Elizabeth Warren may be positioning herself for a presidential run in 2020.

Courtesy of Politico: 

Elizabeth Warren has spent the past year making a series of below-the-radar moves that would put her in prime position to run for president in 2020 if she decides to. 

The liberal icon and Republican bete noire has amassed more money in her campaign war chest than nearly any senator in modern history, groomed political connections with Democrats who've been skeptical of her in the past, and worked to bolster her bipartisan and foreign policy bona fides. 

It’s part of a conscious break from the heads-down posture that Warren purposefully maintained during the first five years of her Senate career, a wide range of Democrats close to the Massachusetts senator and her tight-knit political operation told POLITICO. And it’s representative of Warren’s tricky navigation between the wishes of advocates who want her cutting a clear path to 2020, and supporters who think her best bet is to run up the score in her reelection race this year. 

The balancing act is evident everywhere, as Warren takes steps she never did when activists were pressuring her to jump into the 2016 presidential race.

Okay I am posting this here in order to open up a discussion on the pros and cons of a Warren campaign.

I'll start.

Pros:

• Warren already has a built in base of support of people who wanted her to run in 2016.
• She is one of the Democrats with the best name recognition, and if she runs against Trump she needs to be recognizable. 
• She is whip smart.
• She has real successes to tout during a campaign that voters can easily understand and relate to.
• She is a woman during a time when women are taking center stage.
• The only real knock that Trump can use against her is that Pocahontas thing, and seriously nobody gives two shits about that.

Cons:

• Her age. Voters looking for change might balk at putting another septuagenarian into the White House.
• Inexperience with foreign relations or the military. (Though in replacing Trump this might not matter.)
• She is a woman. (This will still likely turn some voters off.)
• She agreed with Donna Brazile that the 2016 primary was rigged in Hillary's favor. (I am not going to lie, this one really pisses me off.) 
• She also called on Al Franken to resign and that is going to be a sore spot for a lot of Dems. 

For the record none of the cons that I have listed are in any way a deal breaker for me.

I am not about purity tests, nor am I a single issue voter.

I want the best candidate that has the best chance of winning, and Warren has a lot of pluses in her column.

Thoughts?

Americans once again choose Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as the most admired man and woman.

Courtesy of Gallup: 

Americans once again are most likely to name Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as the man and woman living anywhere in the world they admire most, as they have for the past 10 years. The pair retain their titles this year, although by much narrower margins than in the past. Obama edges out Donald Trump, 17% to 14%, while Clinton edges out Michelle Obama, 9% to 7%.

The 2017 survey marks the 16th consecutive year Clinton has been the most admired woman. She has held the title 22 times in total, more than anyone else. Eleanor Roosevelt is second with 13 wins. Obama has now been named the most admired man 10 times, trailing only Dwight Eisenhower, who earned the distinction 12 times. Obama won all eight years he was president, plus 2008 -- the year he was first elected -- and this year, his first as a former president.

I love the fact that Hillary has the first spot on the female side, and is closely followed by Michelle Obama, with Melania Trump showing up eighth on the list well below Elizabeth Warren and Angela Merkel.

Trump showed up at number two, which is troubling, but he did lose a percentage points since last year.

However I seriously doubt that he will spend very long near the top, as the more we learn about him the less the American people like him. 

While attempting to honor Navajo code talkers, Donald Trump decides to attack Elizabeth Warren, insults all Native Americans instead. Update!

Here's the video: Trump calls Elizabeth Warren 'Pocahontas' while honoring Native American code talkers: "You were here long before any of us were here. Although we have a representative in Congress who they say was here a long time ago. They call her Pocahontas." pic.twitter.com/hjZ5MInDDf

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) November 27, 2017

Courtesy of CNN: 

President Donald Trump, during an event at the White House honoring Navajo code talkers Monday, referenced his nickname for Sen. Elizabeth Warren, "Pocahontas," a label he has long used about the Massachusetts Democrat. 

"I just want to thank you because you are very, very special people. You were here long before any of us were here," Trump said. "Although, we have a representative in Congress who has been here a long time ... longer than you -- they call her Pocahontas!" 

He then turned to one of the code talkers behind him, put his left hand on the man's shoulder and said: "But you know what, I like you. You are special people."

I have a feeling that after that idiotic remark the Navajos in the room thought that Donald Trump was a little "special" as well.

Later White House reporters confronted Sarah Huckabee Sanders about this clearly racist remark, and she of course tried to turn it back to another attack on Warren.

Damn, she is just a terrible person.

Elizabeth Warren was also asked about this incident, and here was her response. For the record there is no evidence that Elizabeth Warren's career benefited from her claim that she is part Native American, and in fact there it no real evidence that she is not part Native American.

I think that like a lot of Americans Warren grew up hearing stories of her family's Native American heritage and took it on faith that it was accurate.

I myself have been told my whole life that I am part Apache, my grandfather actually met and married my grandmother on an Indian reservation in Arizona, but I have never done a DNA test nor have I yet utilized the services of Ancestry.com.

For all I know for certain my family could be full of shit, but as of right now I stand convinced that I am part Apache.

In other words this is a ridiculous attack, and Donald Trump's fixation on Warren's heritage just had him make a racially charged comment in a room full of war heroes he was supposed to be honoring.

Update: Apparently Trump has a long history or disrespecting native Americans. 

Senator Elizabeth Warren holds health insurance executive's feet to the fire, while also making argument for single payer.

This from the You Tube site: 

Elizabeth Warren is shocked to find out that the health insurance giant, Anthem, gets roughly half their quarterly earnings from the federal government, and still has the audacity to pull out of the Affordable Care Act marketplace--thus sowing more instability for millions of the poorest Americans--because their demands aren't being met. 

I have to say that if I were somebody involved in some shady shit and I knew I was about to be grilled by Elizabeth Warren I would be pooping my pants.

She is unbelievably good at this stuff and simply does not tolerate bullshit.

And she is right, this kid of greed in the health insurance market is exactly why we need to seriously consider moving to a single payer, government controlled, health care system.

(H/T to Democratic Underground.)

Elizabeth Warren signs on to Bernie Sanders "Medicare for All" bill.

Courtesy of Newsweek: 

Senator Elizabeth Warren announced on Thursday she's co-sponsoring Senator Bernie Sanders's "Medicare for All" bill, which is set to be introduced next week in the Senate. 

In a statement, Warren said, "There is something fundamentally wrong when one of the richest and most powerful countries on the planet can’t make sure that a person can afford to see a doctor when they’re sick. This isn’t any way to live." 

"I believe it’s time to take a step back and ask: what is the best way to deliver high quality, low cost health care to all Americans? Everything should be on the table – and that’s why I’m co-sponsoring Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All bill that will be introduced later this month," the senator added. 

In her statement, Warren applauded the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and former President Barack Obama's efforts on health care, signifying a desire to build off of his accomplishments. 

"We owe a huge debt to President Obama. Because of the Affordable Care Act, health care coverage is better – more people can get the treatment they need and families are less vulnerable to the financial fallout from a serious illness or accident," Warren said. "But there’s so much more we could do right now to bring down the costs of quality health care for every American."

I am gratified to see Warren giving President Obama the props he deserves for getting the Affordable Care Act passed. There are those who are not quite as gracious.

Earlier rising Democratic star Kamala Harris also voiced her support for this bill so it appears that it is likely to become an official plank of the Democratic party.

And that is a good thing.

I told my friend just the other day that I think the Democrats need one unifying policy to rally behind, and I think this could be it.

I also want to give Bernie Sanders credit for pushing this idea and bringing people on to support it. I am so over Sanders at this point I had to check twice to remember how to spell his name, but this is a positive step forward, and he deserves to be recognized for that.

Hopefully this will inspire other Democrats to sign on and together we can get this thing done.

The GOP's plan to repeal Obamacare just went into a ditch. Or careened off a cliff. Kinda depends on who you ask.

WATCH: Senate Dems hold "People's Filibuster" against ObamaCare repeal pic.twitter.com/mGkyRvBwFQ

— The Hill (@thehill) June 27, 2017

Courtesy of CNN Politics:

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will delay the vote on the Republican leadership's health care bill until after the July 4 recess. 

McConnell told GOP senators that he wants to make changes to the bill, get a new Congressional Budget Office score and have a vote after the holiday, two sources told CNN. 

McConnell said that President Donald Trump had invited all Republican senators to the White House on Tuesday afternoon. 

