So what's up between Obama and Dean?

[Onlooker]

I've never understood why the Obama campaign and indeed Obama himself haven't been more fond and supportive of Howard Dean. Dean, after all, reinvented the Democratic Party, not only to win national elections, but to win local races as well. He's reinvigorated the Party in every state, and from all accounts that I've read has done marvelous and fair-minded job. Yet, the fact that Obama did not make an effort to include him when Kaine became DNC chair and did not offer him a senior position in his administration I find very puzzling. Dean is an extremely talented individual who commands a fairly sizable political base of his own that is generally aligned with Obama. Has anyone read anything to explain the apparent unease between Obama and Dean? I haven't.

[blm]

1. Rahm Emmanuel. IMO, of course.

.

[avaistheone1]

4. I believe Emmanuel is the problem too.

He has been taking credit for Howard Dean's work.

[wyldwolf]

5. lol.

Right. :rofl:

[avaistheone1]

8. Is that the best you got?

:crazy:

[wyldwolf]

10. uh.. no.

Emanuel has NOT been taking credit for Howard Dean's work.

You're right. That IS better.

[Guaranteed]

11. Yeah- Rahm was this AWESOME LEADER who REAMED the Bush Administration

and finally got the media and voters thinking about what the hell was really going on in this country and demonstrated the proper policy positions and arguments for the ENTIRE DEMOCRATIC PARTY that ended up WINNING US THE WHITE HOUSE and tons of Congressional seats.

[wyldwolf]

12. sounds like some of that Dean-inspired hysteria to me.

But Deanies always were good at fiction when it came to Dean.

[Guaranteed]

13. Dean did all this.

I know you hate it- but damned if he didn't do allllll this.

[wyldwolf]

14. no he didn't

I know you hate it- but damned if he didn't do much of that.

[Guaranteed]

19. Wow. Who am I to argue with such convincing rhetoric

when what happened over the past several years is plain to see to just about anyone who was involved.

[wyldwolf]

21. it's the same as your rhetoric

what happened over the past several years is plain to see

Break it down then - state by state. Starting in 2006. Names, dates, places. I'm especially interested in how 2 or 3 low paid staffers in solid red states performed miracles.

Of course, I don't really expect an answer. I'm sure you'll dole out a healthy serving of progressive-speak but really say very little.

[zulchzulu]

2. So what's up between the Sun and the Moon?

Hey, let's just make stuff up.

A few things... Dean didn't want a spot in the administration. He has stated he wants to get on the speaking circuit and talk about healthcare reform. He has also stated he doesn't want any payback for his efforts.

He also was on his way to American Samoa to visit there and raise money for the Democratic Party when Kaine was appointed as the new DNC chairman. A fifteen minute press conference vs getting on a plane that takes about 15-20 hours to land in the middle of the Pacific... there is nothing puzzling about that unless you want to make an issue out of whole cloth.

Dean did do some great work with the 50-state strategy, but maybe you're forgetting something kind of important. It was Obama who went to nearly all those states and raised money on his own behalf. Was Dean responsible for Obama's appeal? Perhaps fractionally... it was Obama who had the organization and had the grassroots efforts for his candidacy. Sure, some people had been for Dean in 2004, but as one who was part of that movement, Howard Dean rarely even came up in conversation during the campaign.

I love Dean. He'll do great on the speaking circuit. Go catch him somewhere in the future. He probably is tired of being in the Beltway and who can blame him.

[Onlooker]

6. I'm not disputing what Obama accomplished, but

Howard Dean left Obama with a well-functioning apparatus in 50 states that provided him with lists, access, and volunteers. While it's no surprise that Obama wants to bring his own people in and put his stamp on the Democratic Party, it seems to me he should be more thankful that there's an effective Democratic Party organizational structure already in place.

[wyldwolf]

3. so what's up between Obama and "progressives?"

I mean, I always knew "progressives" could read Dean's mind in 2003-2004. They always had this unique ability to tell everyone else exactly what Dean was thinking about on any given subject. I just had no idea that power had been extended to 2009.

[PassingFair]

23. Isn't it WEIRD?

We have MAGICAL powers called LISTENING.

We are lucky that there are SOME politicians
who tell the truth...so we don't have to use
our "unique abilities" to
"tell what he was thinking", because he
TELLS US what he's thinking.

And if HE can't, his brother Jim WILL.

[wyldwolf]

25. it's very weird

except you would attribute thoughts and motives to Dean he never uttered himself

[PassingFair]

27. We listened to him at the time.

Do you belong to DFA?

Do you monitor every thing Dean does
or does not say?

[wyldwolf]

28. I'm sure.. that must have been how you developed that 6th sense about him

[PassingFair]

29. I claim no supernatural powers.

You need to have your hearing checked,
or read Dean's book.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JJ69EGRRL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg

[wyldwolf]

30. it's good you're admitting that

first step to recovery

[Occam Bandage]

7. And why is Obama sleeping with Wes Clark's wife?

And why did he murder Jimmy Carter's cat?

[WI_DEM]

9. He is!

:wow:

[Cha]

15. Oh, I don't know..I just

got this email from Barack..

zidzi --

Yesterday, I had the honor of introducing Virginia Governor Tim Kaine as the next Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

"We're in a strong position to build the Democratic Party, renew our commitment to the principles we share, and continue the outstanding work of Chairman Howard Dean."

Among his many achievements, Governor Dean launched a strategy to reach out to Americans in all 50 states -- north, south, east and west. This 50-state strategy helped Democrats compete in states where we hadn't in years, including states like Virginia.

Governor Kaine has seen the power of the 50-state strategy firsthand, and under his leadership, Democrats will continue to organize and compete in every corner of our country.

Share your question for incoming Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine -- he'll answer as many as possible in a video on Democrats.org.

Tim is the ideal leader to grow and strengthen this party -- not by appealing to our divisions, but by appealing to our common hopes; not by pursuing policies that advance a specific dogma, but by pursuing policies that work for ordinary people.

As Governor of Virginia, Tim was known for his intelligence, integrity, and strong economic leadership.

He has a record of putting public service above partisanship, and he knows that reaching across party lines is the way to achieve progress for all Americans.

Over the next few days, you'll have a unique opportunity to get to know Governor Kaine. You can submit a question online, and he'll answer as many as possible in a special video next week.

Learn more about the future of the Democratic Party by submitting your question to Governor Kaine:

http://www.democrats.org/welcomekaine

The success of our party in the years ahead depends on strong leadership, but it also depends on a committed membership determined to bring change.

Thank you for your hard work and please join me in welcoming Chairman Tim Kaine,

Barack

[BeyondGeography]

24. See, he said, "outstanding work of Chairman Howard Dean."

Why couldn't he just tell the truth and say "continue the VERY outstanding work of Chairman Howard Dean."?????

:sarcasm:

[Cha]

26. I see you're the only one

who wants to acknowledge this..so much more fun to complain.

[fadedrose]

16. I think Dean is about what he said a couple of years ago....

That he represents the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party.

He is not a Democrat or Republican Lite.

He knows what "we" wanted as far as health care, civil rights, etc., are concerned and he was going to work and bump heads to get what we wanted.

The new administration seems not to realize why they were elected - to fulfill the dreams that Dean put in our heads.

Carry on Lobbyists, Moderates and Republicans, don't pay us progressives no mind.

Just my opinion...

[Guaranteed]

17. Totally agree. nt

[VADem11]

18. I don't think there is anything

I really don't believe there's any "unease" as you put it. All this talk seems to stem from the press conference where Obama and Kaine praised Dean and because Dean didn't get a position. Dean and Obama don't seem to be particularly close but I doubt there's true animosity between the two.

[fadedrose]

22. K nt

[BeyondGeography]

20. Nothing that the launch of their new microbrew, O'Dean, can't fix