Do Not Put Dean Back in Charge of the DNC!

[last1standing]

I'm right there with everyone else who thinks Howard Dean was the best DNC chair in modern history but trying to put him back in that position is not only a wast of an incredibly able Democrat, it's an insult to the good doctor.

Dean didn't just turn the DNC and the party around from catastrophic defeats, he left a clear blueprint for his successor to follow. Build on the 50 state strategy, work on the local level to create a permanent infrastructure of party activists and reach out to those who share common goals by explaining what the Democratic platform is all about. Dean isn't the only human being on earth who can continue the plan he laid down, its just that Kaine and Obama immediately decided to dismantle it. Re-invest in the plan and hire a new, capable DNC chair and we will have everything Dean created with the advantage of a fresh mind to improve on an already excellent plan.

Instead, there is a place where Dean's perseverance, intelligence, analytical skills and progressive values could be far more useful, Chief of Staff to the President. If Obama has heard the real message of Tuesday night, he will have to rid himself of the centrists and triangulators who have destroyed his first year in office; this includes Rahm Emmanuel. There is no place, other than the oval office itself, that could better use Dean at this time to begin the process of moving this country back towards the promise it still holds.

[sharesunited]

1. Wouldn't it be something if he actually wanted that job?

[last1standing]

5. Dean would take it whether he wanted it or not.

He's part of a dying breed who puts duty far above desire.

[KonaKane]

14. Absolutely. He puts a democratic duty above personal gain.

A dying breed, indeed.

[Hawkeye-X]

2. If anything at all, I would draft Dean for 2012

And force Obama to govern from the left, not just promise it.

Hawkeey-X

[last1standing]

4. I'd support him 100%!

He should be sitting in that office today. It was the backstabbing, spineless dems who kept him out of office and gave us another four years of bush*.

[conscious evolution]

9. Same here

He would get my 100% support if he were to run for President in 2012.

[DebbieCDC]

12. You got that right

Dr. Dean should have been in that Oval Office. I'd support him over any other Dem. Draft Dean 2012!!!

[KonaKane]

22. I supported him in 2004

And got nothing but venom thrown my way from so called "Democrats". I wonder if that would repeat, should Howard come up as a candidate again?

[last1standing]

23. What? You didn't enjoy being called a "Deaniac"?

Or told how unrealistic and naive you were? I loved those days!

[Vincardog]

3. Reced ya back to zero. Good idea ya had

[kjackson227]

6. Great idea, but isn't there some kind of friction between he and President Obama?

I think I remember reading this somewhere.

[atreides1]

7. Sure is

Dean will actually fight the enemy not invite them to dinner.;D

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. The friction is between him and Rahm.

If there are problems between him and Obama, I've not heard of it.

[last1standing]

10. There is since Rahm brought his petty fight over to the white house.

But that in itself would be good. Dean would be far more willing to tell Obama what he needs to hear whether he likes it or not. I think we have to be honest with ourselves and realize that this president is not going to be the 'fierce advocate' he promised in his campaign. The best we can look for is someone who will keep him appraised on the realities of the working class and the Democratic base.

This is a role that Dean could serve admirably.

[Rapanui1]

13. Remember Nancy dancy Pelosi too -Bush impecahment off the table

Remember Nancy dancy Pelosi too -Bush impeachment off the table. And Cheney still roams free. I would call that the only Pelosi-Reid legacy

[Autumn Colors]

11. Exactly what I was thinking ! K&R (nt)

[monmouth]

15. That would be Christmas and 4th of July all rolled into one....n/t

[last1standing]

17. Sadly, it might as well be the 30th of February.

I can post it, and you can agree, but Obama has to do it and I have seen little from him that makes me think he'd consider it.

[democrank]

16. Get rid of Rahm

[bobbolink]

18. I don't know. I think Howard Dean is too accomplished to put him in a position to constantly

bash his head against a brick wall.

I keep thinking of him....he must be grieving all of this.

to the good doctor....

[last1standing]

20. Like the DNC chairmanship, Dean could take the position to new levels.

I've been nothing short of amazed at what that man can do. He would do this country proud.

[Marr]

19. The first thing those DLC shills when they got power was make a public show of

removing people like Dean and sticking corporate toadies in their place. I'd love to see them removed, but I don't expect it to happen. Obama is *one of them*, he's not manipulated by them.

What I think they're going to do is make a symbolic show of turning to the left, using cheap wedge issues. They were planning to do that anyway for the elections, no doubt-- but there you go.

If Obama removes his DLC Lobbyist Cabinet and replaces them with legitimate public advocates like Dean, I'll be very happy.

[last1standing]

21. I agree.

I think this last year has been exactly what Obama wanted, a centrist, technocratic presidency dedicated to the status quo. Still, every post and every call makes our voices heard a little louder.

[bobbolink]

24. Sadly, I think you are right.

I remember when there was outspoken opposition to Obama because he was on a DLC list.

There was then a show of him removing his name from the list, and saying it was some sort of mistake.

Now I can't help but wonder...... what has one on since then surely smells of him being DLC all along, and doing a fine masquerade dance.

Too bad for the country, too bad for poor people who are hurting.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

29. Wasn't one of the first announcements after Dean left that no more 50 state strategy?

I found that exceeedingly weird. Why would anyone abandon a strategy that turned nine previously red states blue?

I honestly wonder sometimes if the Dems weren't horrified with the majorities they won since it clearly gave them actual power to create the mandates they were given. I think they're secretly relieved they have the mythic 60 vote yoke removed. I love how our own Blue Dogs torpedoed everything in their power. They could have been brought in line. Harry and Tim Kaine could have said "play ball" or you'll be second vice chair of the Senate Bed Bug Committee and don't expect any future funding. If the Repubs ever get to sixty votes you'll see a juggernaut the likes of which we will not believe as they go ahead and dismantle and privatize the government

[saorsa]

33. Weird is right,

just makes your skin crawl doesn't it ?
excellently well put insight, thanks

[NuttyFluffers]

37. why would it be odd if the Wizard of Oz is upset you pulled back the curtain?

c'mon, it's rather apparent who is benefiting from this failure. but i think it's very tactful of you to not state it directly.

i on the other hand have little use for tact currently, hence my message title.

[RainDog]

25. excellent idea!

if Obama wants to energize the democrats, he will do something this strategic.

the dlc needs some input from the rest of the freaking nation.

[grahamhgreen]

26. YES!

[reggie the dog]

27. that is a damn good idea

[donco6]

28. Love the idea, but -

when have we seen any indication this Administration is not in love with corporatism? I cannot imagine anything happening to Rahm.

[last1standing]

31. Obama's already indicating his intention to go even further to the right.

I never really thought he'd change course after this election, but I did hope. Congress will likely change hands in November and still the same voices will screech the need for bipartisanship. They are lying to us, even on this board.

[ima_sinnic]

30. excellent idea

and even if Dean doesn't officially run in 2012, I'll probably vote for him anyway.
Can you imagine a massive write-in campaign that would actually draft Howard Dean for president?

[BrightKnight]

32. Taking wins and losses for granted doesn't work. - n/t

[Vidar]

34. K&R.

[Maghetti]

35. yeah....

As much as I would love to see Dean in such a high position, this will never happen. Obama seems to agree with Rahm just fine, and Dean's view do not match up well with Obama's.

[democracy1st]

36. Agreed Obama's admin is doomed. I don't think he has the backbone to change that economic team

[madokie]

38. I'm a Howard Dean kind of person myself

He is for what is good for our country and that just so happens to be whats good for our party too.