Who Would Be Best To Clean Up The Corruption That Led to Trump?

[DrFunkenstein]

Warren has made corruption her highest priority with plans in place to deal with the corruption that makes it so difficult to get anything else done in Washington. Revolving doors for lobbyists, sweetheart deals for cronies and family members, campaign skulduggery, etc.

After the most corrupt President in US history, we need someone who will clean up the mess that allowed Trump to be so effective in his grotesque abuses of power - abuses that stretch far beyond Trump himself until they are woven into every aspect of US politics (too often on both sides). I can't see anyone who is cozy with Wall Street as an effective combatant, and Warren is certainly not someone who is cozy with Wall Street.

[cilla4progress]

1. Hear

hear!

[mainstreetonce]

2. Although My first choice is Biden

I think Kamela could do one hell of a cleanup.

[TruckFump]

3. Totally agree.

I am recalling what she did to Barr.

[Pacifist Patriot]

5. I think she'd make a phenomenal AG for just this reason.

[wysimdnwyg]

11. I agree that Kamala would make a phenomenal AG, but...

Are we better served having her there or in the Senate? I like her in both places, which, of course, she cannot do. Being California, we certainly could find a very capable replacement for the Senate, but surely we could also find someone else as AG. So the question is not whether she would be great at either, but which is the better place to have someone who could very easily be President some day (not likely for 2020 IMO, but in the future).

[TreasonousBastard]

26. She would definitely have more of an impact as one AG rather than one of a hundred Senators.

[highplainsdem]

6. Harris as AG, maybe.

[highplainsdem]

4. The crime and coverup being investigated have nothing to do with "coziness with Wall Street."

And Trump did not get elected because of "coziness with Wall Street."

Biden, who has the most experience in government, is most qualified to restore our government.

[onetexan]

8. I'll also add that Biden was part of a GREAT PRESIDENCY that had 8 years of NO SCANDAL. 'nough said.

[Thekaspervote]

14. Agree!!

[DrFunkenstein]

17. OWS, Sanders Winning States in 2016 Don't Happen Without Anger Over Coziness

A lot of mistrust with Clinton came down to her (perceived) ties to Wall Street, the Goldman Sachs speech furore a crystallization of Democrats upset with the corporate direction the party has taken since the 90's.

By the time of the general election, feelings towards Congress was at all-time lows because of the (perceived) rigging of the system for the elite. Sentiment was overwhelmingly locked upon a sense that the system worked for Wall Street rather than Main Street.

The Obama era TARP bailout did little to ameliorate these feelings. Occupy Wall Street (OWS) occurred during that era in late 2011. Obama is pretty much literally the coolest guy on the planet, but fighting corruption was not at the top of his to-do list. Here's a quick list of members of his administration that took a turn in the revolving door between government at the highest levels and lobbying at the highest levels.

https://www.opensecrets.org/obama/rev.php

This is not to demonize Dems, but we've got to draw a line in the sand. These individual little Faustian bargains at the highest levels are what stops us from moving forward on everything from the environment to gun control.

To paraphrase the Big Dog himself: It's the corruption, stupid.

[emulatorloo]

32. TARP was under President George W Bush, not Obama n/t

[eppur_se_muova]

7. Kamala Harris -- as AG.

Better that way, than have the POTUS appearing to be too directly involved in DOJ operations.

Harris needs absolutely no help, direction, or consultation from above; she seems almost uniquely qualified in that regard.

Plus, she doesn't have to worry about that "Veeps don't get elected POTUS" business. Only two exceptions in US history; Biden would be the 3rd. Don't expect a 4th anytime soon. But there's no rule about electing former AGs to the WH.

[BeyondGeography]

9. Only Warren put fighting corruption front-and-center from the start

She is also currently front runner 1A if not the actual front runner. Those two things are not unrelated and latest news only reinforces her position.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. Trump's mess has little to do with Wall Street corruption;

it's his personal corruption - his appointment of incompetent, unqualified toadies who will do his bidding; his use of his position to make money; channeling government funds into his own businesses, and now, using his position to exert leverage on a foreign government to help him get re-elected. Trump isn't and never was a Wall Street guy. While Warren's efforts to level the financial playing field are commendable, Wall Street isn't the source of or vehicle for Trump's corruption. The cleanup will have to focus on the way the structures of government can be abused, and it will have to start with the DoJ. A really solid AG working for a really solid president who also has a good working relationship with Congress is what will be needed. Most of the top tier of candidates would be good "cleaners."

