What about Howard Dean as VP? Why is this never brought up in the MSM...

[JBoris]

or here for that matter? Is there something I'm missing?

He is a highly qualified, well-known, super-intelligent progressive leader who complements Obama really really well!! Plus he has the rare gift of being able to cut right through the repub's doublespeak in an easy-to-understand way. I think that alone should put him on the shortlist.

I know he won't help in the south, but who would that you would actually want in the office? Besides, I think Obama is going to do well in the south.

Again... What am I missing? Jim "who-the-heck-is-that" Webb was talked about for ages, Hagel is being forced down our throats by the MSM. What about a real progressive, a real Dem? This should at least be talked about in the MSM!


P.S. - No one really gives a good flying-frick about the damn scream. I know there are plenty or repubs who would bring this up, but give Dean 10 mins to speak to the American people... I think that caricature would disappear.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Dean's doing well exactly where he is.

The VP's office, basically, does nothing. It's a position where you want somebody that will get swing voters.

[sniffa]

12. But, just imagine Howard in that role

He'd set energy policy behind closed doors with the heads of oil companies. He'd continuously frighten the populace and lie the country into a war. He'd even out a CIA agent.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

2. If I recall correctly, when he took the chairman job he pledged not to run this year.

I'd assume that covered more than just president.
But that aside, I think he'd be a fine choice.

[newmajority]

3. I would love an Obama/Dean ticket

Actually I was hoping for a Gore/Dean ticket originally, as the best possible "fuck you" to the right wing.

My only problem with that ticket is that Dr. Dean has done such a great job as DNC chairman that we can't afford to lose him in that position, unless we can get someone in there who can continue the rebuilding of the party.

Or does he have another brother he can bring in to take over, like he did with DFA??

[jakem]

4. i would LOVE that ticket.

[derby378]

5. If Dean leaves the chair open, who do you think is going to replace him?

Dean can at least take credit for helping Democrats retake the House and Senate in 2006 - which is more than Terry McAuliffe could ever claim.

[JBoris]

8. Good point. nt

[Liberal Veteran]

10. Harold Ford.

DLC shill extraordinaire.

[newmajority]

15. Exactly what I'm worried about.

That piece of shit would try to undo everything Dean has done for this party, and return to the shitty ways of Terry McUseless, if not worse.

[justinaforjustice]

27. DNC is Safe from DLCer's with Obama.

If Dean leaves as chair of the DNC, I doubt very, very much that Obama would support Harold Ford to replace him. Obama was a Dean supporter in the Democratic presidential nomination race in 2004, and has consistently supported Dean's "50 State Strategy" from attack by DLCer's like Carville, Begala and Ford.

One of my main concerns about Hillary Clinton was that, if she were the presidential candidate, Howard Dean and all his great work for the national party would have been out the door. Clinton would have put Ford in that position as she is a down-the-line DLCer. It was Carville and Begala who led Clinton's attack on Dean during the campaign for DNC chair in 2005.

I'm sure if Dean leaves the DNC, he and Obama will make sure that a real Democrat takes Dean's place.

[AwakeAtLast]

70. Could John Edwards take over?

I think he would be excellent in that position.

[AtomicKitten]

6. I think Dean has done a wonderful job as DNC Chair.

I would love him to be VP, but he is precisely where the party needs him. Kudos to Obama for acknowledging this and giving him his seal of approval by keeping him as DNC chair.

[Captain Hilts]

11. I wish he'd defended our candidates better in the MSM. This Muslim crap and sexism crap...

should have gotten squashed nearly a year ago.

The Republicans look after their peeps, we don't.

[NashVegas]

49. You Must Have Missed It

When he went on Fox and told them to their faces their coverage was "shockingly biased."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/04/howard-dean-on-fox-news-s_n_100023.html

[Captain Hilts]

51. He needed to do it on MSNBC, MTP, etc. nt

[madfloridian]

52. He has, many times.

Do a search.

[Overseas]

71. I think Dean's done a great job at the DNC also. //nt

[Pab Sungenis]

7. Well, let's see.

Obama is seen as liberal, so a more liberal VP candidate won't help him with perceptions.
Vermont is a solid blue state, so he brings nothing geographically.
He'll be campaigning very hard for the ticket anyhow as DNC chair.

I'd love to see him get the nod, but it's not likely to happen.

[Captain Hilts]

9. Aside from being against the Iraq War, he is NOT a progressive, and he pisses off people.

He's got a very abrasive manner. The more people see him, the less they like him.

[NYC_SKP]

13. When did "being a progressive" become a requirement?

He's more progressive than Hagel, no?

[Captain Hilts]

16. Folks here keep referring to him as a progressive, and he's not.

I still would like to see Obama pick Clark.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

18. Clark is more progressive than Dean?

In what way?

[Captain Hilts]

19. I don't think the Veep needs to be a progressive, and probably shouldn't be..

but, in a lot of ways, Clark is more progressive than Dean.

He is on healthcare reform. Hell, he appeared on the front page of the Advocate!

[NYC_SKP]

31. I prefer Clark to the Senators. They're needed in the senate.

Governors too, to a lesser degree, are valuable in their offices.

Clark is available.

And I like and trust him.

:hi:

[On the Road]

30. If You Pay Attention to Their Positions

Clark is probably the most liberal candidate we're had recently next to Kucinich. Dean had a record as governor that is usually described as moderate. His 50-state strategy includes accepting a lot of conservative populist candidates. Dean's reputation as a progressive derived mostly from his opposition to the war, his signing the civil union bill, and his statement that he comes from "the Democratic wing of the Democratic party" (a phrase which nicely avoids the liberal/conservative distinction).

Sorry that's not more specific. I don't have a ready list of positions handy, but Clark has definitely proposed a more progressive platform.

[Captain Hilts]

43. Very true. Clark doesn't have to prove he's a tough guy. nt

[Cha]

21. Bullshit, you don't Dean at all but

that doesn't stop you from making some stupid statement about him.

[Captain Hilts]

44. No, nothing, just followed his time in Vermont very closely, that's all. nt

[lojasmo]

28. He's damn near identical to Obama, idealogically.

If you've ever met him you'd know you're talking out of your ass on the other point too.

Or parroting RW talking points.

[madfloridian]

29. Actually, he is very respected.

He has gained much respect for his loyalty to the party since 2004.

So that is just plain not the truth.

I find certain Dems who have ruled the party for years far more abrasive.

However people should know better than to post here at DU about him as possible VP. It brings out the hatred from 2003, sadly.

And that's too bad.

[Lugnut]

64. He doesn't piss me off.

I quite frankly appreciate his direct approach. He tells the truth which some people don't want to hear.

[ceile]

67. um...ok. n/t

[MissMillie]

14. Need a southerner w/ National Security credentials

ideally someone who endorsed Senator Clinton so that will bring back some of the folks who said they may never vote for Senator Obama.

[phillysuse]

22. Calling Wesley Clark

Southerner with National Security credentials who endorsed Senator Clinton.

[JBoris]

24. That ticket is, IMO, the only acceptable choice... if the VP really needs those creds. Clark...

would be a great choice either way! Gotta love a guy who's big "gaffe" in '03 involved a basic understanding of Special Relativity.

[quaker bill]

37. not really

To the extent the south can be won, it will be because of historic African American turnout. Contrary to years past, adding a white southern male to the ticket will not help. Those who will not vote for Obama because of race will not be impressed by a VP pick, regardless of whom he goes with.

To the extent that the election becomes about military credentials, we will lose. Bringing on a VP with military credentials will only invite a discussion of comparison. This simply frames the race in the wrong way and would be a horribly unwise choice.

A woman would not be a bad choice as this would put further emphasis on change. Sebelius would be a fine selection in this regard. A common sense woman with mid-west values, change indeed.

Biden, while diluting the change message a bit, is a strong figure and would bring an image of toughness to the ticket. Democrats have long been maligned by the right for lacking strong convictions, with Biden, this becomes markedly less of a challenge.

[Newshues]

17. Saw Dean in Maine last week...

...he was walking with a noticeable limp. Likely of the "travelers limp" variety where old injury makes sustained travel problematic as the body ages. His mind is better suited to organizational issues anyway.

[madfloridian]

33. Oh geez...that's a new one. How ridiculous. He walks with a limp.

:eyes:

FDR couldn't walk at all, and often could not stand.

Don't worry, the powers that be will never allow it, so rest your little mind.

[Newshues]

38. not my mind I'm worried about

it's the swing voters that matter. When was the last time a Presidential candidate didn't try to show themselves to be the epitome of good health? It matters. It shouldn't but it does in the modern media world that will run with any issue no matter how trivial.

[madfloridian]

40. Rest easy....rest your mind. TPTB will not allow.

That is just so nitpicky, though.

Rather pathetic.

[smiley_glad_hands]

53. Transparent.

[Blondiegrrl]

34. Aw, I hope he gets better soon. n/t

[ecstatic]

20. Interesting. I'm surprised it didn't cross my mind either

since I was an avid Dean supporter in '03/'04.

Maybe it's because Dean has been so low key plus we're always looking for the VP to have some sort of novelty aspect (eg. attractive like Edwards, a general like Clark, etc.).

[tkmorris]

23. I like that a lot, however

We really need to make sure that the DNC chairmanship doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Perhaps a deal can be struck to appoint the replacement?

[bigwillq]

25. Would be an awesome ticket.

:bounce:

on edit: But I do love Howie in his current capacity.

[justinaforjustice]

26. Dean Will Rock the South!

I know he won't help in the south, but who would that you would actually want in the office? Besides, I think Obama is going to do well in the south.

Dean is one of the few Democratic candidates who has consistently spoken to the needs of those with "Confederate flags in the window of their pick-ups". The national media laughed at him when he said he wanted to talk to the poor white southerners because "their kids need health insurance too". I'm convinced that had Doctor Dean been the presidential candidate in 2004, he would have taken the south by storm.

Dean has an uncanny ability to talk in a down-to-earth way to the real needs of common people. He spoke to our Hawaii Democratic Party Convention in 2005 and simply blew us away with his passion and concrete plans for "taking our country back". One of those plans was to end the efficacy of Nixon's racist southern strategy by fighting for votes in the south and in every jurisdiction. Recent Democratic victories in Louisiana and Mississippi show that its working. His "50 state strategy" produced Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate in the 2006 national elections, and now Obama has extended and deepened that strategy in his presidential campaign.

This week, Dean joins with Obama in the send-off for the DNC-Obama national voter registration drive, which will commence in Crawford, Texas and then go on to Louisiana and many southern cities.

Dean will be able to convince thousands of Nixon-Reagan southern Democrats to rejoin the fold and strengthen the party. Dean will personally assist the campaigns of many aspiring southern democrats as he has done throughout the country. With Obama and Dean together, the Democratic -- and egalitarian -- South will rise to bury the racism that the Republican party has used to divide our citizens.

[JBoris]

36. I hope you're right! I forgot that the "50 state strategy" was Dean's idea...

I really do think, if Obama keeps it up, he will have a strong showing in the South. I really hope FL (my state) turns blue, and I think it just might!!

edit: I am saying (and typing) "really" a lot today. I really am, lol.

[Blondiegrrl]

32. I adore Howard Dean. IMO he should have been the Democratic nominee

in 2004. But he won't help Obama in the states Obama needs to win. In fact, they're a little too much alike (which is probably why I like both men so much). The blue-collar workers in the Midwest and the South won't take too kindly to two pointy-headed intellectual, latte-sipping, "elitists" on the ticket.

Just playing devil's advocate. :hi:

[nickgutierrez]

35. Meh - no need to rock a boat already headed in the right direction.

Dean has been an incredibly successful party chairman. Since his 50-state strategy was implemented, we won the House and the Senate. It's going to win us the presidency, and probably a wider margin in Congress, and he just put in reforms against lobbyist money. He's clearly been successful, and he's only getting started. It would be more difficult to replace him with a similarly competent party chair than it would be for Obama to find an equally qualified VP that better compliments his skill set.

[quaker bill]

39. I am a huge Dean fan

vintage early 2003. I think the genius of this man goes truly unappreciated in most places. That being said, I don't think he is the best choice here. He is too much of a public figure and too well defined to morph into a VP. I like Dean right where he is at. That is why I worked in the effort to get him the job.

[Phoonzang]

41. He was VP to a black president in World War Z

and look what happened there!!

In case you don't know, it was a massive, worldwide zombie outbreak that killed billions. Ok course the black pres was supposed to be Colin Powell and Dean was picked because Obama and Powell would be too much for the country to handle... But still!!!

[JamesA1102]

42. Dean brings nothing to the table.

He doesn't deliver a swing state or a constituency. Nor does he bolster a policy area that Obama is seen as weak in.

[madfloridian]

45. Not a good idea, jboris, to mention Dean as VP here at DU

I think it would be great of course, but it does not go over well here.

There is a history here from 2003, and any mention of Dean must be done with great care and expectation he will be truly insulted by many.

Just because.

That is how it is.

But thank you for the thought...many of us resent what happened to him in 04.

[ozone_man]

48. You don't really mean that.

;)

Dean would make a great VP. And a good insurance policy for Obama. The MSM cringes at the thought of Dean as president. Better heath care and education, an end to media monopolies and other corporate welfare, and no more senseless wars.

We can dream.

[madfloridian]

50. Oh, I agree with you.

I do mean that mentions like this usually do tend to bring stuff back to the surface. :hi:

[On the Road]

46. Howard Would Make a Great VP

and there's no reason he needs to stay on as party chair. He and Obama would be able to hand pick a successor.

Forget his rubbing people the wrong way. He makes a compelling case for the Democratic platform that nicely complements Obama. He is formidable on the attack, which is a key role of the VP nominee.

I hope Obama is thinking the same way.

[detectivecastro]

47. We need Dean as head of the DNC

His 50 state strategy has worked wonderfully. We won the 2006 congressional elections and are projected to win the presidential.

[smiley_glad_hands]

54. He would make one hell of an attack dog. eom

[paulk]

55. he got rejected pretty thoroughly by Democrats when he ran

for President - I don't see what he brings to the table as VP.

[madfloridian]

56. Your post makes my point about why it is risky to post about him here.

How Democrats could scorn a good decent man who cares about his party is beyond me.

But that is what DU does.

Congrats, Paulk....you made the point for me.

[paulk]

61. it's not "scorn" - it's fact

and it has nothing to do with his "caring about the party" or his "decency".

I don't see how your obsession with Howard Dean is relevant here.

[madfloridian]

62. You need to come out of the past. Your 03 bitterness is still showing.

That is why I posted what I did.

[paulk]

65. blah blah blah

you're projecting again

your favorite pastime

[madfloridian]

66. You are really still full of hatred from 2003. That's sad.

[paulk]

74. sad...

[Political Heretic]

57. Don't break a good thing. He's doing a great job, and he and Obama together could change the party

for the better.

[bklyncowgirl]

58. Want to see the Democratic Party ripped into shreds?

Clinton loyalists made no secret that they thought that Howard Dean favored Obama in his decisions as party chair. Can you even begin to imagine the outrage if he were to be named the running mate?

Talk about your pay offs.

Not that I don't like Howard Dean, mind you. He'd be great for the role of attack dog--best in the business really--and his executive experience would be a plus but the politics of it are simply too dangerous.

[HamdenRice]

59. NO!!! KEEP THAT MAN IN PLACE RUNNING THE PARTY!!!

Sorry for the all caps, but he has been a genius at guiding the party. We need him to continue building on the 50 state strategy and internet fund raising efforts, which have both revolutionized politics in this country.

[mtnsnake]

60. Dean should have been finishing up his first term as President right now

if only things had turned out like they should have in the 2004 Primaries.

[PresidentObama]

75. I love Dean, but you really think he would have beat Bush?

Seriously? Dean is where he's needed, the DNC!

[mtnsnake]

76. Yes. At the time, I thought ANYONE would have beaten Bush

I thought Dean was riding a wave of momentum that would only have gotten bigger had he won the nomination.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

63. He would be excellent

I think he is doing a good job as Chair though

[tblue37]

68. We need Howard Dean where he is. Without him, we would not have

the 50-state strategy. He has rebuilt the Dem party from the ground up.

[BklynChick]

69. I love the gestalt of Dean, but the details don't add up to what Obama needs. I still think he's a

good prospect.

[Roxy66]

72. Are you kidding me.....have you been paying attention to the media since 2004?

[Breeze54]

73. Great idea but the M$M should NOT be the one's "bringing this up".

:eyes:

Go, Dean!!! ;)

[1Hippiechick]

77. Here is Howard Dean's bus tour schedule - I'm going to see him on July 25 in Greensboro, NC

http://www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6988123&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

(and please ignore the "My Fox" television connection - they had the best bus stop schedule that I could find! :(