Could Obama pick Howard Dean as his VP?

[Araxen]

or would that just be political suicide for him?

[Independent-Voter]

1. he could, but it'd be a mistake IMO. Clark, Richardson, Warner, or Biden would all serve him better

[Egnever]

2. I wouldn't want Dean

For the same reason I wouldn't want Biden. Both men are extremely effective right where they are.

I would really love to have either one as VP, though I probably prefer Biden. Removing either though from where they are right now I think would be a huge mistake.

[jasmine621]

21. I agree. nt

[DemzRock]

3. God I hope not! n/t

[SteppingRazor]

4. Bad idea, I think. Obama needs someone with a lengthy resume, especially with foreign policy.

I agree with Independent-Voter's picks, for the most part. Hell, I've been pulling for an Obama/Richardson ticket since January of 2007.

[flor de jasmim]

7. Richardson's CV is great, but Obama should train him on how to campaign

[Capn Sunshine]

8. You and me both -Richardson's the answer

deflects the "experience" meme, appeals to hispanics. Saved the pathetic Bush adminisration in No Korea. Cabinet experience. What's not to like?

[SteppingRazor]

11. Plus, he makes the southwest more competitive for Obama...

and that's an area we'll need to reach out to when fighting against the senator from Arizona.

[democrattotheend]

32. Richardson is my first pick too

As long as the womanizing rumors are not true. If they are Obama would have to think twice about it.

[Oleladylib]

5. Good heavens...NO

[UALRBSofL]

9. I know Dean isn't liked by the GOP.

And from the looks of things the FDP and the MDP aren't real happy with him. I don't think Dean is a choice for anyone's campaign.

[Clovis Sangrail]

6. I really doubt he would

Obama wouldn't want somebody that devisive

[lligrd]

10. I Love Dean But We Need Him Where He Is

We are taking back our party, thanks to Dean. But there is still more work to do.

[asthmaticeog]

12. That would open the DNC chair to potentially be filled by a DLCer.

Do we need another Ken Mehlman? HELLS no.

[MaineDem]

22. The DNC Chair position will be open in any case

The new President will have a say in who takes over. The DNC will vote on it in January.

I seriously doubt if Dean will stick around regardless of a Democratic victory or not.

[crispini]

39. I hope he does.

He's been great for the party.

[aquarius dawning]

13. Dean needs to be fired, not promoted.

[Mooney]

14. Why? n/t

[aquarius dawning]

15. For disenfranchising millions of American voters and casting even more doubt onto the validity

and equity of our democracy.

[cali]

19. could you look any more ridiculous?

Dean did no such thing. And he's almost single handedly rescusitated the dem party. Hilly would fire him, of course. It's fantastic that she won't have any say about it.

[aquarius dawning]

25. OK, whose decision was it to deny the vote to Michigan and Florida voters cali?

Who made the call on that one?

[MaineDem]

28. Not Howard Dean, actually

It was the vote of the Rules and Bylaws Committee based on the Rules established by the entire DNC, including those members from Florida and Michigan. Technically, it was the decision made by the FL and MI Democratic Parties when they moved their primaries.

People who say it was Dean's decision have no understanding or knowledge of the process at all.

[aquarius dawning]

33. Who is the head of the DNC?

[MaineDem]

34. That means what exactly?

It adds nothing to the discussion.

Of course he's the Chair but he doesn't have universal power. THe DNC is made up of members from all states and it's a democratic body (small d).

You really have no idea what you're talking about, I'm afraid.

[aquarius dawning]

37. It means that responsibility starts at the top orat least that's what we used to say when we blamed

Bush for the failures of his administration. Now all of the sudden, responsibility starts somewhere in the middle so the top can be shielded by the disasters that occur during his tenure. What a load of self serving sanctimonious bullshit.

[MaineDem]

40. Sigh

As I said before, it appears you have no idea how the DNC works.

I'm no fan of Dean but I do appreciate the process.

BTW, welcome to DU.

[sallyseven]

49. Are you nuts?

Don't you read anything but Democratic underground? The misinformation around here is astounding. Fla and Michigan disenfranchised them selves. Not only that if they count the votes Hillary will win and I am sure that your a Obama person it shows.

[sallyseven]

50. Are you nuts?

Don't you read anything but Democratic underground? The misinformation around here is astounding. Fla and Michigan disenfranchised them selves. Not only that if they count the votes Hillary will win and I am sure that your a Obama person it shows.

[crispini]

38. Michigan and Florida disenfranchied themselves.

Specifically, their state legislators.

[aquarius dawning]

42. Right, just like southern blacks between 1865 and 1969 disenfranchised themselves

All nice and legal like.

[crispini]

46. Oh, lord. You're comparing MI and FL to disenfranchising black voters?

Give me a break. That's ridiculous.

