Dean Gets HHS Endorsement From Patrick Leahy

[kpete]

Source: Huffington Post

Dean Gets HHS Endorsement From Patrick Leahy

February 9, 2009 02:28 PM


Chalk up another endorsement for Howard Dean taking over the reins of the Department of Health and Human Services.

On Monday, Sen. Patrick Leahy said that the former DNC header and fellow Vermont Democrat would be the ideal candidate to take the spot of recently withdrawn HHS nominee, Tom Daschle.

"I think Howard Dean would do a great job," Leahy told the Huffington Post at an event at Georgetown University. "He is a physician. As governor he had to deal with everything that went right with HHS and with everything that went wrong. He can tell us that these are the things that a governor has to face, Medicare especially and other things, he is very knowledgeable. He would be very good ... And he is obviously a tireless worker."

In coming out in support of Dean -- who has been mum on the HHS rumors -- Leahy joins a group of elected officials, including two fellow Vermonters. Last week, Sens. Tim Harkin (D-IA) and Bernie Sanders, as well as Reps. Peter Welch and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), all offered endorsements of sorts for the former Vermont Governor. And yet, Dean chances at ascending to the post seem clouded by his choppy relationship with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. The major names now rumored for the HHS nod are Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro.


Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/09/dean-gets-hhs-endorsement_n_165301.html

[The Wielding Truth]

1. I think, if he wants it that he would do a great job!

[Earth_First]

2. Giddy'up!!! n/t

[defendandprotect]

3. Good for Leahy .. .

But I don't think Dean will happen and very disappointing!!

But I think Obama shows signs of hurrying to name someone else??

[DrDan]

29. nope - not going to happen

[ChiciB1]

50. Not As Long As Rahm Is Around... Ain't Gonna Happen!! n/t

[defendandprotect]

51. We should keep after Obama to appoint Dean . . . he'd be handy anywhere--!!!

From the United Nations to prison reform --- from oversight to coming back into

the Senate. I'd vote for Dean for anything ---

[ChiciB1]

55. I'm In For Dean For Anything Too... But There's Some Bad History Between

Rahm And Dean you know. Sometime you just can't "make" vinegar and oil mix no matter how hard you shake up the bottle!

I'd prefer Dean over Rahm any day myself.

[defendandprotect]

61. Not looking for Rahm to appoint Dean to anything ---

but I would basically understand that Rahm is probably polluting the well in the

WH re Dean. If Obama doesn't appreciate Dean and his value to the party, then I'm

less happy with Obama.

[TheDebbieDee]

4. I think Dr. Dean should have been the first choice!

[Dinger]

39. Damn Right!

:thumbsup: :kick:

[Historic NY]

5. I prefer a working Dr. like Dean has been & his wife still is...

he has his finger on the pulse of American healthcare of the lack thereof. He has covered both sides of the fence.

[Jefferson23]

6. K&R, Great, and I hope everyone here continues to push for Dean.

[unkachuck]

7. thanks Senator Leahy....

....the Good Doctors' elbows might be a tad sharper than Tom Daschles' but what the Good Doctor lacks in charisma, he more than makes up with intelligence, honesty and tenacity....I have no doubt whatsoever that Dean would produce us a healthcare plan that would not only makes us proud but would actually make us 'healthy'....

....c'mon Obama....sure, the Good Doctor will need a little time on the Hill but he's a quick study, just like you, Barack....don't let that rahmbone dissuade you from receiving the best possible advice, talent and person for our healthcare mission....we're counting on you, Barack....

[Mind_your_head]

11. Exactly......a LOT of people have faith and TRUST Howard Dean

that's something that doesn't come quick, overnight...and has great VALUE.

A lot of people are 'rooting' for Dr. Dean to fill that position. I hope that President Obama will see the long-term wisdom of Dean filling that position as well.

[Connonym]

15. I think Dean has a lot of charisma

and I think that Obama would be a fool to turn his back on what Dean could bring to the table

[shanti]

42. i totally agree

but rahm would never go for this :(

[MADem]

48. Rahm isn't the decider. Unless you're saying "Rahm" is the "real" President, and Obama is just a

puppet.

