In 2012, could Dean beat Obama?

[JCMach1]

President Barack Obama sounded humble, almost meek, Wednesday at his news conference. “No one party will be able to dictate where we go from here,” he said. “We must find common ground.”

Howard Dean took a somewhat different tone on the phone with me the same day. “If Republicans think we’re going to slow the growth of Medicare and Medicaid and give tax cuts to those making a million dollars a year, we will wrap that around their necks and beat the hell out of them in 2012.”

Finding common ground with Republicans versus strangling and beating the hell out of Republicans — which one do you think an angry and dispirited Democratic Party might go for?

Both men were thinking about 2012, and Obama’s people have long been thinking — grimly — about Dean.

Some of the most influential members of Team Obama do not like or trust Dean and have long feared he would challenge Obama for the presidency if only given an opportunity.

Voters gave him that opportunity Tuesday, when Democrats got “shellacked” — Obama’s term — in the House and lost seats in the Senate...

When I spoke to Dean Wednesday morning, he said he had foreseen the loss of the House but had kept his mouth shut because he “didn’t want to make headlines.” But the loss of the House is, he said, “to some extent a referendum on Obama.”

Would Dean challenge Obama in 2012? “Nobody is going to beat him in 2012,” Dean said. “All that would do is weaken the president.”

But, Dean added, “if you want to reform Washington, you can’t have a staff that’s all from Washington.” ... http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=1384F54D-EDE5-EBF1-4B88A83980DF223B

The title is a bit of hyperbole from Politic (no shock there), but i found the interview interesting. It basically has Dean on the record saying his won't challenge Obama in 2012. I am sure DUers will also wrangle over the quote about Obama sharing some of the blame. Anyway, enjoy.

[peace frog]

1. Probably not

but a girl can dream.

[JCMach1]

2. I think this is also Dean's first comments about the Election...

[FarPoint]

3. Dean would never try to run in a Primary against Obama..

even if he knew he could win the Primary...it would weaken Democrats and the Primary itself weakens a President....He knows this from the Ted Kennedy-Carter Primary.

[snappyturtle]

4. I think it would depend on what the President does 'til 2012. nt

[madinmaryland]

5. Dean will not run in 2012. He wants a position in the admin so that some

of the progressive views get pushed in the Obama WH.

[nevergiveup]

6. No

[still_one]

7. No, and even if he did it is doubtful he could not win the general election.

[NorthCarolina]

8. I would certainly vote for Dean in the primaries if he were to run.

I would also vote for Feingold over Obama should he choose to run. Grayson, Kucinich, well they'd get my primary vote too. I'm sick and tired of DLC triangulation, and the pushing of a conservative agenda under the guise of "compromise" and "concession". I wanted, and still want, a real progressive in the White House, and will vote for the opportunity to achieve that goal every chance I get.

[MissDeeds]

18. I would too

I would like to have a president who stands up to corporations and Republicans, one who is an advocate for the rights of ALL people. If this president can't or won't do that, we need someone who will.

[NorthCarolina]

19. Couldn't agree with you more.

:hi:

[wisteria]

9. This is an unfortunate and divisive post. We have a good President and we should all stand with

him. He needs all of our help to fight back the things the Republicans want to do.

[Demeter]

10. At this point, Dean May Be thinking of forming 3rd party

and he'd have a lot of support there.

He's too much an ethical statesman to run against Obama. Also not going to step into that tarpit.

He's also nobody's fool. The Economic Elite already scared him off when he was the runaway favorite. It may be revolution or nothing if we want real change and real hope.

[bemildred]

11. Mr Dean is perfectly clear: "Nobody is going to beat him in 2012".

I suggest we all listen to the man.

I am disappointed in Obama, he has been much less ambitious than I expected.

[Fearless]

12. At this point Daffy Duck would be a formidable challenge...

Note to the president: Get your shit together!

[Stuckinthebush]

13. No

Never would happen.

[Hawkowl]

14. Dean could

Dean would never run against Obama. However, the chances of Obama not running again are increasing every day. We need to have Dean in the wings ready to go.

[BlueMTexpat]

15. No. And he won't even try.

This OP is total BS. I am a firm Dean believer and things like this are the last thing that Dean wants to see.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

16. No. No one will beat obama in 2012. Honestly, obama could be better but

why are we focussing on him and not district level politics. we are losing the house/senate and our focus is on the white house. it seems silly.

[yurbud]

17. the useful part of this question is why it even needs to be asked. Why elect a party

that capitulates their supposedly core principles before negotiations even start?

Obama's statement yesterday was not that different from his governing strategy right after he was inaugurated.

Here's a thought: start negotiations with what you want (or even more than you want) instead of giving away half the pie upfront.

Then if your opponent makes it clear they will not negotiate with you and give you their vote, work AROUND them and ignore them.

It was one thing for Democrats to let the GOP set the agenda when Dems were a minority, but it was even more indefensible when they allowed it when they won commanding majorities in both houses of Congress and won the White House.

Why bother to run if you are going to surrender if you win?