Baucus Has "Some Ideas" For Daschle's Replacement ...
... but he's not telling who. Max Baucus (D-MT), who would have had to shepherd former rival Tom Daschle's health secretary nomination to passage through his Senate Finance Committee, described himself as "surprised" by Daschle's sudden withdrawal today.
Baucus reiterated that he supported confirming Daschle's nomination, while acknowledging that the nominee's scheduled hearing was "a week from today ... it's hard to know what would have happened." When I asked if he had any suggestions for President Obama to fill the health secretary post, Baucus said coyly that "I've got some ideas" but declined to elaborate.
Could he be talking about Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the Nancy Pelosi ally who rents an apartment to White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel? Or perhaps health care expert Jeanne Lambrew, now serving as a deputy health adviser to Obama? Or could Baucus be talking about ... himself?
Josh
Elana
Matt
Eric
I think I can confidently say that whomever Baucus has in mind, I want nothing to do with.
February 3, 2009 3:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Co-sign.
February 3, 2009 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whoever Baucus has in mind would go a long way toward smoothing the waters in the Senate...and that person would also have to be the President's man (or woman).
I'm not convinced that Baucus wasn't behind shooting down the Daschle nomination, despite his public protestations otherwise. As chair of the committee that will have to report out any healthcare bill, it's well worth listening to Baucus' opinion.
February 3, 2009 4:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was - still am, a huge Obama supporter -
I campaigned for him - went to his inauguration.
But he lied to U.S.
Ethics - what ethics?
Is it really ethical to stand by these tax cheats?
What kind of example is that?
If his children voted for someone for class president if that person
were caught cheating would he really approve -
Would that person even run.
I am dumbfounded that he is sticking by these people.
Even after a totally broken vetting process is revealed -
I give up.
I will not defend him to my republican friends.
He is no change at all - same old shit.
And now his performance secretary of all people resigns because of her tax crap -
Is he sad to see her go also -
It's a performance all right
Makes one wonder how many senators and congressmen
and state assembly politicians don't pay their taxes.
I wish someone could start a website clearing house for every
single one of them where their public records (public payroll after all?)
Could be investigated and updated locally and nationally.
Nannies, cars, income, etc. etc. etc.
I am so disappointed in Obama.
His behavior is verging on arrogant - not confident.
And an aside -
This cutesy Matt Lauer stuff is so stupid.
What are we high school girls?
How about a prime time address from the oval office before we slip into a depression -
Both figuratively and literally.
Time for games is over.
February 3, 2009 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you going to post this in every thread?
February 3, 2009 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was - still am, a huge Obama supporter -
I campaigned for him - went to his inauguration.
But he lied to U.S.
Ethics - what ethics?
Is it really ethical to stand by these tax cheats?
What kind of example is that?
If his children voted for someone for class president if that person
were caught cheating would he really approve -
Would that person even run.
And now he is ducking reporters questions after the Gregg nomination - just like Bush.
Will he admit the obvious - that it was a mistake to stand by these people -
Or does he not make mistakes like Bush.
I am dumbfounded that he is sticking by these people.
Even after a totally broken vetting process is revealed -
I give up.
I will not defend him to my republican friends.
He is no change at all - same old shit.
And now his performance secretary of all people resigns because of her tax crap -
Is he sad to see her go also -
It's a performance all right
Makes one wonder how many senators and congressmen
and state assembly politicians don't pay their taxes.
I wish someone could start a website clearing house for every
single one of them where their public records (public payroll after all?)
Could be investigated and updated locally and nationally.
Nannies, cars, income, etc. etc. etc.
I am so disappointed in Obama.
His behavior is verging on arrogant - not confident.
And an aside -
This cutesy Matt Lauer stuff is so stupid.
What are we high school girls?
How about a prime time address from the oval office before we slip into a depression -
Both figuratively and literally.
Time for games is over.
February 3, 2009 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
much more persuasive the twelfth time
February 3, 2009 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
He or she needs to add exclaimation points. That would do the trick.
February 3, 2009 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
AND ALL CAPS!!!!!! DEFINITELY NEEDS ALL CAPS!
February 3, 2009 6:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber would be an excellent choice.
Hey, whiners. Why don't you just worship at the altar of Rush Limbaugh? You make a great sniping section. With friends like you, who needs enemies.
February 3, 2009 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, Kitzhaber would be great. And he already has a health care initiative going here in Oregon: The Archimedes Project.
February 3, 2009 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, Kitzhaber would be great. And he already has a health care initiative going here in Oregon: The Archimedes Project.
February 3, 2009 6:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
As I posted in another thread about Kitzhaber's name being floated...
John (aka "Dr. No") was/is a iconoclastic guy who I respect and admire. That said, he is not a team player and it's always his way or the highway. He did great when he was holding the line against the then troglodyte GOP dominated legislative assembly, but he might not do well at all in a cabinet position carrying out someone else's program and agenda.
While he was/is a medical doctor, he was an ER doctor, and not in general practice or trained in whole care. We was trained in triage, so his medical background, while not a bad thing at all and is a plus to some extent, is not the best type of health-care person to look at long-term health solutions.
While starting and heading The Archimedes Project, he has taken it basically nowhere closer these past two years than where it was then. Giving the same speech with no commitment to even a general outline of a solution to health-care is not where the movement should be.
Don't get me wrong, I respect John for who he his and his accomplishments, and I may not be giving him the benefit of doubt about his ability to go beyond what he has done so far since leaving Salem, but I can see why the would be some reticence in tapping him for the Secretary position.
Of course, I want him to run as my Governor again since Ted Kulongoski is term limited and he would most likely clear the field for all intents and purposes on both sides of the aisle if he ran again (now that he can).
February 3, 2009 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
really, dean is the only one who combines administrative ability with extensive professional knowledge of the health care industry (and not by being an insurance lobbyist, either.)
February 3, 2009 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I’d like to see Howard Dean in this position too. For whatever reason though, Dean doesn’t seem to be that popular with Obama.
February 3, 2009 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like Dean as much as the next guy or gal, but do you not think he is a lightening rod for Republicans. Seems like that would be playing into what is clearly the republican playbook for the next 2 years.
Seems like Obama was going much less for an icon than a political infighter who can grind out the sausage.
we'll see.
February 3, 2009 4:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
you're probably right, but sometimes you gotta hire a guy even though he's a democrat. juxtapose the bipartisan new englanders dean and gregg, it looks remarkably balanced. (gregg once voted to eliminate the dept of commerce. ha!)
February 3, 2009 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can understand and appreciate Howard Dean's limitations with regards to his rather pugnacious personality, and am fully cognizant of the fact that his relationship with Obama WH Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is considered prickly at best.
In that regard, I might urge people who won't accept Gov. Dean to look to Dr. Jack Lewin, a physician-by-training who is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the American College of Cardiology in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Lewin served for 11 years as President / CEO of the California Medical Asociation (1995-2006), and prior to that he was the Director of the Hawaii Department of Health (1986-1994). He has been at the forefront of the health care reform movement for three-plus decades, and a deputy director of Hawaii DOH (1978-86) was instrumental in the state's adoption of universal health care coverage in the late '70s and early '80s, which has since served as the model for all other reform efforts undertaken by various states.
Additionally, Dr. Lewin was also the founder and first Director of the Navajo Nation Department of Health, serving the health care needs of America's largest Indian tribe, whose territory streches across eastern Arizona, western New Mexico and southern Utah.
I've known Dr. Lewin personally for many years. He knows his way around in the political world, and has extensive management experience in both the public and private sectors, and is firmly committed to effective reform of health care delivery in the United States.
I really urge people to take a look at Jack Lewin, because if we are truly serious about health care reform, he could well be the meeting of man and moment on this issue. I believe that he'd be a great Secretary of Health and Human Services, if given the opportunity.
February 3, 2009 4:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I lived in Hawaii and had heart surgery there the first time. I can tell you that as a young college student from Washington I could not get a health card to finish nursing school so I went to Hawaii to live with my sister. My mom lived there also. What a relief that as a new employee there, after many months there I needed heart surgery. I had their mandated insurance and it paid for my surgery and medical expenses. I got very excellent care. When I developed a very lethal complication post op the medical care was so great I recovered. I shall always be grateful to the doctor you mentioned for his great effort to provide excellent full medical coverage for anyone employed in Hawaii. He is definitely the type who would make a great cabinet officer in charge of developing universal health care services.
February 4, 2009 2:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
We need a smart, principled bulldog who can overcome special interests. Howard Dean is by far the best choice.
February 3, 2009 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gov. Dean was actually my first choice, too. We certainly owe a profound debt of gratitude to him for his four years of service as DNC chair, and no one can deny that as a longtime practicing physician, he knows the challenges of health care delivery first-hand.
But if White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is going to let those clearly palpable personality issues between him and Dean interfere with business at hand, I think Dr. Jack Lewin would be a wonderful alternative choice. Trust me, Lewin is also the real deal.
February 3, 2009 6:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would love to see a truly controversial figure nominated. Someone politically controversial because they actually assert a progressive health care policy, rather than that they are corrupt insiders who don't practice what they preach.
But, like I've said elsewhere, Obama's health care is bound to failure before it even gets out of the gate. Too many people are financially and/or ideologically opposed to successful reform.
February 3, 2009 7:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. Ideally someone who won't reflexively discard the single payer option. As others suggested, the principle heavy weight that falls into that category is Dean. However, Rosa would be a great choice as well--she's a real fighter, very well connected, and a true progressive.
February 3, 2009 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink