Dr. Dean is Out
Writing in the Washington Post's political blog The Fix, Chris Cillizza today examines the political future of former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, the outgoing chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
With the economy in a tailspin, and few posts remaining in President-elect Barack Obama's administration, it seems clear that Dean may have to look outside of Washington, DC for his next gig.
Cillizza writes:
Cillizia adds that the man who "ushered in an era of person to person politics linked by technology, finds himself as a man without a home speaks to the vast chasm between how he is perceived by the netroots and the party regulars."
Washington and party insiders, like Obama's chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, never liked Dean or his 50-state strategy.
In a recent interview with comedian DL Hughley on CNN's DL Hughley Breaks the News, Dean said he didn't feel vindicated by the fact that his 50-state strategy is being credited with the Democratic takeover of the White House and Congress.
Here's the exchange Dean had with Hughley:
DEAN: No... Rahm ended up as chief of staff to Barack Obama so I don’t feel too vindicated.
DL: You were right... but it was amazing...
DEAN: Ah, DL I might have been right but I’d rather be chief of staff.
Ouch.
Rather than secret talks with Illinois Gov. Rod Blogojevich, you can imagine Emanuel saying this about Dean as a cabinet pick: "Look, I don't give a (bleep) about his 50-state strategy. These posts are (bleep) gold. I'm not going to appoint that (bleep) to (bleep) position in this (bleep) adminstration. Let him go scream his (bleep) head off."
Dean was seen as a leading candidate for Health and Human Services Secretary, but that post went to former Sen. Tom Daschle. More recently, Dean was reported to be lobbying for the post of Labor Secretary. However, it appears as if that job will be handed over to Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
Given his recent talk at the NIH, one has to wonder if health care will be to Dean what global warming was to former Vice Pres. Al Gore.
Cillizza does believe Dean will reemerge in politics in the future, but not in Vermont.
Who knows? It's a long time between now and 2010 and at the rate that Obama is plucking members out of the Senate take on roles in his new administration perhaps Sen. Patrick Leahy will end up with a plum post.
Attorney general if Eric Holder's nomination falls flat? Supreme Court justice? Ambassador to Canada? OK, maybe not.
There are those pesky rumors Leahy may not run for reelection in 2010, but I find that hard to believe given the Democratic gains and his top ranking in the Senate. He's now the fourth most senior member of the Senate.
In any event, if you hear of any good jobs out there for Howard Dean — feel free to pass them along.
"Attorney general if Eric Holder's nomination falls flat? Supreme Court justice?"
Um . . . you kinda hafta actually be a lawyer to be Attorney General or Supreme Court justice? Dean's a lot of things, but he's not a lawyer.
Posted by: I'm Just Sayin' | December 18, 2008 at 07:29 PM
dude, you spelled the journalist's name wrong. It is Cillizza.
Posted by: evening | December 18, 2008 at 08:55 PM
Top Ten List
Some call it being properly vetted. Journalist must realize America needs and deserves to know exactly what it was in vetting processes that precluded Mr. Dean from an Embassy position in Timbuktu.
10. Who of great import could Mr. Dean have gotten the ire of?
9. Has he said something about someone he shouldn't have?
8. Could the alleged “chip” on his shoulder be a monkey?
7. A "My excrement has no unpleasant odor" attitude?
6. Was it his racial stance with Native Americans?
5. Could the scream still have an echo?
4. Who are the skeletons in his closet?
3. Intellectual Horsepower issues?
2. Integrity questions?
1. Too short?
Posted by: kb richard | December 24, 2008 at 12:40 PM