DISQUS

Sick of hearing about it · 1 year ago

John, you really are becoming a pissy little bitch about all of this.

Gridlock · 1 year ago

Listening to you bitch is doubly redundant. Shut the fuck up. When you get your own website, let us know.

Indigo · 1 year ago

gay is the new black.
prissy is the new uppity.
but as for bitch, that's a female dog.

Me · 1 year ago

so what?! It's his fucking blog, you dumbass... if you don't like it, then by all means... go somewhere else.

asshole.

John Aravosis · 1 year ago

If you think Dean, Kerry and Clark didn't deserve recognition, then argue your point with facts. Personal attacks are usually the method of choice of people who don't have facts on their side, or even in their head.

Merlin · 1 year ago

Get a life, John!

HaroSnarx · 1 year ago

John, trust your distrust.

mauro7inf · 1 year ago

Keep John Kerry out of the administration.

He's the chair of a powerful committee in the Senate and he's a pretty reliable liberal vote and leader there. We can't stack our Executive and drain our Legislative!

JayR · 1 year ago

Jesse Jackson also assisted the Obama administration and I don't know why he doesn't have a job either.

jcgraham77 · 1 year ago

Ummmmm...because he is Jesse Jackson.

Scratching my head · 1 year ago

Howard Dean should not be in any leadership role. Ever since his scream, he has no credibility.

Gridlock · 1 year ago

Sure, if you're braindead and swallow what FOX news repeats ad nauseum. So he let out a scream. Oh my god, stop the presses. Has that impacted his ability to deliver results?

No.

lucky hussein · 1 year ago

well said.

sigh · 1 year ago

Not to mention it's a non-issue for others that have done similar --or worse gaffes. That's media constructed reality for you. Control the information and mold perception and is it any wonder nothing really changes? He was targeted and what should have been a minor incident was exploited.

tigergrrldc · 1 year ago

I never understood why it was an incident at all

sigh · 1 year ago

Really, you're right. I should have phrased it as "what should have been a non-incident". Which is what that sort of thing is for others, something which happens on the stump and is paid no attention; that is until someone is targeted, then suddenly it magically becomes an issue. Knowing that people were gunning for him Dean could have been more prudent, but come on, it's sad that all must be Stepford Candidates.

Or not. Romney presents a consummate Stepford Candidate but it wasn't enough --at least in 2008.

naschkatzehussein · 1 year ago

The media enhanced The Scream acoustically and then played it ad nauseam to destroy Dean. I can't credit that that one harmless incident has been used to discredit all the brilliant ideas Dean produced. The established media and politicos fear real change more than anything.

sigh · 1 year ago

I had a suspicion that might be the case and it did strike as taken out-of-context. I saw from other comments in this thread that it was a total setup. It's even more a fabricated incident than I knew before.

Gary SF · 1 year ago

Yeah, that out-of-context scream was so awful that we should overlook all of the good that the man did for the Democrats. I would have voted for Dean over Obama and Clinton. John, my theory about Dean, Clark and Kerry is that they are too 'gay positive' for the center-right Obama administration.

ezpz · 1 year ago

I would have voted for him over Obama too.
In fact, I did vote for him in the 2004 primaries, event though he was essentially out of the running by the time the primaries were held in my state.
Still, it felt good to vote FOR someone that I liked and believed in, rather than against as is more often than not the case.

He's a Wellstone Democrat - or as Dean used to say "...Democratic wing of the Democratic Party"

naschkatzehussein · 1 year ago

Not being gay myself, I think that Dean, Clark and Kerry are just too progressive period for Obama. No doubt gay/lesbian rights are a part of that mix, but I think Obama is walking away from all of us who were responsible for him winning the primary.

sigh · 1 year ago

I agree. That said, treatment of gays is a good proxy for gauging how progressive politicians tend to be. It's remarkable how predictive being gay positive tends to be of other things.

