The arrogance by Daschle

[question everything]

As soon as Obama came to Washington, in January 2005, Daschle planted the seeds of running for the White House. And, like many early supporters he, no doubt, was hoping for an appointment in his administration.

Thus, Daschle had four years to "vet himself." He knew how this should be done.

In contrast to Geithner, who brings measurable skills to the job, does have a track record to qualify him to get this country out of the ditch, Daschle is dispensable. If she were not ill, I would vote for Elizabeth Edwards for the job. As a matter of fact, I hope that she does get some say in reforming our health care.

[BOSSHOG]

1. Daschle should go away

This "Oh I'm sorry" happy horseshit does not cut it. You are right about vetting oneself. And this year our tax situation is a very large pain in the ass but I've rolled up my sleeves, and I will read the regs and I will do what is proper and legal. I would expect the same from our cabinet members.

[SuperTrouper]

2. I agree. Daschle should withdraw and Howard Dean should take HHS

[avaistheone1]

5. That certainly would be ideal.

[nichomachus]

13. You mean they've run out of Republicans to appoint to things?

[roguevalley]

14. that would be nice. daschle has been in the trough too long to not

know that what he received was taxable. senate, whatever in the legislature, a lobbyist, his wife a lobbyist. he knew. The idiot. good riddance.

[eleny]

3. the vetting - good point!

[Joe Chi Minh]

4. Wasn't Daschle the earliest and keenest Dem to want to cooperate with Bush?

[TheDebbieDee]

7. I chalk that up to Daschle receiving an Anthrax-gram

the week after 9/11!

Being flat-out threatened/terrorized like that can make some people lose their spine.........

[Joe Chi Minh]

9. I feel bad about that. Glad you told me.

[Thrill]

6. If Daschle cared about Obama he would not accept the nomination

But he's a weasel.

[MarjorieG]

11. Obama thinks Daschle can really get health care done. Pragmatism always.

[karynnj]

8. Sorry, but Elizabeth Edwards brings far less than Daschle does

She is a great advocate for the effectiveness of having wellness healthcare, but she has never been in the Senate, never written a law and has less experience on health care than Daschle.

[question everything]

10. I don't know that members of the cabinet are selected based on their experience

in writing laws. This is what the legislative body - Congress - is for. And, of course, one always has aids.

But she can be a powerful advocate if we ever get serious about health care for all.

[karynnj]

12. On something as complex as the health care package,

it is clearly an asset if they have done this - though, of course, as you say, it is not necessary.

The one I think might be an interesting replacement for Daschle, if Obama went that way is Bill Bradley, my former Senator. He led a Senate effort that had a likely passable program that was an alternative to HRC's plan in the early 1990s - which the Clintons rejected. So, he was involved in healthcare as long ago as Daschle was. He was also an early supporter of Obama. (In recent years, he has been an advocate for open government - things like getting easily accessible databases where people could easily compare a Congress person's donors with the votes and bills he sponsors) I don't think he was ever accused of any corruption.

I am skeptical of EE because the Edwards pushed her as always having a health care advocate. The fact is that that started after 2004 - when she had cancer. That was an easy, compelling story to tell - honest and believable, but in a Daily Kos diary, she wrote she had always been an advocate of universal healthcare and that was why, before she had cancer, she pushed JRE to have a strong plan. Now, the JRE 2004 plan was just for kids and in one of the last primary debates in 2004, he blasted Kerry's plan, which did provide near universal access, as too expensive. So, her comment was revisionist history attempting to rewrite their 2004 position.

In addition, there was my annoyance that in her book, she spoke of not having known the K/E healthcare plan in 2004. Now, I was not involved other than as a volunteer going door to door and I found the healthcare plan on the website - it wasn't hidden. I also found something where Kerry's adviser spoke of how the plan was created - explaining how parts of it were designed to work and many reviews from experts - all by using the exotic tool - google. As the wife of the VP, it is pretty certain that had she asked - all of that and more would have been given her. Not to mention, she could have had a meeting with that advisor. If this were her biggest interest area, I actually think that she would have had all the things I spoke of IN THE PRIMARIES so she could see how the JRE's rivals compared to him.

With Obama, there might be a bigger issue. On the eve of the Iowa caucus, EE made an emotion laden comment that Obama's health care plan, if in place, would not have covered her cancer treatments because it was a pre-existing condition. This was not true. This means she either didn't read the basic information on Obama's website and chose to make this very specific allegation or it was a pretty blatant dirty trick.

Now, I do think life has given her some very tough blows - losing a child, incurable cancer, and the very public unfaithfulness of her husband (though her "my choices made me happier than HRC" was after she supposedly knew). That does not give her more experience or competence.

I do think that because people liked her and saw her respond so courageously to the return of her cancer that she is a very powerful advocate for speaking on the need for prevention and early detection. That she is intelligent and very articulate are major assets for this. However, there seems to be nothing in her background in terms of running a department or leading policy development.