I think Howard Dean should run for president

[Rosa Luxemburg]

Why not?

[Fridays Child]

1. I don't have a "why not."

I think he should run for president, too.

[grasswire]

2. my dream ticket -- Dean and Schweitzer

Perfect.

If nothing else, Dean could draw the campaign to the left.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. He is extremely experienced

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Because he has shown signs of having sold out to Big Pharma?

Jonathan Cohn, a health care writer for The New Republic, accused Dean of writing his op-ed on behalf of Big Pharma. Writes Cohn:

Since his career in politics ended, Dean has found a home in the K Street establishment he once held in such disdain. He’s a strategic adviser to McKenna, Long, and Aldridge, a major Washington lobbying firm whose clients have included health care and pharmaceutical companies. Dean has never registered as a lobbyist, as far as I know, but the distinction is largely illusory. In 2009, one CEO told the publication BioCentury that Dean was “very helpful” in their efforts to loosen federal regulations on drug development.” Another said that “Dean has been a great addition to our team.”

It looks like he still is.


Read more: Howard Dean Defends His Work For Lobbying Firm After Backlash | TIME.com http://swampland.time.com/2013/07/30/howard-dean-defends-his-work-for-lobbying-firm-after-backlash/#ixzz2kljZ6xcD

[pscot]

5. There's not much there

besides innuendo. Chew on this. Hillary picked up $400k the last week in October by giving a couple talks to employees of the Giant Vampire Squid. Blankfein gave her an autographed photo of himself sitting on a bale of money. Gimme Dr. Dean any day.

[Jackpine Radical]

25. I hope you're not mistaking me for a Hillary supporter.

Given a choice between these 2, I'd go for Dean too.

I was, after all, one of the original Deaniacs in 2003, even though it was starting to become clear that long ago that he was not exactly a flaming liberal.

[geek tragedy]

35. Here's a scandalous source claiming Dean tells corporate healthcare clients

that they should donate to Republicans if they donate to Democrats.

#

Bonus quote:

"What we mostly do is keep corporations out of trouble."

[Rosa Luxemburg]

8. I hear you, however...

I think Howard is better than most of them? There's also Bernie and Liz.

[Jackpine Radical]

24. --either of whom would be fine with me.

[dionysus]

6. yes!

[Whisp]

7. Compared to the 'frontrunner' now, YES!

but compared to who ever may yet enter, maybe.

I like Dean overall, I think he is a very smart and articulate and quick witted man but haven't really done the Google on him.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

9. He did a grand job as chair

and he is fierce

[proud patriot]

10. I can support that

[Rosa Luxemburg]

11. Great!

[ancianita]

12. I don't think he cares to deal with the empty arrogance and bullshit machine that is congressional

politics. The fact that he and Rahm didn't get along is a plus, though. I just don't think he has the patience or stamina to put up with all the media theater and mountain of responsibility that go with the job of president.

Maybe I underestimate his capacities, but I think he'd fight for a more visible national presence for himself if he wanted to. He just doesn't want to.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

13. He did a good job as chair and he had to put with a lot of garbage

He has the strength and intellect to deal with congress.

[ancianita]

14. Granted. He's been a great leader at whatever he chooses. I just think he doesn't want the job.

Though I would donate and campaign as hard for him as I did for Obama. Which was a lot. I LOVE Dean. I just don't see any Big Donors lining up behind him. He doesn't bode well for their running the corporate show that is America.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

16. I wish corps weren't in the picture.

If I had my way there would be no donors. People would run on their merit without big sponsors and ads.

[ancianita]

17. We all wish that. If Dean could make some advanced concessions to the right Big Money donors,

-- it's not as if he doesn't have Hollywood behind him -- he could seriously get traction. Bottom line, I think, is that he wants a more peaceful life, that he doesn't believe that he's persuasive enough on the national stage and would prefer to work behind the scenes. I'd be content if he were to take back the DNC chair from Debbie. He'd make the party far more open and welcoming to progressives and the left.

