This is how politics works.

WORK it! It's a talking point. An advantage. Positive and active messaging. Bragging rights (but be gracious!). Framing. Perception management. If you've got it, flaunt it! USE it - or lose it!

The hapless mitt romney still has "loser stench" all over him. He's got an uphill fight to disabuse most of America from thinking of him first as a loser. Now how's that gonna work out for the guy, fighting to change that perception - which is reinforced every time the words "President" and "Obama" are said together? He arrives with more baggage than anybody, and they're all loaded down with baggage. I think he's got more baggage to lug around than even jeb bush, but HIS baggage is his fool idiot dry drunk brother. Because the last thing we all remember and have on record as far as mitt romney? He LOST. Americans tend to love an underdog but they don't as often cotton to losers. Sometimes, but not often. That's the takeaway and what all the questioning of the wisdom of his trying a third time centers on. That's where the media goes, first. The first line of his epitaph will be how he ran against Barack Obama and lost. He's the reason Barack Obama is a two-term president. He's the guy who got beat. A loser!

Now, Elizabeth Warren on the other hand just scored a win. That's how it's being worded, reported, portrayed, framed, and therefore, inevitably, viewed. Message sent and delivered. She's a winner! Adding another win to her score chart does nothing but good. And considering the more prominent position that Harry Reid appointed her to serve in the Senate Democratic leadership, where she got a seat at the table (and she isn't afraid to make use of it), you have a win on top of a win. She's only gaining momentum. Hers is not so much of an uphill battle as romney's is. Not nearly! She's on a roll. And that manages the public perception - and the unfortunately all-important media perception - very nicely in OUR favor. The stronger she gets, the more clout she'll have, and it'll be her decision how to use that clout. Does make one wonder if that might eventually change her mind about running for President. Or else, she'll contribute her much-expanded clout to help the Democratic nominee, and then have an even louder voice than before. Meanwhile she'll be gaining the gravitas that maybe in eight years or so - she might actually entertain the notion...

I think its now or never for a presidential run, though, considering her age. After her AFL-CIO speech, many were coming out saying she sounded like a candidate, and it makes me wonder if that's why she finally said no, future tense. There are so many important battles going on right now in congress, and TPP fast track authority is coming up, she needs to be taken seriously to fight & not be seen as someone who's just grandstanding for votes.

Speaking of Mitt, he said "No no no no no no No!" to a presidential run a year ago. I read the lack of possible GOP candidates changed his mind. hmmm...

I just hope we don't have 2 conservatives running in the GE.

Meanwhile, we're so lucky to have Liz in the senate. She really is doing a lot of good for citizens, just shaming the Wall Street dems and walking the talk of true populism.