After Daschle, Who?
As I noted yesterday and as The Washington Post noted this morning, there really wasn't a Plan B if Daschle dropped out and so the administration is considering any number of candidates. I'd heard that a couple of obvious names, Howard Dean and John Kitzaber, both former governors and physicians, were not in play. I'd heard a familiar name: Kathleen Sebelius, the Kansas Governor and early Obama supporter. More out there names that I heard included Sen. Jay Rockefeller and Rep. Vic Snyder who is an attorney and a physician. This morning there's talk about Phil Bredesen, the popular governor of Tennessee and former Nashville mayor. Breseden is a big figure and that's clearly what Obama wants at HHS to help push through his health care reform package. So it seems as plausible to me as any name but this is the silly season when lots of names will be floated and unless you're in the room with Rahm Emanuel, Larry Summers, Melody Barnes or some other top person, I think it's really just speculation.
Josh
Elana
Matt
Eric
It's spelled "Kitzhaber"
February 4, 2009 12:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously. The first post about the guy, sure, but two days in a row? Don't you have Wikipedia at TPM World Headquarters?
February 4, 2009 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama should go out and just nominate Howard Dean--he is a physician and more importantly, he understands healthcare policy--he would be very effective as Secy. and would do a fantastic job.
I hope Obama doesn't listen to Rahm (who has a problem with Dean)--Howard Dean has a big hand in Obama being in the White House.
Just appoint him and be done with it.
February 4, 2009 12:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
It won't be Sebelius. If she is put in the cabinet it would be officially throwing away a chance to pick up the open Kansas senate seat in 2010. While she hasn't announced that she'll run, she is the only Dem who could take it
February 4, 2009 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama would be certifiable to nominate Howard Dean unless he has already given up the idea of passing comprehensive health care in his first term. Then he'd be a fine pick!
As things stand now, there aren't enough votes to overcome a GOP filibuster of the Recovery Package, this on a day that a private survey reports another 500,000 plus jobs lost in January on top of a revised 638,000
Bill Kristol laid out the program - defeat the stimulus stop health care reform
No doubt that accounts for the consternation among reform advocates and the palpable glee at the Chamber of Commerce over the Dashcle withdrawal
The GOP achieved a major victory yesterday in its efforts to stop Democrats on health care. This is really beyond serious dispute, as is the fact that for all his talents and accomplishments, Howard Dean would contribute nothing to the political solution and likely would quickly become part of the problem
February 4, 2009 1:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Purists on the left were equally responsible for this. Fuck them, too!
February 4, 2009 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
If your analysis is correct, then when things get even worse and there is no stimulus bill because the Repos blocked it, why won't they take the blame?
They are criticizing about 1% of the bill to try to stop the whole thing. That's just crazy, unless 1) they really believe things are getting better on their own, or 2) they welcome a collapse.
However, or additionally: People with cash and fundamental economic power don't mind deflation. They can flourish, especially if they have a lot of cash and plenty of sound, if price-depressed, assets relative to their standards of living. So it's not just about the consequences of success for the Bill, as Marshall paints it. It's about policy and fundamental values as well.
The right under Bush/Cheney leadership may well have set this up intentionally to destroy government. At the very least, Bush's path over the past 8 years has drastically upped the stakes. Government which survives on taxes is THE most sensitive to economic deflationary moves, as it tends to become oppressive if it keeps its own "standard of living" while citizens see theirs dropping.
February 4, 2009 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
[pardon if duplicate, TPM seems to have stalled]
If your analysis is correct, then when things get even worse and there is no stimulus bill because the Repos blocked it, why won't they take the blame?
They are criticizing about 1% of the bill to try to stop the whole thing. That's just crazy, unless 1) they really believe things are getting better on their own, or 2) they welcome a collapse.
However, or additionally: People with cash and fundamental economic power don't mind deflation. They can flourish, especially if they have a lot of cash and plenty of sound, if price-depressed, assets relative to their standards of living. So it's not just about the consequences of success for the Bill, as Marshall paints it. It's about policy and fundamental values as well.
The right under Bush/Cheney leadership may well have set this up intentionally to destroy government. At the very least, Bush's path over the past 8 years has drastically upped the stakes. Government which survives on taxes is THE most sensitive to economic deflationary moves, as it tends to become oppressive if it keeps its own "standard of living" while citizens see theirs dropping.
February 4, 2009 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Took part in the Organizing America Conference call last night in preparation for this weekend's house parties.
I fully intend to make these points as forcefully as I can wherever I can
February 4, 2009 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Breseden would be a terrible pick.
