The Republicans/Third-Way will shoot themselves in the foot if they try to counter her message.

That's what they always do. Her message will no longer be the story.

It's kind of amazing, really, but I discover who the US is going to attack next by reading DU "2 minutes of hate" dissertations, which seem to begin here before they begin in any other places that I read.
Believe it, the attacks on Warren have started, and the test bed is right here.
Watch this (DU) place.

Odd, that.

Because I don't read the threads till later on at night. I just skim over the titles at first. Then I go looking for articles from a variety of places. Then later on I read.

Holding her culpable for agreeing with Reagan's homophobia.

Bryant

and so on.

Not quite the same kind of attack on Bernie Sanders as being a "socialist gadfly" etc., but close.

None of the attacks so far tried have worked!
That's the thing.

Another line of attacks that I've seen are of the type that try to make a false equivalence between Warren and the 3rd way, the type that try to paint Warren with the same brush as HRC has painted herself, or to say that she's just all talk, no walk, like the 3rd way. An attempt to make us believe that Warren is just as bought and paid for as are the kind of politicians that the 3rd way likes.

As I said, I don't think any of the attacks on Warren have actually worked, so far, but they're evolving. And believe it, we haven't seen anything yet. But expect to see it at DU, first, because this is one of the prime test beds.

the DU from itself.

It is also far too "partisan" in an age when big money hopes to control both parties, and where the media and the internet is free to whoever can buy into it.

In any case, I didn't mention "sock puppets" at all.
IMO that's a red herring. Chase it, if you want.

If people are correct about Clinton running, they are going to focus every ounce of smear on her.

also against Hillary.

I agree with you they are calculating it out. They deploy their hate strategically. I think they probably won't unleash it until the democratic primaries are over and there is a nominee. They'll just keep the hate on Obama until then.