Scratching my head · 1 year ago

Wow, people are getting worked up about the scream. You have to admit, it wasn't very presidential. That's probably why the press went after him.

I love the Dean Scream. YYYOOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!

ezpz · 1 year ago

That so called "Dean Scream" video that was played ad nauseum by the media did not accurately represent what happened.
He was shouting over a LOUD crowd of flag waving supporters.
The cameras did not show the crowd, nor did the microphones pick up THEIR shouts.. Instead, the mikes and cameras were solely focused on Dean, making him look and sound like a mad man.. (I admit that it scared me too until I saw the real thing in the proper context.)

"..In fact the Dean Scream was a fraud, probably the clearest instance of media assassination in recent U.S. political history..."

"..The Dean Scream footage takes a man who was acting reasonably and ... transforms him into a lunatic.."

http://www.garlicandgrass.org/issue8/Edward_Was...

Here's the video in context:

http://valuejudgment.org/vid/theSpeech_.mov

http://valuejudgment.org/archives/000441.html

-------
Edit to add: I know most people who care and pay attention know about this hit job by the media.
Obviously, though, not all do.
Ergo this post, response to poster, "Scratching my head".

caerbannog · 1 year ago

That "scream" was inaudible at the actual event and inaudible on recordings made by omnidirectional microphones.

It was only audible on one particular recording because of a very highly directional microphone pointed right at Dean.

Of course, I don't expect someone who laps up Faux News material to be smart enough to figure out terms like omnidirectional... so I may be wasting my time responding to you.

Scratching my head · 1 year ago

Who said anything about faux news? Obama was correct in distancing himself from Howard Dean. He is off the charts just like Jesse Jackson. Keep him out of the omnidirectional limelight. LOL

PeteWa · 1 year ago

You are an empty headed idiot if you believe the made for t.v. scream.
Watch the footage from the crowd, where everyone is "screaming" (and yes, anywhere else, a repuke festival, a football game, a concert it would be called cheering) and then if you still think Dean has no credibility, guess what?
You really are an empty headed idiot.

Pull your head out of your ass and maybe you won't need to scratch it so much.

Scratching my head · 1 year ago

Petey, come up with a new one already.

teammarty · 1 year ago

If the same old shoe fits...

Greg Hays · 1 year ago

Howard Dean saved the Democratic party and made not only Obama's win possible, but also developed the strategy that allowed us to take back the Senate and House, in large part by being the first (and only) Democrat with the balls and good sense to stand up to Bush.

lucky hussein · 1 year ago

good article, especialy for all those kucinich/edwards supporters like myself who are greatly concerned about many of bo's cabinet selections, greatly concerned that a guy we knew wasn't really a liberal, but hopefully wasn't pro-corporate, neo-liberal sob like many in the dem party (clintons). well what better example can we give than deans treatment. dean who bested the crap out of that lying, scheming, pos emmanuel. now that global warming and senseless war is actually a concern of the power-brokers, hopefully we can do something about it. i just wish it looked as if they didn't control our government, but instead the people did. given time, the sheople wil recognize this and go running for the false promises of the riech-wing and we can begin the cycle all over again. yay!

johnbpt · 1 year ago

It's become abundantly clear that Republicans and failed compromisers like Daschle will have much more of a say in the Obama Administration than progressives like Dean who actually fight for the supposed values of the Democratic Party. Obama's selection of Rahm Emanuel as his first major appointment set the tone, and it's stayed consistent since then. Change you can make believe in!

jcgraham77 · 1 year ago

LMFAO

Savage8862 · 1 year ago

Correct me if I am wrong but isn't Dean and the DNC being sued by a fired employee claiming retaliation and homophobia? The man was allegedly fired because his lover wrote a hit piece on Dean and the DNC's lack of reaching out o the gay community. So if Dean was chosen for a cabinet position, wouldn't that be another slap in the gay community's face?