"We're going to continue discussion in our conference," McConnell told reporters on Capitol Hill after his meeting with his caucus.

The republicans are insisting that this does not mean the bill is dead, but can you imagine what these Senators will face back home during this break?

Most will likely hide in their houses or state offices at avoid the angry crowds gathered outside, and those that are brave enough to hold a town hall will spend the entire time pressed up against the wall attempting to inch toward the exit.

There is NO WAY they come back from that anxious to pass a health care bill.

Alaska's Lisa Murkowski is clearly a no vote on anything that the Republicans could come up with.

GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski: “People support greater access to health care. Planned Parenthood provides for that.” https://t.co/XLEolQj5AG

— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) June 27, 2017

And even Mitch McConnell has signaled that it might be time to bring in the "A" Team.

You know, the Democrats:  

Mitch McConnell is delivering an urgent warning to staffers, Republican senators and even the president himself: 

If Obamacare repeal fails this week, the GOP will lose all leverage and be forced to work with Chuck Schumer.

Those ought to be some fun negotiations, especially since Elizabeth Warren has now stated categorically that it is time for Democrats to push for single payer.

Warren: The Next Step For Dems Is Single-Payer Health Care https://t.co/syfo9PhUNV via @TPM

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) June 27, 2017

As we have already reported Americans are supporting the idea of single payer now more than ever, which might give Democrats a little more leverage than in times past.

I think the most important thing that Democrats can do in the interim is to make the Republicans solely responsible for every problem that crops up in health care until new legislation gets passed, and that includes higher rates, loss of coverage, and fewer available options.

If I were a Democratic Senator or Congressperson I would have a bumper sticker on my car that read "We can permanently fix health care in America, ask us how."

This just in from the Donald Trump propaganda network.

EXCLUSIVE: @PeteHegseth sits down with President Trump to talk health care, vets, & hostility among the parties. https://t.co/Xe9aJcCxZN

— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) June 25, 2017

Check out how this tool Peter Hegseth starts this interview:

"You've faced resistance on this bill, but of course you've faced resistance on the entirety of you agenda. Whose been your biggest opponent? Has it been Democrats resisting, has it been fake news media, has it been deep state leaks?"

That is literally how Alex Jones would start an interview with Donald Trump.

No wonder Trump only gives interviews to Fox News, if they could ask questions out of the corner of their mouths while attached leech-like to his giant tangerine ass they would do it.

Pretty clear why CNN called Fox and Friends "State TV."

In the interview Trump once again refers to Senator Elizabeth Warren as "Pocahontas," while suggesting that is was an insult to the actual Pocahontas.

He also claims that Warren's anger hurt Hillary's campaign, because you know a woman showing emotion or passion is always a bad thing in Trump's world.

That's why Melania rarely ever changes her expression.

Trump also got a little testy at Barack Obama who called the GOP health care bill "mean."

Trump was not upset that he called it that, he was upset because he claims he coined the phrase.

Here's the transcript. Here's Trump confirming to Fox that he called AHCA "mean": "Mean. That was my term." pic.twitter.com/rdipDc3Dtu

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 25, 2017

Toward the end of the interview (At the 6:29 mark.) Trump also claimed that he JUST learned that former President Obama knew about the Russian interference before the election.

(WTF? We all knew about the Russian interference before the election, so of course Obama knew.)

Trump then once again slams Obama for not doing more to stop the Russians from getting him elected.

I swear every time I watch an interview with Donald Trump I have to ask myself whether or not I am having some kind of LSD flashback.  Because it just doesn't seem like it could be happening in real life.

And damn don't we all wish it wasn't.

Elizabeth Warren has Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in her sights. And that's a good thing.

Courtesy of The Hill: 

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is setting her sights on Betsy DeVos, the wealthy Republican donor who has become a lightning rod for the liberal grassroots as President Trump’s secretary of Education. 

Warren on Wednesday announced the launch of DeVos Watch, a coordinated effort to scrutinize the secretary’s handling of the $1 trillion federal student loan program and her oversight of student loan servicers, among other issues. 

“We all have an interest in a well-run, fiscally responsible, corruption-free student aid program that puts students first. That is Secretary DeVos' job — and it is Congress' job to make sure she does it,” Warren wrote in an op-ed published by CNN. 

