# Warren forms Exploratory Committee **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 31, 2018, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983 "2018-12-31T14:40:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/1 "2018-12-31T14:40:43Z")
And thus we begin… > **['We Can Win': Elizabeth Warren Outlines 2020 Presidential Bid](https://www.npr.org/2018/12/31/677821948/elizabeth-warren-launches-exploratory-bid-for-president-in-2020)** > > Warren is launching an exploratory committee. The 69-year-old senator, former law professor and consumer advocate is likely to face a crowded Democratic field eager to take on President Trump in 2020. I feel like Theoden King when the rain begins coming down at Helm’s Deep. It’s going to be a long night before the dawn. It’ll be filled with twists and turns, heroes and villains and we’ll likely not understand the outcome until late in the game. There’s a little more than 13 months until Iowa. Might start a contest on that one if the field is big enough. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/2 "2018-12-31T15:17:43Z")
She’d just changed her Twitter handle the previous day from @ewarrenforma to @ewarren, so this was inevitable. I’m not super enthusiastic about her campaign right now, but the #1 goal is to either destroy Bernie Sanders politically or make sure he doesn’t even run. Warren is probably best off in the Senate. She sounds awful when she tries to sound folksy, but it’s a long campaign so maybe she’ll improve. I know we’ve got a long thread on it, but she also blew the Native American ancestry issue and Trump will never let that issue die. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/3 "2018-12-31T15:26:58Z")
Love her in the Senate, unenthusiastic about a presidential campaign. She doesn’t have that “person you want to have a beer with” quality about her. She comes off as shrill and schoolmarmish. I’d like to see her and Bernie split the far left vote and let someone more electable run up the middle. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/4 "2018-12-31T15:36:46Z")
There’s no way that she and Sanders split the far left vote. They’re both too practical-minded for that, and either one would prefer to see the other one win over splitting the vote. So by the time that the primaries start, they’ll have come to some sort of agreement between them, and one or the other will have withdrawn. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/5 "2018-12-31T15:56:21Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > There’s no way that she and Sanders split the far left vote. They’re both too practical-minded for that, and either one would prefer to see the other one win over splitting the vote. So by the time that the primaries start, they’ll have come to some sort of agreement between them, and one or the other will have withdrawn. Bernie Sanders isn’t practical, though. No one loves some Bernie Sanders more than Sanders himself. His scorched earth campaign is the number one reason Trump got elected. Hopefully all real Democrats come out swinging with the gloves off and aren’t afraid to land a low blow on Sanders right at the get go. Warren can be a good foil for Sanders as she’s actually accomplished things as a Senator unlike Sanders. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/6 "2018-12-31T16:37:46Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > . Warren can be a good foil for Sanders as she’s actually accomplished things as a Senator unlike Sanders. Such as? I thought her most notable work happened before she was a senator ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/7 "2018-12-31T16:43:43Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Bernie Sanders isn’t practical, though. No one loves some Bernie Sanders more than Sanders himself. His scorched earth campaign is the number one reason Trump got elected. You mean that pretty standard primary campaign, at the end of which he unreservedly threw in behind Clinton? ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/8 "2018-12-31T16:56:58Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > She comes off as shrill and schoolmarmish. I just want to chime in here to pre-empt the inevitable comment someone will make that the words you’ve used to describe Warren are sexist, by saying that, unfortunately, they are in fact an accurate description of her mannerism. This is unlikely to go well for her. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/9 "2018-12-31T17:35:36Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > I just want to chime in here to pre-empt the inevitable comment someone will make that the words you’ve used to describe Warren are sexist, by saying that, unfortunately, they are in fact an accurate description of her mannerism. > > This is unlikely to go well for her. I hate to use sexist language as much as anyone, but that is how she is perceived by many. She’s like the woman in school who demands that you show her your hall pass. She’s like the woman at the service desk whose job it is to tell you that you the store will not refund your money. She’s a terrific public servant, but the presidency is not in the cards for her. ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/10 "2018-12-31T17:49:33Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I hate to use sexist language as much as anyone, but that is how she is perceived by many. She’s like the woman in school who demands that you show her your hall pass. She’s like the woman at the service desk whose job it is to tell you that you the store will not refund your money. She’s a terrific public servant, but the presidency is not in the cards for her. Do you have any functional concerns about that if she were to become president? I share the view of not seeing her as viable as a national candidate, but it is conceivable she could become vice president and be one importunate event away from the presidency. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/11 "2018-12-31T17:57:17Z")
Note to the context: I do think the criticisms against her are way overblown when we do take into consideration that her would be opponent is a mafia style [autocrat](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/03/how-to-build-an-autocracy/513872/), a very likely [felon](http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/12/trump-felony-michael-cohen-paul-manafort-collusion-payment.html), a [liar](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/12/30/stanley-mcchrystal-criticizes-trump/2446181002/) and a [weakling](https://politics.myajc.com/blog/jay-bookman/opinion-trump-weak-man/OJjCcWsefLNdszXtoo3mAP/) who is a [follower](https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/01/05/trump-media-feedback-loop-216248) of the worst angels of our legislature ( 🙂 ), not a leader at all. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/12 "2018-12-31T17:58:30Z")
