2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumFridays Child
(23,998 posts)I think he should run for president, too.
grasswire
(50,130 posts)Perfect.
If nothing else, Dean could draw the campaign to the left.
Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)Since his career in politics ended, Dean has found a home in the K Street establishment he once held in such disdain. Hes 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
(21,024 posts)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
(45,274 posts)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
(68,868 posts)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
(28,627 posts)I think Howard is better than most of them? There's also Bernie and Liz.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)dionysus
(26,467 posts)Whisp
(24,096 posts)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
(28,627 posts)and he is fierce
proud patriot
(100,706 posts)Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)ancianita
(36,060 posts)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
(28,627 posts)He has the strength and intellect to deal with congress.
ancianita
(36,060 posts)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
(28,627 posts)If I had my way there would be no donors. People would run on their merit without big sponsors and ads.
ancianita
(36,060 posts)-- 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
(54,397 posts)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
(36,060 posts)ancianita
(36,060 posts)libdem4life
(13,877 posts)question, (like should John Kerry run again?) you probably won't get the answer.
Th1onein
(8,514 posts)PLEASE, Dr. Dean, run!
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)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
(9,791 posts)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
(22,000 posts)The more choices the better.
HijackedLabel
(80 posts)I like his enthusiasm.
Nothing matters until after Super Tuesday. The more, the merrier.
ann---
(1,933 posts)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
(3 posts)sure
beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)marsis
(301 posts)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
(31,849 posts)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
(54,397 posts)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
(68,868 posts)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
DFW
(54,397 posts)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
(68,868 posts)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
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
(31,849 posts)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 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
(54,397 posts)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
(68,868 posts)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