Recently, Warren has raised concerns over potential ethics violations at the Department of Education, pushed DeVos to reinstate student loan protections and pressed the Trump administration to shield student loan borrowers from unnecessary fees. 

The salvos targeting DeVos are just the latest attempt by Warren to branch out from her expertise on financial matters — a pattern that has fueled speculation she is eyeing a presidential bid in 2020.

Warren going after DeVos is only good news for the country, and especially our education system. 

DeVos is certainly no match for the Massachusetts Senator, and this might even eventually convince her to step down from the job.

That is if the Russia investigation does not frighten her into resigning before that.

Remember it WAS her company that the Russian bank was repeatedly contacting using those servers in Trump Tower. 

For those who got worked up over Obama's $400,000 speaking fee, congratulations you were played by the Right Wing media yet again.

Courtesy of Washington Monthly:  

When it comes to the story about Obama accepting speaking fees, it is important to note that the story was launched by Fox Business News. All of the sudden what previous presidents – both Democrat and Republican – had been doing for years was scandalized because we’re now talking about Obama. Our current so-called “populist” president once even bragged at a rally that he used to be paid a lot of money for speeches (as much as $1.5 million for a single speech). 

Of course the folks at Fox knew this would trigger a dust-up on the left because of the fact that Hillary Clinton’s speaking fees had become such an issue in the 2016 primary. And of course, an awful lot of liberals took the bait. 

I’m not saying that all of the arguments about speaking fees are without merit. Perhaps Democrats should have a proactive conversation about whether former presidents should continue to do so. But taking the bait Fox served up and using it to suggest that a particular former Democratic president is threatening our democracy is akin to the kind of circular firing squad for which Democrats have been famous over the years.

The article goes on to point out that before there was ever any mention of this speech that the former  President had already spoken, for free, to young people in Chicago about gang violence, job  skills, and employment opportunities.

Also from the article:  

For the people who think that accepting fees for a speech indicates an erosion of our democracy, they should at least acknowledge that former President Obama is actually spending the majority of his time working with young people on civic engagement as well as reducing violence, poverty and unemployment around the country. Otherwise they are simply getting played by Fox News.

Personally I found it troubling that both Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders allowed themselves to get played by Fox News.

Warren said she was "troubled" by this news, however Sanders went much farther saying he found it "distasteful."  

Do you know what I find distasteful, so called "liberal leaders" who allow the conservative media to pull their strings so effectively.

Remember this is the same thing the Russians did to split the Democrats during the primary, and to convince the so-called "Bernie Bros" that the nomination was stolen from their candidate, which led to many of them skipping the general election in frustration.

A bit of information that was tragically under reported about this so-called Wall Street speaking engagement is that the speech is being given at a health care conference.

How could we possibly expect the President who passed such an expansive health care reform, which was not in such danger of being undermined or repealed, NOT to show up something like that?

No the criticism directed at President Obama concerning this speech is completely unwarranted, and worse yet it is another indication that even the liberals are easily led around by the nose.

Elizabeth Warren discussing how motivated the Democrats are to fight back against Donald Trump and how she is energized by the protesters is exactly the shot in the arm we need today.

There is just something very therapeutic about listening to Elizabeth Warren talk about the state of liberal politics in this America today, and her hopes for the future.

And yes Sarah Palin she did once again tell that anecdote about the little female protester with the sign that said "I fight like a girl," and unlike when you screeched it out at a conservative rally it was in fact inspiring.

For my money Elizabeth Warren is the face of liberal politics right now and whether she runs for President or not, I am positive she will continue to bravely stand up to the policies of Donald Trump and continue to be a strong voice for progress.

Sarah Palin goes after Senator Elizabeth Warren for supposedly stealing "her" line.

Okay so this links to Breitbart which means I should warn you that clicking the link will expose you to all kinds of dangerous toxins which can damage your brain and might either kill you or convince you to support Doanld Trump. I'm not sure which is worse.

So here let me simply post what she screamed into the phone at a Breitbart reporter:

“I don’t know. Coming from liberals who urge women to claim victimization, ‘Fight like a girl’ just doesn’t sound the same as when legit fighters for equality say it, mean it, live it, and will never give it up.”

