Do you want to know how Howard Dean pulled it off? THIS is how:

[DFW]

He busted his ass for us nonstop for four years straight, that's how.

Read this part of an open farewell letter from DNC Treasurer Andy Tobias to contributors and friends:

(Andy is retiring after ten years as DNC Treasurer.)

"I, for one, and, I know, Howard Dean, for another, are truly grateful for
what you did to *make* it happen . . . and to make the 50 State Strategy a
success. (Alaska! we won a Senate seat in Alaska! "Opportunity favors the
prepared mind," as Gov. Dean is fond of quoting Louis Pasteur.)

(I know Howard is grateful because I was with him last night after he had
flown from American Samoa . . . having pledged to visit all the DNC states and
territories while chair . . . to Nigeria . . . having agreed to speak at a
conference . . . to Washington -- a l l b u t o n e l e g o f t h i s i n
c o a c h -- and then had come in straight from Dulles to work on some last-minute DNC
business that stretched out until nearly midnight, causing him to miss his plane to Vermont . . .
whereupon, to keep from wasting your hard-earned contributions, he retired to his office to sleep
on his couch until the first flight out in the morning. It was during the course of the evening
that he expressed again, as he always does, how much he appreciates the enormous support you gave
his efforts.)"

Howard gave the Democratic Party more time and energy than the Energizer Bunny, and I can only
imagine how effective he would have been at the cabinet level, had the incoming Obama administration
seen fit to ask him in. Our loss, but Howard could probably use a little down time. Too bad. The
country could have used a little more of Howard, assuming he had any more to give.

[slipslidingaway]

1. K&R thanks for posting...what a shame. n/t

[madfloridian]

2. Kick for sleeping on a couch in his office.

And flying coach that long distance.

[DFW]

3. Indeed. Neither is a very "Republican" thing to do

Especially a former Republican governor!

[madfloridian]

4. Surprised to see Tobias leaving after so many years.

Clean sweep sort of?

[DFW]

6. Andy has paid his dues

His S.O. has not been in the best of health lately, and Andy does have a professional
life outside the DNC. The fact that he has been doing this for ten years is, in itself,
a major miracle. He has rarely spent more than a week in one place in ten years, and after
serving under Howard, I don't think he would have wanted to stay on. After going from Terry
McAuliffe to Howard Dean, who would want to serve under someone who might not have been
anywhere near as dynamic, especially when 95% of all his goals at the DNC have essentially
been reached?

[madfloridian]

9. Agreed, he has served the party well.

Yes, that's a long time in such a position.

[wryter2000]

69. Don't forget, he's a pretty wealthy guy

Grew up in the Hamptons with a father who founded Dean Witter. Rich people don't have to be greedheads.

[BrklynLiberal]

77. His family was wealthy...but not "by Hampstons standards"

Political opponents have been reluctant to seize upon Dean's privileged early life. UPI quoted one of Dean's friends in his youth as saying "By Hamptons standards, the Deans were not rich. No safaris in Africa or chalets in Switzerland. Howard's father went to work every day. He didn't own a company, or have a father or grandfather who founded one, as mine did." Peggy Noonan wrote in the Wall Street Journal that "he doesn't seem like a WASP. I know it's not nice to deal in stereotypes, but there seems very little Thurston Howell, III, or George Bush, the elder, for that matter, in Mr. Dean...He seems unpolished, doesn't hide his aggression, is proudly pugnacious. He doesn't look or act the part of the WASP...It will be harder for Republicans to tag Mr. Dean as Son of the Maidstone Club than it was for Democrats to tag Bush One as Heir to Greenwich Country Day. He just doesn't act the part."<7>

Wikipedia

[Diane R]

5. K and R

[Lugnut]

7. K&R for Dr Dean.

:toast:

[midnight]

8. Dr. Howard Dean is a hero. Thanks for doing everything

possible for all of us. Much gratitude to you and especially your wife and children.....

[DFW]

11. They haven't seen him much lately, that's for sure

Although: Howard is very much a family man, and he has ducked out of sight, completely
unheralded in the press, on occasion to be with a son here, or a daughter there (I know
where, and this is not just a commuter flight from Burlington, either), and tries like
hell to be with Judith on weekends if it is at all physically possible, i.e. when he is
not sleeping on his couch at the DNC because he missed his flight.

[madfloridian]

12. You've been a good friend,, DFW.

He's lucky.

[DFW]

13. I'M the lucky one.

Howard is the man, here. I'm background music by comparison.

[BrklynLiberal]

78. I am somewhat envious that you know him personally.

I did travel up to New Hampshire for a rally when he was running for President. :D

[greendog]

10. k&r

[Usrename]

14. The unsung hero!

:patriot:

[machI]

15. Kicked and Recommended

[machI]

16. Let Howard Dean be an example. n/t

[connecticut yankee]

17. I'm annoyed

that Obama hasn't given him the credit that is due to him.

If it weren't for Howard, Obama would be working with far fewer Dems in congress.

[harmonicon]

23. If it weren't for Dean, Obama wouldn't have been elected president (nt)

[Left Coast2020]

43. I was hoping Obama would have made him Health & Human Severcies Sec.

There has to be somepace the good Doctor can fit into in this administration? He certanily knows about health care!

[harmonicon]

50. yeah, I hoped for a lot of things

... but I knew they wouldn't happen. As much as I think that Obama is a person who has only good intentions, politically he's very far to the right of myself and the politicians that I identify with. I wouldn't expect him to ask Dean to work for him, because I suspect they would but heads. I would have also liked to see an AG Kucinich or Nader, but that wasn't going to happen either.

[MindMatter]

76. This is not the end of the line

It is only starting. There are lots of places to make an impact.

[Captain Hilts]

66. Not true. nt

[harmonicon]

67. yeah?

So, Obama's success in traditionally Republican states had nothing to do with Dean's 50 state strategy? I somehow don't think so. Dean rebuilt the Democratic offices in those states which then enabled those state and local parties to help campaign for Obama. Dean also pioneered the fund-raising strategies and mechanisms which Obama went on to use to generate his massive campaign fund. If it weren't for Dean, the Democrats wouldn't have taken back congress in 2006, and the world that we live in now would be even more ugly than it is at present. I don't see how you can doubt this.

[FLAprogressive]

18. Such a shame that the DLC party is treating him like crap

[yawk09]

19. KICK

[yawk09]

20. & rec

[harmonicon]

21. I can't say it too many times:

the only thing that ever made me feel that I may be a Democrat was thinking, "If Howard Dean is a Democrat, then that's what I am too". I love that man and what he's done for our country.

[Auggie]

22. Thank you, Howard Dean. And all those volunteers who supported you.

[DrZeeLit]

24. Howard Dean is a class act. I hope the Obama team figures out what they're missing real soon.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

25. A big K&R

Howard Dean is simply a champion....what he accomplished by NOT being president was incredible. But I feel that even though he's leaving the political limelight for now, the ripples extend very far out indeed. I credit him for waking me the hell up.

To Doctor Governor Chairman Howard Dean: :toast: :loveya: :patriot:

[Not Sure]

26. Big K&R for Dr. Dean ~nt~

[Laelth]

27. k&r for the good doctor. n/t

:patriot:

:dem:

-Laelth

[shireen]

28. why?

why is this extraordinary man being snubbed by the Obama team? I don't get it.

I appreciate Obama, and am grateful to have him as president. But Obama was right; he is not perfect. I'm utterly mystified over this matter with Dean and Rick Warren's participation in the inauguration.

[bigwillq]

29. Thank you, Dr. Dean!

You're a class act! :bounce:

[KoKo]

30. We will NEVER FORGET...he's on the list of our NEVER FORGET's FOREVER!

Yeah...full caps but Howard deserves a big "Shout Out!"

[tbyg52]

38. NEVER FORGET!

:patriot:

[tnlefty]

31. Thanks for all of your hard work, Dr., Gov., outgoing chairman

Dean! Love ya.

