“I’ve got your back,” she said, almost shouting, “and I’ll do everything I can for you.”

[ProfessorPlum]

That quote from Elizabeth Warren came from an article about her addressing a group of union firefighters in MA. The article was posted here a few days ago, making the greatest page.

And that quote has been haunting me ever since.

I read a lot of political reporting every week, about Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals, progressives, libertarians, fundamentalists, reactionaries, psychopaths, saints.

But that quote startled me. It brought me up short. It was such a plain, unadorned example of what we, as Democrats, don't get from the politicians in our party 98% of the time.

Politics is a team sport, and as humans we make moral judgments and decisions based on what is right and best for our "team". The Republicans realize this and push those buttons relentlessly, to the point where their party members consistently slash their own throats economically, merely so their team can "win". But the Democratic leadership treats the Democratic party as if the loyalty all flows one way, from the grass roots to the leading politicians. Not only do they not enact policies that show us they are with us, but they don't even talk as if they are on our side anymore. They don't even bother to reward us with rhetoric that upholds that illusion. Apart from Obama making vague promises to put on his walking shoes for strikes and protests, the Democratic leadership simply take our support silently, and clearly for granted. That's probably because their success or failure actually depends on the system of legalized bribery we allow in this country, not the members of the party.

But you'd think they'd at least try.

The fact that Warren can express solidarity with all Americans so simply and naturally makes her my pick for the Democratic nomination in 2016, whether she runs or not. Her rhetoric is inclusive, cooperative, psychologically satisfying, uplifting, nurturing, and references economic justice and fairness. And, what is more, her actions indicate that she means it.

[Enthusiast]

1. Elizabeth Warren must become our next president.

[HappyMe]

2. I wish she would run.

Since she isn't, I am glad we still have her in the Senate.

[mountain grammy]

3. I believe the voter turnout would

Be huge for Warren. I believe she would win.

There's still time.

[whathehell]

4. Yes, me too..

I don't go out of my way to peruse conservative sites, and yet

I've already seen two conservative bloggers say "I'm a conservative, but I'd vote for her".

She has REAL potential.

[Blue_Adept]

5. I'd like to keep my senators for awhile

After decades of having Kennedy and Kerry as our senators, we've been all over the map the last few years.

Let us keep her for at least a term or two, okay?

Please?

[riderinthestorm]

6. Agreed. 100% nt

[OnyxCollie]

7. There is a crowd here that expects us to have the President's back,

and not the other way around.

Good little authoritarians, they are.

[safeinOhio]

8. If nothing else, I hope

she can bend the future of HRC's campaign toward justice.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

9. K and R x10000000000000000000000000. n/t

[SheilaT]

10. I likewise wish she'd run,

and I also believe she'd win. First off, she's not as polarizing as Hillary Clinton is. Clinton has the intense animosity of a rather large portion of the electorate. In November next year, if she's the nominee, the strong Democrats (I almost said good Democrats but I don't want to seem to be belittling anyone) would absolutely turn out and vote for her. However, a vast number of Republicans would absolutely vote against here, and I'm not just talking those who will vote Republican no matter what. Then there's the so-called swing voters, some of whom are apparently so clueless that 48 hours before actual election day they still haven't made up their minds. (Really? And they still vote?)

Elizabeth Warren is already becoming better known outside of her home state and people like us here at DU. She needs to go around the country, speak at as many events as possible, especially the state gatherings of Democrats. That would build her potential delegates to the nominating convention. Then she needs to make herself better known to the nation at large.

With all due respect to the good citizens of Massachusetts, I honestly think the country as a whole needs here more than you do.

[ProfessorPlum]

11. I also wish she would run

and believe she would win - this country needs another FDR, and no one else on the horizon even comes close, with all due (and vast) respect to Bernie Sanders, who has been fighting the good fight for a long time.

We can't nominate our candidate based on who the GOP hates less - their capacity for hate knows no identity lines (witness their white hot hate for a Southern white Bubba), though of course their racism and misogyny add particular ugliness to their target du jour. If EW became the nominee, the hate would flow.

But she is such a good communicator, and is so clearly equipped to call out injustice for what it is - and to work against it(!) - that I think she represents a rare opportunity for the people to get some actual representation in their government.

And, I worry that her age will make 2016 the last time she can viably run. (Unless we lose and she comes out in 2020).

[SheilaT]

12. You are absolutely right that we can't nominate

based on who the GOP hates more or less. But not to fully assess a candidate's chances, and not to fully understand how shallow Hillary Clinton's support really is, scares me.

I also happen to think that Ms. Clinton is already too old, and even though Ms. Warren is barely two years younger, the apparent difference in age is striking.

[bvar22]

13. Hillary has the back of firefighters..... that make over $100K/yr.

The Median Income of Fire Fighters is $44K/yr.

[AtomicKitten]

14. She is the candidate for the times.

She will deliver a populist message credibly, convincingly, and passionately.

[rhett o rick]

15. Well written. One reason the "New" Democrats don't seem to worry

about support from the grassroots, is that the system has been gamed. The Republicon Party, whether by design or not, has become the clown Party. The Progressive Real Democrats are not given a choice, vote for the Corporate backed Conservative Democrats or else. So where does that leave the Democratic grassroots? Abandon the Party, plug your nose and vote for the Conservative candidate or pretend the conservative candidate will not hurt us too badly.

Some are looking to Sen Sanders or Sen Warren to save us and I support them completely, but they shouldn't be looked to as a possible savior. They can be easily neutralized by a Democratic Party Machine that has little use for them. We need to support the Populist Movement which is happening all across our country. You have to look for it because the Corp-Media is ignoring the individual protests and gains.

Support progressive organizations like moveon and DFA.