This of course is in response to this tweet from Warren:

Fight like a girl. pic.twitter.com/qGTn46jS9W

— Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) April 18, 2017

As you may be aware Warren has become a favorite punching bag for conservatives as of late, since with Hillary no longer seeking office they fear her above all others.

I probably should point out that the line "Fight Like a Girl" has been around far longer than 2011 when Breitbart claims that Palin coined the term.

In fact I distinctly remember my own daughter using that phrase after dropping two bullies to the ground who were pushing her in line when she was only about seven years old.

Personally I think it fits Elizabeth Warren far better than Sarah Palin, since she never used push up bras to advance her career or his behind her children to deflect criticism.

Senator Elizabeth Warren says "it is crazy" to consider Trump's Supreme Court nominee in the middle of the Russia collusion in investigation.

Courtesy of The Hill: 

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said on Tuesday that the Senate shouldn't confirm a Supreme Court nominee from President Trump while the FBI is still investigating any potential ties between his campaign and Russia. 

"I think it is crazy that we are considering confirming a lifetime Trump nominee to the Supreme Court at a moment when the president's campaign is under the cloud of an active, ongoing FBI counterintelligence investigation," Warren said from the Senate floor. 

She added that the FBI's probe into Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential election "could result in indictments and appeals that will go all the way to the Supreme Court, so that Trump's nominee could be the deciding vote on whether Trump or his supporters broke the law."

That is exactly right and that is EXACTLY why the Democrats should of their best to block EVERY ONE of Trump's nominees and policy decisions. 

This is an illegitimate presidency and therefore everything that Trump does is also illegitimate.

In my opinion every Democrat, and very likely many Republicans, running for office next year should be making damn sure that they are on record as obstructing every single thing that Trump attempts to accomplish.

If they do not, they might very well find themselves out of a job sooner than they anticipate.

Donald Trump expresses a desire to run against Elizabeth Warren in 2020.

Courtesy of AOL News:

During an interview that aired Saturday night on FOX News, Trump welcomed the idea of Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren launching a presidential bid against him.

Trump said it would be a "dream come true" and that he would come out ahead. 

"I think she'd lose so badly," he said, adding, "I think, honestly, I think she hurt Hillary Clinton so badly." 

Trump is claiming that the Democratic senator had too much "anger" in her heart while stumping for Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election season. 

The president went on to say, "Pocahontas would not be proud of her...," using the campaign trail moniker he used for the senator after she was scrutinized for her claims of Native American heritage.

Now I have no idea whether Warren will run in 2020 or not, though I have expressed my hope that she does.

However if she does I would predict that Donald Trump will have reason to eat these words.

If he is even still around by 2020 that is.

First they marched and now thousands and thousands of women are preparing to run for public office.

Courtesy of New York Magazine: 

On Inauguration Weekend, an estimated 3.2 million people in hundreds of cities across the country took to the streets to protest the incoming president. More than 400,000 people marched in Washington, D.C., similar numbers turned out in New York and Los Angeles, and even in Houston, Phoenix, New Orleans, Santa Fe, and Reno, marchers numbered in the tens of thousands. It was, as organizers promised it would be, the most massive coordinated demonstration an incoming president has ever faced. But its real power will be measured not in crowd size but in the lasting impact it has on the political process. And one of the clearest results of the march — and of the election as a whole — is the wave of political participation among women at local, state, and national levels that’s emerging in its wake. 

The day after Women’s Marches swept the country, 500 women gathered in an auditorium in Washington, D.C.’s Grand Hyatt Hotel. Each one had registered to complete EMILY’s List’s candidate training program, which would better equip them to run for public office. According to EMILY’s List, a week before the training was scheduled to take place it had already sold out, and 500 more women were on the waiting list. EMILY’s List president Stephanie Schriock said the organization holds these types of trainings often, but the “incredible energy” around this one is unique. “We spend a lot of time recruiting,” she said. “[Now] we’re seeing women calling us.” 

