educate them :)

[druidity33]

57. Ugh, i wish...

i live in Western Mass and i can't believe how many people i talked to this morning that felt the whole Native American 'scandal' resonated with them. "If she can't be honest about that"...

I was like, "really?"... "REALLY?"... "REALLY?". That's what you're taking away from this debate?

I am so disappointed in my region and my co-workers right now. (And i work at a Co-op!) I admit, i'm feeling a little disillusioned. It's like it's so easy to make regular people believe the lies and we have to work so hard for those same people to see/understand the truth. Lately, i've been feeling downtrodden. I just want to spend time with my family and avoid spending my time CONVINCING people yet again about why it's important to pay attention to this stuff and to DO YOUR HOMEWORK.



I hope other folk are more optimistic and i'm seeing a trend that isn't really there...

[ProSense]

14. She is getting rave reviews

UPDATEDx4: Boston Globe's Lehigh: "Warren hits her stride, while Brown stumbles"
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/21/1134670/-Globe-s-Lehigh-Warren-hits-her-stride-while-Brown-stumbles


Evidently, Warren knows something about debating. This was posted last night: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1387604

[lunatica]

19. Thanks for the links!

I was right about her.

[JDPriestly]

43. She wouldn't last long on the faculty of Harvard Law School if she couldn't debate well.

That is why Brown was afraid of debating her.

[Cha]

52. Thanks ProSense! I've been wanting to

find good juicy accounts of the Debate last night!

David Bernstein at The Phoenix had an interesting take as well, speculating that Brown somehow was "off," though tiredness seems to be a poor excuse to me. Personally, I think Reid got to him today.

I was saying this last night.. Scott was pissed 'cause Reid cancelled the Vote so he could get to Boston and Debate Elizabeth.

Awesome! And...we see that Mitt Romney has misplaced his smirk, we found it here in Boston.

Mitt called, Scott..he wants his smirk back!

The best bit from the debate? When Brown answered in the affirmative about believing in global climate change, Warren pointed out that the Senate is up for grabs...and climate and science-denier Inhofe would be overseeing the EPA in a Republican-controlled Senate. Point, set, MATCH! That is exactly the sort of argument that will make the ticket-splitters think twice.

I'm sending this link to my cyberbuddy in Mass who's been Volunteering and out Canvassing for Elizabeth for months!

This link is priceless too from dkos..

If you like your debater to be condescending, snide, repetitive, off topic, rote, eager to get personal, willing to toss out extraneous comments and charges, and full of phony manners (thanking the host for every question), then Sen. Scott Brown is your man.

His dark, hyperkinetic style in the first U.S. Senate debate revealed that he thinks he’s in trouble and needed to commit hard fouls on “Professor” Warren, who looked calm, reasonable, thoughtful and authentic. She didn’t wag her finger once.

Much More..
http://www.wbur.org/2012/09/21/brown-warren-debate-payne

[Atypical Liberal]

17. I was annoyed with how much attention she allowed to be given to the Native American thing

I have not yet been able to watch the whole thing, but I was sickened about the whole "Native American" thing.

She should have simply said this:

"I am proud of my Native American heritage handed down to me from my parents, and I won't entertain racist insinuations that I don't "look" Native American enough."

[lunatica]

21. I think she did a great job of laying it out

Why would she question her parents' stories? Why would anyone? And by giving it attention she just helped Brown show what an Ass he is. He's come across as an Idiocrat.

[karynnj]

58. I suspect because the more times Brown speaks of this, the more it hurts him

The fact is that there are things in his book that could be questioned on his terrible life as a kid. Starting with why his elected (Republican) official dad was not paying enough child support to insure his child had enough to eat - and why if his mom was an alcoholic and involved with a series of abusive men why did he not demand custody. Many of the people in Brown's life questioned his book --- and he has the reputation of exaggerating.

Now, I don't think Warren should question anything here - especially as it is not important. But, a low level surrogate might point out that where he is questioning what her normal, obviously happy family told their children, she is NOT questioning that anything he claimed could be untrue.

[ProSense]

22. You may have been annoyed, but

what Scott Brown said was dickish: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021387728

[Atypical Liberal]

28. Yes, it was dickish

And she should have simply said "I'm proud of my Native American heritage and I'm not going to get into a debate about whether I look Native American enough for Scott Brown."

[Indpndnt]

36. I thought her response was much better.

That's what she's always been told by her family and she never used that info. to get ahead in school, scholarships, or employment. There was much more to it than looks and she got that across extremely well. I say this as someone who didn't really know much about her until last night. She shut him up, shut him down, and excelled throughout the debate.

