vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen

5.21.2008

Dean leaving DNC?

Looks like Howard Dean's three-year ride as chairman of the Democratic National Committee is about to get hit by the game-over button.

Aides to Barack Obama are already in negotiations to put their own people in charge of the DNC once Obama formally and finally clinches the party's presidential nomination, and that means replacing Dean with an Obama loyalist like Paul Tewes, a key architect of the Illinois senator's victories in Iowa and elsehere. That's according to AP writer Nedra Pickler's story on the wire today (Click HERE for the full story).

The irony of all this is that many political observers see Dean's own upstart bid for the presidential nomination in 2004 as the precursor to Obama's success, in terms of the netroots' connection, the appeal to the young, and the similarity between Obama's "Yes We Can" chant and Dean's "You've got the power" mantra.

So what's next for Dean? He's managed to turn himself into a national figure and has been in politics now for nearly 30 years, but he's only 59 years old and undoubtably doesn't want to fade into the sunset just yet.

So how do he do as DNC chairman? What's up next for him? A post in an Obama administration, if it happens? A return to Vermont politics? A return to Democracy for America or something like it?

-- Sam Hemingway

posted by vt.Buzz | 10:11 AM |

Comments:

Hopefully he will become ambassador to Mynamar where he can do for that country what he did "to" Vermont.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:47 AM, May 21, 2008

Maybe Bernie would hire him to do his lawn!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:51 AM, May 21, 2008

This isn't a surprise to anyone. Any Democrat who gets elected President will want one of his or her own at the helm of the DNC.

Think of what Dean will have accomplished once President Obama is elected.

A Republican Senate turned Democratic.

A Republican House turned Democratic.

A Republican White House turned Democratic.

A 50 state strategy that was panned by critics, which was very, very succesfull.

Look for more good things to come from Governor Dean.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:56 AM, May 21, 2008

Howard Dean was a better Governor than Jim Douglas ever dreamed of being!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:57 AM, May 21, 2008

Howard was laughed at by the Clintons, by James Carville, by Terry McAuliff for his 50 state state strategy.

BUT - it worked!

The GOP controlled US House is now firmly Democratic.

The US Senate is now Democratic and expected to increase its majority!

And Democrats across the country have been elected to state legislatures, and local races as well.

Heck, the NH legislature turned Democratic for the first time in 2006.

Go ahead Bubba, laugh! Fortunately, you will be laughing at the GOP!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:02 AM, May 21, 2008

There are always times when the electorate turns to another party in difficult times even if it will only make matters worse. Even the Brits kicked out their war hero Winston Churchill. To equate Dean to recent dimocrat success after all of these years is like saying we had severe hurricanes a few years ago because of global warming! Believe me, the south and other parts of the country are more Republican now than prior to Dean; I can promise you that IF (shudder) a dim becomes our next President, they will screw things up so bad that the elections of 2010 will reverse all of this nonsense. Just look at 1994!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:00 PM, May 21, 2008

Howard can claim he accomplished all of this but he is nothing more than a person in the right place at the right time.

Political cycles ebb and flow over time. The inroads the Dims have made are more accurately attributable to the GOP straying from the principles that have always resonated strongly with the American people:

1. Less government is better than more government

2. People should have the right to decide how to spend their money. The Gov't shouldn't do it for them by uncontrolled spending programs and increased taxation.

3. Moral values and freedom of religion are important.

4. Transparency in Gov't is good. It helps people buy in to the decisions made.

Sadly Bush has strayed from many of these tenets. Republicans want a return to traditional values and the Dims just want to force legislative gridlock to compound the problems (they really haven't offered implementable, affordable solutions in a long, long time...just rhetoric).

IMO, this has frustrated those in the center to take a position of just wanting to ‘throw the bums out’. What is tragic when this happens is people take change for change’s sake in the most obvious form, in this case the Dims/Obama. They don’t seek change framed by the values that ultimately are so important to them. Unfortunately what happens is ‘buyer’s remorse sets in after the emotions settle and they regret the hasty choices they made. To a great extent you see that now in the late stage primaries where Obama can’t really close the deal and his ratings are slipping as people start to vet him more completely.

This isn’t the first time we have been here and won’t be the last and by the way has happened to both Parties.