Like-minded organizations have reported similar spikes in interest. VoteRunLead reported that in the past two months, more than 2,300 women have signed up to take its online course, and the organization’s January 7 seminar registered 1,200 women in less than 48 hours. Since Election Day, EMILY’s List has had more than 4,000 people reach out to say they’re interested in running — 1,660 since Inauguration Day. And according to a She Should Run spokesperson, in a normal month the organization sees “at best, and with significant effort, anywhere between a few dozen to a few hundred women” sign up. But in the three months since the election, co-founder and CEO Erin Loos Cutraro said 8,100 women have indicated their interest in running for office by registering for She Should Run’s online incubator program, which teaches them how. What’s more, Cutraro said things show no sign of slowing. “We had a staff meeting, and we were going over numbers,” Cutraro said. “Our community manager said, ‘But hold on — we got 100 more last night.’”

I recently mentioned Elizabeth Warren as being our most likely candidate in 2020 and received quite a bit of blowback.

However if that wasn't from misogynist assholes terrified of a strong woman leading this country, and actually from progressives who simply don't see it, I would suggest to them that the face of the Democratic party moving forward is decidedly female, and that there is more than a fifty fifty chance that we are going to nominate a woman.

Sure it MIGHT not be Warren, but it then it will likely be someone like Kirsten Gillibrand, Claire McCaskill, or Kamala Harris.

Bottom line is that the women are taking over, and as a privileged white man I am totally cool with that. 

During supposedly bipartisan meeting with Senators, Donald Trump insults Elizabeth Warren and claims that Democrats bused in thousands of illegal voters to steal New Hampshire from him.

Courtesy of the New York Daily News: 

President Trump repeatedly referred to Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren as "Pocahontas" during a bipartisan lunch meeting with senators earlier this week, according to sources.

As soon as photographers and reporters had filed out of the Roosevelt Room, Trump jeered at the gathered Democrats, "Pocahontas is now the face of your party," according to officials familiar with what was discussed. The pejorative was in reference to Warren's rebuke of newly instated Attorney General Jeff Sessions earlier this week, which triggered Senate Republicans to formally silence her, and left-leaning Americans to celebrate her. 

Trump coined the racially-charged nickname for Warren during the campaign, and has continued to use it despite outrage from critics. The White House did not immediately return a request for comment on Trump's alleged remarks, which were first reported by CNN and Politico.

I would assume that Trump keeps insulting Warren in the hopes that it increases her stature among the Democrats becasue he is convinced he could beat her if she ran against him in the 2020 election.

After all he beat the highly qualified Hillary Clinton, so why would he think he needed to fear another female candidate?

And Trump was not finished there.

Courtesy of Politico: 

On Thursday, during a meeting with 10 senators that was billed as a listening session about Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, the president went off on a familiar tangent, suggesting again that he was a victim of widespread voter fraud, despite the fact that he won the presidential election.

As soon as the door closed and the reporters allowed to observe for a few minutes had been ushered out, Trump began to talk about the election, participants said, triggered by the presence of former New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who lost her reelection bid in November and is now working for Trump as a Capitol Hill liaison, or “Sherpa,” on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch. 

The president claimed that he and Ayotte both would have been victorious in the Granite State if not for the “thousands” of people who were “brought in on buses” from neighboring Massachusetts to “illegally” vote in New Hampshire. 

According to one participant who described the meeting, “an uncomfortable silence” momentarily overtook the room.

In response to these claims the FEC commissioner is demanding that Trump provide evidence.

Which of course he can't do. 

The very fact that Trump is still lying  about having electoral votes stolen from him speaks to his overwhelming insecurities and possibly even a subconscious recognition that he is a fraud and undeserving to hold the title President of the United States.

Apparently somebody is very insecure about his presidency. 

Mitch McConnell utilizes arcane Senate rule to keep Elizabeth Warren from reading letter written by MLK's widow criticizing Jeff Sessions.

Courtesy of the New York Daily News: 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell resorted to a rarely-used Senate code to stop Sen. Elizabeth Warren from using the words of Dr. Martin Luther King's widow to question Trump's pick for U.S. Attorney General. 

The jarring rebuke prevented Warren (D-Mass.) from speaking after reciting Coretta Scott King’s 30-year-old letter opposing Sen. Jeff Sessions on his failed federal judge nomination.

In the thick of King’s letter, she was first warned that her prior use of Sen. Edward Kennedy’s decades-old remarks criticizing Sessions as “a disgrace to the Justice Department" had violated an arcane Senate bylaw that prohibits lawmakers from disparaging a colleague’s integrity on the floor. 