February 4, 2009 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
True. Or why not a Republican ex Gov who implemented mandatory health care in his North East state of Massachusetts? Here's an old article on Mitt's take on health care: http://www.time.com/time/columnist/klein/article/0,9565,1137628,00.html
I am not advocating him at all, but I was brainstorming who we could put in there who'd have some pull in getting the process in achieving universal health care possible.
February 4, 2009 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dean is the only one who will have the grit and determination to get this done, and done effectively, imho.
February 4, 2009 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well done.
That's a real pile of nothing.
"Grit determination" and 2 bucks will get you a medium coffee at the corner shop
This is about passing legislation in Congress not going down to defeat with grits
February 4, 2009 1:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. Excuse me for commenting.
February 4, 2009 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Dean is a decent and bright guy to worked hard to try to build up the Democratic Party at the state level. But he just doesn't have the experience, connections or skill sets to drive the health care reform legislation through congress. He would be better at mobilizing the base to vocally support reform. As far as someone who might equal Daschle, a friend of my has suggested Leon Penetta.
February 4, 2009 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Based on what, that he yelled YEAAHHHAARRRGGHHH!!! 4 years ago when trying to excite the troops?
I think Dean's dealt with 1 or 2 congresspeople since then, including a fair number he helped get elected. If we're going to compare skill sets, what is it that gives Rahm Emmanuel the upper hand, aside from the ability to look and act like Eddie Haskell?
February 4, 2009 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's argument and mockery. You're mocking--and with little reason that I can see.
February 4, 2009 2:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wrong again, Matthew - Bredesen is not nearly as big as you think, and would tank early if nominated:
http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/pitw/2009/02/bredesen_cooper_still_waiting.php
February 4, 2009 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's not going to be able to find another Daschle. Other than Hillary, there is no one in this country of comparable stature
He will probably split HHS and Health Care Czar. He'll has no choice
February 4, 2009 1:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. There was a lot of glee among "purists" when Daschle withdrew yesterday. Let's see how they feel in a year from now when it becomes clear that there is nobody else with the healthcare policy understanding and political chops to get this done. All of the talk about limos and divorces will seem really overblown by comparison.
February 4, 2009 2:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Leon Penetta?
February 4, 2009 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is it just me or do Matt's posts seem to have a lot of "I heard..." "I heard..." in them...
I'm just sayin...
February 4, 2009 1:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
yeah, it's annoying Washington insider speak.
February 4, 2009 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
He reports
We read
Guess the snark just passed between my legs
February 4, 2009 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
if he reported "Billy Bob said..." or "The editor of the Washington Times said..." I'd be fine. It's not reporting if there's no attribution. It's gossip.
February 4, 2009 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you can see in this discussion of who next the essence of defeat for health care reform any time soon.
Never an easy lift by any means, it is next to impossible under present economic and political conditions and the divisions among democrats are all too readily apparent
No wonder they're smiling this morning at the USCOC
February 4, 2009 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would love for Dr. Dean to be nominated.
But, seeing as how the Obama admin seems reluctant to go to him for whatever reason, here is a rather radical and I think, terrific idea :-)
How about BILL CLINTON? Extremely effective, charismatic, knows everything about everything in life and politics, dedicated to any task he takes up and knows everyone in the world, let alone Congress! This would also retrieve their family honor once and for all...
February 4, 2009 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
thinking outside the box, i'll give you that.
February 4, 2009 1:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Clinton wouldn't open himself up to the confirmation hearings. He's obviously have the profile, however he's run into the same partisan issues as Dean, probably bigger than Dean.
I still like Bill Bradley, who I've read described as Daschle without the baggage.
February 4, 2009 1:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am not so sure Bill wouldn't submit himself to the conf circus. They really are touching, as a couple/family, in their desire to do good as part of a government. Bill especially seems thrilled that Hill is SoS and he took a lot of beating on the way (and smart as he is, don't tell me he did not anticipate that).
Plus, Cong Rethugs seem totally enamored of the Clintons now -- may be they actually are awed by the survival of the Clintons despite their own best efforts against it.
February 4, 2009 2:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am suggesting Leon Penetta. Any thoughts?
February 4, 2009 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I read a bit at HuffPo yesterday by a Dean partisan(via Roll Call) which summed the case for Dean as succinctly as any
1. Dean hasn't received enough credit for his work as DNC chair
2. He's a doctor
Well folks that's the case against him in a nutshell as well
The AMA is on board. The AMA isn't the problem and conceding the first point establishes the counter that Dean would be too partisan for the job.
Partisanship is what made him such an excellent DNC chair
DUH
February 4, 2009 1:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
IOW whatever else may be fairly said of the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party (and I count myself a member, a Deaniac 04 as well!), it can't pass legislation or we'd have had a Recovery package yesterday
February 4, 2009 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, Dean is soooo partisan getting elected in what was Red Vermont and then turning the whole state blue. Give me a break.
February 4, 2009 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Getting elected with margins over 70% I might add.
February 4, 2009 1:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, come on! Vermont is not a "red" state in any sense of the word and never was! Pat Leahy has been senator since 1974 and is as liberal as they come.
Having a republican governor in Vermont means nothing. It's like having Lincoln Chaffee as your "republican" senator.
February 4, 2009 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd feel a whole lot better about Dean at HHS if I had any sense at all that his backers had the slightest grip on political reality here. But for the most part, if not the entire part, the Deansters are to a person as happy about Daschle's departure as Ann Coulter and the Chamber of Commerce
February 4, 2009 1:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
OOPS
Quotes above from NyT
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/04/us/politics/04assess.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&src=ig
February 4, 2009 1:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep. Kossacks were diddling themselves with glee. Then you have the puritan progressives like Greenwald who would rather have no healthcare at all than have had Daschle get sweeping reforms passed.
February 4, 2009 1:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
But for the most part, if not the entire part, the Deansters are to a person as happy about Daschle's departure as Ann Coulter and the Chamber of Commerce
Based on...?
I'd be happy with Gov Dean or Gov Kitzhaber. They've each done in their states what Obama says he wants to do for the nation on health care.
February 4, 2009 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is silly. Despite his early and obvious support for the Obama candidacy, and his legislative experience on Capitol Hill, Senator Daschle was never a great choice to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Governor Kitzhaber is the best available choice: he is an emergency department physician, long time legislator and once President of the Oregon Senate, former two-term governor of the State of Oregon, primary author of the Oregon Health Plan—an innovative rationing approach to health care which received a waiver from the Federal Government to extend the provision of care to low-income Oregonians—and, a long time private advocate of health care reform.
To wit: a progressive, strong environmental advocate, outdoorsman, father to a young son and a negotiator and facilitator with a proven track record in an environment where Republicans largely controlled the process for years at the state level.
Seriously - what's not to like about John Kitzhaber? How is it that the most qualified parties aren't given 'serious' consideration by the Obama transition team or administration?
February 4, 2009 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Michael, right now we are witnessing the Senate struggling over the damned stimulus bill which should have been passed pronto and wasn't. This should illustrate to you the importance of a person heading up the healthcare legislation who is aware of what levers to pull to get healthcare legislation passed. This ability and knowledge is completely lacking in otherwise well-qualified folks like Kitzhaber.
The Democrats have been maneuvered into a position similar to that in the early 1990s when the healthcare legislation was turned over to the neophyte Hillary Clinton. How did that turn out?
The celebration over losing Daschle is obscene and just shows how close some on the left are to the extreme right wing nuts that have been in charge and are far too common in the Senate.
The only thing I can say for the prevalent viewpoint is that political naviete needs to be corrected by a bit of political knowledge. Go read Master of the Senate to find out how LBJ got the votes he needed for extensive legislation...it is a talent that is rarely found.
Really, we need to teach more history in this country and more civics. And we need all of this before we end up worse than a third world country.
February 4, 2009 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Democrats have been maneuvered into a position
Sounds like Sen Daschle maneuvered himself. Too bad too.
Even the GOP seemed to know to stand clear on this one.
February 4, 2009 2:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, whatever: see below.
I, for one, am not celebrating the withdrawal of the Daschle nomination at all. I simply point out that it was never a great fit. Sadly, he is not the first such relatively poor fit, and he may not be the last.
While I celebrate the ascension of Obama to the White House, I am saddened by the degree to which the familiar politics of the past is dressed up as something new. Yeah, some of it does feel refreshingly different. And much of it, pathetically familiar.
Ah, well - baby steps to the bus…
February 4, 2009 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know, that might be a bit more convincing if we were trying to get healthcare for Oregon!
Sheez. What the fuck is the matter with you people? Pushing some backwater doctor who doesn't even know how to find the freaking restrooms in the senate to tackle perhaps the most political legislative job of this administration.
Hillary is smart as a whip but her Arkansas skills were no match for the Hill.
February 4, 2009 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
What the hell are you talking about? Thirteen years in the trenches as a primary care physician in a metropolitan emergency department? A term in the State House, three in the Senate including eight years as the Senate President, and two four-years terms as Governor of the State of Oregon equate to "…some backwater doctor?"