RevDrBillyBob · 1 year ago

Wimpy John Kerry the Sensitive Nineties Guy not being in the Administration is the only move I applaud. But he can do plenty to help the Iraq War Policy he's supported since 2002 (along with Hillary, Reid, et. al.) from his position in the Senate. And the Administration has a sufficient number of hawks, already ?

2008 · 1 year ago

What's funny is that you guys are SO getting played!!
You just keep it up, too?
Don't you get it? You think that John Kerry wasn't cool enough for you,didn't give you that confidant, fresh feeling like Obama does?....
all the while suave Obama THROWS YOU UNDER THE BUS!!
Hello!

Americans are not critical and discerning anymore... Did Bush teach you absolutely nothing?! A lot of people "like" Bushie, but the guy is an abomination who is currently kicking America into the gutter, all but literally! He's a professional liar, fake & dishonest to the core...

Obama... well, I lived in Chicago and he's known to very subtly and effectively 'twist a knife' to get what he wants... yes, it's all about HIM.
A sell out? The signs were all there. Remember the FISA vote, where it was close and not based on false intelligence like the Iraq UN resolution enforcement vote? Hello?

But, you think John Kerry is the problem who deserves your contempt? Come again? The fact that Kerry doesn't sell out, manipulate, or kiss ass, really knows his stuff, and doesn't have to rely on the "I'm so cool, you just love me act" can make Obama a wee bit nervous....

Indigo · 1 year ago

I don't know. Howard Dean isn't that big a star in my scrapbook. Jesse Jackson's in there too. John Kerry. I don't even like him. Al Gore stepped aside, apparently. Kucinich didn't even get an honorable mention. No gays nor Jews.

I'm trying to think whether there's any Spanish-speakers on the list. I suppose there's one but not one I can remember.

All in all, it's a genuinely hetero-centrist collection of cautious souls united in their dedication to public service for the good of their constituent social groups.

All in all, it's an inauspicious start to a one term wonder.

lodestar · 1 year ago

Is this snark? I can't even tell anymore.

Indigo · 1 year ago

Sadly, no.

boloboffin · 1 year ago

Bill Richardson speaks Spanish.

But I agree with John on this one, too. It seems to me that Howard Dean and John Kerry and Wes Clark (and yes! Dennis Kucinich, too!) would be a great nucleus for the Democratic wing of the Democratic party, going forward.

Like Paul Wellstone used to say: Organize, organize, organize.

SCLiberal · 1 year ago

Has anyone else noticed how marginalized the true progressives are? Kucinich, Feingold, Conyers and now Dean. The only one I can think of who has gotten a nod is Waxman.

Indigo · 1 year ago

People have noticed but the glamor around Obama deflected concerns.  My concern didn't become active until he called on Rick Warren to bless his inauguration.  Now I'm doubtful at all levels.  I think Michelle will be a wonderful first lady but I also see a Carter-esque administration surfacing. Rosalyn Carter was beloved and trusted, Jimmy . . . well . . . a bit sticky at times.

whomod · 1 year ago

This certainly is disappointing news. Mostly because every Democratic victory we've had since the '06 elections you can place at his doorstep.

Still, "maybe they thought he was gay" is starting to sound like the whining of "victims". And one thing Obama himself did to make it to the Presidency is to NOT play the game of victimhood and grievance. Regardless as to whether or not there are legitimate reasons to whine. It tends to repel rather than attract people and is counter productive to ones goals.

Gridlock · 1 year ago

Hrmm, last I checked gays were vixctim of the religious right, Prop 8 , descrimination, bashings...

Yeah, till we get equality and the talebangelists back he fuck off I'll be thumping the victim drum thanks.

whomod · 1 year ago

And it is that promise that, 45 years ago today, brought Americans from every corner of this land to stand together on a Mall in Washington, before Lincoln's Memorial, and hear a young preacher from Georgia speak of his dream.

The men and women who gathered there could've heard many things. They could've heard words of anger and discord. They could've been told to succumb to the fear and frustrations of so many dreams deferred.

But what the people heard instead -- people of every creed and color, from every walk of life -- is that, in America, our destiny is inextricably linked, that together our dreams can be one.

"We cannot walk alone," the preacher cried. "And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back."

America, we cannot turn back... - Barack Obama. Democratic National Convention in Denver

teammarty · 1 year ago

I know, I know, O Same has to reach out to the other side of the aisle and be president to all Americans. At least all Americans right of center. But the left just gets his backhand again.

Makes me proud I voted for Nader.

MNPundit · 1 year ago

If there is a political Messiah it is not Barack Obama, it is Howard Dean. And because I am so damn mad, I am going to say it and maybe it will get me censored. If it does, I understand and it won't happen again but..

In comparing what they have done for the country so far, Barack Obama is not worthy to shine Howard Dean's shoes.

dula · 1 year ago

Dean's 50 state strategy contributed to the Obama win but Lieberman is the one who is rewarded?

Bostonian_Queer_in_Dallas · 1 year ago

Exactamundo...Howard Dean, you are the reason Obama won.

Steve · 1 year ago

So, what is Obama going to do to appease the gay community? Is he just another black politician that is uncomfortable at best around gays, even though he claims otherwise? I'm very disappointed. I'm not a huge fan of Dean, however.
Obama's moves are going to be scrutinized, and you can't please everyone. He just needs to hand something back to the gay community, like overturn don't ask don't tell. It's too early to be skewering him, but as gays, we need to watch his moves carefully.

lodestar · 1 year ago

Gay white racism needs to be examined. "Another black politician..." Yeah, go with that.

sherifffruitfly · 1 year ago

White > gay.

Except when gay folks want to use black folks as a jumping-off point for their own civil rights fight(s), of course.

It's nice having it ALL ways.

whomod · 1 year ago

Well, if we're to discuss Prop 8 fairly, we need to talk about why the gay community seems to think it's irrelevant to step outside their west Hollywood comfort zone and venture west of Western Avenue to garner allies and support.

Or did they not see the untold thousands upon thousands of Yes on 8 lawn signs festooned all over peoples lawns outside of West Hollywood. I could have told them that this was going to be a loser for progressives and the gay community. But would they have listened to a non white non West Hollwood straight male? Probably not.

As it was it seems the Pro 8 people were just comfortable to make assumptions about how liberal California was and took comfort that there were no pro 8 lawn signs anywhere in their eyesight and didn't notice just how well organized these religious nuts were outside of their insular community..

And the only way to not repeat this mistake is NOT to take a bunker mentality that the entire country is against them and look for the anti-gay bogeyman everywhere and with everyone not gay, but to this time actually make the effort and do the work to educate, to build coalitions to step outside the comfort zone and not play the victim and point the accusatory finger everywhere and to everyone.

scottinsf · 1 year ago

Calling bullshit on Steve's dog whistle should be examined. I personally think a lot of today's black politicians get it right more than ever before. Since this thread is about a former governor let's look at the current situation. Hmm..I see governors like Deval Patrick and David Patterson backing us on our civil rights quest. Certainly more than most of their white counterparts.

sigh · 1 year ago

Maybe Dean's talents aren't best utilized in a cabinet position and thus he is best placed in another position. But what seems to be an overall slighting of Dean, who is actually progressive and worked for substantive change, is disconcerting, especially in context of other appointments and development. He should be somewhere and should be rewarded for success with the opportunity to achieve more.

By the way, that much heralded message discipline during the campaign always gave me an uncomfortable feeling in that it would reflect the (future) Administration's regard for information and their outlook on the people's right to it. We're going to have an administration much more like Bush in its control of information; which Obama people have actually publicly and directly stated. Only this will come with gift wrapped in warm rhetoric and they'll "make their own reality" delivered by better use of new technology.

csnet · 1 year ago

There are those who say to be patient, that Obama must appoint lovers of arms merchants and Wall Street to his cabinet. He must give his middle finger to the LGBT community in order to move his promised agenda forward. He cannot stand up for progressive thought or action because it would offend the blue dogs, not to mention the Republicans in Congress. Some even say if he were to be bold, and do what he promised, that he would be assasinated.

