Howard Dean's advice to President Obama

[ProSense]

Via Steve Benen

Recommit to reform

By Howard Dean

My first piece of advice: Don’t panic. Focus outside Washington, and don’t listen to the talking heads who have little to no idea what is going on. Many Republicans themselves admit that the midterm results were not a signal of faith in Republican rule. Nor was it a “left vs. right” election, as so many inside-the-Beltway pundits tried to spin it. It was a repudiation of Washington—the kind of repudiation you campaigned on. While it’s true that the economy was the top issue for voters by a margin of 5 to 1 over health care, the weak job market was not Democrats’ only problem. The fact is that in 2006 and 2008 we promised change—and in many eyes we have not delivered enough of it.

Yes, your administration and the Democratic Congress have historic achievements under your belts, from stabilizing an economy in free fall to passing the health care bill. You should not be shy about reminding the American people of that. But the people who voted you into office—Democrats, Independents, Republicans—wanted something more. They wanted change in the way business is done in Washington. That we have not seen.

<...>

Which brings me to my second piece of advice: Remember that your supporters and many of those who voted against our party in November want essentially the same thing. The Tea Party may demand less government, but they aren’t actually eager to see Social Security and Medicare changed much, if at all. What they really want is exactly what the people who voted for me in 2004, for Democrats in 2006, and for you in 2008 wanted: their voices heard in the corridors of power in Washington.

It is not too late for you to reclaim your place as the Great Reformer. You got off to a good start by publicly criticizing the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling, which gave wealthy individuals and large corporations carte blanche to pour unlimited amounts of money into campaign ads with no disclosure requirements. (Although the tiny, but rich, corporate wing of the Tea Party loved that ruling, most Tea Party voters don’t want corporations calling the shots any more than they want government doing so.) As a next step in cleaning up Washington, you should take aim at the dysfunction of the Senate by calling for reform of the filibuster, an end to anonymous holds, and a nonrenewable time limit on all holds. The State of the Union provides you with an ideal pulpit to call for these changes. And guess who gets the blame if the Senate balks?

My third piece of advice is to take the lead on deficit reduction. The deficit is both our country’s greatest threat and the GOP’s greatest vulnerability. Republicans are essentially asking that we cut taxes for people who are making a million dollars a year while demanding that seniors accept reduced Social Security and Medicare benefits to pay for it. They want to kick kids off health care while insisting we build more cluster bombs and other weapons systems that the Pentagon neither needs nor, in many cases, wants.

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[Liberal_Stalwart71]

1. Here's where I think Howard Dean shines! Spot on! n/t

[patrice]

2. K & RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

[frazzled]

3. Obama's team announced several weeks ago that ...

After the new Congress starts in January, the President is going to be focusing outside Washington and spending more time around the country. And yes, the President already took the lead in the deficit reduction talks.

Howard Dean is a little late to the dance here. My advice to him is: read the newspapers so you don't give the President advice about things he's already done or announced he's doing.

[patrice]

5. Curious here: Please . . . Why could you not just celebrate their synchronicity for the sake of ALL

of us?

Honestly, really, and humbly asking: Why is it sooooooooooooooooo necessary to DIVIDE? I sincerely desire your enlightenment on this question.

[frazzled]

6. because it's not synchronicity

As I said, these things were announced weeks (and months ago). Perhaps the division is being sown by those who seek to publicly give "advice" to the administration. Real advice, if sincere, is given directly, and in private. Public advice is addressed to an audience, and is meant to suggest that the person to whom the advice is being given actually needs it or is deficient in seeing things clearly. Now THAT sows division.

[patrice]

26. Only the vulnerable have such reactions. Strong persons celebrate the truth above ALL else. nt

[frazzled]

33. Only the self-important give advice. Strong persons actually do things.nt

[patrice]

34. Like Howard Dean has not done anything? . . . wow. Why are you so pissed off? nt

[karynnj]

44. Of course Dean did things, but he actually has been rather side lined

for the last two years. He did try to be an outside force in support of the public option - and he started out very strong getting people to call Senators and putting up a website that showed which Senators were on board. The followup by his organization was less strong - even to the point of not updating the list as Senators shifted opinions. His comments on whether he would support the bill at the end were inconsistent.

It is not at all clear that Dean has a private path way to give Obama advice. I hope that he does have some inside line to at least someone in the administration, but it is not clear that he does. The point though is that as she says Obama has already stated that he intends to do what Dean is advising. The reason, in these times, that making it clear that he is agreeing with Obama is that the media is often distorting or not propagating Democratic goals. (Here, it is possible that Dean, a very intelligent, politically astute man, may not have gotten the message that this is what Obama intends to do.) We need Democrats amplifying Obama's message - when they agree with it.

[patrice]

36. And if that was directed at me, may I point out that you don't know shit about what I have done, so

Speaking of self importance, that makes you appear to be at least quite presumptuous, if not an outright bigot of somesort.

[frazzled]

38. My, my, my

you can dish it out, but you really can't take it one eeney little bit. Chill out. I wasn't talking about you.

[patrice]

39. Another assumption about what I can or can't do, but, chill I will nonetheless, just checkin' anway.

[rhett o rick]

52. Why does the DLC hate Dean? nm

[vaberella]

20. Sadly you'll find posters on this board who said that Dean is right on and Obama should follow it.

While Obama already announced this plan a week ago.

[patrice]

27. Well then, they're wrong too. That kind of thinking is OBSOLETE. I don't think Dr. Dean thinks like

that, nor does (obviously) the President.

That kind of stuff is harmful.

It's hurting Us.

I has to end.

[karynnj]

43. I can see that, but the same comment could be made to Dr Dean - he could have included

a sentence that indicated that he was supporting the direction Obama appears to be taking. It would actually help make the tone less "preachy" and a great defense of the Democratic position.

That said this is a very good oped by Dean even without that. I read it as someone who has followed where Obama is going and liked what he had to say. But, rereading it as if I didn't know that, it sounds like Dean is calling for a change rather than supporting what the President is doing. At this stage, we need people, when they agree, to have the President's back and make it clear they are supporting his leadership.

[midnight]

18. Well, sometimes President Obama says what needs to be said , and

then he does the opposite... Maybe the Doctor is reminding him in the best possible way not to rethink his judgement....


I realize the dance on Wall Street has been going full tilt,,,, but the doctor is talking about bringing the rest of the country to the dance....

[goddess40]

25. Advice needs repeating

Seem like the President is a slow learner.

[frazzled]

37. It's not advice if the person has already done it

Jesus, people. Just admit it. This is an example of Dean's annual foot-in-mouth stupid declaration (like last year's pronouncement that the New York Islamic Center should move).

Telling Obama not to panic, and giving him advice that is precisely what the president said he'd do weeks ago. He just looks foolish and presumptuous when he does stuff like this. But I guess as long as people eat it up, there's no reason to stop.

[rhett o rick]

47. Why does the DLC hate Dean? nm

[rhett o rick]

46. Is your point: "Obama said it firrrst, nana nana booboo".? How childish, how divisive. What is your

intention? Instead of being glad that Obama and Dean are on the same page, you seem to be encouraging division in the party.

[patrice]

4. Practical AND Brilliant!!!

[Lugnut]

7. K&R for Dr Dean! n/t

[emilyg]

8. Dean!

[impik]

9. I stopped reading at:

"Don't panic". It's hilarious that anyone - especially Dean - would tell the coolest president ever to "not panic".

[Hawkowl]

11. You're right!

He calmly and ineptly drove the Democratic Party off a cliff to a historically disastrous midterm election. Coooool! He never panics because he always has a way out--capitulate to whatever the Rethuglicans and Wall Street wants.

[ProSense]

13. Here's a reminder

from the OP:

Yes, your administration and the Democratic Congress have historic achievements under your belts, from stabilizing an economy in free fall to passing the health care bill. You should not be shy about reminding the American people of that.

"He calmly and ineptly drove the Democratic Party off a cliff to a historically disastrous midterm election."

He calmly kept the Senate, which is historical in itself and puts a historical buffer between himself the rabid right wingers in the House.

[Hawkowl]

14. "He" didn't keep the Senate

The Senate was designed by the founders not to be turned over every 2 years. That's why only one third of the seats are up for re-election. The Democrats lost 23 out of 36 Senate elections. If the entire Senate had been up for re-election, the Democrats would hold about 40 seats.

Stabilized economy? That's like saying an airplane crashed on the ground and is stabilized because it is no longer moving.

[ProSense]

15. If?

"The Senate was designed by the founders not to be turned over every 2 years. That's why only one third of the seats are up for re-election. The Democrats lost 23 out of 36 Senate elections. If the entire Senate had been up for re-election, the Democrats would hold about 40 seats."

So you're going to make up an imaginary situation to write off the fact that Democrats kept the Senate?

[Hawkowl]

17. Your rhetoric is sloppy

I don't deny the Democrats held the Senate. I deny that Obama was the proximate reason. In fact I say Obama's political ineptitude is the reason the Dems lost 23 of 36 senate races.

One more victory like this, and 2012 will be the end of the Democratic Party.

[AtomicKitten]

19. So according to you he's responsible for losing the House but not for keeping the Senate.

It's your analysis that is sloppy.

[Hawkowl]

23. You can't read

I said Obama is the proximate cause of losing the House AND losing 23 OUT OF 36 SENATE RACES. They are both losses.

[AtomicKitten]

30. LOL. Try as you might with pretzel logic, you can't have it both ways.

I refer you to the tongue-in-cheek twitter by Josh Marshall of TPM after the midterms:

@joshtpm How can the Dems stop the Republican agenda when they only control the Senate and White House?

[ProSense]

21. "I don't deny the Democrats held the Senate. I deny that Obama was the proximate reason. "

Previously: "He calmly and ineptly drove the Democratic Party off a cliff to a historically disastrous midterm election."

So the President is only responsible for the negative outcomes?

He stood by Michael Bennet despite harsh criticism from some. Michael Bennet won.

"One more victory like this, and 2012 will be the end of the Democratic Party."

If it makes you feel better to think that, enjoy.

[Hawkowl]

24. It doesn't make me feel better

Once again you are sloppy, (or being deliberately obtuse. Is this your full time job?)

Obama is responsible for losing 23 out 36 Senate races.

If it makes YOU feel better, we can say Obama is responsible for winning 13 out of 36 Senate races. Welcome to mathematics.

[ProSense]

28. Sloppy math

Obama is responsible for losing 23 out 36 Senate races.

How is President Obama responsible for losing 23 seats when there were only 13 incumbent Democrats running and six Democrats retiring?

Democrats lost six seats.

[Hawkowl]

29. Good gods!

36 SEATS WERE UP FOR ELECTION. Is it not the responsibility of the Democratic Party to contest each and every race? Or is it just responsible for the easiest races? The President is the leader of the party. He chose Tim Kaine. He approves the strategy. He is the fund raiser and chief. He stuck his hand in supporting primary candidates.

What part of responsible don't you understand? Do you not understand hierarchal organizations? How about Harry Truman's leadership for dummies comment: "The buck stops here"?

Do you deny that the President is the leader of the party? Do you deny that being the leader makes one responsible for underlings failures?

[ProSense]

31. Hmmmm?

"36 SEATS WERE UP FOR ELECTION. Is it not the responsibility of the Democratic Party to contest each and every race?"

Maybe he should have chosen you because evidently saying anything makes it so.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[GoCubsGo]

12. He's not going to panic, but...

There are an awful lot of people in his party that have panicked, are panicking, and will panic in the future. I believe what Dr. Dean wrote is most likely meant for the whole party, not just the President, as he's not in this alone.

[patrice]

32. Precisely. And I must say I'm kind of surprised at Dems who would think Dean would say stuff he

doesn't already understand and agree with as some important aspect of the truths that this party needs to deal with.

I cannot trust anyone who thinks Dr. Dean would parrot something/anything purely for political base-building predicated on conflict.

The President made moves that Dean happens (already) to agree with and Dean communicated that fact to the rest of us, so it includes related things that he is saying TO US.

[vaberella]

22. Pretty much. n/t

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pnorman]

10. "My first piece of advice: Don’t panic. Focus outside Washington"

I've seen absolutely NO sign that Obama has "paniced" (to the consternation of some Obama-haters here). His primary goal is to ensure a Democratic victory in 2012. And that's what he appears to be doing, trading territory for time whenever necessary.

[midnight]

16. Thank you Howard Dean for sending a hopeful cure to the greed that

continues to choke this Country....


First- It's not to late to try and get main street out of the ditch....

Second- There is a bridge between the left and right on main street- Hear our voices.

Third-Deficit talk.... Republicans create largest deficits then shift payment of those fiscally irresponsible decisions on main street and make them pay for it.

[The Wizard]

35. Dean is spot on

and the Obama Administration (Rahn Emanuel) wanted him out of the way. Obama/Emanuel really dropped the ball with Dean.
Maybe they just don't like a powerful voice of reason interfering with their rush to embrace Republican ideals.

[BzaDem]

41. Ruh Roh... Howard Dean recognizes that the health care bill is an "historic achievement."

How long will it be before he is thrown under the bus along with all the other Democrats that supported the bill?

[dreamnightwind]

42. Maybe Dean wasn't late

This is the January/February edition of Washington Monthly, with no date on the web page.

From the article:

"Republicans are essentially asking that we cut taxes for people who are making a million dollars a year while demanding that seniors accept reduced Social Security and Medicare benefits to pay for it. "

That reads to me like Dean said this before Obama signed onto the welfare for billionaires tax cuts. I think this article is being critiqued in this thread as if it's fresh out of Howard's mouth, when it's probably just a little out of date.

I really like how Dean is focusing on less Pentagon spending. Too bad our Afghan-hawk global-war-on-terra fighting POTUS isn't doing the same. Will we continue to have by far the strongest and most active military on the planet even while many of our own citizens are falling hopelessly into poverty, losing their homes, dying from poor health care, while our country's infrastructure suffers, states are selling off government assets just to balance their budgets, while retirees and future retirees are facing impossible financial situations?

Time to decide what's really important. Having the world's most bloated military to prop up a crumbling empire is pretty much dead last on my list of priorities, and it's way past time our elected officials do something about it.

While we're at it, use the Republican's efforts to repeal healthcare reform as an opportunity to implement a much-cheaper medicare-for-all program that de-couples healthcare from employment and phases out private health insurers, a plan I believe Dr. Dean supports.

I so wish Dean would run in the primaries. We really need to have these conversations on a national level, and only a viable POTUS challenge from the left can drive those discussions.

[karynnj]

45. Almost EVERY Democrat said something similar to that since

at least 2003 - and probably 2001 when the tax cuts were enacted over the no votes of most Democrats.

[patrice]

50. +1 google. I'd work for Dr. Dean if he primaried Obama, for Peace & for Medicare for All. nt

[patrice]

51. And for reducing "Defense" spending from 50% of revenues to 30%. nt

[Major Hogwash]

49. No, go ahead and hit the fricking panic button. Everyone else already did.

Clear back in 2000 when the Supreme Court put Bush in the White House.
And again when he let the attacks of September 11th happen.
And again in 2003 when he invaded Iraq because of those attacks.
And again when he stole Ohio in the 2004 election.
And again in 2008 when he endorsed McCain.
And again in 2008 when he asked for the bank bailout from Congress, so-called Tarp.
And again last year when he admitted that he ordered waterboarding in his book.

Can you hit the panic button?
Yes, we can!

Won't do us any good, but try to think "out of the box", whatever the frick'n'frack that means.