Now that Rahm is in IL and Nancy is out of power. Time for the President

[Laura PourMeADrink]

to rethink putting Howard Dean in his administration.

Just like Dean taught us, that we should focus on state and local offices, the Republicans and big money
have done just that. They have doled out $500 bills on the local level and pushing through their
crazy agenda of Anti-choice, Pro-gun, and Voter Suppression.

Many have said it is inexplicable why the President doesn't better articulate his health care legislation.
What better person than Dean to do that?

For those who supported others, and didn't learn that much about Dean's biography, he's led a quite
impressive life. He also is amazingly forgiving after being snubbed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Dean

[madokie]

1. I'd love to see Dr Dean in this Administration

He was my first choice in '04
I'd vote for him in a heart beat if he was to try one more time.

[mdavies013]

2. But he was excited and needed to be taken out. Far better to be gaffe prone. Then it rarely gets

coverage.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

3. Me 2...I think I am at the point where I am tired of our same old rhetoric that doesn't seem

to be working anymore. In the new age environment of instant news, Republicans have
taken full advantage of the fact that most people are on information overload mode. There
is no longer a sacred, universal source for the truth anymore. So they they have realized
that it's every so easy to lie and get away with it.

We need men and women who are like Dean - Politically savvy and focused. Action, results
and goal oriented.

[leeroysphitz]

4. Keep dreaming. n/t

[pinboy3niner]

5. Love Dean--but could use a beverage while I ponder this

Pour me a drinK?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. Ah yes, my obsolete name - created when Bush was caught drinking in China.

Which succeeded my other obsolete name - Laura PackYourBags - which was created when I really thought we would overturn
the 2004 "election" and kick the Bush's out of the WH.

I have since replaced my hatred of Bush for a hatred of Romney. Think I need to switch
my name to Ann GetAJob

[pinboy3niner]

10. LOL!

You seem to have a talent for picking usernames. From what I've seen, I'm good with whatever you want to go with.

[Aerows]

37. Ann GetAJob

would be priceless, but I don't think the Romney's are going to be relevant after November.

[DFW]

6. At the moment Howard is not interested, but the (re-) election might change things

I've known Howard for quite a while, and although he took the snubbing well, he didn't
forget it either. He'll enthusiastically support Obama's re-election, of course, but he'll
do it from his DFA pulpit and his appearances on the talk shows. His schedule is just as
crazy now as it was when he was DNC chairman, but with somewhat less pressure. He
is still very protective of his private life and his family, and he has had more time for them
in recent times than when he was DNC chair. I'm not going to go into details, that's his
business whether or not to get into that.

Howard will be 63 in November, and although he is still energetic, he has been of the opinion
for some time now that it's time for younger people to take over government. He might-MIGHT-
consider serving in a second Obama administration, but it would be on his terms, and I don't
know if Obama has a post in mind where the two of them would agree to Howard's conditions.

Howard has certainly earned ANY administration post he might want (I'd still love to see him at HHS),
and maybe Obama's people might remember that it was Howard as the tireless DNC head that got
them to their 2008 landslide. But gratitude and pragmatism has not guided their actions to the
degree that it could have/should have--in my opinion, anyway. What might have been the outcome
of the health care fight with Howard as HHS secretary instead of Sibelius (not to mention having kept
Sibelius as Kansas governor)? We'll never know, and it's the country's loss.

Back in early 2009, when Howard was passed over for a post in Obama's administration, I asked him
what he'd do. He said he'd probably take some post in a law firm for a salary in exchange for name
recognition, and spend most of his time raising hell for causes he believed in.

Typical of Howard, he meant what he said, and he's been doing exactly that ever since. It's up to
Obama to lure him away from that if he wants to. I think it would do Obama a world of good, but
he hasn't asked me for my opinion on the subject.

[zipplewrath]

9. Probably a bad fit

As much as I'd love to see him in the cabinet, I suspect in the long run it'd be bad for everyone. Good people in the wrong administration often end up more frustrated and angry than anything else. He'd forever be seen as an "outsider" in this tight administration and that's not gonna serve him well. Short of him being CoS, I'm dubious that it would work out. A couple of exceptions might be SoS and UN amb. I'm keeping an eye on both of those since they would be good "launching points" for a 2016 candidate. Dean almost assuredly isn't going to be interested in that.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. Interesting about SoS or UN Ambassador as a launching point. As we pull out of Afghanistan

(fingers crossed) don't see a resume that touts foreign policy experience as being particularly high-value in a
hopefully peaceful environment. In the future, I picture more value in people who can prove fiscal responsibility while
protecting and promoting programs that help those in need. Something Dean has.

[zipplewrath]

16. By 2016

I suspect that by 2016 economic affairs will go back to their more "normal" place in politics. There are few positions in a cabinet that position a person well for a presidential run. Off the top of my head I'd say, in no particular order:

State, defense, VP, CJCS, and UN amb. Stick someone in there with gubernatorial or senate experience and you've got a good launching point. They predominately create the "aura" of being "presidential". The end of an administration often is heavy in foreign policy because of the "lame duck" problem. And about that time, if we're basically "out" of Afghanistan, they'll have Iran, Syria, Israel, Arab Spring, and N. Korea still brewing. "Good stuff" for someone to appear presidential. Timing will be the largest problem because campaigns are 2 years long these days and someone in this post would prefer to wait until the fall of 2015 to get started.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

21. Yes....if things change dramatically from where we are now. I agree the backgrounds you mention

add gravitas. Now, no one seems to care one iota about the rest of the world. Ambassador of China
sure didn't seem to help Huntsman.

[karynnj]

23. History disagrees except for the VP

I don't think a single Secretary of State, UN ambassador or Secretary of Defense - even if they were also a governor or Senator - has been a strong candidate for the Presidency. (Richardson was one who tried and he was a poor second tier candidate.) It also ignores his age - just as others have said that Biden and Clinton may be too old - Dean may be too.

As you say, timing would be a problem. You can't both be Secretary of State (or anything but VP) and run a campaign for President - it is both impractical and not allowed. Therefore, you need to quit before you are seriously running. You are right that that 2 years might be needed - meaning that they would have to be incredible for 2 years and then quit. Unless Obama were 100% ok with that, it would look really bad. Not to mention, you are speaking of positions with long learning curves. (Even if you were speaking of someone already 100% involved in foreign policy, this won't work.)

To move this away from your natural desire to see a President Dean - rethink this using Senator Kerry. Kerry has, as Senator, had diplomatic successes when called upon to take that role by the President and he is both 100% up to speed and is well known to all the major players in other countries. This would position him to be immediately effective. Still, it is impossible to believe that he would be SoS for 2 years, implementing Obama's policies, leave and run for President. If he were given that position and if he took it, it would be the capstone to a remarkable career of service. Although incredibly energetic and fit, he also would be too old to consider it - and likely too committed to resign after 2 years if he was doing good things.

[Alcibiades]

29. Secretary of State is still a good choice

We have seen a lot of firsts in recent years: first black president, first GOP incumbent to run without even attempting to move to the center (Bush in 04), first election undone by the SCOTUS, etc.

We do see people run for the presidency from the House of Representatives, even though we have not elected anyone straight out of the House in a long time. The jobs are basically incompatible: most houyse representatives really hew closely to the interests of what is almost inevitably a narrow constituency, and those who manage to assume leadership roles and thereby assume a national role are forced, as part of their leadership, inevitably to engage in politics in such a way that makes them unpalatable as a national candidate. And yet we see people run for president out of the House all the time.

Secretary of State is different: it gives folks, even highly partisan ones, a lusterous patina of respectibility, of being above partisan politics. I think the reason why we don't see more people run from this position, or after having held it, stems more from the age of the folks who get the job, presidential unwillingness to appoint a national figure to the job, and the fact that the job itself is quite demanding, and tires folks out in such a way that makes them yearn for retirement. When it's offered to someone who could be a presidential contender, it's more commonly offered to a William Jennings Bryan or a Hillary Clinton than someone younger. Even when someone seems to be young enough and popular enough at the end of their service, someone such as Colin Powell, or Condoleeza Rice, for example, there's just something about the job that sucks the will for a future life in politics out of them.

But still, in theory, it would be possible for someone to run for president as a former Secretary of State. It happened in the early days of the republic, after all. I don't think the political advantages of the job have changed so much as the demands it places upon the person serving.

[zipplewrath]

36. It would have to be intentional

Biden isn't going to run. So you are stuck in the Bush II situation. There's no real "heir apparent". What I'll be looking for is if they pick someone to be SoS, or if they pick someone to try to give them a leg up on the nomination. If they pick a Kerry, you'll know it's not to try to pick the next candidate. If they pick someone who is about 45-55 years old and no particular background in international politics, they are trying to "groom" someone.

If they do that, they will "manufacture" the events, appearances, and opportunities for them to build name recognition and establish a national reputation. But if they pick a Kerry, or Dean, or any other list of "old white guys", they have no intention of grooming anyone.

[karynnj]

17. I think he really did want the HHS position

I don't know how things would have been different if he had it. It would have led to a higher profile pro public option voice being in the administration, but the draw back of being in the administration is that if the President/ his advisers decided that would not fly (as they obviously did), it would likely silence that voice.