Captain America

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:22 PM, May 21, 2008

The Republicans have joined the dims in irresponsible spending and it has come back to hurt them; however, much of what has happened to Bush (inheriting the 2000 Clinton recession, the terrible hurricanes and New Orleans, finally having to confront terrorism after 8 years of heads-in-the-sand mentality, and the escalating oil prices caused mainly by China, India, and speculators)haven't exactly been his fault; ironically Bush gets blamed for the oil prices when it has been dims like Sanders and Leahy who have voted against oil independence as recently as last week! Go figure!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:30 PM, May 21, 2008

The Dems have indeed achieved a majority in the Legislature and will probably increase during this election. Dean can take some credit but before he gets a sore hand patting himself on the back, the war in Iraq had more to do with the political change than Dean himself. Dean is an elitist and will fit in good in any liberal setting. Just be careful what we wish for in this coming election. The Dems won seats in the last election by promising: 1)End Iraq War; 2)National Health Care; 3)lower gas prices; 4)longer House work days/weeks; 5)Alternative Energy policy.
So far 1)No end to war; 2)no national health plan (thank god); 3)higher gas prices (Bush didn't go to war for Iraq's oil after all); 4) back to 3-day weeks/30 week/yr; 5)only alternative energy is bio-fuels using 18 million acres of what used to be grain/wheat thus raising havoc with food cost.
We want change alright- back to normal.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:38 PM, May 21, 2008

Liberal, elitist dims think the average working stiff is so stupid that they will believe anything the dims tell them; but when it comes to producing ANYTHING except personal gain for them selves and their hanger-ons, they are useless (i.e., B. Sanders I, Vt). In a way, if it weren't for the dire results inflicted on friends and family, I would welcome a dim trio of Pres, House, and Senate - just to be able to say "I told you so" (As I did after Clinton's first two years which resulted in two accomplishments: (1) Biggest tax increase in history (2) A health care plan so bad even the dims rejected it. ) Let the good times roll, suckers!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:05 PM, May 21, 2008

"Elitist" is sipping Perier from a multi-million dollar family estate in Kennebunk when you own another multi-million dollar mansion in Texas.

“Elitist” is when every dollar you ever earned came by way of Daddy’s connections.

We did a lot better under Bill Clinton than we've done under GW Bush.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:32 PM, May 21, 2008

anon 10:57
Howard Dean was a better Governor than Jim Douglas ever dreamed of being!
Howard might have been a good Governor of Chittenden county but for the rest of Vermont he was terrible. You guys blame Douglas for the bad roads and bridges but Dean left them this way while he was building mega information booths($7 mil) in Williston (while closing those outside Chittenden county), he built cycle bridge and bike paths around the state while ignoring bridges and roads.
Dean passed Act 60 (remember) when the state education budget was $600 million- now it is $1.6 billion and there are 12,000 fewer students now then when Act 60 passed. It was beneath Dean to visit working people around the state (unless photo ops). Dean is responsible for leaving Vermonters with the highest tax per capita in the country. Dean, the elistist, would say "it's okay to tax Vermonters, I know what's best for you and I will decide how best to spend your tax money". The only politician in Vermont with a bigger ego then Dean is Pat Leahy.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:38 PM, May 21, 2008

Karen Kerin for DNC Chair!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:40 PM, May 21, 2008

anon 1:32
Get your facts straight- the multi-million dollar ranch in Texas is a 4 bedroom- 1-story home approx 4200 sq ft. that is almost energy free.- worth considerably less than millions. The Kennebunk home is his dad's- not his. Now compare your ridiculous statement with what Al Gore owns for houses (3) each well over 10,000 sq ft. and John Edwards- he has a 28,800 sq ft home as well as a 20,000 sq ft beach home. Now John Kerry with 5 houses totaling over $500 million in value.
And like I said- Dean is an elitist- his daddy was a stockbroker in Manhattan- if the shoe fits-wear it.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:47 PM, May 21, 2008

It's a Bush family estate in Maine. It's worth Millions.

The estate in Texas is worth millions.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:08 PM, May 21, 2008

How about McCain. John and Cindy are worth about half a billion (he didn't earn it, he married into it.) And he's spent over half of his life in Washington DC.