Howard Dean is pushed aside for daring to challenge the sick, cynical relic of top down arrogance that is the Washington Democratic party machine.

As it has been said, talk is cheap, it is actions that count. Let's face it, Obama is another in a long line of self absorbed, power hungry, lying con men. Wish I was wrong, but there is no evidence that Obama is planning to do anything to challenge the global criminal financial system that directs the actions of our federal government and the media that perpetuates the illusion of a free and democratic nation.

ComradeRutherford · 1 year ago

Howard Dean pushed the "50 state strategy" that resulted in Obama getting elected. Rahm Emmanuel hated the 50 state strategy. Emmanuel is known to dislike Dean simply because that strategy was so successful, so Dean has to go because he is a decent Democrat and not a GOP sellout, as is Emmanuel and Obama.

truebluecoondog · 1 year ago

You know, there is no shortage of issues that need addressing by the new administration - health, global warming, world peace, financial crisis, and not least or last, social issues that divide this country and cheat some groups out of their persuit of happiness. That said, you cannot expect Mr. Obama to address ALL of these issues by his cabinet choices and how he plans his innauguration celebration. Really. He has many choices to make. Every time he picks somebody, many others are not picked. It is completely up to his own discretion who he picks and does not pick. Sometimes, there are reasons we are not privy to. Sometimes maybe it's his gut feeling. Who knows? I think it would be wrong for him to assign someone to a position BECAUSE OF their sexual orientation or simply because most people think that person has paid their dues and deserves a nice cushy job. We elected him, after all, for his decision making abilities - no?

Russell60 · 1 year ago

It still blows my mind that Dean, a centrist governor in a liberal state, who pissed off so many liberals here in Vermont, is considered too progressive for any leadership position in the Obama administration. Maybe it's that whole goalpost thing...

KarenMrsLloydRichards · 1 year ago

Lately Americablog seems to be taking a leaf out of Obama's book: reaching out to miserable trolls, and not blocking them so their "views can be heard". Only problem: the disagreeable can NEVER be agreeable.

LeftCoastOracle · 1 year ago

Dean's 50 state strategy, without a doubt, played a big part in Obama's primary win - and in his GE win. He won the GE in states that Dems had no hope of winning just four years ago. I realize that owes somewhat to the candidate but it's also in large part the fact that there were on-the-ground operations in 50 states.

Dean's unfortunate situation is partly the result of the fact that Rahm Emanuel is an important part of the Obama team and that after the GE various analysts credited the win to Dean when Emanuel thought he had made the difference. Plus Dean is pretty plain spoken and two loud mouths (Dean and Emanuel) in one administration may be one too many.

jeanruss · 1 year ago

Corporations will not tolerate anyone who won't sell-out the American people, so Dean has always had a hard time. It is starting to dawn on people that Obama is corporate-owned and we will see very little change. We are not a republic or democracy anymore. If we were, Bush and Cheney and their cohorts would be in prison, unable to sabotage the planes of witnesses to their crimes. Pelosi and Reid are the phony figureheads of the ONE PARTY we have, the Corporate Party.

teammarty · 1 year ago

You know that Dean's just a damn librel. That's just payback for Dean and his insidious work to remove the centerist wing ofthe Republicrat party from it's usual and comfortable status of being the "loyal opposition" by winnning a couple of election cycles.

bluestockton · 1 year ago

I think Obama is saving Clark for SecDef next year, or whenever he's ready to replace Gates. Kerry will probably be ambassador to France. And Dean -- is there an opening for head of the CDC or NIH?

cobblepot · 1 year ago

Holy crow! I just emaile tpm to talk about this slight of the president-elect's! I came to your site to mention it. Hooray for you. john. Howard is getting screwed, and he is energetic, smart and his 50-state strategy proved to be a giant winner.
Good on you for noticing.