If Obama WANTED Dean, wild horses and "Rahm" wouldn't be able to stop him from making that choice.

Dean's problem is that he's too direct, too honest, too free with his opinions, and not reluctant to "go off message." This White House is a tightly controlled machine, and the free-spirited and somewhat frank Dean doesn't fit. Would he, could he, promise to sew his lips shut? After spending all those years being an "unnamed source" to so many reporters looking for a good blind quote from an "unnamed Democratic senior leader?"

The two top candidates are Sebelius and Bredesen (who cut a bunch of people from the TN MEDICARE rolls and reduced benefits for a bunch of others--he'd be fiscally brutal, I suspect), with Sebelius out in front by a mile (because he owes her) if the vetting doesn't bring her down. Neither one is great for the job, which in normal times, isn't a worldbeater position, but it means that someone on the Hill is going to have to do all the pushing and shoving to get any health care legislation passed, because those two just don't have the connections.

[tom_paine]

8. Add Pat Leahy to Nancy Pelosi on the list of Democratic Politicians who are at least a little better

since Obama came on board.

Good for you, Pat!

[Skink]

9. I say if he can work from VT.... out of the beltway OK.

[nyy1998]

10. I like Dean

but I'm worried about how well he could lobby Congress. He's pissed of a lot of Dems(rightfully so) because of the 50-state strategy, but now it might come back to bite him.

[earcandle]

17. but it worked!

And regarding his charisma... this is not a sales job is it? 
He can have younger sweet and innocent progressives that
really believe in Obama's health plans go do the lobbying and
selling.  He can be the brains behind the operation, which
would actually be doing a job.  

I hope he gets it.  No one has worked harder for the party to
get where it is today. What a fuck you.  You, know... I got a
lot to say about stupidity. It sucks. It makes it okay for
people to be idiots, and there is no more rule of law. We got
politics, stupid shit, instead.  People died for our
privileges and rights already, long time ago.  Do we have to
be hamsters in hamster wheels? 

I don't think politicians do their jobs.  I think they kiss
ass and receive kisses all day long and they have become kind
of spoiled, don'cha think?  They are whiny spoiled brats who
don't know their asses from holes (with the exception of a
grand ole few) in the ground, and when they give speeches,
they reveal who they think we are.  

Are we gonna be defined by their obvious but difficult to
swallow, let alone perceive, apparent lack of value for our
self-worth, hurled onto us as if it is up to them if we fail. 
They get to determine how much of the population will fall and
how much will survive, no doubt already in place and
scheduled. And paid for by our mandatory taxes, so nothing can
stop them when they get our bucks.


Why doesn't Obama raise taxes?  I mean, really.  If each of us
who are working age (16 to present) paid an extra $20 bucks a
month for all government services to be put back in place,
including health, education, arts, sciences, manufacturing,
farming, etc, would we be willing to pay, instead of these
continuing war, crime and disease economies wreaking havoc on
all things living, including the earth?  

Is $20 or $240 per year worth it?  If we are all working, hell
yea! 

One year's worth of revenue raised and it costs us hardly
nothing. 
Population over 16 in year 2000: 233,658,279 x $20 =
$4,673,165,580.00 x 12 = 56,077,986,960.00 Trillion.

Um. How much do we need? 
Buck the rich and the corporations, they didn't elect him. 
Our grassroots did. 

God dammit. 

BTW: Question of the night.

Why has every candidate for president either got a place or a
chance to have a place in Obama's Administration except for
Dennis Kucinich?  Especially when he is the one who can fix
things rather quickly.  Could it be because he could fix
things rather quickly?  Fix, meaning, get things back to
proper order, working, not feigning victimhood, crying out for
alms.  
 

Can I offer you a puppet show about greedy people? 
You have to cut and paste cause I lost my a href abilities
somehow. 

From the City of Art and Innovation: Ragnarok Puppet Show
presented by Chicken John's Chez Poulet
[a
href="http://www.earcandleproductions.com/Chez_Poulet_Ragnarok.mov"]Ragnarok
Puppet Show: Chicken John's Chez Poulet[/a]

[izquierdista]

21. Yes, they hate winning

Better to be right about the 50-state strategy not working and lose.