[struggle4progress]

32. Howard Dean Moves On

Dem Chairman Steps Down Next Week, Ends 30-year Political Career

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 2009

(AP) Outgoing Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said Friday he would have liked to work in the Obama administration, but instead is embarking on a life in the private sector after nearly 30 years in politics ...

Dean said Obama was "very complimentary and kind about the 50-state strategy" when the two talked in Chicago's Grant Park after his Election Night victory speech. Others who overheard the exchange say Obama told Dean that he couldn't have won without him.

The party's image has also improved during Dean's four years as chairman. In an ABC News-Washington Post poll conducted in October 2008, 56 percent said they thought the Democrats would do a better job of coping with the problems the nation faces over the next few years, compared with just 23 percent for the Republicans. In June 2005, the Democrats had a much smaller advantage over the Republicans, 46 percent to 41 percent. And in October 2002, the Republicans held the edge, 51 percent to 39 percent for the Democrats.

Dean says a lot of the credit for Democratic electoral gains last year should go to "an extraordinarily exceptional candidate for president." He had nothing but praise for Obama and the president-elect's choice to run the party, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine ...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/16/politics/main4728517.shtml?source=RSSattr=Politics_4728517

[Sebastian Doyle]

33. We would not HAVE a Democratic party today if not for Dr. Howard Dean.

This party was dead and buried as of the 2004 election, and most of the damage was the suicidal capitulation of DLC cowardice, best exemplified in the Iraq War Sellout Vote of 2002.

Howard Dean brought this party back from the dead like only a doctor could. And I honestly don't know how we're going to survive without him. Especially given his weak assed replacement. :evilfrown:

[defendandprotect]

39. Agfee -- he also brought in a lot of younger people ....

We would not HAVE a Democratic party today if not for Dr. Howard Dean.
This party was dead and buried as of the 2004 election, and most of the damage was the suicidal capitulation of DLC cowardice, best exemplified in the Iraq War Sellout Vote of 2002.

Howard Dean brought this party back from the dead like only a doctor could. And I honestly don't know how we're going to survive without him. Especially given his weak assed replacement.

[mitchtv]

34. Dr Dean deserves a top ambassadorship

Paris? London? Madrid? Rome?

[HootieMcBoob]

35. Agreed n/t

:kick:

[DFW]

42. Howard is not the type to say he deserves anything. That's not why he did it anyway.

He accomplished far more than anyone thought possible in 2004.

WE are the ones who deserve HIM in some important post, and WE the voters
are the ones who got cheated out of HIS further service, and my take on that
is that the Obama team owes its party and supporters a BIG explanation as to
why. A friendly public pat for Howard on the back is NOT what I had in mind.

Maybe there's someone out there hidden in Obama's team who has Howard's inexhaustible
creative energy and positive outlook on things, as well as his experience, but if so,
that individual is being well-hidden and kept a big secret.

[BrklynLiberal]

79. Excellent idea.

[BlueMTexpat]

36. Treating Dean so shabbily is something that I am very

surprised ... and dismayed ... to see from an individual who is otherwise a class act.

Meeting with conservative pundits, dining with McCain, reaching out to all and sundry in the political arena ... the list goes on and on ... and Dean, who is probably the one person most responsible for creating the environment for Obama's election and for populating the House and Senate with Dems, is not asked to be in the Cabinet when he had specifically expressed an interest in being there. In fact, he's not even invited when the selection of his replacement is announced.

Does. Not. Compute. :banghead:

[JDPriestly]

45. Obama is basically a middle of the road conformist. Howard

Dean is a true maverick.

Obama is an extremely intelligent, very reasonable man. Howard Dean is a political genius.

Obama is utterly charming and able to reach middle America. Howard Dean inspires the Democratic base.

They compliment each other. Each of them can do what the other cannot.

If Obama wants to hold the Democratic Party together, he will need Howard Dean -- and Dennis Kucinich -- on his side.

Right now Obama is working really hard to please the extreme right. That is a huge mistake. It will never work.

Once Obama realizes just how important the Dean and Kucinich people are to him, he will turn to Howard Dean. He just doesn't realize how much he needs him yet.

