# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/141 "2019-01-03T21:26:43Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > Yeah, me neither. šŸ˜‰ Ok, previewing her political stances: > **[Political positions of Elizabeth Warren](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Elizabeth_Warren)** > > Elizabeth Warren is the senior United States senator from Massachusetts. She is a member of the Democratic Party. > Warren was a candidate in the 2020 United States presidential election, ultimately placing third behind Bernie Sanders, and eventual winner Joe Biden. > Widely regarded as a progressive, she was previously a registered Republican. It was not until 1996 that she changed her registration from Republican to Democrat. According to Warren, in the six presidential elections she voted in b... Overall, a bit too leftist for me. But livable. Gun control ā€œWarren supports reinstating an extended magazine long rifle weapons banā€ I dont like that, but the rest is reasonable, at first glance. Overall, I think she is a bit too left and Massachusetts is pretty damn blue. Iā€™d prefer a rust belt or southerner. Still, Iā€™d vote for her. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/142 "2019-01-03T21:36:19Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > With all due respect, what legislative accomplishments have ANY Dems managed during the past six years? > [@scr4](#): > > So kind of accomplishments by a Senator do you have in mind? Any specific examples by a Senator whose party didnā€™t control both houses? Just off the top of my head: - Jon Tester pretty much sunk the nomination of a corrupt White House doctor to be VA Secretary, and worked to reform the VA medical system - Bob Menendez was really the leading force to get the Russia sanctions bill through the Senate - Mark Warner kept a bipartisan investigation on Russiaā€™s election interference pretty much on track Iā€™m sure thereā€™s a bunch of other examples of members of the minority working to get things done, as opposed to just making speeches, but those are some pretty significant achievements that were done during Republican control of the Senate. > [@dalej42](#): > > Although itā€™s 3 years old, hereā€™s a pretty good (lengthy) Atlantic article about Elizabeth Warrenā€™s effectiveness as a Senator. > > [Is Elizabeth Warren an Effective Senator? - The Atlantic](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/449349/) > > Notice in particular how the article mentions how she uses her seat on the Senate Banking Committee effectively. Itā€™s one thing to grandstand, throw out gotcha questions, and get a sound bite. Itā€™s a another to actually influence policy. I donā€™t have time at this moment, but I will read this carefully. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/143 "2019-01-03T22:10:30Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Although itā€™s 3 years old, hereā€™s a pretty good (lengthy) Atlantic article about Elizabeth Warrenā€™s effectiveness as a Senator. > > [Is Elizabeth Warren an Effective Senator? - The Atlantic](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/449349/) > > Notice in particular how the article mentions how she uses her seat on the Senate Banking Committee effectively. Itā€™s one thing to grandstand, throw out gotcha questions, and get a sound bite. Itā€™s a another to actually influence policy. Close to 4 years old now, actually. Anyhow, it only lists a couple of accomplishments of hers: > [@](#): > > During her tenure in office, sheā€™s managed to pass just one bill of any significance through the Senateā€”the Smart Savings Act, which altered retirement accounts for federal workers to give them more returns on their investments. A companion bill authored by Rep. Darrell Issa passed the House and became law. > [@](#): > > Through hearings on the Senate Banking Committee in particular, Warrenā€™s questioning and persistence has lead to rules changes at various federal agencies without needing to get legislation through a Republican-controlled Congress. Most notably, Warren successfully pushed the SEC to require banks to admit wrongdoing in negotiating many settlements. And a critic of hers says: > [@](#): > > ā€œShe has no legislative accomplishment other than to derail a few [nominees], which is easy to do.ā€ Seems like sheā€™s done at least as much as Tester, though not anything as singular as Menendez or Warner, during the past six years. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/144 "2019-01-03T23:30:55Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Iā€™ve listened to some interviews including Rachel Maddow show last night, and \*\*I can see why the Republicans are attacking her so hard. She is steering the conversation in the direction they least want to go \*\*- i.e. how the whole system is rigged to benefit the rich and the powerful, ā€¦ Yes, sheā€™s good at this. Itā€™s a message that resonatesā€”and that inspires those it targets to fund anti-Warren social media initiatives. There was a great satire piece published by _McSweeneyā€™s_, yesterday, entitled ā€œI Donā€™t Hate Women Candidates ā€“ I Just Hated Hillary and Coincidentally Iā€™m Starting to Hate Elizabeth Warren.