An Open Letter to Obama -- Team of Rivals needs Dean for HHS

[Dems2002]

Dear President Obama,

Greetings. Sorry, to bother you, I realize that you're pretty busy right now. I promise, this will just take a moment.

I'm one of your numerous supporters who volunteered for your election -- I even convinced my mom to call voters in her battleground state of Nevada. (I was pretty sure you had my state of California locked up.)

But I do have a confession to make. You weren't my first. There was someone else before you, and he still holds a special place in my heart. I attended a meet-up for him way back in December 2003. I wrote passionate letters to Iowa voters on his behalf, but alas and alack it wasn't to be. So I moved on and was able to hope again this past year.

But you never forget your first. And when you see the party that you also care about and support, kick him in the teeth, it stings. There's a thought that in kicking him, they're really kicking his supporters, the party's base, otherwise known as the left. I realize that we're a pretty attractive target, the media heeps praise on you everytime you do it, but I've gotta tell you, it hurts.

I realize that he's not your cup of tea -- you're 'Nodrama Obama,' and he's most remembered for an infamous Scream. In the same way, I think that we're not exactly DC's cup of tea. We're the rabble -- the masses. We don't always use the proper fork, and we're not happy to go to dinner with the republican who just voted to prevent our child from getting healthcare. We take it personally -- too personally for the ones in DC who delight in 'the game.'

But come on -- if you want a team of rivals surely there's room for a proud Democrat, 6-term Governor, former chair of the National Association of Governors, and DOCTOR, to serve as head of HHS?

So you don't like him. Are you telling me that you "LIKE" the guy you just named Commerce Secretary? The guy who just a few years ago voted to scrap the entire Department?

Admit it, it's not about 'liking him' or his 'passion' -- somehow I don't think he knows any words you haven't heard your Chief of Staff mutter around the breakfast table, it's that he wears his heart on his sleeve and that's so...uncivilized.

The fact of the matter is, this man, more than any other in DC, represents US. You can have your team of rivals, you can have your republicans and moderates and corporate Democrats, but along with all of them, please, please give us a seat at the table, and give us Howard Dean at HHS.

Sincerely,

Dems2002

[EFerrari]

1. Let's put this up at the top!

K&R

[dynasaw]

9. Absolutely!

. . .and Ram be damn!

[Cleita]

2. This brought tears to my eyes and well said. n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

3. K&R

[EFerrari]

4. Kick

[Tesha]

5. It's not going to happen.

It *SHOULD* happen, but it's not.

The truth is that *OUR* side of the party is only good for one thing:
doing the work that elects *THEIR* side of the party. After that, we
can piss off until the next time they need us to do their work.

But I'm pretty sure I'm over that now, seeing as how we got exactly
*ZIP* in return for all of our work.

In fact, I am *SO* over that...

Tesha

[Dems2002]

25. Don't Give Up!

Tesha,

I feel your pain, but you can't give up -- that's exactly what those in power want. They want to disillusion us, to get just enough people to vote to keep the same old same old in power, but not enough of us to make demands.

I wrote a post nearly a year ago that stated 2010, Democrats better watch out. We're paying attention. And see, the thing is, not a lot of people vote in Congressional Primaries -- we can take a few of them out. Frankly, I Don't Care if the Democrat we take out is replaced by a Republican. We KNOW that the republicans are against us...we need to also know that the Democrats are for us.

I do not need perfection. I do not need to agree with everything that Congress does, but the ridiculous way that the stimulus bill has been watered down, the HUGE number of Free Marketers Obama chose for his Economic Team, makes me KNOW that they will not go quietly.

I supported Edwards in the Primary because I never considered Obama liberal enough. (Fat lot of good it did me. Of course, when Edwards dropped out so abruptly, I also had a sneaking suspicion the rumors were true about the affair.)

Obama wasn't talking about the bread and butter, economic issues or 100% healthcare for all. I'm a proud populist. I love unions, and realize that we need more people to unionize --NOW.

This is going to be a fight. The Democratic Party proved it when they got rid of Dean in 2004. Dean could have won. (However, he likely would have been hamstrung by his own party.) It's all about power.

Remember -- "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." In 2004, my thought was that the DC Dems would rather lose the White House and Control of Congress, than lose their ephemeral power. That still holds true. We need to show them to fear us. Otherwise, they will continue to keep us in contempt.

Dems2002

[spotbird]

33. I agree

but this build a bridge to the left campaign is a good idea. The rivals so far pretty much agree on everything, during the election they did disagree on who should be in charge, but that isn't an ideological difference.

[Norrin Radd]

6. It would make sense to include progressives, considering

we are the rivals/opposite of the Democratic Party, now.

[ColbertWatcher]

7. Kick and rec. I hope you sent this to the White House; our President really needs to read this. n/t

[EFerrari]

8. Kick

[leftstreet]

10. K&R

[whathehell]

11. This is terrific...Please DO send it to the Whitehouse. n/t

[Dems2002]

12. I will send it over

I will send it over -- I agree with some that I don't expect it to do a lot of good. What about a facebook page? Is there time?

JennR

[Pastiche423]

13. K&R!

[bertman]

14. Absolutely frickin' beautiful!! A masterpiece. Thank you, Dems2002.

P.S. I still have my Dean for President bumpersticker pinned to my bulletin board.

[EFerrari]

15. Kick

[Still Sensible]

16. I would love to see Dean in the cabinet

he has been an incredible leader of the democratic party. I do find it somewhat fascinating that so many here believe he would be a real left wing voice. Everything I have seen indicates he is a pragmatic somewhat progressive centrist. His politics would appear to be very similar to the President and the Secretary of State. What am I missing?

