What does Dean do if he loses the nomination?

[ringmastery]

Is there a future for him in the democratic party? Does he run again in 2008 if the dems lose? Future senator one day if Jeffords or Leahy retire? Or does he just fade into oblivion, write a few books, and make speeches?

[arewethereyet]

1. He could try Congress I guess

but that would be sort of odd given his contempt for it.

I expect he goes back into healthcare in some manner.

[Clark Can WIN]

25. Health care in this country MUST be fixed

Our new Democratic president should appoint him as head of a special commission or agency to reform health care in a way that makes sense.

He should also serve to continue to reform political campaign funding. It still has serious problems.

[Nicholas_J]

26. Dean destroyed his chances for winning anything in Vermont

Like Congress. His covservatism drove almost half of Vermont Democrats into the Vermont Progressive Party, so now when a anyone runs for Governor or Lt Governor, the Progressives take 25 percent of the vote, the Dems around 33 percent and the Republicans come in with 41 or 42 percent and sweep the election with relative minorities.
The Progressives despise Dean and polls taken in 2002 shoed that Dean would not be re-elected as Governor if he ran again, which was why Dean repeatedly put off decision as to whether he would rub for Governor again or not all throughout 2001, and half of 2002.

The Republicans have thus routed the entire Vermont Legislature, and Vemrot sort of resmebles Washington , with Republicans contrlling everything but the Vermont Supreme Court.

[bigwillq]

2. I hope he would get a cabinent seat

Maybe take over for tommy thompson (is that his name??)

[lastknowngood]

3. No one has a future in the democratic party if it keeps on this

course. They will be relegated to third party status after November.
I suggest he and Clark start the Democratic branch of the Democratic party and screw the DLC/DNC cabala

[candy331]

8. I agree with you lastknowngood, especially

since it is so obvious to none blind persons that they truly don't want change and I am beginning to believe as some already have that they don't want to win either but want a holdover for the 08 election. I will continue to say and wash my mouth after saying his name but Zell Miller may aptly be calling it right when he says the "Democratic Party A national Party No More".

[onehandle]

11. Yeah. That worked well for Nader. nt

[Straight Shooter]

19. Nader is a hypocrite

And just because he was a failure at it, doesn't mean stronger and better men cannot succeed.

Count me in if it happens. I'm tired of this dog and pony show.

Whatever Dean does, and I still believe in him enough and I'm trying to have faith in the American people that they will nominate him, may he live long and prosper, in the fullness of contentment that those who strive for the greater good so richly deserve.

[Cascadian]

4. Maybe he'll go back to his medical practice.

Who knows?


John

[mot78]

5. I don't know

He could do several things:

1. Go back to being a Doctor, which is unlikely because of his celebrity status.

2. Run for the Senate, which wouldn't suprise me. If Jeffords retires in 2006 and Dean's not our nominee, I would encourage current Dean supporters and Vermonters to draft him for the Senate race.

3. Do other work for the party, like found a think-tank. I'd love to see him become DNC chair, but he'd upstage whoever is President.

[Name removed]

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[stromboli]

9. buckeyes

yeah, we know some conserative Ohio people aren't fond of Dean. They're afraid that new gay marriage ban will get repealed.

[bigwillq]

12. Shame on you buckeye1

He is not a loser...Hyped up..maybe

[Name removed]

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[stromboli]

7. ...

Dean doean't have the "fade away and be silent" personality. It's hard to say if he'd take a VP spot under Kerry...maybe with Edwards. If he doesn't get some wins soon, he probably won't get nearly the funding or support needed for a run in 2008 or 2012. I think he'd take a VP spot since it's his best shot at ruffling some feathers in washington.

[Old and In the Way]

13. He thinks it's a bad idea for him to be asked to be VP

Can't have 2 New Englanders on the ticket.

Dean is too damn good for the cause to retire him after the nomination. I'd prefer: DNC chair or SEC HHS

[muchacho]

10. I'm really amazed...

how far and quickly the Doctor fell with no significant scandle around his neck.

[eileen_d]

14. I think he should continue to take on the Democratic establishment

DNC chair has been suggested by several people, and I think a Dean run for that would be ideal.

It would crack me up if he ran for Senator, given all of his "Washington insider" rhetoric.

[dansolo]

30. Why do you find this amusing?

Isn't the President the ultimate Washington insider? The reason he would run for the Senate would be the same reason he ran for President. He was disappointed with the direction the country was being led by both the Republicans and Democrats. At least as a legislator he could try and influence the way that his party was approaching things.

[Mad Cow Doc]

15. Third party or VP

He could be a third party or independent but I do not know if there is time to get on the ballot in all 50 states. Or he could possibly be a VP choice. If he threatens to take his support to a third party he could demand a VP slot.

[stromboli]

17. vp

If Kerry ends up getting the nomination, he'd never take Dean as VP. Almost any of the others would though. Fortunately, despite the media blitz, there's still a long way to go.

[Straight Shooter]

21. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

Mad Cow Doc? LOL!

[NNN0LHI]

27. The Republicans would love that 3rd party idea. 4 more years of Chimpy n/t

[newyawker99]

29. Hi Mad Cow Doc!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

31. If Dean ran third party and got DK or some other progressives on board

and Kerry was running against Bush, I'd be tempted to vote Dean.

[WilliamPitt]

16. Support the nominee

WWHD?

What Would Howard Do?

Howard would support the nominee.

Period.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[tritsofme]

24. Fade into obscurity...

[TheBigDemo]

28. Same thing that happened to McGovern and Dukakis

Just fades into former somebodies. Dean is done with elective politics, he can never win anything again. But he will be well respected.

James K.

[markus]

32. Dean supporters need to be electing themselves to state conventions

especially in primary and staw poll states, where turning out on election day doesn't get you a voice in the direction of the party.

We need to elect reform candidates to the DNC and start to toss the money changes out of the temple.

I would rather see Dean as DNC chair than in a cabinet post.