Liberals say Elizabeth Warren's better choice for Senate leader to replace Harry Reid

[bigtree]

Greg Sargent ?@ThePlumLineGS 2h2 hours ago
Boom. Two major liberal groups float idea of Elizabeth Warren replacing Reid as Senate leader: http://wapo.st/1IDqD2I


Judging by the Twitters, most political observers have already decided that the two major contenders for the post will be Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin, with Schumer seen as the heavy favorite. That may be true, but that doesn’t mean the liberal wing of the party will quietly acquiesce without trying to put its stamp on the outcome.

“If Elizabeth Warren doesn’t run for president, she should definitely run for leader of the Senate,” Neil Sroka, a spokesman for Howard Dean’s Democracy for America, tells me. “The election for Senate leader is not going to be a slam dunk for any early front-runner, especially someone like Senator Schumer. He’s closer to Wall Street while the Wall Street wing of the party is dying and the Elizabeth Warren wing is rising. It only makes sense that the next leader of the U.S. Senate is either from that wing or deeply understands how to work with that wing.”

“There will likely not be a coronation to replace Harry Reid, and Elizabeth Warren is right up there with others as someone who would be taken very seriously,” the Progressive Change Campaign Committee tells me in a statement. “Warren’s lifetime of fighting for the little guy against Wall Street power — including her upset victory on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — shows she can think big, wage tough fights against powerful interests, and win key votes in the Senate. She’s the definition of a leader, and that’s why her colleagues and millions of Americans respect her and are inspired by her rise.”

The point here is not that Warren will run, or that the left will necessarily be able to install their chosen candidate at the top of the Dem Senate leadership. Rather, it’s that the left will use this occasion to try to pull the debate at the center of the battle to succeed Reid to the left on a range of issues...

To be sure, there is probably more consensus among Democrats on economic matters than there has been in many years. But real differences remain, and if liberal groups get their way, they will be litigated in the context of any battle to succeed Reid. Even if Warren doesn’t run, the left will try to exert influence over any others who might emerge — Durbin or possibly Patty Murray — in hopes of also pulling Schumer in their direction.


read: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2015/03/27/morning-plum-liberal-groups-float-elizabeth-warren-for-dem-senate-leader/

[PoliticAverse]

1. "Chuck Schumer" - please!, not "the senator from wall street". n/t

[Thinkingabout]

3. Yes he is the senator who represents Wall Street location, Warren is connected to Wall Street also.

[bigtree]

12. Wall St. is less an issue about donations than it's about their conduct on votes

...this is normally an argument the right makes. No one can credibly argue that Warren is some ally of Wall St., despite the fact that some have hedged their donations in her favor in hopes of swaying her opinion.

[Thinkingabout]

16. Sure, it is judged on DU Hillary takes money from Wall Street and therefore she would not stand

up to Wall Street and again here Schumer is connected to Wall Street and therefore it disqualifies him from being the Senate Leader. This is an argument made by you, and yes lots of opinions posted on DU are the same as the right.

[bigtree]

21. again, since you're being obtuse

,,,the issue here is how these Senators have enabled or opposed Wall St. in their voting or advocacy. You can make the mindless assertion the right-wing is making that Warren (who you're accusing) accepting a donation equals complicity, or you can be honest and forthright about what difference those contributions have made.

[Thinkingabout]

31. You say I am being obtuse, post after post on DU talks about Hillary and in the recent

Schumer connections with wall street is mindless right wing assertions, no, I am not being obtuse, perhaps others are being obtuse. A post that Schumer should not be considered as Senate leader because of Wall Street has to apply to others. If it is a right wing argument about Warren connections to Wall Street then it is a right wing argument about ANY others connections.

Hey, I can accept Schumer and Hillary connections, why cant you accept Warren's connections also.

[bigtree]

33. Hillary's not a Senator anymore

...and has zero to do with this issue.

[Thinkingabout]

40. My referral was all the right wing talk about who is "Wall Street" then all has to be "Wall Street"

[Man from Pickens]

30. in this case, Schumer is literally known as "The Senator from Wall Street"

and NOT just because he represents a state that contains it. And it's not new, either.

I'd rather have someone like Ron Wyden take the post.

[Thinkingabout]

36. I feel sure there will be lots of discussions before a Senate Leader is selected, I

also feel sure it will be someone who is knowledgeable on senate procedures.

[L0oniX]

20. He's a traitor to the common people.

[Thinkingabout]

2. I realize Warren is very popular with voters but the Senate Leader has to have lots of knowledge

of Senate procedures. The selection of Senate Leader will be voted on by members in the senate. Harry Reid is very good at Senate procedures, I would think the members of the Senate will elect someone who is very knowledgeable of those procedures.

[bigtree]

4. Reid had less knowledge than Byrd before him.

...staff can sort 'procedure' out for a leader.

What the Democratic party needs is a leader, more than a manager.

[Thinkingabout]

5. Yes, does she have the knowledge need to be the manager, I have less knowledge of Senate

procedure than Reid but it does not make me qualified.

[bigtree]

9. the Senate needs a leader

...staff can sort out procedures. That's a weak and uninspiring reason to oppose her.

[Thinkingabout]

11. Did I say I opposed her, you are jumping to conclusions, I pointed out one needs lots of

knowledge of senate procedures to be Senate Leader. There will be a leader, elected by other members of the Senate, it will not be by a poll on DU for sure.

[bigtree]

17. you're busy in this thread and another harping on her about 'Wall St.'

...I'm going to assume that your posts are in opposition, rather than in support of her.

Everyone knows well who's actually going to be voting for her, but that doesn't make this discussion any less prescient or germane.

[Thinkingabout]

23. Okay, lets take this slowly, Post #1 was

"Chuck Schumer" - please!, not "the senator from wall street"

I pointed out Warren has connections to Wall Street also, if there is opposition to Schumer because he is the senator from Wall Street then why not have opposition to Warren since she is also connected to Wall Street. Now go back to those posting about Schumer and wall street and explain about harping on Wall Street connections.

[bigtree]

26. I'm not buying it

[Thinkingabout]

38. You don't have to buy my opinion, and I don't buy into the argument about all the

Wall Street connections should not be judged the same.

[RiverLover]

39. Liz Warren isn't "Anti-Wall Street", she's "Anti Wall Street Corruption"

The thinking guy is thinking about his Koch Bros "American Crossroads" article or else he uses the RW Nat'l REVIEW (not to be confused the the Natl Journal) article that he links to this alleged "fact".

But if you go to open secrets, there are no such donors listed.

Elizabeth Warren

Top 5 Contributors, 2011 - 2014, Campaign Cmte
Contributor Total Indivs PACs
EMILY's List $507,095 $507,095 $0
Moveon.org $453,517 $129,540 $323,977
Harvard University $312,550 $312,550 $0
Massachusetts Institute of Technology $76,200 $76,200 $0
Boston University $73,700 $73,700 $0
...view more data
Top 5 Industries, 2011 - 2014, Campaign Cmte
Industry Total Indivs PACs
Retired $3,485,949 $3,485,949 $0
Lawyers/Law Firms $2,218,772 $2,192,272 $26,500
Women's Issues $1,598,383 $1,577,911 $20,472
Education $1,361,608 $1,361,608 $0
Democratic/Liberal $1,307,517 $950,984 $356,533
...view more data

https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00033492

[PoliticAverse]

6. I'm sure she could get up to speed between now and when Reid leaves his post...

The rules and procedures are all online:
https://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_index_subjects/Rules_and_Procedure_vrd.htm

[Thinkingabout]

7. And if she does and other members feel the same they will vote for her.

[MurrayDelph]

22. Then we should go with Merkley

He understands procedure, and is a real liberal.

[bigtree]

35. that's a good pick

[cascadiance]

45. Plus INFINITY!

I think he'd be an excellent selection to bring the party back to working for progressive change, and he's been one to advocate for the proper reform of filibuster rules in the Senate since he's started as senator in 2008. I think he understands the proper ways to handling these rules in the Senate to ensure the majority has power, and a filibustering minority has to lobby on camera for a majority of Americans to see on television before they can hold up the majority with a filibuster.

Part of me would like him to run as a running mate for Elizabeth Warren to help make this campaign button I got last year worth more for its potential reuse!



But with Reid retiring now, I think Merkley would really make the best replacement for Reid there. You can tell that Schumer's trying to lobby for more support with his sudden advocacy of pushing back against fast tracking of the TPP with a petition that just went out the last day, when he's historically been all about helping corporate influencers pushing through raising H-1B visa quotas in "biparisan" bills through the Senate for many years. Not sure whether Merkley will be excluded from consideration using seniority rules, etc., but if not, he should be considered!

I want Warren for president and Merkley to lead the Senate for us. That will give us the nucleus for change needed to fix our economy and fix climate change that need to happen in 2016!

And Merkley has the courage to take stances on issues like this one that will help bring young and other disaffected Americans back to the party...

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/jeff-merkley-legalize-pot-oregon

[RiverLover]

8. NOOOOOOooo NOT Schumer!

Fake Dem alert!!