I watched the Finance committees hearings and there were a few Democratic Senators who were really negative on having a public option - Lincoln being the most adamant. Out side the committee, Lieberman was against it as well. We needed 60 votes under the regular process - and there were many Senators expressing problems with doing the entire bill under reconciliation. This may have been the reality that pushed Obama and Sebelius to go with what they did. As it is, the system - if not ruled unconstitutional or repealed, sets up the system that could easily add a public option - likely at the state level first. (Having the ability to buy into a public option would not change the legality of the mandate - and single payer would not have come close to passing.)

I doubt that Dean would be even on the long list (much less the short list) for SoS or UN ambassador. His weakness in 2004 was that he had no foreign policy experience. In addition, in both positions, you represent the opinions of the President - not your own positions. Not to mention, if positions were given because of political debts owed, there were people ahead of Dean - including at least two who had far more experience in foreign policy. Obama had other concerns that led to his choices there.

I agree with your first conclusion, that he might be a bad fit in the cabinet.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

45. You make a very good point. It is obvious that the administration does not

want to get involved in any full discussions or public education on Health Care. And,
anyone on his administration would probably have to follow those marching orders.

However, I really do not totally understand the rationale behind this. I am surrounded by
republicans. They know nothing about this law. NOTHING. Sometimes I think, the only way is up
with these people. And then, there's the idea that small businesses are fearful of whats to
come when they have to provide insurance (or pay penalties). Of course these are business that
haven't bothered to educate themselves, but I wonder how real is this fear and is it
truly affecting hiring?

On the other hand, I also understand that the administration might not want to open what
they perceive as a hornet's nest? I can not think of any other reason for doing this
other than for political reasons.

My personal opinion is that it would be wiser to set up some type of public education on
the Health Care law. Maybe a Small Business Symposium? You will never get the crazies on board. But, maybe
you could pick up the support of some independents, uninsured people, and you could quell any fears out there when businesses can
actually see how the bill would affect their bottom line.

[karynnj]

46. I agree - there are so many provisions that are obvious improvements

and it would seem that a really good speech or just putting out more prominently the list of advantages. Either would be enormous help for people like us to then communicate it further.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

47. maybe they are waiting for the SCOTUS ruling in June. Actually, without the

mandate, it becomes more attractive. Far less effective, but more attractive.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

11. Wow...thanks so much for adding your insider perspective. It really does make

me sad though. The time we most need him is now. And last year and the year before.
Before "Obamacare" took hold as a dirty word that is spoken with disgust by so many.

What we could learn from Dean the most is that it's high time for us to take the
personal out of our Democratic politics. A lesson Republicans have mastered.

Thanks DFW

[Laura PourMeADrink]

22. BTW, what you said about Dean thinking the young should take the reins...Who are

they? We need more of our own Paul Ryans and Marco Rubios.

[DFW]

40. Howard named no immediate names

Last time I was with him, about a year ago, we were on a train together from DC to New York, and during
the trip he just got the word that Debbie Wasserman-Schultz would be DNC chairwoman, and he was pretty
happy about it (no comment on her predecessor).

He has been very interested in a few VERY young (and unsuccessful) candidates for Congress, such as Tommy
Sowers in Missouri and Ilya Sheyman in Illinois. I haven't discussed a successor to Obama yet with Howard, and
knowing him, he's not going to say a peep about that subject until late 2014. He did say that he'd like to see
some really bright and gifted Democrats in their 40s start to grab the national spotlight. He fully agrees with
you that we need some more of our own young media stars, although keep in mind that Ryan and Rubio are only
media stars because of promotion by Fox Noise. Otherwise, they would just be another pair of lying loud-mouthed
Republicans. Rubio, having been exposed for his phony "fleeing communism" claim, is keeping a low profile, and
may survive longer because of it.

To those who mentioned Secretary of State, in the years since 2004, Howard has had more international
experience than most of the State Department. He has been a guest at Davos (on environmental issues,
something he is extremely knowledgeable on, but not famous for), and has been a requested helping hand
in starting up a Democratic Party in Italy. He had a HUGE hand in the electoral success of the Liberal Democrats
in the last British election. I don't know if they would have gotten enough votes to be part of the coalition
if Howard had not been coaching them.

[janx]

48. Thanks for the info!

There hasn't been much conversation about Dean lately. I've always admired him. Thinking of 2004...those were the days.

I will never forget, also, that President Obama was a member of the original Dean Dozen. Dr. Dean really shook up politics and brought grassroots democracy back.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

8. He has no Wall Street or CEO experience on his resume...

I'm not sure he'd fit in well with the majority of the Obama administration.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

12. His father was a stock broker at Dean Witter. He tried a career as a broker. But, I

get your point.

[Jester Messiah]

14. Unlikely.

I just don't see Dean being a good fit, personality wise.