[Historic NY]

37. Thank you Dr. Dean for making this "victory" possible.

[peacetalksforall]

40. This WH needs a Howard Dean to counter the DLC. I want him involved. I just

hope he doesn't drop out. I am DLC fearful based on their past lousy history with me.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

41. Kicking for Dr Dean...

He's a remarkable man of vision. I hope we see him again soon...The party needs him!

[Brucie Kibbutz]

44. I remember a speech he gave during the time

that so many Americans supported Bush and the invasion of Iraq. In those days anyone that made even the slightest criticism of Bush or the war would be persecuted by the neocons and the pro war media. Howard Dean was one of the few Democrats that didn't keep his mouth shut like so many of his cowardly colleagues in the Democratic party.

During that speech he pointed to a US flag on the stage behind the podium and said something to the effect of: "This flag stands for EVERY AMERICAN, not just Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney".

I don't know about y'all but for me, those were some dark times. His vocal opposition to the war machine, while so many of his colleagues stood by and said nothing, was an inspiration.

All honor to Howard Dean and his 50 state strategy! :patriot:

[mzmolly]

46. A kick for the good Doctor.

:kick:

I've stated previously that the Obama administration is foolish, not to tap the immense talent of this man.

[blm]

55. I think some of his advisors don't want to ADMIT that Dean's work for 4yrs allowed Dem votes to be

cast AND counted more thoroughly all over the country. THAT was a significant difference between 2000, 2002 and 2004 compared to 2006 and 2008.

Had Terry McAuliffe's strategy of sitting on his hands and doing NOTHING to build infratructure in states like Ohio and North Carolina would have made it extremely likely that BushInc would have stolen the election cycles of 2006 and 2008, too.

Obama's advisors can't admit that anyone BUT THEM won 2008, as if 2006 never happened.

[mzmolly]

74. I agree.

Ego's perhaps?

[blm]

83. Future income of the 'strategist' class. They need to pump up THEIR worth by downplaying who/what

made the REAL difference the last two election cycles. It's why they all piled on to blame Kerry in 2004. They couldn't admit election fraud and collapsed party infrastructure assured Bush stay in the WH. As many of the Clinton loyalists in the strategy ranks INTENDED.

[mzmolly]

84. Good point.

BTW, I meant egos not ego's. ;) Sheesh!

[BrklynLiberal]

80. Terry McAuliffe is not even good enough to shine Howard Dean's shoes!!

[Catamount]

47. I feel like shit to think he's gone! K&R

Why couldn't he become part of the cabinet...like the Surgeon General for instance?
I guess he might not want it anyway.
Bye bye Howard...again.:cry:

[Pastiche423]

48. When I heard about Obama's choice for CoS

I feared that Howard Dean would be out. Rahmbo was given what he had been salivating for since Howard Dean was chosen for the DNC Chairmanship.

A snap shot of the new DLC CoS:



"Emanuel had witnessed this struggle in Illinois, too: it was the party regulars versus the goo-goos. Emanuel, the Daley protégé, is a regular who believes money and a disciplined organization win elections. He seemed to see Dean as a goo-goo, a good-government reformer with a base of liberal idealists who are more educated and individualistic than your average Democratic machine foot soldier, but less reliable when you need someone to hand out palm cards on Election Day. The machine has been paving over goo-goos since the 19th century. As a beery alderman once put it, "Chicago ain't ready for reform."

When Emanuel and Sen. Charles Schumer of New York met with Dean to ask him to shift money to congressional races, Emanuel mocked the former Vermont governor as a political lightweight from a tiny, rural, homogenous state. "No disrespect, but some of us are arrogant enough, we come from Chicago, we think we know what it means to knock on a door," Bendavid quotes Emanuel as telling Dean. Emanuel "slammed his hand on the table," then continued his tirade: "Look, Chuck comes from Brooklyn. I come from Chicago. It ain't Burlington, Vermont. Now, we understand that Burlington knows a lot about grassroots politics and we know nothing. I know your field plan -- it doesn't exist. I've gone around the country with these races. I've seen your people. There's no plan, Howard."

According to Bendavid, Emanuel left the room vowing not to be seen with Dean if the Democrats lost on Election Day. When Dean eventually offered $20,000 a race, Emanuel told him to fuck off. (Not literally -- although it's plausible.) Eventually, Dean ponied up a $12 million nationwide get-out-the-vote drive."



Howard Dean deserves high respect from Obama. As been said many times on this thread, Obama most likely would not be where he is today if it had not been for Dean. Unfortunately Dean won't get any. He worked for the people which will not be tolerated by TPTB.

[BrklynLiberal]

81. This post deserves as REC.

[cali]

49. Here's to Dean who embodied political courage and democratic

principles, brilliant strategy and sheer dogged perseverance.

[Myrina]

51. I am sure Mr. Dean would love to spend some time with Mrs. Dean ...

... and in 2 years, during the inevitable mid-term Cabinet shakeup, he may be ready to put his shoulder to the wheel again.


:patriot: Howard Dean will always be my hero!! :applause:

[JNelson6563]

52. I love Howard Dean.

Will be forever grateful for what he did for us. They really stuck it to him in the 04 primaries and he coulda walked away to let us all sit in our own poop and cry. Instead he worked ridiculously hard to help save the country from the Rethugs. That has got to be the epitome of grace in defeat.

Julie

[cachukis]

53. Dr. Dean challenged the establishment back in '04.

Dr. Dean will not be put in a position to establish the new establishment. He was right after all. The establishment went after the blue states and their machines. Dean wanted to represent what was good and smart about the country no matter where it was.

My sense is that leaders come along after the momentum has started on the street.

I hope his is not a fade into the sunset, but I for one will remember him as the "Changer!"

[WillyT]

54. Thank You Dr. Dean !!! - K & R !!!

:patriot:

:loveya:

:kick:

[MsLeopard]

56. Many thanks to you, Dr. Dean!

And so sorry for the Rahm Emanual petty and childish snub of you. You deserve infinitely more respect from the new administration than you have been given. K&R

[madokie]

57. The doctor was my first choice back in '04

[Peregrine Took]

65. I remember going up to Milwaukee seeing him speak in a parking lot.

There were a few hundred people there if that.

I held up a sign that said "Chicago for Howard Dean" and I saw it catch his eye.

What a wonderful person and a man of complete integrity.

[janet118]

58. My short peek at Dean's energy level and frugality

During his presidential campaign, Howard was on Hardball with Chris Matthews. The show was live at Harvard's Kennedy School and a fellow volunteer and friend of mine was tasked with driving Dean to and from Logan Airport. I had volunteered to gather contact info of attendees outside the venue. At the side entrance, my friend was waiting in his car surrounded by campus security guards. Howard was still inside the building shaking hands and talking with the people who had been in the audience. As the crowd thinned out, my friend called me over and we were talking. Two young members of Howard's staff came out to the car and told us Dean would be out soon. While we waited, they joked with the guards and pretended to run in place beside the car like secret service agents. Everyone was laughing when Howard walked briskly towards the car smiling. He shook hands with the guards and thanked them. He spoke briefly with us regulars and jumped into the passenger seat of the decidedly non-luxury vehicle. The two staff members got into the back seat and, as they were all driving away, Howard was already talking on his cell phone and waving.

Talk about your multi-tasking.

My friend told me later that Howard had chatted with him all the way from Logan to what had to be a very stressful appearance on Hardball. Dean had asked about his family and they talked about issues and volunteer activities going on in Massachusetts.

I saw Howard quite a few times during that campaign and he was always focused, organized and upbeat. He didn't waste time or money. He treated his staff and volunteers with respect. He is the real thing.

[DFW]

72. You pegged it. Howard IS the real thing.

I have known him since he was Howard Who? When I was introduced to him, he was "thinking"
of running for President, and I said "how is he going to do that if no one outside of
Vermont has ever heard of him?" Well, after I met him, it was pretty obvious how. He had
ideas, inspiration, and was straight with anyone who wanted to listen, whether one person
in a hotel room corner or a crowd of thousands. He was always inspirational, and the country
did listen. In less than two years, he went from Howard Who? to being on the cover of Time
and Newsweek without having held any elective office other than governor of Vermont. You
don't do that without having something that inspires.