[Frank Cannon]

12. Has anyone considered that maybe he doesnt want it?

I mean, he seemed like a natural choice from the start. Maybe he doesn't want to do it.

[DFW]

26. I know Howard, just saw him ten days ago, and can tell you that he would do it if asked.

He would never try for it himself, that's just not his style. He is a team player,
and feels that it is very much Obama's place to make the pick, and if Rahm has
undue influence over that, well, too bad.

Howard IS indeed a natural choice for the post. There are people (mostly named Rahm)
who harbor grudges against him, and that is an obstacle, but Howard has not turned
down any offer to take the post. It's just that none has been forthcoming.

Many of us are still hoping.

[pjt7]

34. Howard

should press for the job, in his own way.

[DFW]

37. He'll never do that

As DNC chairman, he took enough flak from all the candidates for not taking sides.

He wouldn't budge, taking his job as impartial party chair seriously. Rightly so.

As a private citizen now, albeit a very known one, he feels it is not his place to lobby
for a cabinet spot, but rather the choice of the sitting president to make his own choice,
whomever that may be. Howard has always stuck to principles, and he isn't about to change
now. I have nothing but admiration for him for that, and no matter how badly I want him
to get this post (and that's VERY badly), neither I nor he would want him to get it by
groveling for it. It's Obama's call. If Obama lets himself be swayed by Rahm and Rahm's
personal grudge, it's a stain on Obama and Rahm, not Howard. I would hope Obama sees it
the same way, but that's several layers removed from us peons.

I'm sure it hasn't escaped Howard that both Senators from his state plus Tom Harkin and
one congressman have spoken out in his name. I haven't been in touch with him since
Geneva, and obviously only stuff that's on the record will appear in a post here, but
what we need is for a couple of dozen Senators to speak out. Howard is not one to try
to collect a political debt, but the fact is that several sitting Senators owe their
seats to Howard, such as Claire McCaskill and Jean Shaheen, Jim Webb, the new woman
from NC, etc etc. THEY are the ones that owe a debt to Howard, and if they have no other
preferences for HHS, they might do a good turn to the hand that fed them. Being Washington,
they probably already have forgotten whose 50 state strategy it was that got them where
they are, but we are certainly permitted to remind every one of them of OUR preference.

[ananda]

47. I SAW HOWARD DEAN ON TV SAY THAT HE WANTED HHS!

That was a few days before the sucky wimpy
Daschle was picked.

Back then I could not understand why Dean
was overlooked; but then I learned that he
was deliberately shunned for the post.

Now then.. what does that say about Obama?

He kisses up to Reeps and disregards the Dems
who made his presidency possible!

[DFW]

56. You have seen more than I have, then

Howard has never made any attempts that I am aware of to try to persuade Obama to appoint him,
although sure, he would take it if offered.

Again, Howard has never even hinted that he deserved some kind of reward for the fantastic
job he did as DNC chairman. Of course, he didn't need to. It was obvious to most Democrats
that he should have been given a post comeasurate with his passion, ability, knowledge
and skills. That cried out for HHS. The only major individual that didn't seem to feel
this way (other than Rahm Emanuel) seems to be Obama himself--for reasons he only knows.

[DFW]

13. One more voice. The longest journey starts with a single step

It's still an uphill battle, but now three US Senators (albeit two from
Howard's adopted home state of Vermont) have spoken out. We need about
forty more, for the MSM to take notice, but one a day is better than
forty at once for our ADD media.

Will Obama tune in to the fact that Rahm's rancor against Howard is not
reason enough to deprive the country of Howard's obvious competence and
qualification for this job?

Probably not, if Rahm has his ear, but maybe so if Obama has not yet
succumbed to the cocoon-like nature of the White House. If Obama's antennae
are still tuned to the outside world, maybe he will start to pick up the
faint signals. Other possibles have voices promoting their candidacy, but
the vast swell of popular support (I know, when was THAT ever a factor?)
seems to demand Howard's name be given some serious public consideration,
or else one hell of a good reason why not.