She was interrupted again, this time by McConnell (R-Ky.), while quoting a piece on sexual violence and slapped with a violation for "impugning the motives and conduct" of Sessions.He said Warren violated Senate Rule XIX a half hour earlier by quoting King, specifically the line “Sessions has used the awesome powers of his office to chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens.”

Well that was not very intelligent.

For Mitch McConnell to literally dredge up some out dated rule of decorum to shut down a woman reading aloud from the letter of a civil war icon on the Senate floor is unbelievably short sighted.

Not only did he just vastly increase Warren's number of supporters, and fire up the female and African American voter base, but he may very well have helped to choose the Democrat's 2020 nominee for President.

P.S. It should also be noted that Senator Tom Udall finished reading Coretta Scott King's letter.

I entered Coretta Scott King’s letter abt #Sessions into the Senate record and read it from the floor—her words should not be silenced.

— Tom Udall (@SenatorTomUdall) February 8, 2017

He was NOT told to shut and sit down. 

Move aside Sarah Palin it looks like at least one prominent Democrat is pushing for former Senator Scott Brown to get the VA cabinet position.

Courtesy of HuffPo:

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Thursday praised her onetime opponent Scott Brown, who President-elect Donald Trump is considering nominating to be secretary of veteran affairs. 

In an interview with Boston’s WGBH, Warren offered enthusiastic support for Brown, whom she unseated in the often-contentious 2012 Massachusetts Senate race. 

“If Scott Brown is the nominee for Veterans Affairs, I have no doubt that he would put his heart and soul into trying to help veterans,” she said. “And I would put my heart and soul into trying to help him do that. You bet I’d support that.” 

Warren has a personal stake in the Department of Veteran Affairs ― all three of her brothers served in the military.

Apparently Brown HAS met with Trump about the job and publicly thanked Warren for her endorsement.

My thanks to @SenWarren for her kind words. If nom. for SecVA, I will welcome her support, passion and help to serve our Vets. #truce

— Scott P. Brown (@SenScottBrown) December 1, 2016

While it would seem odd that Warren would endorse the man who she beat out for the job as Massachusetts Senator for a cabinet position, perhaps considering her families connection to the military she is just desperate to keep the VA out of the hands of Sarah Palin.

 I don't know much about Brown's qualifications, but at least he himself did serve in the military, and is not simply trying to get credit for raising a kid who joined the Guard to avoid jail time, or for marrying off one his daughters to a Medal of Honor winner.

Elizabeth Warren has a message for Donald Trump: "Nasty women have really had it with guys like you."

Courtesy of HuffPo:

Speaking at a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, Warren sharply criticized Trump’s boasts about sexually assaulting women, his disparaging remarks about women’s appearances, and other sexist comments he’s made over the years. 

“Donald Trump aggressively disrespects more than half the human beings in this country,” Warren said. “He thinks that because he has money, that he can call women fat pigs and bimbos. He thinks that because he is a celebrity that he can rate women’s bodies from one to 10. He thinks that because he has a mouth full of Tic-Tacs, he can force himself on any women within groping distance.” 

“Well I’ve got news for you, Donald Trump. Women have had it with guys like you. And nasty women have really had it with guys like you,” Warren continued. 

Okay I'm going to spare you my rant about how great it would have been if Warren was Hillary's VP, but I will say that this woman is SO damn good at hitting Trump right where he is the most vulnerable that I cannot help but have a moment of regret that she is not standing side by side with Hillary at the top of the ticket.

The best weapon to use against a serial molester and misogynist is a strong woman who shows no fear while speaking up for all of the women who he has belittled, humiliated, and assaulted over the years.

It is empowering, and I have little doubt that women all over the country are hearing these words from Warren and realizing that their vote will send a message to ALL of the men who have treated women like they only existed for their entertainment that there is a new day in America.

And that new day will be welcomed by this country's very first female President. 

Senator Elizabeth Warren tears Wells Fargo CEO into tiny bite size pieces, and it is a thing of beauty.

Courtesy of UPROXX:  

During a Senate Banking Committee hearing, Senator Warren joined panel Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and others to grill Stumpf about his knowledge of and participation in the scam. Warren’s cross-examination was particularly tense, as the senator had to repeat her questions three or four times before they were answered to her satisfaction. 

