Full disclosure: I was a "Deaniac" in '04 and wrote in his name in the Democratic primary

[Atticus]

in my state even after he'd ended his campaign for the nomination. I felt like he spoke for me and a lot of lunch-bucket liberals when he said he was from the "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party." I still think he is a man of integrity and intelligence and I value his opinion on issues affecting working people and the middle class.

Dr. Dean recently stated his opinion that the current Senate health care bill was so flawed and inadequate that it should be "killed" and an effort made to pass something worthwhile via reconciliation. Quite a few of us had already arrived at the same conclusion.

Understandably, the White House did not like Dr. Dean's assessment of the bill it had said it wanted passed. I would have had no problem with them saying something like they "respectfully disagree" with Dr. Dean. Instead, they disrespectfully disagreed. They mockingly wondered aloud what legislation he had been reading and huffed that "no rational person" could possibly think like Howard Dean.

Memo to Whitehouse: you are IN the Whitehouse, in large measure, BECAUSE of "irrational" Dr. Dean. He insisted on a 50 state strategy when all the conventional wisdom held that "targetting" winnable states and ignoring Republican strongholds was the only way to go. That "wrongheaded" (irrational) approach opened up states like Indiana and Missouri so that the Obama campaign could at least be heard.

To attack Howard Dean in the manner we saw and heard today was an ignorant, unappreciative, disloyal and totally classless act and I think it really sucks.

Senator Baucus?----not "irrational". "Respected Senator with whom we simply disagree, etc., etc. blah-blah-blah.
Senator Nelson?----not "irrational". Ditto----yada-yada-yada.
Senators Lincoln and Landrieu and----LIEBERMAN? NOT "irrational", but men and women of integrity who were voting their consciences in a difficult political climate.

Former VERY successful and respected DNC chairman Howard Dean: "irrational".

Why not just call a press conference and announce: "Fuck the base! We don't need 'em!"

That flapping sound? Chickens coming home to roost.

[HuckleB]

1. It's crappy, but it's actually mild if you look at the history of US politics.

[Atticus]

3. And, compared to Caligula, W. was a pussycat, but I didn't like that sonofabitch either. nt

[HuckleB]

4. I'll give you that.

But we are talking some serious time warps here!

:toast:

[Ozymanithrax]

2. Neither Dean, Baucus, Nelson, nor Lieberman are irrational.

I just don't agree with their rationale.

[Atticus]

5. Who DO you agree with? nt

[HuckleB]

6. Now that's a can of worms!

[madrchsod]

7. dean is the reason obama sits in the big chair

obama does`t give a shit.

[nradisic]

8. Yup

I'm with you.

[madfloridian]

9. Good post.

Recommended.

[TexasObserver]

10. Yes, the 2008 victories were as much Dean's as anyone's.

He was the most successful DNC chair in decades. And the failure of the President to give Dean his due during the post election period was in bad taste.

[Mithreal]

11. knr

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

12. This administration has treated Dean like crap from the getgo

And many have noted and commented on it as it occurs like clockwork. Many also ascribe it to some existing bad blood between Dean and Emanuel over conflicts between Rahm's DCCC and Dean's DNC. Dean was right then and he is proving to be right now. It is the administration's loss. It makes them look really petty.

They embrace all the real losers like Lieberman and scorn Dean - hard to believe.

[Dinger]

13. Full Disclosure: I Was Not A "Deaniac" In 2004. It Is Sickening The Way He Is Being Treated

by the WH. I am very proud of Howard Dean. I would gladly take the opportunity to be a "Deaniac". Don't know if I'll get the chance.

[quaker bill]

14. I too was a Deaniac

from very early on, and am still a huge fan. I have no doubt that he is a significant reason why Obama is in the Whitehouse and that we have majorities in the house and senate. This is the plus side of the "50 state strategy". The down side of the strategy is that it required running people (blue dogs) who could win in some historically red states. The large majorities have set many people up to believe that real progressives have gained real control when they in fact haven't. What we have now is a majority that will vote for us far more often (but by no means always) than a republican majority would have, and this is different than progressive control.

What I always liked about Dean is precisely the reason he not in the administration. The good doctor was always ready and able to speak his mind and say what he felt to be true, even when it appeared to be less than the best choice politically. This over time earned him alot of powerful political enemies in our party and resulted in a coordinated attack in Iowa that ended his presidential campaign. Even the "saintly" DK participated in this.

My point is that people in the administration are expected to sing from the President's hymnal, they are not expected to be free agents. What I like about Howard Dean is that he is anything but a yes man, accordingly, it is not at all suprising that he is not on the team. I think he actually serves a higher purpose goading the administration from the progressive point of view.

Curiously, a great many here did not feel that Dean was a good progressive choice in 2004 and felt Kerry to be a far stronger progressive candidate. Interesting how times change.