Judy grasswire fears it's a trick

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025815500

Oh my.

JonLP24 (15,352 posts)    Fri Nov 14, 2014, 01:53 AM

Elizabeth Warren and the long history of conveniently invented leadership titles

<snip>

In 2011, Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) were both hoping to be whip after Democrats got demoted to the minority, but Clyburn wasn't going to get the votes. So, realizing it would be useful -- and look good -- to have someone with support among liberals and the Congressional Black Caucus in a leadership position, Pelosi offered him the No. 3 position of assistant Democratic leader. Months later, the specifics of what his title meant still seemed confusing.
 
When Pelosi first became minority leader in 2002, she appointed Rep. John Spratt (D-S.C.) to the "newly created post of assistant minority leader." She was seen as a liberal Democrat, so reaching out to a moderate Southern Democrat seemed prudent. As Spratt said at the time, "By turning to me, Nancy Pelosi is showing her inclusiveness and her commitment to working with the entire Democratic caucus."
 
Rep. Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.), whom Pelosi replaced in 2002, loved the "assistant" option of healing fraying parts of the party. In 1999, he nominated Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) to be assistant to the minority leader. At the time, it was becoming increasingly noticeable that Democrats had only men in leadership positions. That newly created position made DeLauro the only elected woman in the entire party's national leadership.
 
<snip>

And sometimes, leadership positions are created to keep potential rivals at bay. When Rep. Dick Armey (R-Tex.) was trying to get reelected as House majority leader in 1998, he had two people running against him. The one with the best chance of replacing Armey -- Rep. Steve Largent (R-Okla.) -- tried to encourage Rep. Jennifer Dunn (R-Wash.) to drop out by offering to make her assistant majority leader. It didn't work, and Armey won.
 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/11/13/elizabeth-warren-and-the-long-history-of-conveniently-invented-leadership-titles/

Cali_Democrat (22,483 posts)    Fri Nov 14, 2014, 01:59 AM

1. In other words...it doesn't mean shit...

The real power lies with the majority/minority leaders and the whips.

Man from Pickens (440 posts)    Fri Nov 14, 2014, 02:21 AM

4. Had a county do this once

There was a close, bitterly contested race for county chairman - the incumbent won, barely, and immediately appointed his opponent to be the "vice-chairman" as a gesture of reconciliation.
 
Spoke to said "vice chairman" a year later and asked what his actual role in the system was, he said "I do nothing".

Javaman (43,429 posts)    Fri Nov 14, 2014, 11:13 AM

10. it's like the Co-Producer credit in movies. sounds important but means nothing.

grasswire (41,870 posts)    Fri Nov 14, 2014, 02:06 AM

2. I fear this is a trick...

....to marginalize her in some way.

Of course it is.

[BannedFromDU]

     And if anyone would know about marginal existences of their own choosing and design, it would be grasswire.

[freedumb2003b]

Does anyone remember "Office of the President Elect?"

[franksolich]

Does anyone remember "Office of the President Elect?"

I do.  It was really stupid.

I doubt however that the incoming (R) president'll use it in 2016.

[GOBUCKS]

So the minority dems have made up a phony leadership post for a far left fringe loon.

Somewhere the Kootch must be moaning about being born twenty years too soon.

[fatboy]

Job one...

Ms. Warren, we want you to construct a list of potential centrist democratic presidential candidates for 2016. Also, detail your plan to fund those candidates and how you will work to promote those you think have the best chance of success. For the good of the party.

This should keep her busy for a while.