Allahpundit:
You can decide for yourself whether you think this is true or just day-after damage control by Republicans to spin a strategic gaffe by Mitch the Knife. (Politico claims that “There was no grand strategy [to silencing Warren], Republicans said, just a burgeoning anger that Warren was destroying whatever vestige of comity that remains in the Senate.”) I’m inclined to believe McConnell had an angle, though. A few Trump fans read my post on this from earlier today and tweeted at me that not everything is done for deep strategic reasons and that McConnell probably shut her down because she deserved to be shut down. She had in fact broken Rule XIX. C’mon, though. McConnell’s not going to do something that he believes will damage his party long-term for a short-term win over a liberal favorite. As BuzzFeed’s source succinctly put it, “McConnell doesn’t do anything without a plan.”
And the plan, in this case, is to make her the face of the Democratic Party for the 2018 midterms.
The thinking is that the elevation of Warren and any way to show that Republicans are trying to keep the Senate functioning — even as it grinds to a halt — works in the party’s favor.
“I think everybody inside and outside the Senate knows that McConnell doesn’t do anything without a plan,” said one GOP strategist. “His ability to see around the corner is entirely unrivaled.”
“Any attention that people pay to Elizabeth Warren is good for Republicans,” the strategist said. “She just isn’t the type of candidate who would do well in states that Democrats lost last cycle.”…
If the balance tips over to the progressives, then — in theory — Republicans have a better shot at not just keeping their Senate majority but expanding it. And moments like these can help by energizing the conservative base.
Gotta have someone to run against in 2018 to get red-state Republicans excited. That was no problem the last few midterms; Obama was the lightning rod, and man, did lightning ever strike. Now, though, there’s a vacuum. Hillary’s old news; Bernie Sanders is too much the appealing pinko grandpa to be an effective villain; Pelosi hasn’t had any power for seven years; and Schumer’s not enough of a bombthrower to get Republicans really excited to beat him. Maybe a Senate backbencher like Cory Booker will emerge as a GOP hate object, but right now all signs point to Warren as the party’s best bet as an enemy-in-chief. And Warren will relish the role. She’s been attacking Trump with gusto for at least a year, knowing that every time she flames him she’s that much closer to being the 2020 nominee. As I said this morning, there’s backfire potential here for the GOP: She’s a class warrior at heart and someone like that is better attuned to the concerns of blue-collar voters who broke for Trump than Hillary Clinton was. But her Ivory Tower mien and impeccable leftist credentials could frighten working-class whites who are comfortable with Democratic economic populism but not Democratic cultural liberalism. At least, that’s what McConnell’s counting on.
I was thinking the same thing. Mitch is a master of the Senate chess game and seldom makes a move without a strategy in mind.
On its face, it appears it blew up in his face as the letter has gone viral and an obvious sexism is exposed.
On the other hand, the winning ticket today seems to be appealing to the the alt-right/ white supremacist groups along with the dominant white male type that want women for only pleasure and silence.
Yes, Mitch is the clever one.
Back in history when a member of congress was lied about and his reputation sullied by another member of congress. He would call the liar out.
Pistols would be chosen and the matter settled at ten paces.
Now we know this woman is a liar a fraud a cheat, but she cant be shot…too bad.
Due to immunity she can be broadcast on CSPAN and lie her non-indian ass off and not even be sued. Dirty Harry loved that rule.
Decorum must be preserved no matter what the Democrats try, or we will have fistfights and flying chairs as some countries see in their parliaments
Yes it would be cool to see some lying democrats face punched but it doesnt lead to trust in the government.
There are rules, and I am all for enforcing them, the Dem can sit in a time out if she “wont be silenced, and lie no matter what”
Jeff will be sworn in (and at) friggin’ AWESOME!
Time magazine with chuck u schumer on the cover “do democrats matter anymore”?
Liberals have a difficult time resisting the urge to worship a loud mouth that attracts their attention with stupidity. Case in point was Wendy Davis in Texas, who filibustered to protect partial birth abortion and unregulated abortion clinics. High-profile stupidity has an irresistible appeal to liberals, so they ran her for governor.
Obama was a great big bag of nothing that appealed to the guilt of liberals and had novelty appeal. Irresistible.
Likewise, Warren has nothing in her bag of tricks but a big mouth and a willingness to lie. She is tailor-made to be the next rising star among loser liberals who have no idea what a leader should be, look like or be capable of.