Howard Dean Without Job As He Steps Down From DNC

Washington Post:

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, the man regarded by many sharp political operatives as the progenitor of President-elect Barack Obama's successful 2008 campaign, finds himself without an obvious next job as his tenure at the head of the Democratic National Committee comes to an end.

Those closest to Dean insist that he has any number of job offers to weigh (although they wouldn't expound on any specifics), is traveling to Europe three times early in 2009 to advise progressive parties abroad about the lessons learned from the 2008 campaign and is speaking out on his pet issue -- health care -- as he did on Wednesday at a speech to the National Institute of Health.

And yet, it's hard not see Dean as a lesson in how political hardball is played in Washington. Never liked by establishment party figures -- Dean publicly feuded with incoming White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel when the latter was at the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during the 2006 election cycle -- Dean finds himself on the outside looking in as a new Democratic Administration comes to town.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[thirtyninesteps]

Dean is a victim of political pettiness. Rahm Emanuel, a fellow Chicagoan of Obama, has been angry with Dean since 2006 when Dean spent DNC money in all 50 states to set up grassroot organizations. This is the strategy that ultimately put Obama in the White House. Rahm wanted the money to go to his hand-picked pro-war candidates. (Rahm actively forced anti-war candidates from the primaries to push his own pro-war slate.) His strategy failed miserably, losing 70% of his 22 races as head of the DCCC. Yet when the Dems took control of Congress thanks to Dean's strategy, Rahm was all over the talk shows trying to steal the credit. Now he's Obama's Chief of Staff and Dean is out in the cold. That's not change we can believe in.

[jumperpin]

Count me in as 'nother Deaner...p­ossibly my fav public servant.

Seems like HRC at State bumped everyone else down one level.

Daschle has more than he can handle. Moreover, meaningful health care reform will likely require creation of new depts, if not a new cabinet post. In any case, Dean could/should still be the clearest/strongest voice here.

[Okieborn]

Come On President Elect Obama Howard Dean deserves a good post !!
Might I add Valerie Plame for CIA Director !!!!!!!!!

[wonder6789]

It makes no sense...

He single-handedly spoke TRUTH TO POWER as early as 2003 and reenergized the party from the base.

He was SPOT ON RIGHT on Iraq and every other issue that the vast majority of America has only since come to agree with.

He REVOLUTIONIZED modern political campaigning and fund-raising with his use of the internet.

He EMPOWERED and SAVED the Democratic party as party chairman with his 50-states strategy.

...and he's nowhere in sight, while the Liebermans and Clintons and Bayhs and Gates are strutting around like peacocks??????

[Helzapoppin]

Forget Warren, this is the truest sign yet of progressives being thrown under the bus by Obama. Dean has done more for Democrats in the last 4 years than all of Obama's cabinet appointments combined. Sadly, Obama is more concerned with getting along with the right than getting it right. Don't be surprised if he turns out to be a one-termer. I am not encouraged.

[Davwbaird]

insane

[rabiddog6708]

I'm sure Dean will land on his feet. A very smart man, unfairly ridiculed in the media for his Iowa "war cry".....I wanted him as the nominee, not John Kerry. Dean would have made a good POTUS.

[Meah]

Howard Dean should be the head of CMS Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services. He is a physician and has the good sense to clean up the mess the Bush Administration made. Medicare D for starters! This is a no brainer. Rahm should have nothing to say about it. We need Howard.

[horsey]

Maybe he'll be surgeon general.

[ChicagoSuz]

I was just gonna suggest this... he's a doctor.

[jerryfromcalifornia]

THANK YOU HOWARD DEAN, WE OWE YOU FOR THIS WIN.

[DontJustFollow]

Isn't he a doctor? He should be able to get a job any where he wants - actual doctoring is a lot harder than politcal work, and it pays a lot less, but he will still be helping mankind and you can tell that that is all that really matters to someone like Dr. Dean -

Since Bill Clinton has all that money in his "Foundation" maybe he can get a job there?

[joeinvt]

If I had known that Obama would screw the very guy who laid the groundwork for his election and for the resurgence of the Democratic Party while rewarding DLC types, (who got the party nowhere), Neocons, Republicans, and anti-gay bigots, I'd have saved the money I donated to BO and the energy I gave to fund raising and stayed home on election day. Rahm Emanuel is Obama's Cheney!!

[Plowboy]

Me, too!

[robertjames]

O, poor, poor Howard Dean......­......

[roybattyjunior]

History will treat Dean more fairly than his own DNC did - which marginalized him and treated him like the proverbial red headed step child. You're a good man, Howard Dean!

[hugs4u]

He should become ambassador to England, France or Germany for his great service to this country.

[DontJustFollow]

why doesn't he move to New York and become the new Senator?

[3fingerbrown]

That won't work. Apparently, you have to be a FOB (friend of Barack) to get that job. If not, Andy Cuomo would already have it. Gov. Paterson would love to put Cuomo in the Senate and eliminate him as a challenger for the gubernatorial nomination. It seems more and more that Obama is directly behind C. Kennedy's sudden interest in politics, and Paterson will have no choice but to appoint her if he wants the president's wholehearted support in the election.

[DontJustFollow]

Or maybe Illinios?