That part about sleeping on his office couch is so typical of Howard. One night a few years ago,
we were at a gathering (Rennaissance Weekend in Charleston, SC, if anyone has heard of it) that
goes from 8 AM far on into the night four days straight. At about 11:30 PM, I had finished my
last panel, showing about ten teenagers some techniques of the 12 string guitar (just about
every subject in the world gets discussed at Renaissance) and stopped in the hotel lobby to
chat to someone or other, when Howard walked by, having just finished his last panel. He saw
the guitar case and asked what kind of guitar I had. I pulled it out of the case, and he asked
to see it. Lo and behold, Howard is a Leo Kottke fan, just like me, and he and I spent the next
half hour trading our versions of Leo Kottke tunes back and forth. Howard is real people, not
just one of the most inspirational men in American politics--which is probably why he IS one of
the most inspirational men in American politics. He must scare the heebee jeebies out of people
like Rahm Emanuel (or Karl Rove).

[BrklynLiberal]

82. Do you think that Rahm Emanuel is Obama's Karl Rove?

[DFW]

85. I sure as hell hope not!

Emanuel may have ego issues, but to put him in the 100% evil
category, where Rove belongs, I think, and fervently hope, is
going a step too far.

[Phred42]

59. K & R For Dean - America, WE, Democracy OWE HIM !

:toast:

We can never allow that to be forgotten

[MasonJar]

60. I am certain that Rahm had a lot to do with Dean not even being invited

to the announcement of the new chair, but why did Obama choose Rahm in the first place? That says a lot to me about Obama. And after choosing the COFS he did, if Obama is a person who wants to represent us all, why did he snub Dean, when the most minor courtesy was called for? Why is he dining with the neo-cons and slapping all of us (that is, workers on the ground in all 50 states) in the face so unnecesarily? It is a conundrum worth staying on top of. Kudos to Howard Dean!

[cascadiance]

73. This better not be the case! Obama needs to let people know who's the boss! And it's NOT Rahm!

Obama should have got in his cabinet in my book, and if Rahm had a problem with that, he should have been told by Barack that "You can always use the door here Rahm! Remember, I'm the boss here!"

[Metta]

61. A loss to us all because Rahm Emmanuel has something up his ass about HD.

Petty and narrow minded. We're all less because he wants to shoot himself in the foot.

[tbyg52]

62. Where would we be without Dr. Dean?

:patriot:

[TankLV]

63. We shall surely miss the maginificent Mr. Dean and all he has done

to make obama's victory possible...

[sojourner]

64. K & R, to honor Dr. Dean and his remarkable accomplishment!

[wryter2000]

68. Amazing man

He'll be back if he's needed. This has always been about the country for him, not his own self-aggrandizement. Still, I wish he'd been better appreciated by the new folks in charge.

[truedelphi]

70. Obama, where art thou Brother? Where?

Kucinich and Issa, who understand the economic three card monte shell game being played by the nation's banking establishment - why are these two not among your economic advisers?

And Howard Dean deserves a great deal. If I were Obama, I'd scrap Daschle and let Dean takeover.

[Life Long Dem]

71. Boo hoo... I'm upset Obama didn't do any favors for Howard Dean

Boo hoo.
:cry:
Howard Dean we will miss you.

[BrklynLiberal]

75. A great man and a good man, a hero, and a man to whom we may owe more than

most of us will ever realize.

May his life continue to be filled with the goodness and joy that he deserves.

Dr. Dean, you are a gracious man, and we shall miss seeing you. The Obama administration will be
the poorer for not having you as a part of it.

:cry:

[DFW]

86. Update:

It appears that Andy Tobias has been asked to stay on as DNC treasurer.

Knowing him, if it is confirmed, he'll do it.

Poor Andy. Staying on under Tim Kaine after four years under Howard
will be like riding a mule after four years of riding a thoroughbred.