Obama sucks up to Warren but completely disses Dean

[tpsbmam]

I'm a pretty low-key person. I generally don't anger easily, I'm usually pretty good at seeing both sides of an argument and I don't feel the need to stir up controversy. But I turned on the computer this morning and saw on my opening Google page this Politico article:

Lei-off: Obama snubs Dean

The conspicuous absence of Howard Dean from Thursday’s press conference announcing Tim Kaine’s appointment as Democratic National Committee chair was no accident, according to Dean loyalists.

Rather, they say, it was a reflection of the lack of respect accorded to the outgoing party chairman by the Obama team.

Despite leading the party in consecutive triumphant election cycles – as well as through off-year races like when Kaine was elected Virginia governor in 2005 – Dean has become all but invisible since Election Day, passed over for the Cabinet position he coveted and apparently not in line for another administration post.
......

His allies aren’t happy about it.

“If he had been asked to go to that event, he would have been there,” Jim Dean, the chairman’s brother, noted twice in an interview.

Dean’s reward for the party recapturing the White House, House, Senate, and taking control of seven governor’s mansions and eight state legislatures on his watch?

So far, nothing.

(more at link)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17254.html



I've always appreciated Obama's brain, his ability to think big picture and above our fray, his ability to draw in both allies and "enemies," (the latter has yet to be tried as President) and much more. I've appreciated his lack of drama and his low-key even temper. And I've greatly appreciated the way that he appears to treat people -- he's always appeared to give people their due and recognize both the everyday volunteer and the mucky-mucks. I haven't been one of the people who has immediately jumped on some of Obama's appointments, preferring to read more about the issue, think about his strategy and read both sides of the arguments here. I still haven't formed an opinion on a few of them and guess for me it'll have to play itself out to see how the administration does.

Pretty much everyone here saw what Obama and his team were doing to Dean -- the above isn't news. It was just a confirmation coming from Dean's camp that struck me this morning. And I was immediately pissed. After all Howard Dean did for the Democrats, it's unconscionable to treat him this way. I don't care of Obama doesn't like him, I don't care if he doesn't agree with him, I don't damn well care what the issue is. It's unconscionable.

I get the strategy of reaching out to Warren. I don't agree with it and think (know, for me) that he was 100% wrong for inviting Warren to give the invocation. And I get his mindset about the divisions in this country and his desire to be the president of all Americans and reaching out to conservatives. I guess what I'm sensing, right or wrong, is an ugly willingness to completely dismiss only certain people, and so far those people are on "our side." If he's going to be president to "all Americans," he needs to be president to ALL Americans, progressives, GLBT and Howard Dean included. I just think this is a bit of an ugly side to Obama that I hadn't seen before.

I'm sure I'll be jumped on by many -- oh well. Believe me, I'm still excited about our PE, abut winning this election, and about the prospects for his administration. I'm more than willing to swallow some of his compromises and try to see the big picture along with him. And I'm also more than willing to be a huge thorn in his side when I feel he's screwing up. I'm going to be a bit of a thorn about this -- he's screwed up on this one and he needs to fix it.

I hope there is some way that we progressives can let Howard Dean know how much WE appreciate him. I'd love to do something as a group to let him know. Maybe some of the great writers here could write a letter that all of us could add our names to and send it off to him. I'd love to see a letter (or email) with hundreds of names on it. Or maybe the creative minds here have better ideas.

I'm just pissed and maybe WE can right some of this wrong.

[1776Forever]

1. Looking back - The Anti-Dean Hillary movement - Did this have anything to do with the snub?

The Anti-Dean
Why Hillary opposes the Democratic front-runner.

Tuesday, September 2, 2003

http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110003955

(snip)

The Clintons may not be keen on a Democrat winning the White House in 2004, but a Bush blowout might weaken the Democratic Party for 2008 when Mrs. Clinton is expected to run.