Yes, it sucks to be a FL or MI voter right now. But let me tell you what, it has sucked to be a primary voter in MANY MANY other states for a VERY long time, because the contest was always decided before it got to us. Howard Dean and the DNC have been trying to get some control over the nominating process so that the rest of us might get a say every now and then. But no, FL and MI had to jump ahead, they had to be publicity hogs, and now they're paying the price. Let me tell you something:

I have effectively been disenfranchised in the Democratic Party Primary for 20 years -- MY ENTIRE VOTING LIFE.

So FL and MI can KISS MY ASS.

[SoxFan]

24. Translation

He won't roll over and play dead for the Clinton campaign, like Donny Fowler would have.

[aquarius dawning]

27. counter translation: It's OK to disenfranchise people if it benefits Obama and his supporters.

but in any other circumstance, it's a bad thing.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

36. Hillary agreed with the terms at the time. All the candidates did.

:shrug:

[aquarius dawning]

41. Oh I get it, because I have a picture of Hillary down there, this must be all about her?

I never agreed with the terms. I absolutely despise the power that Iowa and New Hampshire hold over our political system and was looking forward to a couple of flies in the ointment. But, the machine ruled in favor of the status quo. What a wonderful Democracy we have. I can't wait until the super delegates get involved and really show the world how Democratic American democracy really is. bang up job there Brownie.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

43. I don't like the primary system, as it is, either.

I'm all for a re-vote. :shrug:

And, yes, the Hillary picture suggests something. Paraphrase: "Pictures embedded into posts are important! Shame on you a.d.!"

[UALRBSofL]

26. I agree with that because Dean could have followed suit

Like the republican party did and strip them of half the delegates. If you read the bylaws and rules pertaining to the DNC and the FDP it suggests stripping half the delegates. That said, he chose to strip us of all delegates. This is the reason I'm not happy with Dean.

[ProfessorPlum]

18. That's the morning's most ridiculous comment

Congratulations! You win.

[aquarius dawning]

23. So now we're going to reward people for incompetence in the democratic party too?

His handling of the Michigan and Florida situation was an absolute disaster and every bit as despicable as Ken Blackwell's handling of Ohio's 2004 election and Katherin Harris's handling of the 2000 Florioda election.

[SoxFan]

29. The DNC negotiated the rules

They set they rules.

They told Florida and Michigan what would happen if the rules were violated.

Florida and Michigan chose to break the rules.

Dean has refused to let them get away with it.

If voters in Ocala and Saginaw have a gripe with anyone, it's with their own party officials, who tried to game the system to help the Clinton campaign.

[ProfessorPlum]

45. To fair to Florida Democrats, it was really the state GOP that

engineered the date change, and that is a bad situation for them. But until the primary process is fixed, I agree that there was really no other choice availble to Dean.

[crispini]

48. Not exactly true.

madfloridian has posted extensively about this. The bill in the FL legislature was submitted by a Democratic state legislator and passed overwhelmingly; all but 1 voted for it.

So their elected officials are pretty culpable as well.

I agree, the situation sucks for those voters this year. It's sucked for the rest of us a lot longer than that.

[ProfessorPlum]

44. On the contrary. Had there been no penalty for moving

primaries forward, there would have been a stampede of states moving into January, and we would have had a candidate chosen before February. By keeping the (admittedly highly flawed) process stretched out, Dean and the DNC have let more states than ever have a choice and a voice in the decision process, and engaged more voters than ever before. While the GOP in Florida engineered its move, creating a bad situation there for Democrats, there was no other option for maintaining the integrity of the process (such as it has).

What would your Solomon-like decision have been for these two states? And what would you have done with the 20 others that would have moved into January in that case?

[shadowknows69]

16. I want to live in that world

[onehandle]

17. Howard Dean is a progressive.

Choosing him would be frowned upon by Obama's corporate friends.

The same goes for Hillary. Neither will choose a progressive.

[aquarius dawning]

31. yeah, real progressive there. He made sure the status quo was upheld in IA and NH

he made sure that a handful of elitists held disproportionate sway over who our candidates would be and he disenfranchised millions of voters to do it. Fuck. Howard. Dean.

[PassingFair]

35. He made sure that all 50 states had a say!

Hang him high!

:sarcasm:

Your DLC days are numbered.

And IT IS GOOD!

[COFoothills]

20. I certainly hope not.

I don't see what he brings to the ticket and I like him just fine right where he is directing our 50-state campaign to increase our majorities in the house and senate.

[democrattotheend]

30. Probably not a good idea

As a hardcore Deaniac, I personally would love to see Dean get another shot at the presidency someday, but I don't think he is the right VP pick for Obama. Unfortunately, the way the press aired that clip over and over again after Iowa has given him a bad reputation, and he might be a lightning rod for the right. Plus, Obama needs a VP with foreign policy experience. Bill Richardson is my first pick, since he has both the executive and foreign policy experience.

[Pryderi]

47. Governor Brian Schweitzer

[book_worm]

51. He could but he won't.