Chuck Schumer and the Democrats' Identity Crisis: Economic Policy vs. Rhetoric
Dec 2014

...Unfortunately, Schumer embodies the contradictions that will tear the Democratic Party apart over the next two years. He understands the need to embrace a populist, progressive narrative and program, but his ties to Wall Street and big money lead him to blunt any real moves by Democrats to take a bold stand for working people against corporate power.

The budget proposal to allow more government bailouts of banks that gamble with their depositors’ money was a huge lost opportunity for Democrats to paint Republicans as being on the side of the big banks that wrecked the economy. That opportunity was negated by President Obama’s pushing for the budget and Senator Schumer’s stealth maneuvers (widely known in Congress) to keep the Wall Street deal intact. As a result, the leaders of both parties demonstrated, as they’ve done before, that government is in fact on the side of the rich and powerful....

http://www.nextnewdeal.net/chuck-schumer-and-democrats-identity-crisis-economic-policy-vs-rhetoric

[Thinkingabout]

13. What are you going to do with Warren ties with Wall Street?

[winter is coming]

15. Is there more than one Wall Street?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6422070

[Thinkingabout]

18. I am not aware of more than one and if you have information different I would like for you to

share this with me.

[winter is coming]

25. There's a news story going around this morning that Wall Street banks are threatening to tighten

the purse strings if Dems don't soften their tone in re Wall Street. Brown and Warren are specifically mentioned. Given that, don't you think it's a bit odd for you to be hinting that Warren has compromising ties to Wall Street?

[cali]

27. YOU have a habit of making claims with NO EVIDENCE

DO provide links to Warren's ties to Wall Street. They are few.

[winter is coming]

10. What about Sheldon Whitehouse?

He's fair-minded, detail-oriented, and possibly not as threatening to the old guard as Warren.

[dmosh42]

14. Since most in Congress are there only to enrich themselves, senators like Warren and Brown....

would be at the bottom of the desired list. They would rather have some devious types who ally strongly with the 'crooks and liars', of which we have plenty in both parties.

[Action_Patrol]

19. I love her but she hasn't done any of the steps to get there

People typically serve in another position before jumping straight to Leader.

[geek tragedy]

24. Patty Murray seems like a better choice.

While seniority isn't hard rule, jumping ahead of 38 other Democrats seems a bit much--especially when the Republicans have a very wily tactician in Mitch McConnell. The job requires experience in advancing (and defeating) legislation, working with the Senate rules, etc.

[bigtree]

28. she'd be my first choice

...but, of course, Warren would be a dynamic pick.

[geek tragedy]

32. I think Warren should definitely be encouraged to join the leadership team.

I guess the question is whether she thinks it would compromise her ability to speak out on issues.

[LynneSin]

37. She's the first one I considered. This would be a poor move for Warren

There is a ton of compromise that goes on with these Minority/Majority positions which is why whomever has the position tends to be the most HATED person of the party. Even Boehner and McConnell are pretty unpopular with their own party. Look at Eric Cantor - he was even voted out and he was 2nd behind Boehner.

We think Warren would go in there and be all 'Liberally' and 'Progressivey' and it would be like WOW we should have done that ages ago. Believe it or not Reid is actually pretty liberal and progressive himself but had to work the system too.

Better it be someone that can go in there and work the politics and take the hits when necessary. I think Warren would become compromised and it's just the wrong time for her to be that. And IF there is any inkling that she might actually run for president (which I know she says she isn't) then the last thing she should be is the minority leader. That position is for senate lifers not presidential wannabes.

[2naSalit]

29. Elizabeth Warren could be

a good replacement for Harry Reid... but her seniority is what might make this unlikely. There are a few others who would do well as the party leader and probably more effective than Harry. Elizabeth will take the path that leads she sees as the best route to do the job she was elected to do, and she knows where she accomplish the most. Durbin or Schumer, not the best choices in my view... and I'm not so sure about Ms. Murry either.

[joeybee12]

34. It needs to be someone who can keep the others in line...

And who also knows a great deal about the intricate workings of the senate and of many of the arcane rules...I don't think Warren fits the bill.

[madville]

41. This is like 22 months away right?

Reid isn't stepping down until the new Congress in sworn in January 2017 I would guess.

[bigtree]

42. he's already, reportedly, endorsed Schumer for the post

The Hill ?@thehill 22m22 minutes ago

BREAKING: Reid endorses Schumer to replace him as Senate Dem leader http://ow.ly/KT7Er

[truebrit71]

44. Which is a real kick in the balls to Dick Durbin...

...

[still_one]

43. Pattrick Leahy. Warren won't get it because she does not have senority, and the Senate won't

do it

[hifiguy]

46. I could definitely live with Sen. Leahy.

Good man.

[HereSince1628]

47. Well she can't do THAT and BE president...but she's not senior enough to lead the senate

It's a club and time in service to the club means very much