[DFW]

39. Howard's greatest asset (and biggest liability) was always that he spoke his mind

He rarely, if ever, "had to get back to you" on anything.

And you're right, he doesn't want the job.

After his run in 2003-2004 ended, he told anyone who asked about his campaign, "we didn't know what the hell we were doing." He took the lessons he learned to become one of the most effective DNC heads EVER. He went head to head against Rahm Emmanuel on strategy on early 2006, and when he was proved right, both then and in 2008, he was punished for his efforts. Howard knows only too well what the rewards are for good intentions in politics, and is perfectly happy to let someone else try to reap them.

[ancianita]

40. No doubt. What a waste of brains and talent... nt

[ancianita]

15. Has anyone asked HIM why not?

[libdem4life]

18. Howard Dean? He's a wonderful person and a great Democrat. But if you have to ask the

question, (like should John Kerry run again?) you probably won't get the answer.

[Th1onein]

19. ABSOLUTELY!

PLEASE, Dr. Dean, run!

[SheilaT]

20. Didn't he do that once already?

Seriously, having met him several times during that original run and even at least once afterward, I'd say he's pretty much happy with his life at this point and would not want to spend the time, money, or energy running again.

[Lugnut]

21. I'd love that.

I'm not sure he wants to once again subject himself to the nonsense that goes along with the campaign. I think he'd be a fine president but I'm not planning to hold my breath waiting. Too bad.

[davidpdx]

22. I'm open to any candidates running

The more choices the better.

[HijackedLabel]

23. Sounds good to me.

I like his enthusiasm.

Nothing matters until after Super Tuesday. The more, the merrier.

[ann---]

26. I think Dennis Kucinich should

but, the fact is NEITHER of them will. The Dems are too afraid to put a REAL progressive in the running. They'll stick with a corporatist like Obama and Hillary.

[franciskouasi]

27. hi

sure

[beachbum bob]

28. because he cant win....

[marsis]

29. Dean is my dream choice but

he is way too honest and logical for US voters, sad to say he wouldn't stand a chance. Now if he could just learn to lie and misinform, you know like previous winners, he could stand a chance.

[1StrongBlackMan]

30. No way Dean will run again ...

He has landed in that "golden place" of punditry, where you get paid a lot of money to second guess whatever happens, knowing that whatever you say will never be tested.

[DFW]

32. I don't know where that came from, but it doesn't sound like you asked him.

You are right that he isn't interested in running, thought not about why.

He doesn't make serious money off of talk show appearances, and spends most of his time helping out Democratic parties on the local level, both in the USA and overseas, and largely under the radar of headlines. He is also heavily involved in projects like the anti-human-slavery march from Bangkok to the Burmese border, which was financed by donations and internet contributions. Most of his income comes from lending his name to a law firm for prestige, which is EXACTLY what he said he was planning in February 2009. He said that if Obama didn't offer him a place in his administration, he'd lend his name to a law firm for income, and spend the rest of his time raising hell for causes he believed in. That is EXACTLY what he has been doing.

[geek tragedy]

34. You think he gets a paycheck from a DC lobbying firm just to have his

name on their letterhead?

Reality check:

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2012/04/lee-fang-howard-dean-advises-corporate-health-care-clients-to-fund-both-sides-run-attack-ads.html

DEAN: Even without the Citizens United decision, I’ve advised a lot of clients in the industries that I usually end up working with, which are mostly healthcare industries, not to give any money to either side, or if you do, give it to both sides because politicians really don’t know much about the issues. They really don’t. But believe me, they remember who gave money and they remember those ads. [...] But they remember the ads, and they remember who was on whose side and who wasn’t, and it makes a big difference.