cal · 1 year ago

F*ck Obama, really. It just makes me puke the way he has handled the transition and how he has ignored all the things that he has the chance to change but will not.....this administration will go down quickly, defending the right wing press and the rumors. It started with Rahm, then comes Blagovich and then still the economic armegeddon with Wall Street (it will get worse).

mtnwoman · 1 year ago

Yes, Howard has been discarded by the now ruling corporate wing of the democratic party. I thought Obama was supposed to be smart about neutralizing potential threats by putting them in his administration? Now Dean is free to go back to speaking the truth about the spineless, principle-less, corporate-owned Democrats. Now he is free to represent the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party. Fine by me, altho a waste for the country. Howard is one of the best things to happen to the Democratic Party in the past several decades.

johnbpt · 1 year ago

Owwwww! The truth, it BURNS! It's time for a REAL progressive movement in this country -- I've supported my last mainstream sellout.

Kewalo · 1 year ago

Well...DAMN!

Dean was right about the 50 state strategy and rather then get kudos he's out of a job. It just makes me sick.

2008 · 1 year ago

Some of you guys are SO getting played!!

Don't you get it yet? You were made to think that John Kerry (the near miss) wasn't cool enough for you,didn't give you that confidant, fresh feeling like Obama does?.... all the while suave Obama THROWS YOU UNDER THE BUS!! OUCH! (sorta like the Bush effect!...)

Americans are not critical and discerning anymore... Did Bush teach us absolutely nothing?! A lot of people "like" Bushie, but the guy is an abomination who is currently kicking America into the gutter, all but literally! He's a professional liar, fake & dishonest to the core...

Obama... well, I lived in Chicago and he's known to very subtly and effectively 'twist a knife' to get what he wants... yes, it's all about HIM. A sell out? The signs were all there. Remember his FISA vote, where it was close and not based on false intelligence like the Iraq UN resolution enforcement vote? Hello?

Yeah, I'd say Kerry (have you actually seen his unyielding anti-Bush/Cheney voting record?!), Dean, Kucinich, Clark, Conyers, etc. are getting the shaft, to OUR detriment.

Biden, that was the first sign that "change" was relative and highly compromised.

Stephen Fox · 1 year ago

Glad you mentioned the plight of Dr. Howard Dean, M.D., who seems the obvious choice for FDA. After Gates and Vilsack, presuming Dr. Dean is offered no job in Obama's administration: that would be the 3rd serious and shocking disappointment, and this is coming from someone who volunteered on Obama's campaign for 10-12 hours a day for 5 months.

In my humble estimation, Vilsack is a kind of plant for Monsanto (after all, why not? they got one corporate lawyer appointed as Attorney General [John Ashcroft] and one on the Supreme Court [Clarence Thomas[) so what's so difficult in comprehending that Monsanto lined up an Agriculture Secretary in Obama's Cabinet? Obama doesn't yet recognize the harm and danger coming from Monsanto, and he doesn't see the harm in carrying over Mr. Gates, a total Bush/Cheney/Neocon apparatchik. I have lost a lot of faith thus far, in spite of Richardson being appointed as Secretary of Commerce, New Mexico's loss and the nation's gain....Richardson will be great in that job, and this will massively work toward improving the economy, if there is anything left resembling an economy after all of the Bush Bailouts of Banks....$25 billion for Wells Fargo? What kind of BS is this? It is disgusting, OUT AND OUT OBVIOUS AND TOTAL KLEPTOCRACY!!!!

Dean butted heads with Rahm over strategy and the 50 state effort: Dean was right, Rahm was wrong, and thus far Dean is shut out. It just isn't fair nor is it acceptable good government to abandon such talent as Dr. Dean would manifest...

Stephen Fox
Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News Santa Fe NM

kb richard · 1 year ago

His policies as VT Gov. some have described as racist ,in regards to Abenaki.

His not grtting a job is also known as "thorough vetting."