[Dems2002]

27. Not missing anything

Still Sensible,

Your not missing anything. Dean isn't a radical liberal. He's not a Barbara Lee.(my congresswoman) He's probably more threatening...he's a moderate who has been liberalized by the corruption. It's how I deem myself. I don't consider myself a crazyass liberal. I know crazyass liberals incapable of achieving any action or positive change. Some are hamstrung by circumstance, and others have become corrupting themself in the process. Meaning that they are no longer serving the public good.

This is what I want to se happen. Let's have government serve the public good. It can happen...however, we're going to need to fight for it.

Dems2002

[Eyerish]

17. K&R

Thank You for writing this...

[chill_wind]

18. Beautiful.

K & R.

[Historic NY]

19. I make it give us Dr. Howard Dean. MD.

[EFerrari]

20. Bernie Sanders releases letter to Obama backing Howard Dean.

Sanders backs Dean for HHS post
By Silla Brush
Posted: 02/08/09 06:06 PM

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is the latest lawmaker to back Howard Dean, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, for secretary of Health and Human Services.

In a letter to President Obama that was released on Sunday, Sanders backed Dean, the former Vermont governor and physician, as someone who is "eminently qualified" to reform healthcare after Obama's first choice, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), withdrew his nomination last week.

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/sanders-backs-dean-for-hhs-post-2009-02-08.html

[DFW]

21. Sadly, your much shared sentiments will most likely fall on deaf White House ears

I don't know the inner workings of the Obama team, but as long as Rahm Emanuel
heads it, the likelihood of Howard being chosen for HHS over Rahm's objections
is probably about as high as that of Ahmadi-Nejad entering Rabbinical School.

[Left Coast2020]

23. Preaching to the Chior!!

But I'm also one who believes that our chances of seeing Dr. Dean at HHS are slim. And Dean's chances are about as good as Los Angeles getting snow in Dec. All because of Rahn. Sad. But I will always stare at my photo of the good doctor who did shake my hand at his rally in San Francisco and leave me with a feeling of total inspiration. :toast:

[diane in sf]

24. Los Angeles does get snow in the winter--at least in the mountains

[DFW]

26. Howard always inspires

I've known him for almost ten years, since before he decided to run for President. I just
had dinner with him in Geneva 8 days ago, while he was on his was back home from Davos.

One of the great things about Howard is that he has remained the same focused and
straightforward guy he was since before he became a nationally-known figure. He'll
never brush you off (unless you're a member of the MSM asking a stupid question).

But that kind of straightforwardness rarely earns anyone points in Washington, and
being right is no guarantee of being appreciated for it.

Remember Wayne Morse and the Vietnam War? http://www.oregonindependent.com/node/287

Now, no one remembers him at all, and he was right as rain.

[Mithreal]

22. Big K&R nt

[silverojo]

28. Kickin' and rec-in'!

Dr. Dean deserves better than to be kicked to the curb the way he has been!

[Two Americas]

29. Lincoln's "team of rivals"

Lincoln brought his political rivals for the nomination - William Seward, Salmon Chase, and Edward Bates - into the administration, and also brought Democrats Montgomery Blair, Gideon Welles, and Edwin Stanton in.

But they were all strongly anti-slavery, and had long track records of speaking out strongly against slavery. No people who were not strongly anti-slavery were brought in to the administration. However, everyone who was strongly opposed to slavery was considered, despite party and despite personal friction or rivalries with Lincoln.

That is the exact opposite of the way many people are now talking about a team of rivals. Lincoln put principle first, not partisan political advantage or "getting things done." Lincoln did not advocate "centrism," moving to "the middle," nor compromising on principle for the sake of unity or bipartisanship.

[DeeDeeNY]

30. K & R

[WillyT]

31. Big K & R !!!

:kick:

[Autumn Colors]

32. K&R from a Connecticut Deaniac! (n/t)

[Upfront]

34. Oh yes!

K&R

[yy4me]

35. Dean is my choice. Is it such a novel idea to put someone

at the top who knows what he is doing? Some choices made by those in charge of any businesses do choose by demeanor, by smile, by sweet talk and yessing. I want someone at HHS who is an MD, and who will take no baloney from anyone and who has an impressive resume.

We're long past that stage when a pretty face or an nice smile will cure the problem. It is about time we have more brainpower and courage in charge of things.

President Obama, you are doing a great job. Help yourself and us, choose Howard Dean as head of HHS.

[leftcoastie]

36. It's clear, it's obvious, it's

RIGHT ON!

[CAcyclist]

37. awesome nt

[BlueMTexpat]

38. K & R

:kick:

And no, I don't expect Obama to be perfect. But when Obama's been given a second chance to do the thing that he should have done in the first place, and still does not, then I will cease my monthly contributions to the DNC. I gave up contributing to the DSCC, DCCC and DLC way back in the early nineties when I saw how all they cared about was returning incumbent Dems, regardless of whether those incumbents stood for anything remotely liberal. I gave up contributing to the DNC after 2000 and only began again when Howard Dean became the chair.

But they will lose me altogether over this, I'm afraid.

I'll still support progressive candidates, but not through the "D" organizations.

[Dems2002]

40. Understood

I understand and agree with your position. However, we need to keep fighting and badgering or we will never go anywhere. I hope Obama has learned this lesson. I hope that Rhambo can suck it up and let Howard have a seat at the table.

Dems

[Ysabela]

39. k&r!!

[pjt7]

43. Obama has such a great opportunity

to change America.

Name Dr.Howard Dean to HHS head & let's move this Country forward.

[indimuse]

41. K&

R!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EFerrari]

42. Leahy Endorses Dean:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8182388