Warren says she won't pass M4A in her first two years - which is why I support her for the nomination, since I like candidates who tell the truth that things worth fighting for take multi-year strategies. /1
Anyone saying M4A can be passed with the current configuation of Senators (GOPers plus Sinema/Manchin et al) are lying or delusional but what's needed is a clear strategy for marching towards to goal of M4A - which Warren has laid out. /2
I understand the maximalist Bernie approach - demand everything and quietly assume some compromise in the end - but that's often a recipe for disillusionment and sense of betrayal by followers - since many Bernie types actually believe whole thing can get passed in 2021. /3
Alternative is as Warren argues to push for an immediate goal that is ambitious but winnable - and anyone who thinks even getting Warren's transition goals will be easy is also delusional - but make clear what organizing needs to be done to move to the next step in the battle. /4
This is where strategy is different from tactics- the latter are the immediate battles to be fought on the road to the long-term goal, in this case M4A.
Bernie lacks the tactical plan while rest of field has no strategy and no commitment to get to the long-term goal. /5
Bernie lacks the tactical plan while rest of field has no strategy and no commitment to get to the long-term goal. /5
My bias towards Warren's approach comes from my early training as union organizer where there were always those demanding "general strike" & demands far beyond reason, but successful fights were those combining both reasonable interim demands with ambitious long-term strategy. /6
Obamacare fit the bill for an ambitious interim fight which was damn hard to pass whatever its left critics say, but its biggest failing was not being part of an explicit strategy for next steps that mobilized supporters towards the next steps. /7
Funny how those citing FDR as model assume Presidents get only two years to pass anything - when Dems gained seats in both 1934 & 1936 building on successful policies passed in those years, with the minimum wage passed six years into FDR's term. /8
Even as recently as 2002, George W gained seats after his first two years - and of course many Presidents have gained seats when reelected from LBJ to Nixon to Reagan to Obama.
Followup thread on how lessons from multi-decade organizing by the right wing informs Warren's approach to longer term strategy for social change /9
Another followup thread with more on how Warren is only candidate looking at long-term strategy beyond the NOW.
