If Dean is not the nominee, he would be a good HHS Secretary

[dansolo]

I still hope that Dean can pull it off, but it is looking more and more unlikely. Despite the recent talk, I doubt very much that Kerry would select Dean as VP. However, if Kerry is smart, he should offer the position of HHS Secretary to Dean. This could be a way to appease some of Dean's base. Most of the issues that Dean is exceptionally strong in would be under his direct control, and hopefully it would put him in a position to influence how Kerry would pursue them. Part of Dean's appeal to me is his pragmatism, and if we are going to be stuck with Kerry, I would like to have Dean in a position to have a positive influence on him.

[cryofan]

1. yeah, that's all we need: an HHS sec who would raise retirement age to 70!

see www.mylinuxisp.com/~cryofan/dean.html

[Dookus]

3. I'm no fan of Dean...

but the retirement age WILL have to rise. There's simply no way around it. When SS was founded, people lived much shorter lives. Now people draw SS checks for decades - the system can't support that.

[cryofan]

5. I humbly beg your pardon, but you are outta your MIND!

There are MANY ways we could DRASTICALLY expand our welfare state, including decreasing the retirement age to 60. Here is one: raise the tax rates for rich people back up to where they used to be. Another: means-testing for SS and Medicare.

[NashVegas]

2. Maybe

But I think I'd rather see him out stirring up some shit, you know?

[dansolo]

4. I rather see him directly in charge of policy

Stirring up shit is fine and dandy, but unless he has actual authority, he will just be ignored and promptly forgotten. Let's use Al Gore as an example. He has had some very powerful speeches in the past year or so, directly taking it to the Administration. And what overall effect has it had? Absolutely nothing. But a cabinet position will allow him to influence policy every single day.