Howard Dean: Victim Of His Own Success?

Washington Post:

Former Vermont governor 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 as head of the Democratic National Committee comes to an end.

Those closest to Dean insist that he has any number of job offers and spots on corporate boards at his fingertips, is traveling to Europe three times in early 2009 to advise progressive parties about the lessons learned from the 2008 campaign, and is speaking out on his pet issue -- health care.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[thirtyninesteps]

Does anyone on this blog believe that Daschle is more qualified for HHS than Dr. Howard Dean? Of course not. Now ask yourself why did Obama NOT reach out to the more qualified candidate. Anyone?

[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.

[SEQUOIABISON]

Dean should definitely be working in the Obama administration, at the very least as an Ambassador at Large helping to put out fires around the world, someone with his enormous diplomatic talent should be put to good use and I feel certain he will not be slighted by the incoming president.

[Kartoffel]

Realistically the only threat that you lefties could mount that would truly scare Barack is to go all out for Dean in 2012. That might actually get Barack to institute some progressives ideas in his first term. If you do nothing to scare him he'll continue to buttrape the left every chance he gets. The question is whether Dean would be willing to defy The One, and by extension, his beloved Democratic Party.

[susanthe]

Dear Dr. Dean - start a third party, please. I'll spend the rest of my life organizing with you, and I'm not alone.

[thirtyninesteps]

YES! ME TOO!!

[rtks]

IT was quite obvious that democratic estabishment cost Dr. Dean the presidence. Dean had the win message and the strategic to defeat Bush. Kerry took that same message,( which he delivered with little conviction because he wasn't the author of it) without the Dean strategy and almost defeated Bush. After they badly played the guy, he still went to war for the party. Where were the big guns? They were busy fatten themselves. Every time a new President comes to Washington, all they do is parade these big names, high profile, set in thier way folks and they tell us that they are the solution. Remenber CEO Chenny and CEO Rumsfeld? Watch thier finger print on America face after 8 years.
If one turn on the news and didn't hear when they mention USA, you would swear that they talking about the old USSR. Dr. Dean has shown that he is very in tune with the psychic of the American people. Dean Should not accept the crumb from Obama. The World is a cycle. The next 4 years right around the corner, when that big smile will not be on Obama's face.

[ErnestineBass]

Dean 2012.

REAL CHANGE, LONG OVERDUE.

[thirtyninesteps]

Can't argue with that!

[PhilipTaylor]

Have faith! Someone as useful as Howard Dean will find his place on the Obama Team!

His thinking is needed to balance the centrist thinking Obama now has!

[ErnestineBass]

I really ha te to say this, but...I don't see O as representing anything other than the status quo.

Go ahead, Obamabots, flame me...I really couldn't care less.

The fact is I'm just too old to settle for anything less than REAL CHANGE, and from what I've seen so far, "He" ain't it.

[Carolab]

As usual, I'm with you EB.

[Plowboy]

Sad but probably -- as all the evidence indicates! -- true.

[thirtyninesteps]

If you read the 11-page profile of Obama's Illinois years in the New Yorker (the one with "that cover") by Ryan Lizza, you'll know that he built his career by figuring out the status quo and working within it to his advantage. He is not a game-changer but a game-player.

BTW, after the New Yorker article came out, Lizza was banned from travelling with the press corp on Obama's plane. Shades of Bush?

[ChicagoSuz]

Surgeon General.

[avraamjack]

Great idea !

Howard has many fans and it would behoove Barack to find a fitting spot for him.

.

[greenjeans]

That's a waste of Dean's talents.

Third Party. Or run on Democratic/Progressive principles 2012.

[ChicagoSuz]

Not really. He is a doctor...

[Lion24]

Re: Dean

Obama and Emanuel ought to be ashamed of themselves.

[LesserOf2Evils]

Yes.

[marinade]

Dean is a friend of the American people. What does it say when our government excludes him?

[Carolab]

It says our government no longer represents us. Now what?

[Lion24]

Time for a shadow government. Howard: sign me up.

[Carolab]

Read:

Democrats in DC must not distance from the left; their constituents, their base (written by a Dean/DNC campaign worker in Florida):

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/3281

[PAposter]

I'm not sure I understand this. Why isn't Howard Dean getting a position? Doesn't really make much sense.

[Carolab]

Because he has a HUGE progressive following that's why. This incoming administration made it QUITE clear from the START they intend to exclude progressive influence--and Dean would provide a conduit for that. That's why the pick of Rahm Emanuel as Chief of Staff was so ill-received by the netroots and grassroots progressives who worked so hard on Obama's campaign and to build the party back up inside Dean's 50-state strategy. It sent a message that progressives were not to be given a full audience. Rahm publicly fought with Dean and declared he should give the DNC money to the DCCC in 2006. He said his 50-state strategy wouldn't work. He was wrong. Too bad Rahm's ego can't handle it. And too bad Obama wants a gatekeeper to keep progressives out.

[Carolab]

Dean and his followers: used and abused. I would like to switch my party registration now, please. Howard, start your own party. You can win.

[Plowboy]

He may not win. This is the America that chose to be fooled so many times in the last half century, that any sane observer must doubt the intelligence of the people of this nation.
But I would go down fighting for him. And I don't forget anyone who sells out after asking for my trust.

[Carolab]

Big difference between then and now: Dean has proven himself and we are onto "them".

[Tackora]

Anybody out there who could tell me why in Obama's judgement there was no room for Howard Dean and Jim Webb in his administration?

[Carolab]

DLC. In a nutshell.