ā€ I recommend giving the whole thing a read, but hereā€™s a taste: > [@](#): > > ā€¦ My hatred for Hillary wasnā€™t diabolical. I never bought into the whole pizzagate thing, or the whole Uranium One thing, or the whole spirit-cooking-she-drinks-blood-infused-Podesta-rice thing, and I never once believed she was the devil. I would see those posts and just be like, Huh, if people believe that stuff about her, she must be really terrible. > > ā€¦And I never thought Iā€™d hate anyone as much as I hate Hillary Clinton. But to my surprise, Iā€™m actually starting to hate Elizabeth Warren. > > ā€¦I hate the way she dealt with Donald Trumpā€™s incessant attacks against her, for example. Why did Elizabeth Warren have to take that DNA test? Why couldnā€™t she have handled his abuse the exact right way? If I were being libeled by the President at his toxic mob rallies of hate, by golly, I would know just how to turn that into a moment of pure perfection. > > And you know the DNA test is a huge deal, because Breitbart published five different stories about it over the course of 24 hours. Though I have never once in my life given a thought about the welfare of Native Americans, I am totally offended on their behalf. > > ā€¦I mean, think about it for a moment. If Elizabeth Warren were so great, why would Robert Mercer be funding a super PAC whose sole purpose was to portray her as an out-of touch hypocrite? ā€¦ > **[I Donā€™t Hate Women Candidates ā€” I Just Hated Hillary and Coincidentally Iā€™m...](https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/i-dont-hate-women-candidates-i-just-hated-hillary-and-coincidentally-im-starting-to-hate-elizabeth-warren)** > > ā€œHow does Warren avoid a Clinton redux ā€” written off as too unlikable before her campaign gets off the ground?ā€ ā€” Politico, 12/31/18 > \- - -I have no... ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/145 "2019-01-04T01:05:40Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Close to 4 years old now, actually. Anyhow, it only lists a couple of accomplishments of hers: > > And a critic of hers says: > Seems like sheā€™s done at least as much as Tester, though not anything as singular as Menendez or Warner, during the past six years. Actually Testerā€™s reform of the VA is a pretty big deal. But I agree that the article is somewhat vague, like the part about how she blocked some nominees. It isnā€™t clear to me whether she blocked a crazy right-wing circuit court judge or the deputy dogcatcher of the State Departmentā€¦ but I suspect Iā€™ll have about a year and a half to see what accomplishments she does have to her credit. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/146 "2019-01-04T01:32:01Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > If the main credentials for Warren revolve around what she did a decade ago, thatā€™s a pretty weak case. Hopefully someone ā€“ especially her campaign ā€“ can make a more compelling case than you have. Iā€¦what? What were R. Reaganā€™s accomplishments in the 1970ā€™s? What did Bill Clinton do as Arkansas governor,\* ever?\* I have no idea. Warren is an ideological leader. She cares a lot about economic policy, and makes a case for it. Thatā€™s important. I was happy to let her do that in the Senate when she thought that fit her level of competence. But if she now wants to be President, I think I can get on board with that. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/147 "2019-01-04T01:57:30Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Actually Testerā€™s reform of the VA is a pretty big deal. > > But I agree that the article is somewhat vague, like the part about how she blocked some nominees. It isnā€™t clear to me whether she blocked a crazy right-wing circuit court judge or the deputy dogcatcher of the State Departmentā€¦ but I suspect Iā€™ll have about a year and a half to see what accomplishments she does have to her credit. From what I know of Elizabeth Warren, sheā€™s smart enough to know when to pick her political battles. Itā€™s far better to oppose a crazy right wing circuit judge thatā€™s being appointed to an evenly divide court than to pick a hill to die on opposite some junior State Department flunky whoā€™ll write a few useless reports but spends most of his time try to outdrink Brett Kavanaugh on the DC cocktail circuit. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2019, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/148 "2019-01-04T02:06:55Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Iā€¦what? > What were R. Reaganā€™s accomplishments in the 1970ā€™s? > What did Bill Clinton do as Arkansas governor,\* ever?