Surgeon General, not for Howard Dean

[ProSense]

UPDATE: A source close to Dean says he was never interested in the job.

Does anyone know if Dean wanted any job in the Obama administration?

[liberalmuse]

1. Dean is probably the smartest Democrat we've got.

In retrospect, we will be glad he wasn't a part of this. On one hand, I'm very excited for President Obama to begin his administration, but on the other, part of me knows he will most likely cowtow to the right on every possible agenda. My worst fears: Obama caves to the Pelosi/Reid atrocity and nothing gets done in the next 4 years. I now completely understand why my daughter and nephew hold no faith in the Democratic Party or anything other than grassroots and radical movements. I'm so goddamned tired of being fucked.

[ProSense]

4. "Obama caves to the Pelosi/Reid atrocity and nothing gets done in the next 4 years."

Yeah, the all powerful Pelosi/Reid. The Congress is a separate branch of government, but Pelosi and Reid are not the dictators of the Congress.

[Captain Hilts]

2. This is an interesting comment. Wonder why?

[Thrill]

3. Everyone wants Dean to get a job in the administration. Except Dean

I've never heard him express any interest in doing anything in the administration. Yet we keep hearing, he's being snubbed

[cali]

8. Wrong. Dean wanted HHS and he dropped hints

and it's really widely known among folks here in VT that he wanted it.

[JI7]

5. Dean wanted HHS job, not Surgeon General

[wndycty]

6. Very funny story. . .

. . .one time I met Dr. Louis Sullivan who was HHS Secretary under Bush I and I mistakenly called him Surgeon General. His response to me "My good man, Surgeon General is 5 pay grades below that of Cabinet Secretary and while it would be a fine position, I was the Secretary of Health and Human Services."

[JI7]

7. this is true

which is why all the threads about gupta seem a little too much. it's not like he is being asked to be HHS Secretary.

surgeon general seems more like a job where they explain matters concerning health rather than pushing for policy.

[democrattotheend]

9. I read yesterday that he wasn't interested in Surgeon General

Although he could have said that because he didn't get it...not sure.

[Phx_Dem]

10. I adore Howard Dean. Adore him.

But he's too political for the type of position Obama wants the SG to be. He wants someone who can explain his health care bill and policies and influence the public. While HOward Dean is, IMO, a great man, he's a politican, the former head of the Democratic National Committee and hasn't practiced medicine in years.

[lojasmo]

11. I suspect Howard would like to spend time with Judy

He did what he needed to at the DNC, perhaps he wants some well deserved rest.

[Life Long Dem]

12. Howard Dean could work with MSM

:patriot: