The Test Elizabeth Warren Now Faces
Like most people I know, I struggle to assess the various candidates for the Democratic nomination accurately— who they are and what they have to offer.
I yearn for the Democrats to put someone forward who will not only win the election, but will continue to wage the political battle of our times in a powerfully effective way.
I like all of the candidates (except Tulsi Gabbard, whose presence on the debate stage puzzles me.) But, for whatever reason, the one person in the field whom I can envision possibly providing that kind of powerfully effective leadership we need is Elizabeth Warren. (I say, “possibly,” because– inevitably – my picture of her is clouded by some uncertainties.)
For that reason, despite my uncertainties, I still pin my hopes on her.
NOTE: That being said, I agree with most Democrats that defeating Donald Trump is the essential priority— and if, in the end, it’s someone else who has a substantially better chance of winning the general election, that is the candidate I’d like to see nominated.)
So, I’ve regretted that the momentum of Senator Warren’s campaign has lately reversed.
NOTE: The consensus seems to be that she’s fallen back because of her handling of the Medicare-for-All issue, an apparent unforced error about which I’ve expressed concerns for months, most recently with “Should Elizabeth Warren Back Away from her Medicare-for-All Position? Will She?”. And she seems to have belatedly recognized, and taken a step to correct, that error.)
What I would most like to see is for Senator Warren to rekindle the enthusiasm she had before and resume her rise in the polls-- by inspiring both the Democratic electorate and the American people generally with her capacity to deliver America the leadership it needs in these dark and dangerous political times.
How can that rekindling of enthusiasm be accomplished?
Such rekindling is going to require her to go beyond the pitch she’s been making.
She should surely continue doing all those things that impressed people – her “plan for that,” her obvious authenticity, her generosity with the public (taking selfies with thousands), etc.
But, to get her mojo back, more of the same will not suffice.
She’s going to have to seize the stage in some way, and say something new and important – something impactful enough to accomplish some degree of “reset” -- that people want to hear.
And here’s what I think Elizabeth Warren can say that could accomplish that.
Tackling America’s Republican Problem Head-on
To the nation as a whole, Senator Warren should say:
“There’s a question that we Democrats should be thinking about. How could a Democratic President get good things done even if the Republicans are determined to block all progress, as they’ve been doing for years?
“I say, it can be done and I’ve got a plan for that.
“I’ve got a plan for, how, as President I will compel the Republicans to change their ways and start working together to get things done for the American people. Or be driven from office.”
The foundation of that plan would be exposing how the Republicans have deliberately frustrated the Will of the People, and sacrificed the good of the nation. Sunlight is the surest disinfectant, and Senator Warren should bring to light how the Republicans have knowingly chosen to paralyze the nation, chosen to prevent the American people from accomplishing even those things on which big majorities of Americans agree.
The Republicans made that choice with their across-the-board obstructionism of Obama. And, right now, in the U.S. Senate, the Republicans are again thwarting the will of the people.And that plan would be good for defeating the Republicans now – in the upcoming 2020 elections – as well as for enabling a Democratic President to get good things done.
Senator Warren could continue:
“People should know about this Republican disregard of the will of the people.
“The House has passed over 200 measures, and passed them on to the Senate.
“It would be one thing if the Republicans in the Senate killed only those bills that appeal to Democrats but not Republicans. But those Republicans made the decision to kill all the bills – even those that big majorities of Americans favor, and that clearly represent ‘the will of the people.’
“The Constitution is set up so that Congress will provide a means for the people’s will to be expressed, filtered through the judgment of their elected representatives. For the Republicans in the Senate today to thwart to thwart every expression of the will of the people -- for their own partisan political purposes – betrays the intent of the Constitution.
“Killing every single bill – not just the controversial, but even those on which there’s a consensus in support -- without even a hearing, much less a vote? What a blatant betrayal of the American people!
“The Senate is supposed to act like a legislature. It’s job is to get good things done. But obviously, that’s not how these Republicans in the Senate regard their job.
“The Republicans at this very moment are continually and deliberately disabling the tool our founders gave to us — the American people -- to make collective choices as we seek to navigate our way as a nation into a future that our children will be living in, as we inevitably face important challenges.
“Think for a moment: What does it say about a political party if it knowingly makes sure that the nation can make no progress toward a better future, even on matters on which big majorities of Americans agree?
“(And just think: If we could enact even just the legislation whose passage 2/3 of the American people would support, how much further along we could be on a whole variety of issues. Even on issues that divide us, there are also areas on which big majorities agree—on which good things could be done.)
“What more proof could we need that this Republican Party doesn’t care a whit about the people, or the nation’s good?
“Well, I’m determined to see to it that the time when the Republicans can get away with that kind of betrayal of the people is over. And my plan for that starts now:
“Right now, as a candidate for President, I’m calling out Mitch McConnell and the Republicans for their un-American throttling of the will of the American people and their deliberately injuring the nation. I call upon Senator McConnell to bring to the floor those measures on which we might be able to agree and pass something that will do some good for the American people. If he doesn’t, I’ll do everything I can to turn the wrath of the American people against all those Republicans in the Senate who support this unconscionable betrayal.
“And that’s my plan for when I’m President as well— my answer to the question of how a Democratic President will be able to get good things done.
“I’ll tell the Republicans they have a choice:
Either they can work with me in good faith to do what we and the American people agree are good things for the nation. “Or if they continue to thwart the people, instead of serving them, in a quest for political advantage, I’ll use the bully pulpit to make sure that the American people can see how they’re being betrayed.“And I trust that the people, seeing that, will vote accordingly!”
“Either way, the people will win. And our nation can move forward again.”