The fact that Rahm holds a major grudge against Howard does not constitute
a good reason, to my way of thinking, but then I haven't hung around DC
on a regular basis for a few decades now, so maybe I'm out of synch on that.

[earcandle]

18. It shouldn't matter. This is the land of tolerance of differences, remember?

Obama has to hold Rahm to that, doesn't he?

[DFW]

19. No doubt, but Rahm must have had his hearing aid turned off that day.

That's one message Rahm definitely never got.

[Hissyspit]

20. Hey, DFW.

Long time no see!

[DFW]

25. Yeah, day job and all that

You've been keeping active, too, I note.

Except for a brief zap-though trip to the States in December-January (Germany
to Paris to South Carolina to Dallas to New York to Virginia/DC to Paris and
back to Germany you get the idea), I've been over here since I saw you in Denver.

I ran down to Switzerland about 10 days ago to see Howard, and it turned out to
be just a day or two before Daschle pulled out of the HHS nomination, so we talked
about his future plans outside of the Obama administration. He was cool with it by
then, and Howard would never say a word on his own behalf, that's just not him. Even
so, as long as HHS has yet to be decided, those of us who either know him, or at least
know of him well enough to appreciate what he could do at HHS are hoping against hope
that he'll get the nod. I realize that it will be over Rahm Emanuel's dead body (politically
speaking, of course), but I don't know Rahm, and have known Howard for nearly ten years.

Over here, everyone is basically ecstatic that Obama is in and the Republicans are out.
Biden got a great reception down in München over the weekend. No one is expecting any
miracles (as opposed to the expectations in the USA), and they don't understand very
much the nuances of Obama's flirting with the Republicans (not that I do very well, either).

Hillary, as I understand it, is concentrating on Asia for the moment, but is also very
much welcome here in Europe. Having her and Biden do alternating appearances in parts
of the world where we need a lot of diplomatic damage control is great strategy, as I
see it, and I suspect there has been some serious (and well thought-out) coordination
of their schedules from day one. It's just what I would have suggested, not that I have
been consulted, heh heh!

For the moment, I am in cold and rainy Brussels and have just been presented with some
paperwork that demands immediate attention--at least in the eyes of the guy that dumped it
on me. So, for now, :hi: from the Sprouts!

[Cleita]

54. Obama's own health care ideas are on the side of keeping the insurance

and for profit health care industries in the mix. So we won't get anything that is workable for either the patient or the doctor. We will just get the same old insurance and they will throw in a medi-caid style, underfunded plan for those who can't afford insurance.

[DFW]

57. Take two aspirin and call me in the morning*

*If you can get past my receptionist/answering machine, that is.

[quidam56]

14. Anybody BUT Bredesen !!!!

See what is deemed, defended and supported at THE ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF HEALTH CARE in East Tennessee. http://www.wisecountyissues.com Profit care comes before Patient care in Tennessee - Bredesen would be a horrible choice to head up HHS.

[chollybocker]

16. Not exactly shocking news

Leahy and Dean are good neighbors.

[cooolandrew]

22. A doctor in charge is just a logcial move and he cares about his country evidently.

[Left Coast2020]

23. They need more people in Congress to make the pitch.

One person won't cut it.

[Enthusiast]

24. Leahy is a champ!

I'm all for Dean as HHS nominee.

[Wizard777]

27. I couldn't think of a better person for HHS than Dr. Dean.

[EmilyAnne]

28. Excellent!

[NewJeffCT]

30. I like Sebelius, but

I hope she stays in Kansas.

I think Dean would be a great choice, but I think he may be viewed as too controversial, and his relationship with Rahm will hurt his chances.

[Cleita]

53. Both Sebelius and DeLauro have ties too close to the corporate insurance and

health care industries. I love Senator Kennedy but the plan he has backed in Massachusetts has failed because the insurers are running the show. We need someone with the chops to take them on and that would be Dr. Dean.

[valerief]

31. I endorse him, too. (Hope that helps!)

:-)

[mmonk]

32. I think Leahy gets it.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

33. I've always thought that he was a natural for HHS

and that he should get the job. He knows the health care industry from an MD's viewpoint.

