AP: Dean mentioned as possible Obama cabinet member

[JaneQPublic]

MONTPELIER -- Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is being mentioned for a possible appointment to the cabinet of President Obama.

Democratic officials say the president-elect is weighing an array of people for top administration posts.

Obama has signaled that he will make no cabinet-level appointments immediately and his deliberations are tightly held by his closest aides.

Still, Dean is being mentioned as a possible candidate to become secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Dean is a physician who is the chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He was governor of Vermont from 1991 to 2003.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20081108/NEWS02/811080307/1007/RSS02

[usregimechange]

1. Health and Human Services

[tabbycat31]

37. good idea

I like that position for Dean. However I hope he has a very capable successor as head of the DNC. I give him so much credit for the success of 2006 and this year. In 2004, the Dems would never have dreamed of carrying states like NC, VA, IN and coming close in so many other traditionally red states.

[Occam Bandage]

2. It would be cool to see the Good Doctor as HHS head, eh?

[roguevalley]

16. Who will protect the fifty state strategy without him? I would elevate him to God

if I could, I love that man so.

[Mira]

22. I second your comments. With all my heart, too.

[Kipepeo]

38. lol, me too

love that man.

[tekisui]

3. Dean deserves a spot, for sure!

Great news. Not surprising, but great.

[PBS Poll-435]

4. Does anyone know is Judith is still in VT? nt

[cali]

14. yes, still practicing

and Howard gets back here every chance he has.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Good choice

One reason I was for Dean in 2004 was his plans to make the paperwork surrounding medicine uniform and streamlined. His ideas on this will help make the national health plan easier and less expensive, I think.

[napi21]

6. I've been hoping for that appointment for a LONG TIME!

(My fingers will remain crossed until we hear an announcement!)

[jesus_of_suburbia]

7. He's worked very hard for us to get a Dem President in 2008. I hope he gets a position.

[Coexist]

8. Oh I hope so..

that would make me cry again.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. Now THAT choice I wouldn't mind

and get Leavitt the hell out.

[Lumpsum]

10. If anyone deserves a spot, it's Dean. nt

[Frances]

11. Dean has earned a good appointment

[Egnever]

12. He deserves no less and would be fabulous in the position.

Obama is making some amazing choices already.

[mucifer]

13. Quentin Young for Surgeon General!!

Studs Terkel's doctor worked. Hey Studs lived to be 96 :) He worked at the county hospital in Chicago and was a regular commentator on Chicago's NPR. He's a big time advocate for universal health care and a sweet old guy.

[Colobo]

15. Surgeon General Dean.

[cali]

19. no way. secretary of health and human services, not some ceremonial do

nothing job. dean is by far the most qualified candidate for HHS.

[grantcart]

25. Yeah but the Surgeon General actually does get to wear a uniform

[Tatiana]

17. This is a smart move and doesn't remove any elected Dems from Congress. n/t

[JaneQPublic]

20. True, Plus Dean is a proven manager, both as Gov and DNC chair

And if you recall from his own presidential campaign, universal health care is one of his passions. I believe he managed to pass health care legislation in his own state, although it mostly covers children, if I remember right.

[Tatiana]

33. Absolutely you betcha. Dean has real executive experience. n/t

[workinclasszero]

18. Dean needs to be part of Obama's administration

in some capacity. Who wouldn't want a smart guy like that on the team?

[blue_onyx]

21. Dean would make a great addition to the Obama administration

:)

[JI7]

23. the names mentioned are Dean and Daschle for this position

i think Dean would be a better pick. especially since Dean has a professional science related background and we really need that after 8 years of anti science views from this administration.

[cali]

24. and he has experience managing large organizations

one being a state and the other being the DNC

[senseandsensibility]

26. Absolutely.

Daschle? I hope Dean gets it.

[fishwax]

27. Dean deserves a position, that's for sure

A kick for the good doctor, and all he's done in the last four years to ensure our big Democratic victory this past week :kick:

[creeksneakers2]

28. Great idea!

Dean would do a fantastic job.

[proud patriot]

29. woohoo

:woohoo:

[Omnibus]

30. As long as his successor at the DNC follows his lead.

The 50-state strategy has ALREADY paid ENORMOUS dividends. We need to continue growing the party into a full-time, full-country organization that's answerable to the people.

That's the ONLY reservation I have. Dean is an excellent pick, probably the best person out there.

[JaneQPublic]

31. Talk is that David Plouffe would succeed Dean as DNC chair

Of course, Dean said he wasn't interested in keeping the job once a Dem got elected president.

And I would think Plouffe would be keen on keeping the 50 state strategy -- he certainly applied it to Obama's campaign.

[VADem11]

32. That would be great

I think Plouffe said that he wouldn't be in the WH so this would be the next best thing.

[progressivebydesign]

41. What are Plouffe's credentials other than working on Obama's campaign?

I don't really know much about him -- does he have the background to do the hardcore DNC fundraising and ass-kissing?

[JaneQPublic]

43. According to Wiki...

...Plouffe began his political career when he went to work for Senator Tom Harkin's 1990 re-election campaign.<5> He later worked as a state field director for Harkin's unsuccessful 1992 Presidential campaign for which he was paid $30,000 per month. In the same year he successfully managed Congressman John Olver's first re-election bid in Western Massachusetts. In 1994 Plouffe managed Delaware Attorney General Charles M. Oberly's unsuccessful campaign against Senator William V. Roth Jr.. He then worked as campaign director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in 1995. In 1996 Plouffe managed Bob Torricelli's successful campaign to fill Bill Bradley's New Jersey seat in the United States Senate and was paid over $200,000.

From 1997 to 1998 Plouffe served as Democratic leader Richard Gephardt's Deputy Chief of Staff. In 1999-2000, as executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Plouffe led a national campaign that raised a record $95 million for House races across the country.

In the winter of 2000, Plouffe joined AKP&D Message and Media, but left briefly to serve as a strategist for Gephardt's unsuccessful Presidential bid. He returned to the firm and became a partner in February 2004. Beginning in 2003, Plouffe and fellow AKP&D partner David Axelrod worked on Barack Obama's 2004 Illinois Senate campaign, beginning his association with Obama. Plouffe worked with Axelrod on the successful 2006 campaign of Deval Patrick for Governor of Massachusetts and received almost $150,000 in compensation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Plouffe

[Blondiegrrl]

34. Please, oh please! nt

[Lord Helmet]

35. that would be pretty cool

[rogerballard]

36. I am and always will be a Deaniac......

Howard Dean to me encompasses everything about being a Democrat.

[midnight armadillo]

39. Dean 2016!

Just had to get it out there, you know?

[Cleita]

40. Oh please say it is true! n/t

[Cha]

42. I hope so..I want to hear about Dean

helping out the Democratic Party:party: as long as I live:bounce: