Howard Dean should do what Al Gore is doing

[brentspeak]

and help out with the Gulf Coast relief effort.

I know Dean has done a good job of being vocal during this disaster, his physical presence at Biloxi and NO would be useful because a) obviously, first and foremost, as a physician, he can be of great help; b) second in importance but still important, this is a good opportunity to show pockets of the U.S. that he's not the screaming nutcase that the Repubs' PR campaign has convinced them he is.

Frankly, there are some Democrats who aren't close to being DLC-types who are hesitant to be seen in public with Dean, thanks to GOP smear efforts. This is an opportunity to change that.

[madfloridian]

1. If they are ashamed to be seen with him, that is their problem.

It is not Dean's problem. It is to their shame if they are afraid. I am tired of this. Dean has not practiced medicine in 12 years...want him practicing on you?

It is the job of the elected Democrats to get out there.

If they still fall for GOP smear jobs...then it is to their shame. It is not Dean's job to change that.

[jpgray]

2. I'll trust Dean's instincts on this

His statement about the estate tax was pretty good--did you read that?

[madame defarge]

3. Do you have the link?

I'm building a body of evidence about why the estate tax should not be repealed and would love to have Dean's comments. (I admit -- I haven't googled to find it, so if you don't have it handy, don't worry; I'll find later.)
Thanks.

[madfloridian]

4. Here is the link.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2061937&mesg_id=2061937

He did a good job of tying it to cutting efforts for Katrina.

[AlGore-08.com]

5. Info on Gore's flight (to see Dem values in action)

http://www.algore-08.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=272&Itemid=81

Breaking: Gore in New Orleans to aid Katrina victims

(snip)

According to Alexis Simendinger of the National Journal, Gore organized the relief flights earlier this week, but was delayed for several days trying to get clearance from FEMA, which required a Federal Department to request special numbers for each patient transported by private conveyance.

(more - - but not much... )



http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_4054083,00.html

Haven from fury Mercy Flight Brings Evacuees to ET

Gore accompanies about 140 arrivals from New Orleans but declines to take credit

By ROBERT WILSON

(snip)

About 140 people - mostly elderly and infirm - arrived Saturday at McGhee Tyson Airport on a chartered mercy flight from hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, welcomed to East Tennessee by a bright sun and a host of medical professionals straining at the reins to help their fellow human beings without regard to whether they were on the clock.

The displaced hurricane victims came to Tennessee on a hastily arranged flight, accompanied by doctors and carrying whatever they had in boxes, bags or, in one case, an old suitcase tied up with rope.

Former Vice President Al Gore arranged the flight and was on board, but he declined to take credit for the airlift, fearing it would be "politicized."

(more)

[kerrygoddess]

6. Better yet...

I'm no Bill Frist fan, but he's down there in the friggin triage unit in NOLA, why isn't Dr Dean?

[jpgray]

7. Dean can do more good organizing the resources of the entire party

Than he can by himself working as a physician in LA. Again, his statement on the estate tax is a good example--the Democratic Party has to organize and help out NO in the best way and on the largest scale possible, and so Dean is needed on that end of things more than he would be as just another doctor in NO.

[kerrygoddess]

11. They need all the Dr's they can get.

He doesn't NEED to be a the DNC getting the message out - there are cell phones and press secretaries for that. DUH?

[MojoXN]

8. His rich ass should be down there as a doctor.

Those people need help badly, and nothing more so than medical attention. Prolonged dehydration does a lot of damage to the immune system. These people are vulnerable to all kinds of opportunistic infections. The areas that are still flooded are probably about as bacteriologically and virologically infectious as raw sewage, more so because of the dead. Every physician who has the luxury of leisure time should be in New Orleans, or making plans to go.

MojoXN

[jpgray]

9. He can help on a greater scale directing the resources of the party

He could get some great PR by going down there as a doctor (which is what Frist is after) but he can do the most good by staying where he is.

[kerrygoddess]

13. See my post #11. N/T

[kerrygoddess]

12. Thank you. Well said.

He should be there helping.

[DemBones DemBones]

10. Dean hasn't practiced medicine in TWELVE YEARS.

Madfloridian said so in reply #1 and I think we can all take her word for it since she's been one of Dean's major supporters at DU.

Any Democrat with money (and that's basically anyone in the Senate) could do what Al Gore did and charter a plane to transport evacuees to medical centers in their home state.

But it's a matter of individual conscience, plus you never know how much debt the rich have.

[NYCGirl]

14. It's also a matter of who FEMA and the FAA will let in. They have to be

given a detailed flight plan on who is using gulf coast airspace. You can't just fly there on a whim, especially not now.

[kerrygoddess]

16. They are letting Dr's and Nurse's in...

[NYCGirl]

17. They have to approve you. The FAA held up Al Gore's plane two days...

wonder what they'd say to the DNC Chairman.

Edited after I reread the article posted above...they held up Gore's plane more than two days.

[kerrygoddess]

15. It's my understanding that his liscense is still valid.

If that is the case, he should be down there helping, setting the example. I'm actually shocked he isn't and his wife too. There are women having babies down there that need help - she's an OBGYN.

Sorry but my view is it should have been the first thing he did as the leader of the DNC.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. There are things that are being done

even if you are not being informed, but they are... please stop bashing here... and concentrate on the fight ahead.

[AntiCoup2K4]

18. Any excuse to bash Dean, eh DLC'ers?

And I'm not neccessarily referring to the original post, though it certainly left the can of worms open.

[Robeson]

20. I hear ya. The last thing we need to be doing, is eating our own at...

...this point. We need to be laser-beamed on this administration, 24/7.

[Le Taz Hot]

21. Flame bait

Clue: It's why this place lost a LOT of really good DUers during the primaries -- who were replaced by frickin' THOUSANDS of "Yeah, Bush sure is an ass!" posts. So much for thoughtful discourse. :eyes:

[mtnsnake]

22. Flame bait? The OP is offering a positive suggestion, period.

He hasn't dissed either of the Democrats mentioned in the post, just trying to bring the party together with a POSITIVE idea.

It's only flame bait if someone steps in, off-subject, and makes it so.

[bklyncowgirl]

23. High level politician who is also an MD goes to disaester area.

It will be seen as a cynical photo op.

Dean however, as an MD and also as one of the Nation's most experience Governors, is uniquely qualified to go on the talk shows to discuss disaester relief operations and in particular who is responsible for doing what. As an MD he could authoritatively explain what the slow response meant to people trapped in the city.

He could provide tactical support to state and local officials that is going to be needed as "Operation CYA" continues.

[dsc]

24. The idea isn't without merit

It might have been a good idea for him to do that though I could see charges of grandstanding being leveled against him. I also wonder if his MD licence is still good. If I dropped out of teaching for 12 years my licence would likely become inactive or null and void. We have continuing education requirements and the like which I presume doctors have as well.

[crispini]

25. yeah, Bill Frist went to help.

people who are saying 'photo op' should think about THAT lil photo op!