[pjt7]

35. Obama has a great oppurtunity

& I hope he siezes on it & picks Dr.Howard Dean

[The Wizard]

36. Rahm has lost to Dean before

Dean's leadership style is to hammer the opponent into submission. Rahm prefers to hammer members of his own party so as to appear more like the other side to attract fence sitters (undecided voters).
News flash for Rahm: Anyone undecided 30 days before the election probably won't vote anyway.
In staking a position based on core values of the Democratic Party, Dean energized the base, many of whom would have not voted.
The DLC succeeded with Bill Clinton because he is the most charismatic communicator since Reagan. Bill Clinton's ability to extemporaneously put complex issues into plain language is what made/makes him successful.
Since Bill Clinton is no longer available as a candidate, the DLC strategy is defunct until another one like him comes along.
Does anyone know the successful campaigns James Carville has run since 1992? The idea of a 50 plus one approach to elections will not suffice in an era of electronic vote counting with the mechanisms for counting the votes in Republican hands. We need 50 plus six as a five percent swing in the polls is the maximum acceptable fudge factor.
Dean's approach requires more leg work and organizing, but it has shown to be more effective in the current climate.

[Myrina]

38. .. its not like he and Rahm would have to share a room, for chrissakes ..

... "but Rahm doesn't like him" ... well Rahm needs to grow the fuck up and put the best interests of the country before his own bloated ego. And his boss should make that abundantly clear. Soon.

[MrMickeysMom]

40. Apparently Rahm hasn't gotten the memo on working with people you don't like...

This isn't about ego... I sure hope the Chief of Staff grows the fuck up, if that's the case.

Meanwhile, Dean understands the state of health care and the problem. Were it not for the state we are left in economically, involved in Iraq, Afghanistan, our almost entire focus would center on the state of our national health policy (what policy?)

Deans' understanding of this far outweighs anyone else who's been paraded in front of us for the post.

I want Dean. Maybe it'll matter that I've been a respiratory therapist across the entire health care continuum for 35 years, still politically aware of it. Yeah, maybe that's gonna help!

[mnhtnbb]

41. Dean was my first choice. Obama couldn't find a better team player.

I hope Obama figures this out.

[JFKfanforever]

44. I agree 100% Dean not the Kansas Governor!

[AllyCat]

43. Sounds good to me.

[Baby Snooks]

45. But Howard Dean doesn't represent the health care industry...

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_mccaughey&sid=aLzfDxfbwhzs


"But the bill goes further. One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective."

In other words the government, really the health care industry, will determine what treatment you are to receive rather than your doctor. The focus will not be on saving lives but on saving money. And if you aren't deemed "productive" then you will be denied treatment. Health care for those who produce. Death for those who are a drain on they system. What is really hidden between the lines of this.

No doubt Howard Dean would oppose this. He probably does. But obviously has decided to go the route of Al Gore and say nothing. Perhaps out of fear.

[MADem]

49. Out of FEAR? I rather doubt Dean is afraid of ANYTHING.

Why is Al Gore "required" to weigh in on this issue, anyway? What's that about? His schtick is climate change; that's been his "area" as a private citizen since before he won that little old prize....

:shrug:

[Blaze Diem]

46. Merely CHOOSING Howard Dean for HHS sec. would empower the American people.

And it would put a powerful choke-hold on the Gop.
Dean takes no crap from anyone and is beyond manipulation from the corporatists.
One more big chip at the existence of the Greedy Old Party.
Big K & R to this post.

[Cleita]

52. Rahm needs to set his ego aside for the good of the country. I know that

Howard has no problem setting his ego aside, so who is the obstruction in this?

[Zorra]

58. Doc is the obvious perfect choice to head HHS. n/t

[Geek_Girl]

59. Wow if this happens I will be really really happy

with the Obama Administration. I'm starting to loose my doubts about Obama being a centrist and a Clintonian. I hope this happens.

[MasonJar]

60. Rahm Emmanuel should not deny us or Dean. That is the zenith of absurdity.