Elizabeth Warren (once again) speaks for me: "So I'm Relieved, But I'm Also Pretty Angry"

[kpete]

I'm glad that the government shutdown has ended, and I'm relieved that we didn't default on our debt.
But I want to be clear: I am NOT celebrating tonight.

Yes, we prevented an economic catastrophe that would have put a huge hole in our fragile economic recovery. But the reason we were in this mess in the first place is that a reckless faction in Congress took the government and the economy hostage for no good purpose and to no productive end.

According to the S&P index, the government shutdown had delivered a powerful blow to the U.S. economy. By their estimates, $24 billion has been flushed down the drain for a completely unnecessary political stunt.

$24 billion dollars. How many children could have been back in Head Start classes? How many seniors could have had a hot lunch through Meals on Wheels? How many scientists could have gotten their research funded? How many bridges could have been repaired and trains upgraded?

The Republicans keep saying, "Leave the sequester in place and cut all those budgets." They keep trying to cut funding for the things that would help us build a future. But they are ready to flush away $24 billion on a political stunt.

So I'm relieved, but I'm also pretty angry.

We have serious problems that need to be fixed, and we have hard choices to make about taxes and spending. I hope we never see our country flush money away like this again. Not ever.

It's time for the hostage taking to end. It's time for every one of us to say, "No more."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/17/elizabeth-warren-government-shutdown_n_4114818.html

[bullwinkle428]

1. And my love for her only gets stronger.

Proud K&R.

[treestar]

24. I don't have a problem with these expressions

But hope they don't come from the same people who make fun of the BOG. It seems to me to be much the same thing, just directed at a different person.

[last1standing]

52. When someone posts a 20 pic spread of Warren in a swim suit you'll have a point.

n/t

[truedelphi]

59. ROTFLMAO.

You just made my day. Thanks.

[treestar]

60. I've never seen that alleged post

So my point remains.

[last1standing]

61. LOL! Then you've never been to the BOG.

Everyday they post fawning pictorials of Obama's dog, his fistbumps, hugs, meme posters, swimming sessions, family, etc... Of course you know this since you're here trying to make some false equivalence between an enthusiastic (if slightly hyperbolic) statement of support and a somewhat disturbing need to photoblog the first family's every move and then gush over them.

I don't normally care about what BOGgers do, but when they crawl out of their lair to project their obsessive behaviors onto others, I'm going to call it out for what it is.

[treestar]

64. So the love for Warren is just the same

Don't try to pretend it is not the same thing.

True you can't have bathing suit pics of her, but that's due to sexism.

Still, the fawning adulation means those people cannot talk about the BOG.

She speaks for me? I love her? Please, that is the same thing.

[last1standing]

65. Again, when we see a group dedicated to pics of Warren fistbumping I'll have to agree with you.

And if I ever see that I will definitely be just as nauseated as I am when one of those photo love-fests reaches GD. However, saying "I love Warren" isn't quite the same thing.

I love tomato Kibbeh but I don't idolize it or post daily photo blogs of it from different restaurants beside various condiments.

[MannyGoldstein]

2. I love Senator Warren

Nothing more needs to be said.

[calimary]

35. Except ... another "I love Senator Warren"!!!

We have Barbara Boxer on our end - to make us proud, here in California. Dianne Feinstein - meh - sometimes.

But THANK GOD we have Elizabeth Warren, too! Hmmm - all of these are women. Funny, I'm thinking of the point they were making on MSNBC a few minutes ago - this "gang of eight" or "gang of six" or whatever they were - in the House and Senate, who got together to work through some of these problems that came to a head yesterday. Funny. They were all female. From Debbie Wasserman Schultz to Kelly Ayotte.

Maybe it's symbolic - that it IS time for women to start taking over and dealing with the big stuff. Those who will be putting on the "big-boy pants" and really getting things done for our nation in the future will likely be those wearing skirts and traveling pantsuits.

[llmart]

48. As long as they are the right sort of woman.......

because we've seen the other side of that; i.e. Palin and Bachmann. They are NOT what we want representing our sex.

I do wholeheartedly agree that we need at least 50% of the House and Senate to be women. We are not fully represented yet. I so want to see this happen in my lifetime, but I'm not optimistic.