[DFW]

36. Mostly? Yes.

Sure he has to give a speech and advice from time to time, but it's not mostly what he does, and if you listen to his speech, he says the best thing is to stay out of the money game, emphasizing that it's easy to run afoul of regulations. He does admit that reality decrees that it is not always possible, but he still says the best thing to do is stay away from the money game.

And, yes, his income from McKenna is mostly from having his name on the letterhead, even if he has to do some real work for the firm from time to time. He spends plenty of time raising hell for causes he believes in. Just he like he said he would.

[geek tragedy]

37. "I've advised a lot of clients in the industries that I usually end

up working with, which are mostly healthcare industries."

"What we mostly do is keep corporations out of trouble."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-love/howard-dean----now-a-shil_b_241465.html

The July 20, 2009 issue of BioCentury has an extensive report on the "Biosimilar fire Drill." It discusses in detail the lobbying by the Biotechnology Industry Association (BIO, bio.org) to defeat efforts by President Obama, OMB, the FTC, Representative Waxman, Senator Brown, AARP, Public Citizen, PIRG, Consumers Union, KEI, Essential Action, UAEM and others, to reform regulation of biologic medicines, so there is more generic competition. (For earlier discussions of the bill, go here or here).

What is unusual and surprising is the key role of Howard Dean to back an anti-consumer BIO backed measure in the health reform bill. Excerpts from the BioCentury report are available here.

One interesting bit is how Howard Dean describes his work for BIO: "long-term and short-term strategic advice to BIO. I do not lobby." But he is paid to work on Biosimilars for BIO, he wrote an oped in The Hill on the topic, and he is talking to members of Congress about the measure. What exactly would it take to make Howard Dean a lobbyist? A special badge from the Wizard of Oz?

he pulled the same stunt this summer, writing an oped agreeing with the 'death panels' meme. Sarah Palin fans were tickled.

Dean has been corrupted by big money.

[1StrongBlackMan]

41. My initial comment ...

was more based on my cynicism related to ex-legislators turned pundits; but since you use his money making to make issue with it, let's examine what you have said ...

He doesn't make serious money off of talk show appearances

He receives, as do all invited panelists, a (relatively small - a couple $ thousand - stipend/appearance fee) for appearing ... that is based on his continued relevence, which is based on his continued apprearances ... this relevelence translates into $$$ for the PAC that he (through his brother) runs, that allows him to make those off the radar appearances.

The "lends his name" to the lobbying firm operates under the same formula - pundit appearances=continued relevence=$$$.

That said ... I like Dean's ideas (for the most part); though I wish he'd think through his need to say EVERY (anti-administration) THING that crosses his mind, for the effect it has on the Administration's opposition ... in his role, being "right", IMHO, is/should be less important than NOT being harmful.

[DFW]

31. Howard doesn't think so.

He really REALLY is not interested in running again. He strongly feels that younger blood needs to be doing this, and Howard will be 65 soon (tomorrow, in fact). Besides, Judy would go ballistic if he did run.

About the one thing that MIGHT change his mind were if we had no viable candidate at all out there trying for the job, and he would be VERY surprised indeed if we couldn't come up with some willing talent.

He is flattered by all the people that still pull for him to get back into this, but for the reasons I mentioned, plus a few others, he should not be considered as a likely or even conceivable candidate at this point.

[geek tragedy]

33. Because he sold out to work for big healthcare corporations and the Keystone pipeline backers

To the point where he advises corporate clients to give to Republicans if they also donate to Democrats.

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2012/04/lee-fang-howard-dean-advises-corporate-health-care-clients-to-fund-both-sides-run-attack-ads.html

DEAN: Even without the Citizens United decision, I’ve advised a lot of clients in the industries that I usually end up working with, which are mostly healthcare industries, not to give any money to either side, or if you do, give it to both sides because politicians really don’t know much about the issues. They really don’t. But believe me, they remember who gave money and they remember those ads. [...] But they remember the ads, and they remember who was on whose side and who wasn’t, and it makes a big difference.

[Agschmid]

38. Yup.