Dean has been quite open about his plans, which include several different options and groups he will be working with. He has spoken of the plans for a couple of weeks. Here are his plans, all out in the open.
Dean to rejoin DFA among other projectsDespite spending four years deep in the trenches of political warfare, Dean won't be winding down. In a phone interview with the Huffington Post he listed seven full-to-part-time gigs that he has lined up for the months and years ahead. Chief among them would be to renew his work with Democracy for America, the organization that he founded to build on the grassroots success of his presidential campaign.
"I'll be most interested in their health care stuff," he said. "Not only pushing for a health care bill but for one with meaningful reform."
He has also mentioned his other plans openly.
As for domestic politics, there won't be any individual consulting, at least in the near future. "Probably not," he said. "We will of course be doing stuff through Democracy for America. But I don't really plan to be a political consultant."
For Dean, who will be based in Vermont while traveling often to D.C., employment doesn't end there. The governor will work closely with the National Democratic Institute on topics such as spreading democracy and monitoring elections. He will serve as a Senior Strategic Advisor and Independent Consultant at the firm McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP. He will also work on early childhood education with a pilot program in New York City. Additionally, through the Harry Walker Agency, Dean will give paid-for speeches.
There's a long thread at Daily Kos with many vituperative comments. It concerns this position Dean is taking.
McKenna Snags Howard Dean for Government Affairs PracticeMcKenna Long & Aldridge has landed Howard B. Dean III, the former Vermont governor, Democratic presidential candidate and, most recently, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, for its national government affairs practice.
Dean will be based in the firm's Washington, D.C., office as an independent consultant, and will serve as a strategic adviser to its health care and energy clients, said Eric J. Tanenblatt, who heads McKenna's national government affairs practice. "He won't be full time, but he will be spending quite a bit of time in the Washington office," said Tanenblatt, who has held various leadership positions in the Republican Party, including chief of staff to Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue.
Tanenblatt said Dean will not lobby on behalf of the firm's clients. Instead he will provide more "big picture" counseling. "Someone who has served as governor understands how government agencies work and their interaction with the federal government," he said.
The press release says he will not lobby.
So the DK front page poster ignites all kinds of ugly comments saying that Dean is becoming a lobbyist. Not what the press release says, just what the WP chose to headline today.
Me? I don't care what he does....I hope he earns a pile of money. He earned every penny he can earn. The party leaders have made it clear he has no national leadership role with the Democrats...so you go for it, Howie, make the money you can.
Me, I agree the most with Sam Stein at Huffington Post. I think the WH team is playing some little games with the Surgeon General position to hush up the so-called Deaniacs. I think it is insulting myself for them to play this game.
Dean Allies Suspicious Of Surgeon General Leaks, See Politics At PlayAllies of Howard Dean are saying that recent leaks from the White House, in which anonymous officials suggest that the former DNC Chair is being considered for the post of Surgeon General, seem suspiciously-timed and politically motivated.
"The White House knows Dean indicated he was not interested last December, so it seems odd that they are floating his name," said one ally of the former Vermont Governor. "I question the timing given that they have been getting criticism for how he's been treated."
..."The network also quoted "one Democratic strategist close to Dean" saying, unequivocally, that the former DNC chair would accept the appointment if offered.
But from conversations with several Dean allies, one gets the exact opposite read. "This is a position that Dean has already indicated he is not interested in back in December when his name was floated," said one confidant. That his name would now be mentioned seemed like a late-hour attempt to placate Dean backers angry over his absence from the administration, not a serious proposal."
..." But with that nomination going first to former Majority Leader Tom Daschle and then to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, he has turned his sights to achieving health care reform from outside of elected office, those close to him insist. His plate is certainly full. Dean is scheduled to take on roughly seven different part-time gigs, including renewing his work with Democracy for America, serving as an adviser for the firm McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, working at the National Democratic Institute, and consulting foreign politicians on progressive politics.
The White House did not return a request for comment.
Lobby, not lobby? Who really cares. The firm says he really isn't, but what does it matter? He will still work partly from the DFA offices in Burlington, and that alone will accomplish something good in advocacy.
He deserves what he can earn. Good for him.
His
speech in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK a couple of days ago brought him standing ovations. He is well-respected there, more respect than his own party has shown him here.
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