What is Howard Dean's deal??

[angrychair]

There was a Lawrence O'Donnell spot on the president's amazing accomplishments during his time in office and Howard Dean spent most of the interview down-playing or criticizing just about everything the other guest said in regards to the president's accomplishments during his time in office. The whole thing was awkward and seemed to take Lawrence and the other guest a little off guard. Tried to find video but couldn't find video but did anyone else see it?

[mwrguy]

1. Jealous old white guy

[angrychair]

2. ^^this^^

[nxylas]

3. He did say he wanted to be the candidate for people with confederate flags on their pickup trucks

I didn't think he meant it quite so literally.

[beveeheart]

4. I saw it and wondered WTF?

And awkward? Yes, indeed.

[Sienna86]

5. I saw it and thought the same.

I felt he was trying to take away some of the accomplishments, downplaying them. It was strange.

[djean111]

6. Maybe he is pissed off because Obama said he would not support a Dem candidate until

after the primaries, when the nominee is set.

[karynnj]

7. Dean's relationship with Obama has always been complicated

He was replaced as DNC head without even being given credit for the good that he did with state party infrastructure. In both 2006 and 2008, much more credit went to Rahm and Schumer. This was especially unfair in 2006 when many winners were given their early support by Dean or people like Kerry and Clark, not the Congressional leaders.

There are other complications. He is a HRC surrogate while his 2004 supporters are mostly for Bernie. Not to mention. In 2004, his campaign positioned a soft spoken moderate former governor pretty far to the left of who he was.

He was against negotiating with Iran possibly because of connections to MEK.

Healthcare, which should be a strength, is complicated. His 2004 proposal had he won and magically had the Congress Obama had would not have looked much different. In 2009, he was a strong advocate for a public option even to the point of essentially calling for not passing the bill without it - angering many struggling to find a bill that could get 60 votes.

Add to this that Dean is an honest, plain spoken person. There are some who could have smoothly papered over any past concerns. He is not one of them.

[Bucky]

8. Barn burners and technocrats have never gotten along

Except when there's a Republican president. Success ruins all of us.