[ldf]

64. she should have gone with humor and said

well, i don't think you look like a rectal orifice, but i think it is pretty obvious to everyone you ARE one...



just kidding... maybe

[NBachers]

41. I watched the debate online. He couldn't let go of it. Heres the best representation I've seen:

[Jennicut]

26. She is very down to earth and not a typical coached politician.

She is extremely intelligent as well. I love seeing her doing so well. Mass needs to boot that ridiculous condescending jerk Scott Brown out. We were stuck with our own so called moderate in Lieberman here in Connecticut for years because people refused to believe his right wing positions.

[bigtree]

29. Thanks for writing this, lunatica

. . . my thoughts exactly.

[Zorra]

30. Yep. Her agenda is real, and it is honest. What we see is what we get.

Every mealy mouthed corporatist politician out there is always trying to cover up the fact that they are primarily working to serve wealthy private interests.

Elizabeth does not have that hideous monkey on her back.

[patrice]

31. The way she talked about BALANCE was absolutely perfect, conceptual, real world pragmatics - AND -

she has the emotional component that fills those ideas out with humanity.

[treestar]

32. And that's why she should win

It would signal a move away from the slick acceptance of smooth people and the soundbytes, and the idea that money that can buy slick but shallow commercials can cause a win or affect an election. And that people who look good like Scott Brown may are not always the best ones - this is not Hollywood, it's real life. Just because he looks Senatorial does not mean he should have the job - maybe he should get a job playing a Senator in the movies.

[PATRICK]

33. That's how Hillary creamed

her "aggressive" GOP schmuck, whose name I happily have succeeded in forgetting despite the number of times they have tried to foist that nonentity center stage. (Fazio?)

She was solid, prepared sincere and aggressively insulted by the typical GOP crybaby bully who lost points on all sides about minimal etiquette. Does it keep the redmeat minority happy? Maybe, maybe not. Win votes? No. Reveal true colors? Decidedly.

In a way all the snarling in the world can't change the fact the debate loser is on the (on edit: graceless) defensive.

[Cha]

53. I lived in New York at the time

and saw that debate with Rick Lazio. Scott Brown's aggressive rudeness totally reminded me of Lazio coming off as a neanderthal to Hillary.

[bluestate10]

35. My God, Warren is running an infinitely better race against Brown than Coakley did.

I don't have the heartache watching this race with Warren on the democratic side the way that I did with Coakley as the democratic nominee. Warren is a fact speaking, true fighter, Warren will lay some wood to Brown every day.

As for Coakley? When her current term limited turn as AG is up, she should look for a job outside of politics or with a think tank. I can't see Massachusetts democrats realistically thinking that Coakley can carry the democratic flag as a candidate for Governor, the best choice is Tim Murray, the current second in command in the Governor's office. Murray will fight and most likely win the race, plus he is a proven leader, having started the rebuilding of the once downtrodden second largest city in Massachusetts, Worcester. Deval Patrick has done a wonderful job of rebuilding Massachusetts after the Romney years and of IMPLEMENTING the disorganized and badly performing health care plan that Romney left behind. There is little wonder why Romney is trying to claim credit for the Massachusetts health care plan now, Patrick modified and has made Romney's poorly structured plan work and made it a model for all of the rest of the country.

[beachgirl2365]

37. I Love ELizabeth Warren!!!

The other day I was asked to name people that I admire and respect........... She was one of the first people to come to mind.......Rooting for you Elizabeth!!!

[midnight]

38. Senator Warren has so much work to do...

[musiclawyer]

39. Warren has "it"

Clinton has it. Obama has it. A naturally ability to connect.

If Warren wants to be the first lady POTUS she can be. A Senate win will launch her. She will get votes Julian Castro and Martin O'Malley etc can't.

[TfG]

42. I think Warren would be a good Presidential choice in 2016.

Forget Hillary, Warren would be a more attractive choice for Prez in 2016 - for many reasons already mentioned.

[mindwalker_i]

44. Warren/Grayson 2016

That would kick ass

[Utopian Leftist]

45. Hillary Clinton has already said she will not run again.

Nominating Elizabeth Warren in 2016 is a no-brainer. As was exhibited by Clinton's historic run in 2008, America is ready to be lead by a woman and Warren is presidential by every definition of the word. Better than that, she is a true progressive, someone that the left base can actually trust. AND best of all to the unwashed masses, she is endearing in a way that Mitsy Rmoney could never dream of being: people would actually like to have a beer with Warren, myself included.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

47. Elizabeth won a lot of hearts last night

and won mine a long time ago. That video at the house party where she spoke about benefiting from other peoples' experience and work was authentic, jaw-dropping and unscripted. It's happily gone viral. But she had me at consumer protection.