\* I have no idea. Look, if you donā€™t care about experience and credentials, thatā€™s fine. You do you but could you not feign surprise that some people do value those things? You canā€™t actually be shocked by it so itā€™s kind of annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/149 "2019-01-04T02:56:37Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Iā€¦what? > > ā€¦ > > Warren is an ideological leader. What were Trumpā€™s successes prior to his elected office? Oh, wait, heā€™s an ideological leader. Well, I want someone who features a record of successfully enacting policies over someone who mostly sticks it to the other side in an appealing way. I am reserving judgment on whether Warren is in either camp, because based on what Iā€™ve seen in this thread, Iā€™m still not clear on her accomplishments recently. Maybe itā€™s great and just being described poorly. And as far as Clintonā€™s record, he accomplished education reform and economic development that established him as the leader of the DLC. You may say heā€™s too centrist, but Iā€™ve never heard the criticism that he won what, like four elections for governor for doing nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/150 "2019-01-04T03:25:17Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I heard her for the first time in awhile, if not ever, this week, and I certainly wouldnā€™t consider her any of the above in the clip I heard played. I could certainly see how someone not inclined to like her anyway could consider her lecturing or annoying but those voters canā€™t be reached in the first place. Iā€™d consider most things Iā€™ve heard from Robert Reich more shrill, annoying, lecturing, and yes even pedantic than what Iā€™ve heard from Warren. > > ETA: and I was _expecting_ her to be pedantic-sounding and was disappointed because she didnā€™t seem to have enough substance even if her words were true in a general sense. I also would not describe Warren as ā€œschoolmarmishā€ and certainly not as ā€œshrill.ā€ Academic, yes. Overly so, perhaps. Lecturing, maybe. Weā€™ve had male presidential candidates, though, who are just as academic as Warren, and others who are much more into haranguing their listeners than Warren is (and with less of a knowledge base), and Iā€™m not aware that anyone called them ā€œschoolmarmishā€ or ā€œshrillā€ or anything else especially negative for that matter. Hmmā€¦I wonder why not? ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/151 "2019-01-04T04:59:54Z")
Just imagine what the voice of a female Dr. Jordan Peterson would sound like. Thatā€™s along the lines of what some of us hear, even if it doesnā€™t rattle our personal values or interfere with our perspective. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/152 "2019-01-04T19:51:48Z")
The wider the field the better so that everyoneā€™s viewpoint will have someone advocating for it. That being said, I hope Warren doesnā€™t win the nomination. The right candidate can beat Trump, but I donā€™t think Warren is it. She would likely end up the same way that the last liberal bookish, professor like candidate from Massachusetts did, when HW defeated Dukakis easily. ---
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/153 "2019-01-04T19:53:02Z")
Warren is the choice for those who prefer a valiant failure to a victory. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/154 "2019-01-04T20:04:17Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > I also would not describe Warren as ā€œschoolmarmishā€ and certainly not as ā€œshrill.ā€ Academic, yes. Overly so, perhaps. Lecturing, maybe. Weā€™ve had male presidential candidates, though, who are just as academic as Warren, and others who are much more into haranguing their listeners than Warren is (and with less of a knowledge base), and Iā€™m not aware that anyone called them ā€œschoolmarmishā€ or ā€œshrillā€ or anything else especially negative for that matter. Hmmā€¦I wonder why not? Sexism. Itā€™s alive and well, and we should fight to reduce it. The election for POTUS, however, where the fate of the world could hang in the balance is not the place to die on the hill of fighting against sexism. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/155 "2019-01-04T21:16:26Z")
> [@WernhamHogg](#): > > Warren is the choice for those who prefer a valiant failure to a victory. I donā€™t think you can support this statement. Warren is the obvious choice to unify the Bernie wing with the party mainstream. If either of those factions choose someone else, Iā€™m afraid that would mean a split, with each faction going it alone, or a capitulation in one direction or another. Who else has broad enough support from those who vote Democrat? Who else has that support based on a record rather than tricks and a pretty face? _Who else still will in four years?_ Sherrod Brown might be able. I donā€™t know if Booker or Harris can keep the lefties on board. But Warren is already a heroine of the progressives. Itā€™s hard for me to say no to her candidacy. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/156 "2019-01-04T22:59:49Z")