[SCVDem]

12. tRump had Jiminy Cricket on his shoulder many times.

He always called an exterminator.

"Where's my Roy Cohn" was so telling.

[DrFunkenstein]

18. It is the CYNICISM of the American People Caused By COZINESS That Elected Him

Trump is a putrid bucket of vomit, but buckets of vomit don't get elected unless people are truly disillusioned about the people holding the levers of power.

Until the garbage is cleaned up, Washington is going to continue to stink. And the Republicans sure as hell aren't going to be pushing a mop anytime soon.

[Fiendish Thingy]

13. The next president MUST look backwards, not forwards, and unleash a pitbull AG

Say Kamala Harris or Breet Bahara, to aggressively investigate and prosecute the crimes of this administration, and all its enablers.

[highplainsdem]

16. Preet Bharara would be great as AG.

[TreasonousBastard]

15. Pretty much any of them will work to right the wrongs, but the important thing is...

who they will appoint to critical Cabinet posts. The Cabinet is where the grunt work will be done.

BTW-- the VP has absolutely no official powers to do much of anything. Veep may be given some by the Pres, and may be influential in many ways, but will have no direct power to fix Justice, the EPA, or any other problem areas. So, anyone thinking of those Biden/Warren type tickets might want to think again. Warren, Harris, Mayor Pete, and a few others would be excellent cabinet choices.

Biden/Bernie is an interesting thought, though. What a campaign that would be...

[highplainsdem]

19. Biden/Bernie? Oh please NO.....

Biden/Warren, maybe.

[TreasonousBastard]

27. Sorry. I was just fantasizing about the race. And Warren is far more valuable...

staying in the Senate or becoming a cabinet member.

Veeps can help, but cannot by themselves make policy.

[peggysue2]

20. Who would be best?

The man who called out Trump for what he is on Day 1: Joe Biden.

Hillary warned us that what we saw was all there was in Trump: a corrupt, ignorant and foul-mouthed con man. Joe Biden followed that up with his stirring opening speech:

Trump is an existential threat to the security of the United States. We are fighting for the soul of the country. We all know who Trump is, now we need to show the world who we are.

He called it out, named it and vowed to defeat it.

Joe Biden has been the tip of the spear in the fight to defeat the corruption and cruelty that Trump and his enablers represent.

Despite all the caterwauling that Biden was arrogantly jumping to a General Election stance, everything we're hearing and seeing today proves that Joe Biden was on the money. From Day 1.

AGO4JOE2020

[DrFunkenstein]

21. Here's Something Bolder (and More Specific) Than Other Candidates

Take just a a minute or two and look at the breadth and depth of Warren's anti-corruption plan. It would completely transform Washington as we (depressingly) know it.

Her anti-corruption speech in NYC was extremely powerful, and this post puts meat on the bones of her plans.

https://medium.com/@teamwarren/my-plan-to-end-washington-corruption-554c7f01aaa5

[TomCADem]

22. Certainly No One Who Has Demonstrated a Soft Spot for Russia

Given how so.much of Trump's corruption revolves around sucking up to Putin, we need someone who is ready to stand up for US democracy.

[DrFunkenstein]

23. This Is Not About Putin - It's Lobbyists, Revolving Doors, Corporate Rule-Writing, Legal Bribery

The system is sick, so dealing with a few symptoms will accomplish nothing but a pretense.

Put this together with campaign reform and we could completely transform Washington. Not 100% but a thousand miles ahead of where we are now.

[TomCADem]

33. Arms for the Ukraine to Fight Russian Aggression...

...has nothing to do with Putin? That was what Trump was using as leverage for personal gain and to benefit Putin.

[StevieM]

24. Al Franken. (eom)

[Gothmog]

25. Joe Biden is the most electable candidate that the Democratic Party has available

Link to tweet

[randr]

28. Pelosi

Pense needs to go putting Nancy in the WH

[pangaia]

29. Here is a suggestion

https://spauldingdecon.com/rodent-dropping-cleanup/

[DBoon]

30. Tactically, Harris. Strategically, Warren

Harris' background lends itself to rooting out bad actors and ensuring effective prosecution of criminal activity.

Warren understands that big money has allowed our electoral system to be corrupted, which has lead to the election of someone like Trump

[Gothmog]

31. I want America to be the envy of the world again.

Link to tweet

[Celerity]

34. our entire Party, working in cooperative fashion and manner nt

[tblue37]

35. Warren & Harris. nt