I misread that as Warren Buffett, and he’d probably make a better president than any Republican I can remember and most of the Democrats as well. However, even if he were young I’d assume he doesn’t want the job. I’d love to see him school the CFSG on who has the better business acumen. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/13 "2018-12-31T18:05:58Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Note to the context: I do think the criticisms against her are way overblown when we do take into consideration that her would be opponent is a mafia style [autocrat](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/03/how-to-build-an-autocracy/513872/), a very likely [felon](http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/12/trump-felony-michael-cohen-paul-manafort-collusion-payment.html), a [liar](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/12/30/stanley-mcchrystal-criticizes-trump/2446181002/) and a [weakling](https://politics.myajc.com/blog/jay-bookman/opinion-trump-weak-man/OJjCcWsefLNdszXtoo3mAP/) who is a [follower](https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/01/05/trump-media-feedback-loop-216248) of the worst angels of our legislature ( 🙂 ), not a leader at all. Golly, thanks for the context that Trump sucks. I’m sure everyone here totally forgot about that. More immediate context is that Trump isn’t going to be in the Democratic primary and therefore all of her actual opponents will also be able to say they aren’t as bad as Trump. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/14 "2018-12-31T18:13:07Z")
> [@Covfefe](#): > > Do you have any functional concerns about that if she were to become president? I share the view of not seeing her as viable as a national candidate, but it is conceivable she could become vice president and be one importunate event away from the presidency. None at all. The only problem I have with her is that her public persona might keep her from being elected. If I thought she could win, I’d be behind her 1000%. If she was running against a sane Republican, I’d say let’s go ahead and run her. But we’re in special times- we need someone who can defeat this criminal is he re-election bid. We cannot allow him to win no matter what it takes, and if we have to nominate someone who perhaps doesn’t reflect our views as much as someone else, but who has a better chance of winning, then we must do that. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/15 "2018-12-31T18:27:39Z")
Didn’t Warren get the memo? Media darling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the super liberal to watch in 2020. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/16 "2018-12-31T18:32:02Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Didn’t Warren get the memo? > > Media darling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the super liberal to watch in 2020. > > 😃 :rolleyes: AOC isn’t eligible to run in 2020. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/17 "2018-12-31T18:32:36Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Didn’t Warren get the memo? > > Media darling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the super liberal to watch in 2020. > > 😃 But she’s not old enough to run for President yet. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/18 "2018-12-31T18:36:36Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Golly, thanks for the context that Trump sucks. I’m sure everyone here totally forgot about that. More immediate context is that Trump isn’t going to be in the Democratic primary and therefore all of her actual opponents will also be able to say they aren’t as bad as Trump. It is relevant in the sense that Trump and the right wing media has been projecting what trump really is on Warren, when she is just about .001% of what Trump is. It is also noticeable to me that many in the tread are going like ‘We have to get a candidate that sounds better to most Americans’, but that is IMHO also coming from listening to talking points from the right about Warren, those have reached a good number of Americans, but not most of them IMHO. The point here is, yes, I do know the problems Warren has, and after the midterms it is clear that we can dispose of the idea that lies, craziness, discord or misguided nationalism will carry the day. While a lot of Americans will continue drinking the Trump-aid, a lot **more** are willing to listen to the ones that are making an effort to make this a better country. > **[Is Elizabeth Warren an Effective Senator?](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/05/is-elizabeth-warren-an-effective-senator/449349/)** > > She doesn't have her name on many laws, but she has been able to influence the debate and push her colleagues in other ways. > [@](#): > > “Democrats in Congress were talking about cutting Social Security in 2012, and Warren got 42 of 44 Democrats to vote yes on expanding Social Security benefits instead,” Adam Green, cofounder of the Progressive Campaign Change Committee said in a statement. > > And while she’s become a popular foil for Republicans in Congress and in races across the country, there’s some early evidence that Warren’s messaging is breaking through to voters on both sides. Warren allies point to a focus group conducted by pollster Peter Hart in Colorado this year (granted, among just 12 individuals), in which the Massachusetts Democrat received positive reviews from Democrats, Republicans, and independents. > > But perhaps the best evidence is Warren’s campaign warpath during the most recent election cycle. The liberal senator campaigned not just for left-leaning candidates, but also in red states for struggling moderate Democratic candidates Alison Lundergan Grimes in Kentucky and Natalie Tennant in West Virginia. She’s expected to be a force on the campaign trail in blue and red districts again this cycle. > > “President Obama ran on many of the same themes as Warren in his reelection campaign, as did many of the Democratic senators who won close contests in 2014,” said Gary Ritterstein, an adviser for Ready for Warren which continues to encourage the senator to enter the 2016 presidential race. “Some Republicans are now paying lip service to income inequality because they are worried that Warren is breaking through to voters in both parties. This is part of the reason Democratic leaders, including Secretary Clinton, have turned to Warren for advice.” ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/19 "2018-12-31T18:37:40Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > :rolleyes: > > AOC isn’t eligible to run in 2020. That was a joke my friends. Right now Warren’s chances seem slim to none. She comes across as unlikeable and out of touch. It’s early and maybe she can fix her public persona. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/20 "2018-12-31T18:38:16Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > You mean that pretty standard primary campaign, at the end of which he unreservedly threw in behind Clinton? I don’t remember that at all in 2016. I remember Bernie, Jane, and Tad Devine whining and spouting conspiracy theories every time Bernie lost a primary. I remember Bernie continuing to drag out the primary process even after he got his ass kicked in the New York Primary and there was no way he could catch up in pledged delegates. I remember his take it to the convention bullshit and him keeping secret service protection. I remember his Bernie bots booing and heckling speakers at the Democratic Convention. With friends like Bernie Sanders, the Democratic Party doesn’t need enemies. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983.md?page=2)