Iā€™m not sure Warren can do that. At least not better than most others. There are those who are Bernie or die and no one will win them. And she does not have as much appeal to the centrists and the mainstream as you think. Maybe with a Clinton endorsement early but maybe not even then. Brown has a good shot at being a uniter. Harris could too. Both I think more so than Warren. But the biggest force for uniting the Democrats is Trump. Sure there will be some who will pout that their preferred one did not prevail but few will not realize that even the one they liked the least is a better alternative than what the alternative is. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/157 "2019-01-04T23:07:45Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Brown has a good shot at being a uniter. Harris could too. Both I think more so than Warren. > . Harris has **no** chance of winning. Zero, zip, nada. She is in favor of banning all handguns. while that flew in SF just fine, and could be OK in CA, it will doom her in the rest of America. Besides, she has accomplished very little so far. Yes, most Americans do want \*some _form of gun control- 50-60% depending on how the poll is wired and when. But only a small% would go that far. Even the "Fudds_" would line up to pull the lever for Trump if Harris was the Dem nominee. - thatā€™s the gun-nut name for the vast majority of gun owners, those who own just a couple guns for hunting or self defense, and who would be Ok , maybe with a ban on "assault weaponsā€™ and certainly on better background checks. The gun-nuts vote 100% GOP, but the ā€œfuddsā€ do not. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/158 "2019-01-05T00:23:24Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Harris has **no** chance of winning. Zero, zip, nada. She is in favor of banning all handguns. while that flew in SF just fine, and could be OK in CA, it will doom her in the rest of America. As others already pointed out to you in other threads - she was in favor of banning handguns **in San Francisco**. She never suggested a nationwide handgun ban. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/159 "2019-01-05T01:35:02Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > As others already pointed out to you in other threads - she was in favor of banning handguns **in San Francisco**. She never suggested a nationwide handgun ban. She was never running for nationwide office before. However, she was still in favor of it, and Oked it, \*so she thought it was Constitutional. \* She also has pushed for other gun laws in CA, and slid into place a backhand gun ban that prevents any new (and possibly safer) gun models to be sold in CA. The leopard doesnt change her spots, and people will remember- and it will come up. wiki: _Microstamping On May 17, 2013, the state attorney general began enforcing a new law requiring that semi-automatic pistols incorporate microstamping.[41] With this technology, very small markings are engraved, using a laser, on the tip of the firing pin and on the breechface of the firearm. When the gun is fired, these etchings may be transferred to the primer by the firing pin, and to the cartridge case head by the breechface, using the pressure created when a round is fired. If successful, this imprints two identifying numbers, unique to that gun, on each spent cartridge casing.[42] This requirement applies to new guns being added to the California Department of Justiceā€™s roster of handguns certified for sale; semi-automatic handgun models already listed on the roster are not required to incorporate microstamping. Note of interest - this law was passed in 2007 and the wording in the law stated that it shall become effective when there are at least two companies, unencumbered by a patent, employing this technology. To date, no manufacturer offers this technology in firearms available to the public.[43]_ She also, as AG, approved a law that would make it illegal to possess a magazine over 10 rounds, which has been held to be unconstitutional. and of course as many here on these boards have pointed out- a gun ban in one city is worthless- and Kamala is smart, she knew sheā€™d have to expand the ban. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983/160 "2019-01-05T11:27:10Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > She was never running for nationwide office before. However, she was still in favor of it, and Oked it, \*so she thought it was Constitutional. \* OK, so youā€™re saying itā€™s unconstitutional now, and sheā€™s going to advocate for a nationwide handgun ban anyway in her campaign for President. Thatā€™s one hell of an assumption - and youā€™re basing your claim of her unelectability on that assumption. So letā€™s just say I find that to be a rather weak claim. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warren-forms-exploratory-committee/826983.md?page=9)