DISQUS

Gorgonzola · 10 months ago

While we're considering a replacement for Daschle, why don't they look into replacing Nancy Perlosi and Harry Reid, the utterly undynamic duo.

Johnathan Quest · 10 months ago

Undynamic duo LMAO thanks Gorg. But seriously why not Ron Paul? He is also a doctor and has much less political baggage than Dean. And i'm pretty sure he's paid his taxes, although he DOES want to get rid of the IRS....

Gregory Lyons · 10 months ago

I'm happy that some of the first line of scumbag nominees are getting shitcanned, like, of course, Daschle, the two million dollar non-lobbiest employed by a "healthcare" lobbying firm.

Obama can be coerced to do the right thing, in the fullness of time.

Southern Beale · 10 months ago

As a resident of Nashville, TN, let me say: Bredesen would be horrible for a LOT of reasons. He royally screwed up our TennCare healthcare program, for one. But also: if he were to take the job, we'd be stuck with Republican Ron Ramsey as governor, and a Republican state house and state senate. We'd be completely fucked.

Yet another reason to hate Phil Bredesen.

jack · 10 months ago

Great, sounds like Bredesen's got it locked up! Unless he's got tax problems, of course. In which case, no doubt Cooper. Hey, that Dean guy? Flash in the pan. Just 'cause he's a doctor, and was a six-term Governor, and completely rebuilt the national Dem apparatus, and is a real sharp guy, is no reason to go all gooey on him. In fact, a Bredesen-Cooper ticket might be just the thing once this Obama fad passes.

Deacon_Blues · 10 months ago

While you're dead on regarding Jim Cooper, I don't agree with Southern Beale about Phil Bredesen. Sure, he made his money in healthcare; he made it, then got out of the business when he got into politics. There was never even a hint of scandal about his business dealings; he was smart, he did a good job, he made money. I remember him standing outside of the phone company offices when I worked there (as a union member) shaking hands and politicking when he ran for Mayor of Nashville. He identified himself as a Democrat from the beginning, and I always thought he acted like one. He even had to battle the prejudice against him because he was a "Yankee" from Massachusetts. Unlike the batshit crazy former Mayor (and, god help us, former CONGRESSMAN) Bill Boner, he was an effective Mayor, upgrading infrastructure, bringing in industry and a couple of sports teams. As a Nashville resident, I always thought he was a good Mayor.

Same thing as governor, but remember, he's the leader of a state that went for Republicans in the past 3 presidential elections -- we didn't even vote for homeboy Al Gore, for god's sake! He's a pragmatist, and a realist. Which brings us to TennCare. He didn't screw up TennCare -- it was already screwed up -- by his Republican predecessor -- when he came into office. He had a choice -- either to do nothing, or at the least something cosmetic, and watch it go under in a few years, or -- and this is what he did -- cut benefits (but not to children) to save the program from bankruptcy.

In fairness to Southern Beale, this is only my opinion. I'm no insider, and all I know about him is what I read in the papers, and my perceptions about what I've read. I think he'd be ok as head of HHS, and I think he'd follow Barack Obama's agenda (he endorsed him early, btw) -- but I don't think Barack will pick him. Why? Because he needs someone high profile for this job, and Bredesen is more of a policy wonk.

Politichick · 10 months ago

Well let's just hope Obama's team does a better job of vetting whoever they choose to replace Daschle. We don't need any more sudden discoveries that the nominee forgot to pay their income taxes for the last ten years!
http://democralypsenow.blogspot.com/

anon · 10 months ago

C Everett Koop

I fhis health is any good, a good scientist, a serious public policy guy,
real reputation, and he could state "America's health insurance is killing americans"
and who could attack him?

lynchie · 10 months ago

he already had the job and was totally useless. He now pimps for "I have fallen and I can't get up" alert.

icebergslim · 10 months ago

Howard Dean is the obvious choice, but a friend of mine's asked this, "Can he pass the vetting?"

Folks need to remember, that many of these high level positions, governors, different political strategists, need to fill out the app for the job they want and go through the vetting process.

At this point, it is more than who we want in this critical position, but who is qualified and can pass the VETTING.

Taxes, takes them down every time.

jenny · 10 months ago

Why on earth is the Obama administration even considering these jackasses from TN? Why not Bill Frist -- he's about the only worse choice I can think of than these two creeps. 47 MILLION DOLLARS? For what? Poor people in TN are so much worse off than they were before these horrible people took over the TN healthcare situation. It's disgusting and downright FRIGHTENING that they would even be considered! It's devastating to even hear this! How can this be real CHANGE?

Asterix · 10 months ago

Allow me to humbly submit Dr. John Kitzhaber, ex-governor of Oregon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kitzhaber

I think he'd be a great choice.

ndtovent · 10 months ago

this news surprises me, as Obama has a personal stake in health care reform. Do you all remember that one campaign speech when talked about his own mother laying in her hospital bed the last few months of her life dying from cancer, and having to spend those last months fighting with insurance companies?

Eleanor Holt · 10 months ago

We read the Republican Bible for eight years, now are we going to read the Democratic Bible for the next four. If so we are doing the 60's pajamas again. This we have our ethical principles intact. We have also lost the one person in the country who is uniquely qualified for the job in multiple arenas. Max Baccus is saying, oh the congress will put something together. We've been working on it. Well, here we go right down the rabbit hole. $128,000 was more important that creating fantastic health care package and GETTTING IT PASSED. We are all way behind President Obama singing the same song 144th verse could get better but could get worse.

VJBinCT · 10 months ago

DemfromCT over at DailyKos has suggested John Kitzhaber, former governor of Oregon, as someone to consider. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/2/4/1947...

Sounds like a good possible.

Steph · 10 months ago

As a critically ill patient in Tennessee who is very poor, Do NOT put Bredesen in this post. He has destroyed healthcare for the poor in Tennessee. I am dying and can't get any help. I worked and paid in since I was 13 and since losing my job 2 years ago I can't get any assistance. This would be a disaster for healthcare in this country. S in Knoxville Tn