You are clearly the party who is ill informed here! Before Governor Dean tool on the Chairmanship of the Democratic National Party, he apparently was just "…some backwater doctor" with multiple terms as Governor of the State of Vermont, and a failed primary candidate for President. We all know how he exercised his leadership at the DNC and laid the groundwork for the Obama campaign's win last November.
Why would this "…backwater doctor" fair any more poorly at the task of driving health care reform?
Frankly, your commentary regarding Governor Kitzhaber makes you sound like a moron to anyone actually familiar with his work in Oregon. Washington DC needs one hell of a lot more people like him and Representative Peter DeFazio, a tireless progressive and early advocate of Kitzhaber's candidacy for Oregon Governor.
February 4, 2009 2:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Question: How does success in a state house help you navigate the US Congress?
Answer: It doesn't!
And please stop with this bullshit about Dean being responsible for Obama's election. The notion that a guy who couldn't win a single caucus or primary in his own campaign propelled Obama to the WH is stupid!
The 50-State strategy simply means that the DNC will give money to Democratic parties in every state so that they can become more viable.
It has nothing to do with Obama's win. The long primary (not Dean) ensured that he could compete in all 50 states. He won because his team knew how to count delegates, raised a ton of money, registered millions of voters and recruited millions of volunteers. Dean was not involved in any of these things.
February 4, 2009 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, disaffected Daschle supporter: your boy is out of the running, and the boss apparently had no plan B.
So, what do you suggest happens now? Who is the 'best candidate' for the post, in your view?
February 4, 2009 5:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Question: How does success in a state house help you navigate the US Congress? Answer: It doesn't!
Moving legislation is just part of the HHS secretary job. Policy and administeration are also teensy bits of the job.
As a doctor, author of OHP, state senate leader & two-term governor, Dr Kitzhaber is a far better candidate that you are apparently willing to recognize. The only problem is that Dr. K won't take the job because he won't go to DC.
As for Dr Dean, you misjudge his impact on the grassroots in 2006 & 2008. Without his support, there would have been no 50-state framework -- that people like Carville & Rahm opposed -- for Obama to capitalize on.
February 4, 2009 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely - Kitzhaber is a proven commodity - he has legislative experience, executive experience, he virtually invented the Oregon Health Plan, and he has a current health initiative called The Archimedes Plan.
In addition he has a long history of progressive politics.
What's not to like? Unless you are an obstructionist Republican.
February 4, 2009 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary's problem was more personality than legiskills. Aren't Biden and Emmanuel supposed to be midwifing the WH's legislative efforts?
February 4, 2009 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
There are issues with Dean and Obama, steming from his tenor as DNC chairman and decisions made with the Superdelegete voting process. Dean also tends to be a bit of an independent thinker and capable of putting his foot in his mouth (and Barack already has Biden for that job). Still, I would take Dean before I would even think about appointing Jay Rockerfeller!
February 4, 2009 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am suggesting Leon Penetta as the person in the best position to drive the health care reform bus through congress without hitting political landmines or road blocks. Any thoughts.
February 4, 2009 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
It would look very bad to pull Panetta from CIA and put him at HHS at this juncture. Agree he might be fine .... but he's going to be fine at CIA as well and that's already set.
Other names I've heard on other threads and sites:
Bill Bradley
Olympia Snowe
Bill Bradley *and* Olympia Snowe (split the jobs)
Al Gore??????
Sen. Barbara Mukulski
Rep. Jim Cooper TN
Jeanne Lambreau (Daschle's co-author)
Sen. Ron Wyden OR
Gov Ed Rendell
John Podesta (for a bit of irony)
Dick Gephardt
and award for the two wildest:
Newt Gingrich
John Edwards
and I think the best suggestion:
whoever Ted Kennedy would recommend!!!
February 4, 2009 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's depressing just how weak democratic politicians of the last 20 years have been.
Panetta would actually be a smart pick.
I'd love to see Bob Kerrey
I agree that Dean has made himself too political.
Tony Fauci of NIH would be very interesting and outside the box.
February 4, 2009 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seattle Congressman and Dr Jim McDermott
http://www.house.gov/mcdermott/issues_healthcare.shtml
February 4, 2009 6:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Won't surprise me non if Obama puts another Repuke in that position.Seems kind of crazy stupid:the American people keep voting Repukes out of positions of significance & Obama keeps appointing 'em to positions of significance.It's like when you try to clean out your garage of all the yrs of junk but somehow your kids keep returning the cleaned out junk to the just cleaned garage.Simply insane.
February 4, 2009 6:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
How about a republican?
Who is the GOPr that could get the job done?
February 4, 2009 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink