Two governors being considered for HHS post - Bredesen & Sebelius

[1776Forever]

Source: Associated Press

Two governors considered for health post

By KEVIN FREKING –

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two governors appear to lead the pack when it comes to heading the Health and Human Services Department for President Barack Obama.

One of those governors is already under attack. The other was seen Thursday night meeting at the Ritz Carlton with Obama's senior adviser.

The pick of Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen would clearly cause Obama problems with some of the advocacy groups calling for a health care overhaul this year. One of those groups, Health Care for America Now, put out a statement Friday saying it "couldn't think of anyone more wrong for health care reform or more wrong for America."

The advocacy groups have battled Bredesen over the years for his efforts to cut spending in the state's TennCare program, which provides health care for the poor.

The other governor much discussed as HHS secretary is Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas. Sebelius was in town to deliver two speeches, one on Thursday at a conference on clean energy jobs, and one Friday at the National Education Association. In between, she managed to meet with Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to Obama.

A White House aide said no decision has been made concerning who will be the next HHS secretary, but officials were working quickly.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hMoBPdSZRykV8yb4kox16zZsPI8gD966D8V80

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Many others like those on DU are still pushing for Howard Dean - This is too important a post to not consider someone as qualified as Dean is for this position! Let's hope someone is listening!

[shadowknows69]

1. Looks like it's going to be business as usual for the health care industry

Well, I had hope for a while.

[depakid]

2. The fact that Bredesen is even being considered is discouraging

Like many, I realize that Obama can't deliver much meaningful health care reform- but crikey, this is the guy who gutted Tenncare.

http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0112-02.htm

[NashVegas]

15. Sad

Because I think otherwise, he's been great for growth.

[SharonAnn]

20. He's knowledgeable about Health Insurance, the industry, not Health Care, the need.

We need Health Care!

Maybe Health Insurance is the way to provide it, maybe not.

Bredesen knows how to run a profitable Health Insurance business, which means taking in more $ than you provide services for.

That may not be what we need. We seem to have plenty of profitable Health Insurance companies.

What we don't have is enough medical care for people.

[Larkspur]

3. Sebelius has a great shot at becoming senator from Kansas

From Mydd

KS-Sen: Sebelius Leads Leading GOPers By Double-Digit Margin
Per Research 2000 polling for Daily Kos:

Todd Tiahrt (R): 37 percent
Kathleen Sebelius (D): 47 percent

Jerry Moran (R): 36 percent
Kathleen Sebelius (D): 48 percent

That's right. In a state in which no Democrat has won a Senate election since the landslide election of 1932, the incumbent Democratic Governor leads not one but two Republican Congressman -- and both by a double-digit margin.

SNIP

Democrats could pick up another seat in a red state, so Sebelius becoming HHS will hurt Democrats in the long run.

Howard Dean holds no elected seat nor is currently planning on running for one. Dean is the best choice, but Rahm doesn't want to swallow his pride and interview Dean for the job.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. She would be such a great senator

I really hope she runs!!

[OneBlueSky]

4. looks like Howard Dean is persona non grata with this administration . . .

which is peculiar given that Dean's 50 state strategy had a lot to do with Obama's election . . .

it seems, in fact, that the administration has an aversion to all things progressive and/or liberal . . . which is also peculiar since we on the left were also a large part of his getting elected . . . besides, progressive solutions are about all that's left to try now that right wing and middle-of-the-road solutions have proven totally ineffective in addressing our various crises . . .

[Le Taz Hot]

5. And another

fuck you to Dean and the progressives. Back atcha' there, President Change.

[MasonJar]

6. Howard Dean is the natural fit for this position. I simply cannot understand

why Obama does not appreciate that fact. Sibelius would be fabulous at anything, but she is the one hope for a Democratic Senator from Kansas.

[RubyDuby in GA]

7. Dean not being given this job will be the straw that breaks this camel's back

It will be a long time before the party gets any money from me (long time being when Howard Dean is finally shown some respect for all that he accomplished for this party).

I guess I'll just have to speak the corporate whore's...I mean Chief of Staff's language = money. No respect for Howie = no money from me!

[PassingFair]

8. My paltry spare change now goes only to...

DFA, Russ Feingold, Local Progressives,
People for the American Way, and lately,
to Al Franken.

The DLC, DSCC, DCCC and now the DNC's
pleas for money get tossed.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. I stopped donating the day Pelosi took impeachment off the table

[Freddie Stubbs]

24. And we picked up 55 House seats, 14, Senate seats, and the White House since then

Pelosi must have really pissed of the base.

[Freddie Stubbs]

23. You are advocated the President make appoints based on the wishes of Party donors rather than who he

feels is best for the job?

[liberalsince1968]

25. You don't find it disturbing that one of the people Obama thinks is "best" for the job wants to

REFUSE part of the stimulus - that would, y'know, HELP PEOPLE?

Honestly, the things some posters try to spin in order to not criticize Obama when Obama seems to be doing something in direct contradiction of what he claims to care about, never ceases to amaze me.

[nightrain]

9. How about Congressman Jim McDermott MD of WA State? He's pro-single payer

and a psychiatrist. Plenty of experience in government.

[mrs_p]

13. i like him and he has been my rep for years

but, i don't think he would get pass the senate.

[OhioChick]

10. Why not Dean? n/t

[EFerrari]

16. He has no legislative experience -- wait, neither do these people.

:mad:

[w4rma]

11. Another Rahm / DLC set of picks. They just refuse to pick the best.

Apparently, they want a corporate shill in badly. Dean would sail through the confirmation easily, but they have to pick the losers.

[Skink]

12. How about Norm Coleman?

[mrs_p]

14. lol

[quidam56]

17. Come see what is THE ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS of health care in Tennessee

http://www.wisecountyissues.com In East Tennessee, Profit Care comes ahead of Patient Care. Bredesen would be a horrible choice.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Please not Sebelius

First of all she doesn't have a background in medicine. But more importantly we need her to run for Brownback's seat when he steps down in 2010!!

Kansas has not had a Democratic senator in over 70 years. Sebelius has a great chance of winning this seat and making history in the process.

[No Elephants]

22. Some of Obama's choices

are baffling at best.

Sebelius should be left where she is if she has a chance of becoming the state's first Dem Senator in 70 years come 2010 and this thread (including the links on it) pretty much says it all as to Bredesen's suitablity for this spot.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3726962

I don't know what Obama could have against Dean, apart from the kerfuffle over the 4 State Pledge and the attempt to impose a 100% penalty on Michigan and Florida, instead of the 50% for which the DNC rules provided.

Rahm has a grudge against Dean according to this article, but I don't know if Madsen is a reliable source. http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_4331.shtml

In general, whoever has been picking Obama's appointees, including Rahm, seems to have a proclivity for Clinton Era DLC'ers and industry insiders.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ accepts only messages of 500 characters or less. An original message has more impact, but please feel free to copy mine, which is exactly 500 characters. You may also revise it to suit yourself.

Here it is:

Googling Bredesen's health care and Medicaid record reveals why he should not head HHS. People need representation in the Cabinet, not industries.

Please do not nominate Sebelius, either. She has a chance to replace Brownback in 2010, making her the first Dem. Sen. from her state in over a half century. This is important to all Dem voters.

Dean, a progressive and a doctor, who has also been a Governor, would be perfect for HHS. If not, then please choose someone much like him. Thanks.