“Mr. Stumpf, the Wells Fargo Vision and Values statement, which you frequently cite, says ‘We believe in values lived not phrases memorized. If you want to find out how strong a company’s ethics are, don’t listen to what its people say, watch what they do.'” Warren quoted. “So, let’s do that. Since this massive years-long scam came to light you have said repeatedly, ‘I am accountable.’ But what have you actually done to hold yourself accountable? Have you resigned as CEO or chairman of Wells Fargo?” Stumpf admitted that he had not resigned, nor had he returned any of his earnings to the company or fired any top executives. 

“You haven’t resigned, you haven’t returned a single nickel of your personal earnings, you haven’t fired a single senior executive,” Warren said. “Instead, evidently, your definition of ‘accountable’ is to push the blame to your low-level employees who don’t have the money for a fancy PR firm to defend themselves. It’s gutless leadership.”

The reason that Strumpf finds himself being treated like a puppy's chew toy by Elizabeth Warren is because his company just paid a 185 million dollar fine for opening fake accounts for its customers in order to make a profit without their knowledge.

This is fraud, and if Senator Warren hates anything, it's fraud.

I don't know about all of you but I could not help fantasizing about what it would be like to watch Warren laying a smackdown like this on Trump's running mare Mike Pence in a VP debate.

I know, I know, that ship has sailed.

But you can't blame a guy for wondering what if?

Donald Trump wants to put the whole "birther" thing behind him but here are some of his tweets AFTER President Obama produced his long form birth certificate which prove that should not be allowed.

The following are courtesy of Slate:

Let's take a closer look at that birth certificate. @BarackObama was described in 2003 as being "born in Kenya." http://t.co/vfqJesJL

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2012

.@BarackObama is practically begging @MittRomney to disavow the place of birth movement, he is afraid of it and (cont) http://t.co/eHvjlV0S

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2012

I want to see @BarackObama's college records to see how he listed his place of birth in the application.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2012

My @CNN interview with @wolfblitzercnn where I discuss @BarackObama's 'birth certificate' and why @CNN has low ratings http://t.co/PQwR5XUh

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2012

Congratulations to @RealSheriffJoe on his successful Cold Case Posse investigation which claims @BarackObama's 'birth certificate' is fake

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2012

Read this--@BarackObama's birth certificate "cannot survive judicial scrutiny" because of "phantom numbers" http://t.co/DIv9sLI2

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2012

An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2012

Why do the Republicans keep apologizing on the so called "birther" issue? No more apologies--take the offensive!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2012

In debate, @MittRomney should ask Obama why autobiography states "born in Kenya, raised in Indonesia."

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2012

"@davidrhythmguit: @realDonaldTrump @Chuffman48 Mark Cuban accepts the fact that the President of the United States was born here." Doubt it

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2013

Why are people upset w/ me over Pres Obama’s birth certificate?I got him to release it, or whatever it was, when nobody else could!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2013

How amazing, the State Health Director who verified copies of Obama’s “birth certificate” died in plane crash today. All others lived

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2013

Always remember, I was the one who got Obama to release his birth certificate, or whatever that was! Hilary couldn't, McCain couldn't.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2014

Attention all hackers: You are hacking everything else so please hack Obama's college records (destroyed?) and check "place of birth"

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 6, 2014

"@futureicon: @pinksugar61 Obama also fabricated his own birth certificate after being pressured to produce one by @realDonaldTrump"

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 23, 2014

As you can see Trump continued banging this drum even after the President took the unprecedented step of releasing his long form birth certificate to the media.

And it is also clear that Trump never saw anything since that release which convinced him that Obama was born in Hawaii and not Kenya.

So what convinced him yesterday that Obama was born in America?

Or was he lying all the time about not being convinced?

That is certainly what Senator Elizabeth Warren thinks.

Let's be clear: @realDonaldTrump just admitted that he peddled fake conspiracy theories to attack the integrity of @POTUS.

— Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) September 16, 2016

And that is just it, either the guy is a conspiracy chasing buffoon who is easily manipulated by Right Wing "news" sites, or he is a lying POS who purposely faked this whole thing just to attract the lunatics and tin foil hat wearers that now make up the base of his support.

It is actually hard to determine which one of those is true, however it would seem that both  are disqualifying.