Maya Rhodan passes along the news:
Following an hours-long leadership vote, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters he expects “Elizabeth Warren to be Elizabeth Warren” in her new role as the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee’s strategic policy adviser. The role, several outlets are reporting, was created specifically for Warren. The addition of Warren brings some star power to the Democrat’s senior ranks, though it’s not clear how much clout will come with the new position.
Jim Newell puts a couple extra nails in the Elizabeth Warren 2016 coffin:
The biggest signal that this sends is that Warren, who has said she’s not running for president about 50 million times but you never know, is … still not running for president. In accepting this leadership position, she’s helping craft the party’s top position and priority, all right, ensuring smooth sailing for Hillary Clinton to win the Democratic presidential nomination. You don’t set the groundwork for an outsider campaign against the Democratic establishment by moving further inside the Democratic establishment. Especially right now, when we’re nearing form-an-exploratory-committee season.
Jaime Fuller provides a history of such made-up leadership titles in the House:
It wouldn’t be the first time party leadership has seen the utility of conjuring a leadership position from thin air in order to serve as a bit of political WD-40. It has been a favorite tool in the House in recent years. 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.
Russell Berman wonders “whether Warren’s new role will be more than symbolic”:
With the exception of the top spot and a couple of other specific jobs, there’s not a whole lot that members of congressional leadership do besides sit in meetings and help the party hash out policy and strategy. And there’s an argument to be made that Warren is getting short shrift, being given a nominal post at the bottom of the ladder while Reid and other leaders win reelection despite presiding over the loss of at least eight seats and the majority.
Drum’s asks “Am I the only person who thinks this is probably not a great move for Warren? “:
She’s now officially part of the Democratic leadership, which makes her implicitly responsible for party policy and implicitly loyal to the existing leadership. And what is she getting in return? Unless I’m missing something, a made-up leadership position with no actual authority.
Is this a good trade? I’m not so sure.
The Dish 