Good news from the Bay State, as PPP’s latest poll shows Elizabeth Warren up two points over Scott Brown.
Bad news from Ron Suskind, who strongly suggests that Tim Geithner and White House officials undermined her, and didn’t like interference from women anyway.
Well, there’s an obvious way to remedy any problems, and not-coincidentally move a sharp, excellent message for the 2012 campaign: make Elizabeth Warren the Democratic Convention keynote speaker. She’s excellent on television and incredibly articulate.Â
The keynoter does not have to be announced until shortly before the convention, and the Massachusetts Democratic primary is on March 6th. She’s obviously the strong favorite in the primary, and of course highly competitive for the general election. Her message of protecting and strengthening the middle class is clearly where the Party wants to be. Hopefully, that’s where the President wants to be, too.
What’s that you say?  Is a Senate candidate without national elected office really capable of delivering a convention keynote? It worked out pretty well the last time.
Author: Jonathan Zasloff
Jonathan Zasloff teaches Torts, Land Use, Environmental Law, Comparative Urban Planning Law, Legal History, and Public Policy Clinic - Land Use, the Environment and Local Government. He grew up and still lives in the San Fernando Valley, about which he remains immensely proud (to the mystification of his friends and colleagues). After graduating from Yale Law School, and while clerking for a federal appeals court judge in Boston, he decided to return to Los Angeles shortly after the January 1994 Northridge earthquake, reasoning that he would gladly risk tremors in order to avoid the average New England wind chill temperature of negative 55 degrees.
Professor Zasloff has a keen interest in world politics; he holds a PhD in the history of American foreign policy from Harvard and an M.Phil. in International Relations from Cambridge University. Much of his recent work concerns the influence of lawyers and legalism in US external relations, and has published articles on these subjects in the New York University Law Review and the Yale Law Journal. More generally, his recent interests focus on the response of public institutions to social problems, and the role of ideology in framing policy responses.
Professor Zasloff has long been active in state and local politics and policy. He recently co-authored an article discussing the relationship of Proposition 13 (California's landmark tax limitation initiative) and school finance reform, and served for several years as a senior policy advisor to the Speaker of California Assembly. His practice background reflects these interests: for two years, he represented welfare recipients attempting to obtain child care benefits and microbusinesses in low income areas. He then practiced for two more years at one of Los Angeles' leading public interest environmental and land use firms, challenging poorly planned development and working to expand the network of the city's urban park system. He currently serves as a member of the boards of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (a state agency charged with purchasing and protecting open space), the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice (the leading legal service firm for low-income clients in east Los Angeles), and Friends of Israel's Environment. Professor Zasloff's other major activity consists in explaining the Triangle Offense to his very patient wife, Kathy.
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Wall Street-y people do seem to have issues with women. It was similar with Bair I think, and there was another financial regulator-Cassandra who got ignored (I forgot her name though). Feminism is more relevant than most people thought. I wonder if Canadian banks are less chauvinist?
Anyway, great idea.
It’s almost a shame though. Brown is one of the less d*****-y Republicans.
In a de facto parliamentary system, there’s no such thing as a “less d*****-y Republican.” A vote for Republican control of the chamber is a vote for the insane wing agenda.
You’re dreaming if you think the DNC will have her speak. They love Wall Street, and Wall Street hates her.
Jonathan,
You should be a political consultant-you give excellent advice.
Lars,
You’re right. If Jonathan were a political consultant, no Democrat would listen to him. Although they should.
Two points ahead? And with the election only 13 months away, she’s a slam dunk!
No one is claiming she’s a slam dunk, but given relative name recognition, having a two point lead over Brown at this point is fairly significant. I wonder what that translates to among voters who are actually familiar with both Warren and Brown.
NCG: Brooksley Born
Warren will be gunned down by the DLC Wall Street suck up ass kissing establishment charging that “she can’t win” or “it’s not her turn” or “she never was a Dem PCO” or some other bullshit. In aggregate, the party is an utter sell out organization. She is deserving of the office, but not the party affiliation, but whatcha’ gonna’ do?
The good old boy network is as alive as it ever was. After all we are talking about the “masters of the universe”, aren’t we?
I think she stands a great chance. Polls are reflecting that now. Remember that we are talking about a fairly empty suit vs. one smart cookie. On the other hand, we elected Bush. Darn.
@NCG-financial regulator-Cassandra who got ignored (I forgot her name though)
Christina Romer, I suspect you mean.
On women and finance, an advert for an oldie of mine.
She’d certainly be a more interesting and creative Senator than the party hack Coakley. Can she go to Leominster and charm people? We’ll see.
The Democratic Party in-players will not possibly allow a person who talks such sense to inspire and inflame the public. They’ll keep playing “dilute our message for fear of stirring anyone up”.
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Fancy.
After seeing this, I agree.
Elizabeth Warren will be a senator that is for the people and she will give President Obama an edge over his Wall Street cronies in the white house. She will probably be the only Senator who understands derivatives.
Don’t worry, NCG. Scott Brown will be re-elected.
Scott Brown became the 60th vote in the Senate for passage of financial reform after Feingold refused to support it for not going far enough. (A really stupid decision by Feingold.) The price of Brown’s vote was further watering down the legislation, in particular, the addition of loopholes sought by State Street Bank. Brown also toed the line on filibustering major legislation in 2010 (extending unemployment insurance, ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, etc.) until there was agreement to extend tax cuts for the wealthy. I’m confident Warren can make Brown pay a price for these votes.