Howard Dean Not A Contender For Health Secretary

Politico:

Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean is not a serious contender to be secretary of health and human services in the new Obama administration, sources said.

Dean's name has appeared on short lists for the Cabinet post circulating throughout Washington, based largely on his party chairmanship and career as a doctor. Dean also passed health care reforms while governor of Vermont. And his allies said the Obama transition team has had some informal discussions with him about the job.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[fredamae]

I am a Dem, so I will criticize:
I hope dean does Not take it if offered.
He is Against Medical cannabis as Many Dems are (of those seeking Political Purity over Compassion)

We need someone unafraid and Qualified (knowledge of cannabis as Disease Prevention and as a Therapeutic Herbal Medicine) to accept Cannabis as part of the Greater Health care Issue Without Political Bias!

[speakingtruth2power]

There is no person more qualified to champion this epic struggle

of progressive populism verses entrenched corporatism. We need

single payer, universal care just as badly as finance reform and a

realistic energy plan, in order to rebuild the American middle class.

[marinade]

Dean is important as an individual but maybe more important is the number of people his views represent.

Without Dean, the Obama operation is missing something. Without Dean, it feels more likely that the American people will be played and manipulated by the government. You can see it with all the message control efforts. There was never any doubt about Dean's honesty. He gave the campaign credibility.

The credibility that Dean gave, has been taken away with various appointments.

[LeeCalif]

It's Politico. I think I'll wait for a reliable report.

[sposton]

Dean is probably one of the few people most responsible for Obama's victory. His fifty state strategy paid off but was widely attacked and ridiculed by all those Clinton surrogates like Rahm Emanuel and that junk yard dog, can't remember his name. If Dean wanted the position of the secretary of health he should have gotten it. He's most qualified for the position in every sense. But he is not a Clinton sycophant and therefore disqualified. So far Obama's actions are beginning to trouble me a bit.

[donorman]

Nobody has said it yet?

YEEEOOOOOWWWWWW!!!

[Canubackthatup]

How about Surgeon General?

[Paul]

I agree.

Dean would good in that goofy uniform.

[realityczech4u]

My thoughts exactly. SG is largely a ceremonial post and a good place to park Screamin' Howie. Obama has to toss him some sort of a bone and this is a good one. Gets him out of the way and increases the likelyhood that he can fulfill the hippocratic oath to "do no harm".

[IhaveaDREAMwhitegirl]

Good luck to you Obama w/ the transition and

Thank you HowardDean

[bujeeboo]

I would rather have our state's former Governor John Kitzhaber (Oregon) at HHS. He has been leading the grass roots group The Archimedes Project to get accessible healthcare for all. There are web sites and YouTubes explaining his organization and there is buzz going on that he will either get this post or the Dept. of Interior.

Dean is great. But there are better candidates who have truly been working on this full time.

[lizr]

What is O going to do for Dean?

Dean is the unsung hero here.

I sure hope O has a big plum in mind for him!

[Helzapoppin]

Obama owes Dean bigtime. He'd better have something good for him.

[marinade]

Sure seems like Dean has strong support. Wonder what the point of excluding him would be.

[ErnestineBass]

Unfortunately, Dr. Dean's ideas are far too progressive for the entrenched right-of-center "Democratic" Congressional power structure.

While the names may "change", the corporate-driven politics of Washington never will.

[marinade]

Has the 50-state strategy been hijacked?

(rhetorical question)

[LaFilleEnRose]

All this proves is he's a man who gets things done and when the vision is clear to him, he can't be knocked off it even by the likes of Rahm E. That's someone who Obama can use.

[cavegal]

I am becoming more and more concerned with the direction this Obama administration seems to be going. With Rahm Emmanuel as COS, Howard Dean will not be considered for any position. Dean was right to question taking the DNC chair when it was offered, especially since it came with the caveat that he did not run for President in 2008. That of course was a stipulation in writing that was demanded by the damn DLC.

I am a die hard Deaniac and was actually furious when he took the DNC chair. To see him be swept under the carpet by the DLC, that seems to be running Obama's administration, reminds me that at least now he is free to run for political office again.

Furthermore the 50 state strategy that is now being attributed to Rahm was the brain trust of Howard Dean and his followers that implemented strong Democratic offices across the country. This man revitalized a party that was literally gasping it's last breath while suffering under the oppressive yoke of the DLC.

As an Independent that voted for Obama, I will be watching. If the Clintons and the DLC start running his whole administration then I will look to a third party to give my time, talent and treasure.

[lizr]

My friends warned me that O's admin wd be run by the DLC but I did not believe it.

I am still hoping and praying that it's not so.

Please O prove me right on this one....

[sposton]

What's next? Lieberman getting a cabinet position or an ambassadorship? Ordinarily I would not care too much if the majority of the cabinet is center right but these aren't the ordinary times. These people's philosophy will prevent them from doing what is right for this country. The same old tired DLC-Clinton stuff is as outdated as the Republican crap. We can't afford four years of a more competent version of republican administration. Stylistically a welcome change from Bush, but substantively not enough.

[bujeeboo]

There are going to be some DLC and Clintonista people. It can hardly be avoided.

I have not heard that Rahm is being credited with the 50 state strategy. In fact, I have ONLY ever heard it attributed to Dean. Rahm is well known as a critic of it, and is probably eating his words right about now.

I am hoping and praying right along with you that some PROGRESSIVES are going to be appointed.

[StephenFox]

Cavegirl: you are very astute and knowledgeable and accurate. See my 3 long comments on this story, please. What do you think? I think this original Politico article was a hatchet job, pure and simple, you know sort of "divide and conquer," using a former WSJ journalist as the catalyst. If this turns out to be so, the repercussions would seem minor, if Dr. Dean is knocked out of the picture.
Rahm or no Rahm: Dr. Dean would be the best thing that could happen to the Department of Health and Human Services, especially if Dean would take on an overhaul of the FDA. We are in serious international trouble because of the rampant corporate manipulation of the FDA, and frankly, I don't trust anyone else but Dean to straighten it out.

[Social Construct]

Washington DC: Peacock capitial of the world. It tickles me to death that these savvy, smart and "progressive" politicians cannot seem to find the maturity to stifle egos for any length of time unless they're in front of a TV camera. I hope that President-elect Obama finds a good cat herder. Having said that, however, I seriously hope to God that these folks can keep it together enough to keep the radical right from regaining any significant power.