[calimary]

53. True enough, llmart! And as far as I recall, michele bachmann was NOT one of those women

in that gang-of-eight, or gang-of-six, or whatever. Heidi Heitkamp was. Susan Collins was. Debbie was. Patty Murray was. Kelly Ayotte was. Trying to think of the others. michele bachmann couldn't even begin to hold their hand towels in the ladies' room. And as for palin - she gets no mention because she's not in Congress or the Senate despite her presumptions of being Goddess of them all. She's not even worthy of applying for a job as a ladies' room attendant. The very idea is an affront to all the women who work jobs like that, and do a probably emotionally-difficult and not-much-respected job like that with a hell of a lot of dignity. michele bachmann and sarah palin are not worthy even to empty their wastebaskets.

[Scuba]

3. Kick for my favorite Senator!

Please, Elizabeth, please run for POTUS.

[DissidentVoice]

74. And if you do, stay true to your convictions!

Don't try to "triangulate" or "track to the centre."

[rhett o rick]

4. k&r thanks for posting. nm

[Jackpine Radical]

5. iirc, in 2006 first-term Senator Obama was denying any interest in a White House run.

As Twain said, "History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme."

[MADem]

16. A first term Senator Obama wasn't 64 years old with an undefined national profile, either.

I wish people would stop trying to steal my Senator, frankly. She's in a position where she can do the most good for the nation on a topic where she has a great deal of expertise. Further, poor MA has had more than a half dozen Senators in recent years (Kennedy, Kerry, Kirk, Cowan, Brown, Warren, Markey) and our delegation is not unknown for its contributions to the upper chamber down the years. It would be nice if we could get back to some predictability in representation.

[PATXgirl]

21. I admire senator Warren and would love to see her run for president BUT...

After the past two weeks, like you MADem, I think her common sense and wisdom is needed much more in Congress.

[klook]

32. She is a valuable public servant

and I'm very glad to have her voice in the Senate. I'd be perfectly happy to see her become the next Lion(ess) of the Senate from your great state and have many years of productive service.

(Also, as an aside: Good grief - Sen. Warren is 64?? I want what she's having. I really never thought much about her age, but just assumed she was in her early 50s, if that old.)

[MADem]

34. She doesn't look it, does she?

She's got some of that youthful genetic code, but she was born June 22, 1949. I don't think she's gone the plastic surgery route, either--she's just lucky, I think.

[Laelth]

6. k&r for Elizabeth Warren. n/t

-Laelth

[ctsnowman]

7. U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement

Snip

But this deal should be no cause for celebration - keeping the door of government open and paying bills should be a basic expectation of Congress and my hope is that this is the last time Congress plays games with the American economy in such a reckless manner. The one paper thin silver lining to this deal is that the Tea Party now knows that they cannot win political fights by threatening to shut down the government or default on American debt. Hopefully, House Republicans have learned their lesson.

Members of Congress are elected to solve big problems in order to make our country stronger and more prosperous. It is time for Congress to break this cycle of totally avoidable, totally manufactured crises and get back to doing its job. I’ll do my part to ensure that happens for Connecticut and for the good of our country.

Chris has got Warren's flank down here.

[efhmc]

31. Well said.

[calimary]

36. I not sure the teabaggers DO know they can't win political fights by threatening to shut down the

government. I think with people like ted cruz still "alive and kickin'" and egging them on, they'll never learn that lesson. Assholes like him are there to divide and conquer and raise money for himself and his ambitions, either as a future king or barring that (and NOPE, he will NEVER get that far!), then a king-maker. I think the takeaway for the teabaggers is - "we didn't push it to the limit. We didn't go all the way, dammit. Well, 90 days! Let's go! You'll see, next time! We'll 'git-'er-dunnn' next time!"

[ctsnowman]

41. I agree

[flamingdem]

37. Murphy was very good during the crisis

Maybe someone to watch?

[brer cat]

8. K and R for truth and reason. nt

[magical thyme]

9. exactly what I was thinking this morning. not celebrating.

Relieved. Angry. Disgusted.

No. More.

[liberalmuse]

10. I love this woman.

Seriously. She gives me chills - the good kind.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

11. this!!!!!

[gtar100]

12. It's time to end the abuse of the filibuster.

Things would never have gotten this far if the repugs didn't abuse the filibuster rules. It emboldened them to use such subversive tactics, to overcome the will of the majority. As important a tool as the filibuster is, like all things in life, because they abuse the privilege, they should lose it. Republican irresponsibility needs to be stopped.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

27. The abuse is that Harry Reid does not require actual fillibusters.

If he were to order the business of the Senate to proceed if Republicans were not actually speaking on the floor, the business of the Senate could continue.

It's Kabuki Theater.

[gtar100]

68. Agreed. That is the most despicable thing about what they call a filibuster today.

It's foolishness that is hurting a lot of people. Harry Reid has handled this aspect of the Senate very poorly.

[7962]

57. And then what happens if the GOP becomes the Senate majority?

Then the Democrats have just done away with THEIR filibuster ability as well.
Then again, maybe it should go away for both parties. If you dont control the majority, tough.

[gtar100]

67. Sadly, that is the quandary. The abuse, however, seems to outweigh what good it might do.

So it's not a "win" if it was scrapped but at least we might be able to get something done with it out of the way. Frankly, I haven't heard of any cases in which the Dems used it to stop the disgusting legislation that repugs shovel at us. So it's not like we'd be giving up a tool that's used much.

[whttevrr]

13. Weird...

I can hear her voice in those words.

She should be on the budget negotiating team. We need more like her in congress and the senate.

I hope Grimes wins Kentucky... I think her and Warren would make a good team.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

14. No more extortion. No more hostage-taking. No more econo-terrorist Republicans. No more! nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

15. Legislate that CRs & debt ceilings bills can ONLY be clean & any member can move one. nt

[yuiyoshida]

17. absolutely K&R

[Jakes Progress]

18. She does that. Speaks for the people.

Used to be what it meant to be a Democrat.

[Adrahil]

19. That woman is gonna be a star.... nt

[calimary]

38. Welcome to DU, Adrahil!

Glad you're here! That woman already is a star! Gonna be a bigger one as time goes on, whether she ever runs for anything higher, or stays where she is as Senior Senator from Massachusetts, she's gonna have a greater and greater impact. As things evolve, and the teabaggers become further marginalized (as I hope we're seeing now), there will be fewer ted cruzes and more who are like Elizabeth Warren. Maybe not many more, but more.

[spooky3]

43. She already is.

[ailsagirl]

77. I hope so-- she tells it like it is-- how refreshing!!!

[wiggs]

20. Exactly. Dems keep putting out the fires...we should all be pissed at the arsonists. nt

[lastlib]

33. I think we should all piss ON the arsonists!!

I deeply want to!

[calimary]

39. I may also shit on one or two of 'em...

[CrispyQ]

22. I concur. The brats cost us a lot.

I'm using an excerpt of her speech in a letter to my Congresspersons. My new focus is this:

RAISE THE CAP ON SS & EXTEND MEDICARE TO 55!!


I'm going to bombard my Congresspersons with this message the next few weeks. We all should.

[noiretextatique]

45. +1000

Sensible government is what is needed now. Lowering the retirement age is a smart move.

[bvar22]

49. Raise the CAP? That is a great idea.

I wonder if we can get this guy to help us?

[truedelphi]

58. I don't have any reps or Seantors who listen to me.

But I encourage anyone whose reps and Senators do occasionally act like the Democrats of old, to go all out and let them know how you feel.

[treestar]

23. I agree with that

Though the idea she "speaks for me" is not something I ever let anyone do.

[ffr]

25. And me as well.

Keep your anger fresh and let it burn, so when it's time to put in the tedious hard work of registering and getting voters to the polls in 2014, we can all reap some satisfaction from tossing the bums out.

[dsteve01]

26. Awesome thread

Warren pretty much takes the cake. She is able to juxtapose Republican failures with . . . Republican failures. I mean the lady is a modern marvel. It's like she's the weather reporter from Sunny Side who who also covers the blizzards on Bullshit mountain as well.

Point is this: she's running for prez., right?

[blackspade]

28. Well said Madam Senator.

I wish we had 40+ more of you.

[daleanime]

29. Hell ya......

[yeswecanandwedid]

30. I love her. She reminds me of young Obama I first spotted at the DNC years ago. eom

[Liberal_Dog]

40. K & R

[Uncle Joe]

42. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[G_j]

44. K&R!

[indepat]

46. I'm angry, no pist, that McConnell was able to extract a $2 billion ransom and only God knows how

much more ransom was extracted in side deals.

[JDPriestly]

47. Elizabeth Warren in 2016.

[Paper Roses]

50. The more she says, the more I like her. Let us hope it continues.

As a senior, I live in fear that our SS and Medicare will be cut. Of course, I am also concerned for those less fortunate than I.

If we go thru this again in 3 months, I think I will scream. I am too old to fight this same battle again and again.

Cut our SS and Medicare? I will be 'down the tubes', as the phrase goes. I, like millions like me, are on the brink of disaster. We'll be on the street if they cut SS and Medicare.

There are millions of cases like mine. We go to bed at night afraid of what we will hear in the morning.

[tavalon]

51. Welcome to the supposedly high minded Senate

It's hard to realize you work with a bunch of toddlers up past their bedtimes. You are a great Senator. Unfortunately, you are a rarity among an increasingly embarrassing part of our government.

[Solly Mack]

54. K&R

[kwolf68]

55. SHE kicks ass

One of my favorites up there.

[Divine Discontent]

56. the cheap political stunt party!

http://www.zazzle.com/shutdown_the_gop_by_voting_in_2014_government-128195183613839642?rf=238107662556833486

http://www.zazzle.com/elizabeth_warren_for_president_of_the_usa_bumper_sticker-128665143471542797?rf=238107662556833486

[BREMPRO]

62. She's the best thing along with Angus King that has happened to Washington in decades!

always seems to put things clearly in context and sharp focus with an honesty, integrity and genuine concern and advocacy for the people... and not afraid of a fight or stand up to power... she's a gem!

[blue14u]

63. Love Love Love Her!!!

@016 Elizabeth Warren President of the USA!!!!

Oh.... it makes me smile to type that!!!!

[DeSwiss]

66. K&R

''You can make a government look broken when you break it. You can make the government look incompetent and paralyzed when you paralyze it with your own incompetence. But sooner or later, the government will reopen and it is you – that faction within a fading party – who will be shut down.'' ~Elizabeth Warren

[King_Klonopin]

69. Enough money to fund "food stamps", right?

Just illustrates how full of shit they are regarding govt waste and cutting spending.

[polynomial]

70. Elizabeth Warren is a leader

showing the ability to dig deep to find the problem identify it and present a cure for those Republican’s having poor behaviors, attitudes, and reckless political judgment.

It is an extraordinary experience in that the minority poor are relentlessly trying to get through obstacles to better their lives while America watches Republican’s offering abysmally poor leadership reflected in the action to stymie service and representation. All this done so incredibly bad it appears criminal invoking future investigations that resulted in profiteering at the expense of the public.

Then in an insulting way thinking or behaving that comes from believing that they, Republicans are better yet produce waste, cause strife to the tune of twenty four billion dollars in just two weeks. This is really showing that the current Republican party are very politically trendy in errors were America should take a closer look at any legislation done during the Republican watch.

What jumps out at me is

“$24 billion dollars. How many children could have been back in Head Start classes? How many seniors could have had a hot lunch through Meals on Wheels? How many scientists could have gotten their research funded? How many bridges could have been repaired and trains upgraded?”

Trains upgraded! The railroads for passengers, and freight are a good example to upgrade. A friend of mine that is an engineer for a major railroad a western grid knows the railroads are like the utilities. The railroad only makes an investment after a major break down. Moreover, the preventive maintenance is so poor and failing many of the engines for years use duct tape to hold electrical safety panels together. Besides railroad management teams hide or ditch on the job injuries to avoid paying crew recovery benefits.

The America passenger train service is known to be very behind compared to Europe. The European continent seems incredibly efficient to go between countries where as America has only developed distrust especially to our neighbors to the south. It was always a dream for me to be able to take a safe vacation train ride all the way to Chile to explore Easter Island.

[WillyT]

71. HUGE K & R !!!

[harun]

72. "Hard choices to make about taxes and spending"

I hope this isn't code for what I think it is. If it was from anyone besides her I would know exactly what this means. Surprised to see it from her though.

[Cleita]

73. I so want her to be our first woman President.

[ailsagirl]

78. Me too-- that would be fantastic!!!

[Quantess]

75. K & R

[ailsagirl]

76. She is so RIGHT ON!!!!

I'm so glad she's a senator... now what's this I hear about her running for president?
She'd sure have my vote.