McCain is the picture of an elitist.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:10 PM, May 21, 2008

Dean's rich family managed to get him out of the draft by finding a willing "doctor" to claim he had back "problems". As soon as he got his deferment sending someone else in his place, it was off to Vail for a little ski-bumming with his rich pals. Talk about your definition of elitist!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:11 PM, May 21, 2008

Perhaps Dean could run against Welch this fall.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:38 PM, May 21, 2008

Whatever Dean decides, I am sure he will continue to bash Bush and McCain. Dean will be a cheerleader for Obama, who has a paper thin resume with only 1 1/2 years in national politics (he has been campaigning almost since he was elected to the Senate). He talks with a silver tongue and has "Pied Piper" qualities that have people swarming to his side even if he can't back up his rhetoric.
Obama wants to negotiate with Armajinidad but he doesn't have the courage to talk to O'Reilly OR Sean Hannity. Some brave leader!
And- for those "bigotted" Republicans- the last 6 years have seen the highest number of minority home ownership as well as business ownership in history.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:51 PM, May 21, 2008

How about Jim "Middlebury College" Douglas:

-political insider
-net worth over $2 million
-faux ivy league degree in Russian
-can't bait a fish hook

Yep. Jimmy's an elitist.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:04 PM, May 21, 2008

Has Gaye ever skinned a deer?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:34 PM, May 21, 2008

Civil unions need to happen so Bubba and NEK can be officially married. They seem to love each other so much, and they share the same opinions on everything. A match made in heaven. You boys go!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:46 PM, May 21, 2008

Ho-ho for Lite Guv!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:39 PM, May 21, 2008

I can see Howard as EPA Secretary, or head of HHS.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:40 PM, May 21, 2008

Bill Richardson -- VP
Colin Powell - State (redemption!)
John Edwards -- AG
Joe Biden -- Defense
Dennis Kucinich -- Labor

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:46 PM, May 21, 2008

"Has Gaye ever skinned a deer?"

Has she ever pretended to be a hunter?

(btw, actual Vermonters say "skun a deer -- not skinned.)

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:50 PM, May 21, 2008

Richardson is too freeky for VP.

Anthony Zinni should be Obama's VP pick.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:51 PM, May 21, 2008

Dean would be a good Surgeon General -- though it might be a bit beneath him at this point.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:53 PM, May 21, 2008

Vermont Democrats are a sad group at the moment.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:56 PM, May 21, 2008

Vermont Republicans are a sad group at the moment.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:19 PM, May 21, 2008

Vermont Progs are a sad group at the moment.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:20 PM, May 21, 2008

bubba said...

"There are always times when the electorate turns to another party in difficult times even if it will only make matters worse. Even the Brits kicked out their war hero Winston Churchill."

Thanks, as always, for that factually-challenged/fundamentally-dishonest/ignorant-trash with a side of bupkis perspective, little bigot boy.

Who's Winston Churchill in this latest lunatic-fringe fantasy of yours, little bigot boy, chicken-hawk shrub whose grandfather was helpin' to bankroll the bombs Hitler was droppin' on the Brits during the Battle of Britain as gop isolationists were doing everything in their power to keep us out of the War while some of them admired and profited from Hitler's efforts?!!

Oy, Gevalt! You are the subhuman, gop-slop spewin', delusional-dreck dealin' auntie-amerikan gift that keeps on givin', little bigot boy.

Even by your subhuman, gop-slop spewin' standards, that farcockteh dreck's just whacked, little bigot boy.

We are less safe now than we were before Shrub seized power and the gops took control of Congress in '94

"To equate Dean to recent dimocrat success after all of these years is like saying we had severe hurricanes a few years ago because of global warming!"

Gee, ya better tell McSame, little bigot boy. Even he was down in New Orleans promisin' white gops that he was a new kind of gop and "nothing like the incompetent Fed Response to Katrina would ever happen again under his administration and the new gop."

Evidently, he didn't get the "there's no such thing as global warming" memo, little factually-challenged bigot boy.

"Believe me, the south and other parts of the country are more Republican now than prior to Dean;"

Yeah, that must be why they keep losin' seats in Louisiana and Mississippi every time they have a Special Election there when some gop trash like Trent Lott decides to jump before he gets pushed.

Evidently, he doesn't believe ya any more than I do.

Nice try, little fella.

"I can promise you that IF (shudder) a dim becomes our next President, they will screw things up so bad that the elections of 2010 will reverse all of this nonsense. Just look at 1994!"

Just look at '74.

The last time the gops held Congress and the White House for the better part of a decade they gave us the Depression, Pearl Harbor and a Europe under Hitler's boot, deduce bag.

Bush is the most unpopular President in US History, bubbles. That's the one thing in his life he's actually earned on his own merits.

Obama's losin' to Hillary, nitwit. He ain't losin' to McSame.