But Clinton supporters have other reasons to be leery of a Dean candidacy. In June, the Drudge Report noted that Mr. Dean had confided to associates that he intended to change the leadership of the Democratic National Committee if he became the party's nominee. A Dean adviser told Drudge that "it is important . . .to mark a new beginning, cut ties from the past." Mr. Dean feels that Mr. McAuliffe, who served as Mr. Clinton's finance chairman in the 1996 election, has not performed well under pressure and was the architect of last year's disastrous off-year election results in which the Democrats became the first party out of power to lose seats in a mid-term election in over 60 years. Mr. McAuliffe is so controversial among Democratic activists that recently he has not been signing the party's fund-raising mail. A no-name deputy now signs the direct mail appeals for funds. Mr. McAuliffe still has the confidence of Bill and Hillary Clinton, but his circle of admirers beyond that is limited.

Joe Trippi, Mr. Dean's campaign manager, disputed the Drudge account saying "No one from the Dean campaign leaked anything to Drudge. This report is like a National Enquirer headline." Doesn't sound like an unequivocal denial to me. Mr. McAuliffe has gone out of his way not to criticize Mr. Dean since the Drudge item, but privately is aware of the fact that Mr. Dean is the only one of the Democratic candidates who is hostile to his remaining as chairman.

Of course, among average voters the reasons for Mr. Dean's popularity have little to do with his strained relations with the Clinton wing of the party. Activists are simply not excited by the current field of nine candidates. Sen. John Kerry is too aloof. Rep. Richard Gephardt has run before and lost. Sen. John Edwards is too untested. Sen. Joe Lieberman backed the war in Iraq, a black mark with any serious anti-Bush Democrat. Howard Dean is the improbable beneficiary of this dissatisfaction because his fiery anti-Bush speeches convey the image of an outsider and a straight-shooter, exactly the kind of stance that propelled Sen. John McCain into serious contention for the 2000 GOP presidential nomination.

Many of the same pundits who ignored Mr. Dean's long-shot candidacy for so long now seem convinced he is leading an unstoppable juggernaut. "Right now, Dean is in the driver's seat. I'm almost ready to say that Dean has the ticket to Boston as the challenger Democrat," says pollster John Zogby, whose latest survey shows Mr. Dean leading Sen. Kerry by more than two to one in New Hampshire, the nation's first primary state. "He is running away with this election if somebody doesn't stop him," says Morton Kondracke of the Fox News Channel.

[tpsbmam]

3. It's possible

but no excuse. Dean made some mistakes as DNC chair but overall, his performance was not only admirable, it was the best Democratic strategy in many, many years. We really do like to shoot ourselves in the foot!

I was one of the steering committee members for Dean's rapid response team and was a co-leader of our local Dean campaign group, one that did LOTS of local work and traveled to other states to canvass, etc. I admired him and was excited about his candidacy. I wasn't always thrilled with his campaign -- too many really young, unexperienced people had risen to positions of power and, as much as they did great work, they also really pissed off some of us who were in the trenches. And I had very mixed feelings about Trippi, who I think (among other things) let his huge ego get in the way and really pissed off a lot of people, including the Clinton camp. Aside from all of that, Dean was an affront to the entrenched DC types -- he essentially told them the job they were doing sucked. And millions of us agreed with him, which was a huge threat to the DC (and DLC) types. There were times that Howard would shoot off his mouth and I'd groan, knowing that I was going to have a long rapid response day.....or days as the media responded.

But if the Democrats were at all honest and at all able to think outside their petty DC boxes, they'd acknowledge and laud the job he did as DNC chair. Instead, many have chosen to laud insider Emanuel as DCCC chair and dismiss Howard's brilliant strategies. Our Party truly drives me crazy sometimes!!

[1776Forever]

22. My thoughts are very aligned with you - Question - Since you were "there" what is the DLC problem

with the DNC? I never got a handle on that one as well as I would have liked.

Thanks!

:hi:

[Beacool]

17. Oh please,

the Clintons have nothing to do with this. Obama, of all people, has plenty to be thankful to Dean. Take it up with him, he and his team were the ones who dissed Dean by not inviting him.

:eyes:

[rhett o rick]

40. Oh please. So you think that the Clintons, Emanuel, and the DLC had nothing to do with this?

It was just Obama? Give me a break. Obama had to choose between the Democratic "machine" DLC or Howard Dean and the grassroots activists. Obama choose the DLC. I wish him luck in 2012.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

48. It's sad, so very sad. ....n/t

[Beacool]

49. No, they didn't

It was up to Obama to decide whether to invite Dean or not. What the heck do either Clinton have to do with this? If Obama wanted to invite him he would have done so. It's not that complicated, there's no need for conspiracy theories.

:eyes:

[Baby Snooks]

61. Please...

The Clintons at this point seem to have something to do with everything.

[Beacool]

81. In the minds of the conspiracy theorists

who never liked them in the first place.

:eyes:

[MannyGoldstein]

63. If It Walks Like A Clinton and Quacks Like A Clinton...

Rahm Emanuel hates Howard Dean because of the 2006 elections. Emanuel wanted Dean to spend much more money on the DLC "only the swing states count" strategy in the House races. In the end, Dean's strategy was successful, Emanuel's strategy much less so.

[Le Taz Hot]

2. The ONLY reason Dean was the DNC chair

was that the Executive Board members from each state INSISTED that he take over the chairmanship. This was despite HEAVY, HEAVY lobbying from the establishment corporatist DLC. I don't know about the other states but in California the corporate whores were out in force pushing basically anyone but Dean (I think it was Ford back then). A LOT of delegates in California were still mightily pissed off at what the party establishment did to Dean which basically pissed all over the grassroots efforts. These are the people who are now in power so it's no wonder Dean is being snubbed. And President Change seems to be just fine with it.

[tpsbmam]

4. Gawd, I'm remembering that fight reading what you wrote....

Our Dean group was frustrated and fighting heavily for him to assume the Chair. One member in particular was furious at the DLCers and, I swear, was eating and sleeping her determination to see him assume the position. She sent out emails daily pushing people along to make tons of noise and go after the DLCers. Thank goodness for all of us that the "good side" won for a change!

[whathehell]

5. I would imagine it didn't hurt that Dean was the first to raise

millions of dollars on the internet, all without the help of the party, as I recall.

I am VERY disappointed in Obama for his apparent disregard and lack of appreciation for Dean.... I didn't expect much from the DLC, but I did imagine him to be "a cut above" in the way he treated people.

I guess I was wrong.

[whathehell]

6. This is a wound that is festering here, and I think we need to do something about it.

I'm not against an "appreciation" letter to Dean, but I'm not sure it's enough.

How about sending a little letter of "concern" signed by us all, to Obama's Transition Team?....Even if it has no impact, I think we would all feel better -- I know i'm pissed!


:mad:

[tpsbmam]

7. Good idea....what about doing both?

which is pretty much what I think you're suggesting. On the Obama letter, I'd like to see a general concern about his current tendency to dismiss not only Dean but progressives in general and most certainly the GLBT community. We have some very good writers here who could write brilliant letters.

[whathehell]

10. I agree on doing both...as for Progressives and GLBT, I'm not against mentioning

them, but I think he's heard from the former and we know he's heard from the latter....In the interests of keeping a sharp focus, how about limiting the subject to Dean?
We can always write separate letters on the concerns of Progressives in general and the GLBT Community in particular.

[rucognizant]

69. And WHY...........

Gupta the CNN shill rather than Dr. Dean?????
That's atrocious!

[newtothegame]

8. That's cool though. At least the new President looks different right? n/t

[Name removed]

9. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tritsofme]

11. And here I thought back during the primaries Hillary would have to win to send Dean packing

like this.

If primary candidate Obama acted like PE Obama, I probably would have supported him earlier.

[EFerrari]

12. I'm in.

:kick:

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. I'm pissed too

My Obama honeymoon is just a faded memory at this point.

[Radical Activist]

47. mission accomplished

that's what a lot of this "obama is moving right and snubbing liberals" baloney is meant to do. it's why everything liberal he does barely gets noticed around here but any straw someone can grasp that looks like a move right gets a hundred posts. destroying hope destroys movements.

[liberation]

60. So... we should believe you, not our lying eyes.

Right?

[Radical Activist]

74. what eyes?

You mean the people who say every cabinet appointment means Obama won't do anything liberal for the next four years? Or blogs like the OP that take a completely meaningless press conference and use it to drive a wedge between Deaniacs and Obama? There's nothing there to see with your eyes. There's mostly negative, cynical fortune telling.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

14. while i do think dean was slighted, i do not like the way this article is written

i find it slightly speculative

i do think that dr. dean deserves recognition for his tremendous leadership

[Radical Activist]

16. It's very easy to take a few isolated incidents

paint them in a negative light, exaggerate a little, and create a controversy out of basically nothing. That's what it looks like politico is doing. They're being the gossip at the school lunch table who likes to stir controversy and get people in fights.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

18. yup. that was my take. though dont you think dean deserved and earned a place

more than fucking sunjay gupta?

[Radical Activist]

19. Sure

But I don't think putting together a good cabinet is all about what people deserve or earned.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

20. yes, while i vehemently object to kaine, sanjay gupta can sell stuff

pretty much he can sell america on the health care program for obama. so hopefully that one will work out well

[Radical Activist]

21. People are going on about the Moore interview.

I can get over it. No journalist is perfect and he was probably doing the story his editors asked for.

But...Moore did say something about ads from the pharmaceutical industry influencing Gupta's reporting and that concerns me. I'd like to read more about his relationship or lack of a relationship with the big drug companies but I haven't seen it yet.

[rhett o rick]

41. So let's simplify it. Obama picks Emanuel who was very outspoken against Dean.

Obama never says thanks to Dean and the grassroots activists. Help me out. How is this blown out of proportion? The least Obama could have done is publicly say to Dean, thanks but I will take it from here. But no.

[Radical Activist]

44. If you think

Obama never thanked grass roots activists then you didn't listen to his speech on election night or any other night.

Do you think Dean became DNC chair so he could have the next Democratic President publicly stroke his ego?

And after doing a quick google search I found that Obama has thanked Dean, helped raise money for the DNC, and it was posted at DU. Is it just more fun to see Obama as the enemy and work up a grudge?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7845221

[rhett o rick]

55. "Do you think Dean became DNC chair so he could have the next Democratic President publicly stroke

his ego?" what?? What does the reason Dean took the job have to do with Obama's behavior.
and to say that I think Obama is the enemy and have a grudge is ridiculous.
I hope you are right. I really do.
I don't trust the DLC and their corporate ties. Maybe it is just me. After 8 years of corporatism i am a little paranoid.

[Radical Activist]

56. You wrote that

Obama has never thanked Dean, which isn't true, and you're apparently duped by this politco blog that's trying to create offense and controversy out of nothing. You seem eager to believe the negative and ignore the positive. So no, it doesn't seem at all ridiculous to wonder if you're trying to view Obama as the enemy and have a grudge. It seem like that's true for a lot of people at DU.

Obama isn't Bush and Obama isn't Clinton.

[rhett o rick]

57. I am not eager to believe the negitive. But when Obama chooses Rahm Emanuel, who fought Dean tooth

and nail, publicly criticizing his strategy, I feel I need to take exception. I feel that corporate control of our government is our biggest threat. I know that they had complete control of the republican party and IMHO I think they have significant influence in the Democratic Party. I feel that the corporatists don't like Dean and the grassroots movement.

And to say that I was duped by a blog that I haven't even read. Good grief.

[rucognizant]

70. LOOK AGAIN!

"After 8 years of corporatism i am a little paranoid."
Make that 28 years of corporatism! It began with reagan!
AND throwing Dean off the bus, give me the uncomfortable feeling that "off the bus" includes the entire grassroots, WE THE PEOPLE! group.
I was adamently against Hillery because she voted AGAINST the ban on cluster bombs. Hillary supporters seem to forget that fact!
NOW she is going to be SOS, and go deal with these monsters who are throwing cluster bombs, phospherous etc. How is THAT going to work out?

[rhett o rick]

75. I agree with 28 years of corporatism. On the optimistic side, Obama

needs the tough Washington the DC insiders to get things done. Let's hope he is in charge of them instead of the other way round.

Also Dean in now free to help the grassroots movement continue with our momentum and prepare for the 2010 elections. And in 2012 we may be strong enough to better effect the primary candidate.

[Hydra]

15. This is the problem as I see it

Regardless of how it's being dressed up(or not, in this case), Obama and his team seem to think that we will support him no matter what he does(and a disturbing number of people do).

Think about that for a moment. If he decides to turn our nuclear arsenal on Iraq, he is confident that the base will support him no matter how he justifies it. Seen from that perspective, our opinions and ideas are of no worth to him- he already has our support. Now, he will use that firm base to win over people from the other side of the isle, and he'll do it by giving them what they want. After all, we'll support him, no matter what.

Politically speaking, you couldn't be in a better position. Realistically speaking, this is a train wreck waiting to happen. By going quid pro quo with the enemy, they'll get everything they could ever want, and when the time comes, they'll simply withdraw support. After all, how are we going to hold them to their word?

[leftstreet]

24. You bring up Things Of Which We Do Not Speak

:scared:

Good points!

[Hydra]

25. Thank you!

And I will probably die as Cicero- with my tongue nailed up as a trophy.

[leftstreet]

26. Words are power!

[Jackpine Radical]

51. This is how I saw Obama in the midst of the Primary races, just before

I finally opted for him over Hillary. Y'know, I'm beginning to really hope there wasn't anything in that Kool-Aid.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

23. Epic fail

[Cha]

32. I see we have a non

believer here:P

[Barrymores Ghost]

37. Seconding that. n/t

[Jim Sagle]

59. Stupic crock

[kristopher]

27. A question about other Obama appointments

During the press announcement of any other Obama appointee was the *outgoing* person in that position present? I didn't see the outgoing DNI or Dir. of CIA on stage today during the press conference, so does that mean that they were also snubbed?

Now the automatic reply of someone intent on supporting a staked out position would be to say that Dean's case is special because he was largely responsible for the Obama win.

A more thoughtful answer would be that perhaps the press conference announcing his replacement wasn't important to Dean or Obama as a means of acknowledging Dean's work. That there is some value to Dean in being present is strictly an *interpretation* by a few individuals; an interpretation that is unsupported by ANY evidence.

I mean really, having the ear of a sitting president may be as much *reward* as Dean wants. I have the impression that Dean isn't a Camera Hog, and that makes me ask why do you think he is the type of person who would want to orient his entire day around standing rigidly on that stage under hot lights for 15 minutes? Do you really think his ego is that wrapped up in getting every possible 'atta boy' that he can garner?

Such an interpretation is, IMHO, pretty demeaning to the very good Doctor.

[MasonJar]

28. Excuse me? We are talking about the DNC here, not some Bush appointee.

We are also talking about deliberate NON-invitation of the man who virtually saved the dem's ass because? / perhaps because Rahm doesn't like him. Well, I love Dean and I cannot stand Rahm. I am disgusted with Obama for choosing Rahm, and I am right. His venom is already evident in this obvious affront for no apparent reason to Howard Dean. Obama had better do better than this going forward because this is one progressive that is wary of him already. This was a stupid and unnecessary decision and I do NOT like it. Obama should definitely hear from us...for his own good, if nothing else.

[kristopher]

29. Bullshit.

[polichick]

30. I'm going to say something that will upset some people, but...

imo Obama's "president of all Americans" line is just an excuse to do what is politically advantageous to him at the expense of some of his most loyal supporters.

In other words, it's bullshit ~ you're right, the ones he leaves out are US.

[ananda]

31. I know. It makes no sense whatsoever if..

.. you operate under the illusion that
Obama is a decent liberal like Dean.
He isn't.

[polichick]

33. Is he at least "decent?"

[Barrymores Ghost]

38. Wow.

Guess we have a perma-galled Hillbot, here.

[Radical Activist]

45. Yeah, Obama has an actual liberal record in office

while Dean, who was always known as a moderate DLC Governor, only turned liberal about a year before the Iowa caucus. Obama understands the power of the grass roots in a way Dean never did.

[NorthCarolina]

34. I'm beginning to think that Obama's request to have his name

taken off the DLC membership list was based more on maintaining a certain public perception than any ideological differences.

[1620rock]

35. We in Michigan have not forgotten that Dean did not want our votes to count.

Dean is so yesterday. Obama owes Dean nothing.

[rpannier]

64. You in Michigan decided that you wanted to be first

Thus violating the rules set out by the DNC

Then you whined and moaned about how unfairly you were being treated

The irony is...Had you not stupidly moved your primary (like you tried in 2000) you'd have had a very influential role in selecting the nominee.

Don't blame Dean, blame your gov and your legislature

[ima_sinnic]

65. oh, boo hoo, yes Dean was soooo wrong to uphold the rules

against those to whom the rules meant nothing.

go eat it.

[vssmith]

76. The party leaders in Michigan that made the decision to ignore the rules

knew there was a penalty to pay but went ahead anyway. Sometimes one has to accept a penalty to make a point.

[Barrymores Ghost]

36. I'm sure Obama advocated for a public pissing-on of Dean, but Rahm talked him out of it.

:sarcasm:

Look, no one here has the particulars -- we don't know what's been said behind the scenes. But if Howard is willing to admit that, maybe, he's had his run and that a new administration means strategy change which might equate to a DNC leadership change and that this is the way things are done in the Beltway, I'm willing to take him on his word.

Chill the f*** out, folks. We don't need to turn into the Donner Party just yet, okay? Jayzuss....

[ooglymoogly]

39. The DNC (now just a usurped arm of the DLC) will never get another penny

from me, my family or friends.

[glinda]

42. Remember Nader and the Green Party? Stop this stuff now!

We suffered enough. Give Obama a chance. Otherwise the Republicans will run with everything you are saying and use it on the next election. WE HAVE NO MORE TIME PEOPLE. THE PLANET IS A DISASTER.
I don't believe for one second that Howard is bowing out either. He has worked non-stop for years with running for President and then running the DNC.THE MAN NEEDS A BREAK.He is not the Energizer Bunny! He said he is going to lecture, work on health care and I am sure he is going to be eyeing the possibility of running for something again. He is too devoted and patriotic.
If he was treated poorly, then it will come out. We do not know anything.
As far as Obama and the Dems go, we have the power to speak up and raise holy hell. We should continue to support what we can do to make the world better. It is a funkin mess.

[rucognizant]

72. How do we have the power to speak up ?

I have a few things I would like to say.......but......THEY ARE INACCESABLE! Oh I know there is that website...........if you enjoyu squandering your time inventing new user names and passwords and all that BS.with NO FEEDBACK. Did the e-mail even go thru?
In the meantime the've HIT ME 3 times just yesterday...wanting just $5.00..NAG NAG NAG!
ANd first on the sgenda is dealing with entitlements? bush failed to destroy SS but will O suceed? Mine is already 200. shy of a living wage..........I'm not starving or freezing, ( thanks to Sen Collins the Repub. never thought I would be grateful to HER, but Liheap doubled this year through her efforts and I will make it into next fall with out having to squeeze out $ for oil! For the first time in 3 or 4 years.) But Iam cut out of running a business, for lack of funds for technology........Gates & Jobs keep upping the ante on me! Sure as S--T can't sell locally; population $1,200. average income $20,000! To me running the business is the END, not the means to an END!
Well after the 20th I guess I can use the White House phone line!

[glinda]

77. By linking up to others like in DU and

by other means, we have a voice. Of course, Bush cut off our voice but things are too dire, in my opinion, that if things don't turn around, there will be mass chaos and rebellion. People have had enough. The planet has had enough. I sense Obama and some others know that. Yes, the top tire of the wealthy are stealing from the public. On the good side, there is a lot more talk on the media on this topic. I too would love to start a business and do not have the funds. So I get it.

[Barrymores Ghost]

43. Excellent. Don't forget to skin, cook and eat your children while you're at it. n/t

[ooglymoogly]

79. No, not my kin or friends...just those trying to castrate them. nt

[ima_sinnic]

67. I'm with you on that . I'm done with the Super Capitalist Party, whether

diguised as Ds or Rs.

[Breeze54]

46. Dean Speaks for Me... Still !!!

This new admin is foreign to me..... :(

[ooglymoogly]

80. Aye....the crystal ball gets clearer every day.

If what is becoming apparent comes to pass and O turns out to be what he has convinced us he is not; then and only then will my waning support be pronounced dead: at which point we Deniacs must persuade Dean to run in 2012. He's got my street beating, phone banking,...cash raising ass on board if O turns out to be a DLC'er after all. Remember how we hung on the words "O resigned from the DLC". If those actions turn out to be just a ruse to fool us into working our ass off for him and the image he has projected turns out to be jive, the anger will be mighty, it will be palpable and it will be justified. Still and all even with the evidence dribbling out at every turn, I, like many of his disillusioned supporters, will be giving him
the benefit of the mounting doubt and time to prove us wrong and I hope against hope he can do just that.

[msfiddlestix]

50. Count me in..

and I completely appreciate your thoughts on this matter. Right there with you, comrade. I'll sign on to a appreciation letter for Dean, and I'll sign on to a letter of 'concern' to Obama, not that he'll ever see it.

[Barrymores Ghost]

52. "Comrade?"

Playing into leftist stereotypes much, are we?

What, did you forget how to spell "Stalinist fellow traveler?"

[Breeze54]

54. 'comrade' is a normal friendship term... are you OK?

'comrade' means friend, in my book.

What book are you reading from? :shrug:

[ooglymoogly]

82. Comrade, comradery, Comrade in music or anything else,

comradely = room mates, members of any group. The communists do not own this word that they have despoiled;
In the same manner the Nazi's robbed the Swastika of its true meaning hailing down the ages to us by way of Sanskrit.

[Breeze54]

53. Welcome to DU, msfiddlestix !

:hi:

Dean's THE guy!!

Maybe Obama has a bigger ego? :shrug:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

58. I was just thinking about Dean today...

and how much I would have liked to see him appointed Sec'y of Health and Human Services.

I hope he hangs in there, and doesn't just retire; because we could sure use some of his vision these days.

[Dorian Gray]

62. I think your post is spot on

you've got a good attitude about the criticism. You still are looking forward to PE Obama's administration, but you are angry about these snubs. That's totally fair, and totally valid criticism. I hope that he rethinks and realizes the impportance of Dean's actions in the last 5 years.

[2Design]

66. Dean is the one who even got obama noticed in the beginning with dfa

support and funds to get him elected to the senate to start with

[MannyGoldstein]

73. HST Says:

"Nixon stabbed his Enemies in the back,
but Clinton did it to his Friends."
- Hunter S. Thompson

We expected a Democrat, looks like we may end up with a Clintonian DINO. I hope not.

[rucognizant]

68. The bloom is off the rose.

Now he is going after the entitlements FIRST!
I need $200. more a month JUST to get by. ( SS income)
LAst month I bought $20.00 worth of felt weather striping & staples, to draft proof my house. It was 2 weeks shy of payday..........I didn't balance my checkbook first as a consequence....the hardware items cost me $74.00 including the 2 bounced check fees!
( Note: not a frivolous purchase, a money saving one!)
No wonder the economy is tanking...........I won't try to run an efficient organized household next time and the hardware store LOSES MY BUSINESS!
It's Rahm Emanuel! I didn't like that pick AT ALL!

[FreeStateDemocrat]

71. BO has the quintessential politician's flaw of being petty and overbearingly arrogant.

But like all successful political hacks he does an admirable job of disguising it by appearing humble and self-effacing or in a word, a phony.

[babythunder]

78. From what I've seen so far

this administration is shaking up to be like the typical Democratic Office holder. Bend to the Conservative idiots will and screw over the left wing of the Democratic Party.

Dean did some great work for the Party and can't even get one lousy appointment some days I wonder whose going to be running the White House a left to moderate or another Clintonite