Since she's more well known, what really blows my mind about her is how she remains undaunted and passionate in the face of withering criticism by mean-spirited people who are really quite threatened by her. They know and we know SHE'S RIGHT!

[sybster1000]

48. Some have criticized her for checking the Native Am. box but...

She was young then and probably proud of that heritage and her family"s stories. I was adopted and would write in ADOPTED (with attitude I might add ), which I don't know if I would do it now. But I have to ask, what the heck does it matter? Was he afraid that she took his place at Harvard because of her heritage? I doubt it...

[Erose999]

49. Brown does nothing but quote bogus numbers from RW think tanks.

[hamsterjill]

50. I love the way she breaks down complicated topics into snippets that regular people understand.

I remember watching her many months ago when she was explaining the bailouts, etc. She understood the material well enough to explain it to ordinary people. I like that!

To me, Brown was just oozing chauvanism toward her. And I don't like THAT.

[Did I Just Type This]

51. I live in Massachusetts,

I am all for Elizabeth Warren, but the whole "I am part native american" issue is bizarre. There is a very small 2% or less, native american population here. Most of us can not wrap our heads around her comment, and it is mentioned daily on the local circuit. The meme is "if she said that, why should anything else she says have credibility." I will vote for her, but it is just weird, she would have won this in a landslide if she didn't have that one thing hanging over her. Her policies (as well as the GOP policies) are tremendously in her favor. Massachusetts votes for the person with the better credentials and the more open message, Brown lacks both. As a state we don't base our votes on party candidates, it is based on the message and the "proof of abilities" to carry out that message.

[Raster]

59. Most of you cannot wrap your heads around her comment....

...and it is mentioned daily on the local circuit.

No, it isn't, at least not among real people. Now the "people" you hang it with, maybe.

Welcome to DU. Enjoy your stay.

[lunatica]

62. Well I must know all that 2% because I know plenty of Native Americans

And a lot of them have red hair and blue eyes too!

I guess you can't see them if they're not wearing feathers.

[Cleita]

54. She is real and if she makes it to the Senate, I hope she isn't chewed up and spit out

by the Republican Morlochs in Washington.

[lunatica]

63. She may be a lady and soft spoken, but she's tough

[fascisthunter]

60. I Met Her Once in Public

... chatted with her briefly and didn't even know who se was at the time. She's real.... she'll talk to anyone.

[JeffHead]

61. Just sent her a 50

http://elizabethwarren.com/

And we need to support other dems in key races like,

Wayne Powell running against Eric Cantor http://www.powellforva.com/

Alan Grayson http://congressmanwithguts.com/

Jim Graves running against Michelle Bachmann http://jimgraves.com/

Joe Donnelly running against that freak Richard Mourdock in Indiana http://www.joeforindiana.com/

And if you don't want to see Darrel Issa any more Jerry Tetalman http://jerryforcongress2012.com/site/

Among others. If we don't give Obama a congress he can work with we will see more and more gridlock. These next 2 years are key. We need to flip the house, keep the senate, and most important of all re-elect Barack Obama. I wanna vote these republicans back to the stone age! We can do this!

[Deep13]

65. I agree with you, but even if we are wrong...

...she's still a hell of a lot better than an R. majority.

[bucolic_frolic]

66. I hope she wins

but i remain to be convinced that being
a woman with a non-Massachusetts accent
will allow her to carry the day against
the photogenic and thoroughly Bahston
timbre of Scott Brown.

Professors historically don't do too well
as national politicians in America.

But, fingers crossed, let 'er rip, Professor!

[rudycantfail]

67. K&R

The real deal.

[ErikJ]

68. I vote Warren 2016

She can explain the big things so well with such sincerity its amazing.

[BrooklynBoy]

69. Warren For President 2016

I don't "love" too many politicians. But, Elizabeth Warren is my favorite politician since Barbara Jordan. I love her, and I hope she runs for the presidency and wins it in 2016. I have no doubt that she will fight the good fight (unlike the current resident of the WH, who fights like hell when in campaign mode, when in governing mode, not so much).

[Faryn Balyncd]

70. +1