Take a look around, schmuck. The 43rd reich is goin' the way of the third and your lunatic-fringe "values" and utterly-psychotic "schools of thought" are about to be gone with the wind.

Now that's entertainment.

Always a pleasure.

Dismissed.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 10:02 PM, May 21, 2008

yawn

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:44 AM, May 22, 2008

Dean can only hope his far left buddies offer him a job. He has done a better job of organizing the groundwork then his predecessor, Terry McAuliffe but on a national scale no one pays any attention to him. He tried to intervene in MI & FL primaries and they both gave him the digit, He has since given each state no less than 3 deadlines to decide. He has also demanded the super delegates decide- at least 5 times and they ignore him. So the best Dean could do is be a under (way under) secretary of bike paths and foot bridges.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:31 AM, May 22, 2008

Come on - give Howard some credit!

Howard's 50 state state strategy was laughed at by: the political pundits, the Clintons, James Carville, Terry McAuliff, and most often by conservatives.

Surprise - Surprise, IT WORKED!

The GOP controlled US House is now firmly Democratic and expected to grow its majority!

The Dems picked up 3 Congressional seats in the past 6 or so months that were firmly entrenched in GOP hands!

The US Senate now holds a slim Democratic majority which is expected to increase in November!

And Democrats across the country are being elected to state legislatures, and local races as well.

Even the NH legislature (both House and Senate) turned Democratic for the first time in 2006 with an incumbent Democratic Governor!

And to top it off, challenger and former Governor Jeanne Shaheen is leading incumbent Sen John Sununu for the US Senate.

I can just see Bubba laughing now - reality is not one of his strong suits!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:56 AM, May 22, 2008

Bubba is down bathing in the tar pits with the rest of the dinosaurs.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:01 AM, May 22, 2008

An unopened bottle of Richard's...a new autographed "racy" picture of Keith Olbermann arrives in the mail...some juicy stuff on DailyKos from a cellmate of McCains in Vietnam that claims he wouldn't share his crust of bread...a "thank you" note from Bernie Ward...a new and wonderful night is beginning for jw...stay tuned.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:13 PM, May 22, 2008

bubba has left a new comment on the post "Dean leaving DNC?":

"An unopened bottle of Richard's...a new autographed "racy" picture of Keith Olbermann arrives in the mail...some juicy stuff on DailyKos from a cellmate of McCains in Vietnam that claims he wouldn't share his crust of bread...a "thank you" note from Bernie Ward...a new and wonderful night is beginning for jw...stay tuned."

In other words, little bigot boy, you're dumb, you're scum and ya got bupkis.

Thanks for clearin' that up, little factually-challenged fella.

You and auntie amerika best save that bottle and hoist a few for reverend hate-speech hagee and McSame's new-found devotion to dealing with Global Warming now that he's publicly embraced the latter and excommunicated the former, little factually-challenged bigot boy.

Always a pleasure.

Dismissed.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 7:37 PM, May 22, 2008

your schtick is as old as my grandpa's buckskin rubber, jw. i second the yawn.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:07 PM, May 22, 2008

Anonymous said...

"your schtick is as old as my grandpa's buckskin rubber, jw. i second the yawn."

And did your meshuggah grandpa steal that farcockteh bit from Jimmy Durante's grandpa's trash can before he taught ya how to misspell shtick, little factually-challenged/nameless-nitwit fella?

That's what I thought.

Thanks for your ignorant, ill-informed, anonymous perspective, schmuck.

Always a pleasure.

Dismissed.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 8:37 PM, May 22, 2008

Symington for Governor!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:48 AM, May 23, 2008

Pollina can win thats for sure.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:49 AM, May 23, 2008

Pollina has no chance - even if Gaye was not in the race!

He and his supporters say he deserves the opportunity - but what has Pollina done? Let's see:

A lot of rhetoric!

He has never won any election!

He has railed on Dems and
Republicans!

He showed up at GOP headqtrs on election nite 2002 and accepted thanks from newly elected Dubie.

And now he wants Dems to support him!

Why would we?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:30 AM, May 23, 2008

Anonymous has left a new comment on the post "Dean leaving DNC?":

"Pollina can win thats for sure."

Yeah, he put Dubie where he is. He just may save Doogie's job for him yet.

Always a pleasure.

Dismissed.

# Posted by:

JWCoop10 | 9:46 AM, May 23, 2008

Maybe Pollina and the Republicans can work together.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:04 PM, May 23, 2008

Stop!
My face is hurting from laughter!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:32 AM, May 26, 2008