[Recursion]

15. You do know that Dean is somewhat to the right of Obama on almost every issue, right?

I still have no idea how he built this image he has among movement liberals, but it's pretty amazing.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

18. I think he's more like Clinton. Fiscally more conservative than Obama. I think

of him as a a good mix of pragmatism while maintaining our values.


What are the main things he is "right of Obama" on?

[Recursion]

35. Yeah, I was thinking fiscally. Though also guns and the death penalty.

Socially he's pretty vocally to the left of Obama. I really think a lot of DUers like him because he gets angry on TV, and don't bother to look at his record as governor.

[Ship of Fools]

19. ?

[MannyGoldstein]

20. For example?

All I can think of, off hand, is his gun stance as governor.

On the other hand, Dean is against cutting Social Security and he's in favor of universal health care with world-class financing.

Thanks in advance for your info.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

25. his position on guns

http://www.factcheck.org/liberal_group_attacks_dean_on_gun_control.html

Dean defends his record by saying that Vermont has a low murder rate (it was about 1/3 of the national average in 2002) and so didn't need tough gun laws. Now that he's running for President he's saying that he'd bring about tough enforcement of existing federal gun laws, veto any repeal of the Brady law requiring background checks of gun purchasers, and push for an extension of the federal law on 'assault weapons' beyond its scheduled expiration next year. "After that, I would let the states decide for themselves what, if any, additional gun safety laws they want," Dean says in a position paper posted on his campaign web site.

[MannyGoldstein]

34. So he's not to the right of Obama on guns, either

And perhaps to the left.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

41. Hmm...never got a response from Recursion.

[MannyGoldstein]

43. Disappointing.

I was looking forward to learning something new.

Are you from New York, or just appreciate it? I was born and raised in and around NYC, went to college upstate.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

44. Yes

I've noticed that a lot lately. Someone will come in a throw out
something controversial without facts and then disappear.

Just appreciate it. From CT. Went to college in PA. Love NYC, Yankees, Giants.

[philly_bob]

24. Yes, Dean. And how about Robert Reich? n/t

[Laura PourMeADrink]

26. too short ! JK. Actually saw him on TV yesterday. He seems to have

calmed down remarkably...just like Dean. I used to think of Reich as
a bundle of pent up aggression.

[PassingFair]

27. Put him back in charge of the DNC.

It's the only way they'll ever see a dime of my money, or
get me out walking for Obama.

All of my donations and shoe leather have been going to
local progressive candidates, and individual progressives
in D.C.

I won't give money to any organization headed up by Wasserman-Schultz,
Tim Kaine or Terry McAuliffe.

I didn't see any of THEM doing BUS TOURS of the south to
promote a 50 state strategy.

[janx]

49. Good points, PF!

I'd like to see that happen as well.

[TomClash]

28. On the MEK payroll

Like Giuliani, Rendell, Townsend and others.

Despite the efforts to whitewash taking money from a terror group, I still say no thanks.

[brooklynite]

30. Forgive me, what what do Rahm and Nancy have to do with it?

They were in a dispute with Dean over Party spending on House races. What does that have to do with a job in the Administration, much less one addressing health care?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

31. Nothing directly...it was just rumored that Pelosi, Reed, and Rahm did not

like Dean and his unorthodox, shake things up demeanor.

[brooklynite]

32. No, it wasn't...

It was REPORTED, quite clearly that there were disputes with the House and Senate campaign committees over spending on House and Senate candidates vs Dean's 50-State strategy of funding party building and GOTV efforts at the State level. However, this had nothing to do with the White House (this was in 2008, before Obama was elected and before Rahm became Chief of Staff), and it doesn't address the merits of whether Dean would be a good addition to the Administration for Health Care or other issues.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

42. You are right. Personal dislikes have nothing to do with the merits of Dean in any

position. However, if there was bad blood between any of them during the time
when Obama selected his cabinet, or even before, since Rahm and Obama are
friends...then it could have influenced Obama to stay away from Dean. This
is all supposition, of course. You have to operate on the premise that Rahm,
since he is in IL and Obama is in DC, and Pelosi, since she is no longer the
Speaker of the House, that their influence with Obama may have waned.

[lsewpershad]

33. Remember

the %0 states strategy???? Best idea ever.

[kenny blankenship]

38. Obama would use Howard Dean for credibility, as so much window dressing

and then continue being the banksters' and insurance mafia's best friend and continue with Bushcheney's Global War of Terror. Dean would have no control over policy and if he was put forward to talk up a progressive approach to some policy area, to placate the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party, Bipartisan Pres. Obama would just use that as cover to make another dirty deal. I doubt Dean would want to be used like that, nor to be remembered that way. I think he knows the score after 3 years.

[Freddie Stubbs]

39. Put him back in charge at the DNC so that he can help them

elect more Blue Dogs to Congress like he did last time.

[Marr]

50. Obama likes Lieberman-style Democrats more. /nt