Look, I love Howard Dean, but if he doesn't get an appointment

[cali]

well, that's life and it doesn't actually say much about anything. It's not some affront to Dean or the progressive netroots. It's not, when you come down to it, all that important- not when you put things in perspective.

Dean was my governor for 11 years. I think he did an incredible job as DNC chair. I thought he'd make a great HHS Secretary, but I understand why Obama chose Daschle and it make sense.

Dean is not going to get a cabinet position. He's not qualified for Surgeon General. Maybe he'll get an appointment where he can do good things and maybe he won't, but Howard will be fine, and I'm not going to take it as a kick in the teeth to the progressive community.

[dsc]

1. He's not qualified for Surgeon General?

why?

[cali]

3. He doesn't have a public health policy background.

Public health policy is not the same as healthcare policy.

[dsc]

5. I think he would do fine

after all he ran Vermont's for 11 years and they seem healthy to me.

[cali]

6. Public health policy is more about

such things as epidemiology amd biostatistics. It's pretty specialized.

[Occam Bandage]

2. The "not picking Howard is an attack on Progressives" line makes no more sense than

"not nominating Hillary is an attack on women." Politicians are not movements.

[hisownpetard]

4. Well, there are *some* that are - bowel movements, that is.

[dkf]

7. Howard isn't going to get an appointment because only ex-Clintonites get picked.

Or so it looks to me.

[patricia92243]

8. Has Dr. Dean made any indication what he would like to do? Has he indicated he would like to be on

the cabinet or any other appointed position. I'm sure he would want to stay in politics.

[cali]

9. Yes. He has. It's been widely reported that he wanted HHS.

[eleny]

10. Since he had experience in expanding health care in Vermont...

...do you think his experience is broader than Daschle's?

[cali]

12. In all ways but one. However, that one is of critical importance

Daschle is by far the better of the two when it comes to pushing Obama's healthcare agenda through the Congress.

[eleny]

18. I think I see what you mean

Is it Daschle's mild but persistent manner and relationship with many in Congress that ultimately makes him the better choice?

If that's the case, I hope Dean doesn't feel pushed aside. We owe him an enormous debt. I pray that the gains he's made open even more doors and that the DLCers don't mess things up for us.

Perhaps there will be a place for Dean in the health care effort. A place he wants where his forward thinking and persistent nature can make gains for us all.

[patrice]

11. The good Doctor is a grown-up; he knows how things work and he has many options.

I would like to invite him to become an advocate for American Long-Term Care communities.

[liberalmuse]

13. Dr. Surgeon General Howard Dean.

It has a certain ring to it.

[cali]

14. yeah, if only he had a public health policy background in something

like epidemiology. He does not.

[liberalmuse]

15. I know. All he has is that...

awesome Vermont Universal Healthcare thingy under his belt. That is certainly not enough qualification to tell people not to smoke or drink drano. :shrug:

[cali]

17. Apples and oranges. That is not a public health policy background

and there's a lot more to public health policy than telling people not to drink drano.

[Jack Bone]

16. There are many positions left..HUD? Labor?

Commish of Soc. Security? US Trade Rep?

I think he'd fit into any of these.

[lapfog_1]

19. Chief Bottle Washer

Given his medical background, I'm pretty sure he understands the importance of this function.

God forbid that he should have to work with a democratic majority Congress, given that he had no influence at all in getting them elected.

and oh, btw, :sarcasm: