Look just because Dean is a rock solid progressive Democrat with experience of both sides of the healthcare issue, as a governor and as a physician, just because he built the Democratic party that got Obama elected, and just because he would be a strong advocate for patients and healthcare reform, I don’t see how you can say, based on such slim evidence, that he would have been a good choice to head HHS. Clearly what we need is a shill for the insurance/healthcare industry (Daschle) or some centrist governor (Sibelius) who won’t rock any boats. I mean you really didn’t take that talk about “change we can believe in” seriously, did you?

Can anyone explain to me why Howard Dean is treated as such a pariah by his own party? I myself cannot understand why…every time I see him on TV or read his words he seems like such a sympathetic and understanding person.

I hope folks are not still mad about the display of exuberance that cost him his candidacy for the POTUS, because I found that to be something that made him more human and made me like him even more.

All the talk about “we’ve only got one shot at this” and “we’ve got to get it right the first time” doesn’t bode well for those of us who want to migrate to a predominantly single-payer system. If the first go at it is just a subsidy for health insurance [companies], then there will be no price control, and no attempt to reduce client out-of-pocket expenses to zero. And if we get just one shot at it, that’s it until Medicare, if that still exists when we get there. And at this rate, Medicare will be gutted, medicine will be too expensive, and the U.S. will become a country of poor elderly sick people. Or is it already?

and the U.S. will become a country of poor elderly sick people. Or is it already?

No, many of the sick people are young and middle aged.

I mean you really didn’t take that talk about “change we can believe in” seriously, did you?

DOH!

Howard Dean..the video of him on the Situation Room is here, also.
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” That’s why I’m returning to DFA and I have to admit, it’ll be nice to work out of my old office in Burlington. I’ll also be hitting the road with you, stumping for grassroots candidates and advocating for the issues that matter most to you and me. For one, I think you know that healthcare for all is an important issue to me. I look forward to working with you to pass meaningful reform that makes sure that every American has the care they need.

“I’ll be most interested in their health care stuff,” he said. “Not only pushing for a health care bill but for one with meaningful reform.”

Glad to see him emphasizing the Medicare program as one that could a choice. He keeps referring to Obama’s plan during the campaign which does include that option. He is fearful that the health care companies will be able to stop and option. He intends to keep speaking out against to see it included. “

http://journals.democraticunde…..idian/3691

i think dfa has been a supporter of single payer (although dean not so much) – i hope that doesn’t change at dfa with dean’s return.

“or some centrist governor (Sibelius)”

lets not forget her stint as insurance commissioner of kansas….. that should give her 1/2 the picture eh?

as to dean being as well qualified as he is for the HHS job, i guess the *problem* between him & rahm trumps all. too bad the “team of rivals” couldn’t contain these particular 2 rivals.

I went and watched the video and I’m sorry to say that you are correct. Dean mentions buying into insurance companies or into Medicare early. That is too bad. I was so hoping that Americans would get single payer coverage. There has to be some way to break the hold that insurance companies have on politicians. Can’t really see how that will happen unless elections become publicly funded.

” An administration official put that unease to rest on Wednesday night, telling the Huffington Post that, “single payer advocates will be represented at the forum tomorrow.”

Another source with knowledge of the event says: “Rep. John Conyers, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and a known single payer advocate, and at least one group advocating single payer, will be there as well.” “

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..71994.html

i like dean a lot but he wasn’t my choice for hhs.

re publicly funded elections – yes that would be great because then political change could come about more easily through the electoral system. but that’s not the only way to effect change. women didn’t get the vote by voting and jim crow laws weren’t repealed due to the votes of african americans. sometimes it takes social movements too.

Speaking of social movements; the ERA has the best chance it has ever had to pass because Obama supports it and the Democrats are in power.
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” Senator Barack Obama, who not only succeeded in finally breaking through the race barrier that has marred our country for so long, but also made sure that his party’s platform is laced through and through with clauses clearly addressing women’s issues and rights – including strong support for the Equal Rights Amendment. “

http://www.eracampaign.net/news.html

thanks for the good news.

it’s so slow… but it is progress. thanks again.