Is Elizabeth Warren Helping Or Hurting the Democratic Party?

[East Coast Pirate]

Cross posted from the Elizabeth Warren group by suggestion. http://www.democraticunderground.com/1265674#post9

(Not endorsing this article. The author is a jackass. Looks like the campaign to paint Elizabeth Warren as a dangerous far-left kook has begun.)

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has been the hero of the left since she stepped onto the national stage four years ago. From her crusade against big banks to her ardent support for individual consumers, she has steadfastly supported the pet causes of the left, seeking to help them progress in a pragmatic and disciplined way. Since she entered the United States Senate seven months ago, however, that pragmatism has crashed and burned and her new attitude has begun to create a Tea Partyesque divide that Democrats are now seeing within their caucus for the first time.

Warren is a left-wing ideologue, and the voters of Massachusetts knew that before electing her to the Senate. Just how much of an ideologue she would be, however, was something that few saw coming. Warren has moved beyond simply attacking the opposition party and has set her eyes on a new political target to take down: Democrats. Just last week, Warren took to the Senate floor, giving a tirade in direct opposition of the currently proposed bipartisan plan to fix student-loan debt concerns, bucking her own caucus and balking at a plan endorsed by her President, Barack Obama. Warren scolded Democrats and Obama for supporting a plan that would raise $184 billion in interest payments for the government "on the backs of students," and called for students to be able to borrow from the government at the same interest rate that big banks do.

-snip-

These telling actions clearly depict a phenomenon occurring that Democrats have been terrified of: severe inter-party division, which has incidentally crippled the Republican majority in the House of Representatives. Unlike the House, however, Senate business can be completely halted by the actions of one renegade senator.

Over the course of the past month, Senator Warren has proven that she does not care about passing legislation; so long as she is able tout the policies of the far-left. This is a pattern that has clearly played out on the far right since 2011, and America must ask itself with baited breath; are these the actions of one hooligan senator or a trend that will eventually hijack liberal politics in America.

More bullshit: http://www.policymic.com/articles/55837/is-elizabeth-warren-helping-or-hurting-the-democratic-party

[TDale313]

1. She's the best thing to happen...

To the Democratic Party in a very long time. Good for her for actually standing up for actual liberal ideals.

[Scuba]

47. +1

[bigwillq]

2. She's good for America.

A refreshing, intelligent voice. It's what we need.

[Arkana]

3. She's a good liberal--that's all I need to know. Fuck anyone who says otherwise.

[Tx4obama]

4. I'm still mad at her for trying to lay blame on Obama for the GOP's obstruction of judicial nominees

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251311829

[Wilms]

5. LOL. The author, Vaishampayan, is a UC Irvine Frat Boy who self-identifies as conservative. n/t

[Luminous Animal]

13. I am seeing more and more dubious sources over the past month... sources that seek to discredit the

left whether they be a right wing source or a third way source.

[Swamp Lover]

6. Sen Warren is GREAT for hard working, honest American people who are tired of getting screwed over!!

The size of her brain is rivaled by the size of her heart, both of which are eclipsed by her integrity and courage. I've not seen her ilk since Paul Wellstone drew his last breath.

If Sen. Warren is bad for the Democratic Party, scrap it and start all over!!!!

[searchingforlight]

10. Well said.

If Elizabeth Warren can pull Obama and the rest of the Dems to the left I will make her lead horse.

[whathehell]

22. +1000 n/t

[kentuck]

7. Helping...

...to save the Democratic Party.

[Mass]

8. If you follow the profile of the author, it states "conservative". Enough said\nt

[forestpath]

9. The Democratic party is what's hurting the Democratic party.

Warren is showing it up for the pro-rich travesty it has become.

[Motown_Johnny]

11. Helping. She got the Consumer Protection Agency passed and

everyone said it couldn't be done.


I am all for economic populism and she is smart enough to smack down anyone who tries to debate her on any economic topic. For example:

The woman is brilliant and her character is beyond question. I hope she runs for POTUS in '16.

[byeya]

12. The Rahmulans are killing the Democratic Party and Warren is an official with the potential to put

party back on the rails.

[mick063]

14. You have got to be shitting me.

Has the Democratic Party really fallen this far?

Seriously......

Questioning if Warren is bad for the party?

So I guess it is really true then. The 1% hermit crabs have actually crawled into an empty shell of a once great Party.

The article is sickening "power of suggestion".

[LuvNewcastle]

15. Looks like Sen. Warren is becoming a little too popular for some people.

And I love that last paragraph. "Sen. Warren has proven that she does not care about passing legislation; so long as she is able to tout the policies of the far-left."

So Warren is holding up progress in the Senate, is she? I thought they weren't able to get anything done because of the filibuster. All this time, it's been Sen. Warren keeping things from getting done.

Then it goes on to compare her to far-right politicians. Sen. Warren is the Democratic Party's version of a teabagger. Gee, I think I've heard that accusation somewhere else today.

Corporate Dems are feeling threatened by Sen. Warren. She's getting a little too real for them, it seems. They tolerate Progressives when they're quiet and come up with silly ideas that go nowhere, but when a Progressive gets to work and makes waves, they're just as much an enemy as the teabaggers.

[Marr]

16. Insofar as standing up for the 99% is bad for the party leadership, I suppose she is.

[Zorra]

17. Wow. Shameless fascist propaganda. nt

[mythology]

18. Even if that were the case

that she's a far left wing ideologue, the party needs some of that. There was a good book called the Radical and Republican about Fredrick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln and how they needed each other in order to get better results.

While pragmatism matters in getting things done, if nobody has the desire to push for further, then there's a smaller range of what can get done. This is especially the case when the Republican party is so hung up on going further and further to the right, so they start negotiating from the position of batshit crazy.

Also she's at about 50% approval and 25% disapproval in the state. Hardly a case of buyer's remorse.

Plus she's better than Scott Brown, of course so are my cat's hairballs, but still.

[bahrbearian]

19. Helping

[TheKentuckian]

20. I fart in dumbass' general direction. Another Turd Way phony asswipe.

[Le Taz Hot]

21. And the smear campaign begins.

GUARANTEED this is coming from the establishment Dems. GUARANTEED! A Senator on the job for only 7 months and they're starting this shit this early out? They're scared.

[East Coast Pirate]

23. That was my first thought.

It doesn't seem like this would come from Republicans. They'd be happy about division in the Democratic Party. The Chicago machine must see her as a real threat.

[Mass]

24. Yes, I can see that you are an objective observer here. The Chicago machine. Sure

Note, as has been noted repeatedly, the writer self identifies as a conservative and it shows with the other articles he published (most likely a Ron Paul libertarian from his other posts).

But of course, Obama has to be the bad guy.

[East Coast Pirate]

25. I was referring to the Clintons.

But you may be right.

[MADem]

26. Warren is NOT a "left wing ideologue," first of all.

She's a social programs enthusiast, and a pragmatist. She also understands the value of a dollar, and she objects when people waste money, and when they get rich on the backs of the poor.

That isn't "far left." That's a centrist, at least in Massachusetts.

[Marrah_G]

27. I really don't care if she is helping or hurting them

I just want her to continue speaking truth.

[Little Star]

28. More Elizabeth Warrens' is exactly what our party needs and less Anthony Hot Dogs.

[emsimon33]

29. K&R

Elizabeth Warren scares the hell out of the status quo. Her positions are those of about 70% of Americans--left, right, center; conservative, liberal, neutral; Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Atheist, etc.

[Left Coast2020]

30. We should all tell the writer to shove it where the sun don't shine.

In the last paragraph, there is no "attribution" or quote from Senator Warren (on not caring about passing legislation). Purely an opinioniated puff-piece that reaks.

[madinmaryland]

31. OFFS. The guy is a moran. Elizabeth Warren was an unabashed liberal before getting

elected, in the likes of other liberal northeastern Senators. I don't think many people have an issue with her going after the banksters that nearly crashed this country.

[99th_Monkey]

32. Let's nip this shit in the bud! Thanks for posting!! eom

[wildbilln864]

33. helping! eom.

[99Forever]

34. Anyone that doesn't like Elizabeth Warren...

... can go fuck themselves. With a cactus.

[Fearless]

50. Best-response-ever!

[Notafraidtoo]

35. If the Democratic party wants to give me a reason to even bother.

Then they better have people like Warren fighting the good fight, with out people like Warren in the party I would rather wait for the eventual street uprising to get involved. With out public financing of campaigns and the existence of citizens united we are slowly decaying anyway only thing going to fix that is massive unrest that stops commerce.

[tledford]

36. It cracks me up...

...when people talk about the "far left" in this country. Hell, there isn't even anyone as far left as CENTER any more, there is only the right, the far right and the ultra-insane right.

[geckosfeet]

37. You are (they are) joking right? She is the best thing to happen in MA in forever.

Someone has to push back on the corporatists in the senate.

Warren scolded Democrats and Obama for supporting a plan that would raise $184 billion in interest payments for the government "on the backs of students," and called for students to be able to borrow from the government at the same interest rate that big banks do.

And just what did they find objectionable about that?

Warren's tirade gleaned a rebuke from many in her own caucus, including Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the number two Democrat in the Senate. In his response Durbin plead with Warren stating, "walking away from [this deal] just doesn't make sense," and adding that the majority simply does not have the votes to hammer out a more liberally tinged bill.

Yep. Towel throwing. One of the dems greatest group activities.

[MotherPetrie]

38. She's not helping the pro-Wall Street/Chained CPI wing of it, and

I am cheering her on.

[valerief]

39. Who cares about the party? Is she helping us is the right question. nt

[daybranch]

40. Helping America and Americans regardless of party.

I love her. She is a true democrat. She is a true progressive. I believe she can beat the socks off Hillary or Bill or Obama in any debate. Call me giddy if she runs for President.

[Douglas Carpenter]

41. for those who want a Democratic Party where the socially liberal hedge fund manager can feel at home

she is a threat. Establishment Democrats think they have the winning formula all figured out - liberal on social issues and Bob Dole type conservative on economic issues. New Deal liberalism and progressive economic populism has been dead and buried for the last 35 to 40 years and Sen. Warren is resurrecting it.

[alarimer]

42. I don't give a crap about the Democratic Party

It can rot away for all I care. I care about doing the right thing, whatever the political label. I am not a party loyalist. I despise knee-jerk, unthinking party loyalty.

[ananda]

43. A great help!

Just wonderful!

[ellenfl]

44. she's making some other dems look bad. is that what you mean? go, ew! eom

[DonCoquixote]

45. translation

The base will not swallow Clinton, because we have seen we know that Obama has been the continuation of her husband's reign, and we do not want 8 more years of that, because it will do enough damage to kill us.

[wilsonbooks]

46. She is chasing the money changers out of the

Temple. They will do anything to stop her.

[LWolf]

48. Helping.

I don't really have any "heroes," but the existence of a Democrat willing to be a left-wing ideologue keeps me in the party.

If there were no active, visible, left-wing activists left in the party, the party would be irrelevant to the left.

I'm not sure where the author of this article thinks "liberal politics" will be without the left. Without the left, the only "liberal politics" in the Democratic Party would be neo-liberal.

[Fearless]

49. If we do not dream big dreams

We cannot achieve big dreams.

She is right. Anyone who buys the "she needs to compromise" bull is either an idiot or has had their head in the sand the last six years.

[last1standing]

51. Elizabeth Warren is helping the people.

If the Democratic party supports the people then she is helping it. If not, that's the party's problem, not hers.

[Warren DeMontague]

52. Yes, clearly, anyone who thinks financial and securities markets should be at all regulated

is a "left wing ideologue".