If you measure a man by his results then Howard Dean was a huge success as head of the DNC.

The Bush Administration should be thanked for the results.

In any other year, the ugly primary season -- including the Michigan and Florida debacles -- could easily have hurt the party badly. Dean was a disaster; glad he's gone.

After being ridiculed from coast to coast over the "Dean scream," I think it's fair to say that the good doctor from Vermont got the last laugh.

50 state strategy was brilliant, Dean destroyed the Republican Party. His ideas helped Obama raise huge sums of money. He was a better leader of the DNC than he was a politician. I doubt he ever could have been elected president.

In any other year, the ugly primary season -- including the Michigan and Florida debacles -- could easily have hurt the party badly. Dean was a disaster; glad he's gone.

#1 | Posted by Phoenix

Dean was a disaster? He was the architect of the strategy that just carried Obama to an enormous electoral vote victory.

Just because he wasn't a Clinton sycophant does not make him a disaster.

Good riddance! We don't like him here in Michigan. Maybe he can go live in Iowa and New Hampshire since he loves those two states so much.

He was a better leader of the DNC than he was a politician. I doubt he ever could have been elected president.

Perhaps. But I liked him better than Kerry or anybody else the dems were considering.

"Perhaps. But I liked him better than Kerry or anybody else the dems were considering."

Well, in 2004 Dean was Obama, to the extent that the netroots were so excited about him and the fact that he is quite a Liberal character. But in 2004 the Dems decided to go with a more conventional candidate, not like in 2008 when they took a chance on Obama.

Dean got the job done as Governor of Vermont and DNC Chair. But far too honest to be useful to the Oligarchy. They want politicians they can compromise, either through bribery or blackmail.

Here was a guy who would have given us the best of Conservatism and Liberalism, like a balanced budget and some control of the health care industry. Destroyed by a campaign of ridicule repeated endlessly on TV, that stupid people fall for.

Thank you for all you've said and done Mr. Dean

I guess that Dr. Dean doesn't want the job for another 8 years - to elect another Dem President so he's giving it up now. I wonder who the next one will be.

Guy should be able to write his own ticket now.

Did Dean help the dems or was he a lead weight hanging off their ass? No matter what though, everyone will forever remember his famous DEAN SCREAM!!!!

No matter what though, everyone will forever remember his famous DEAN SCREAM!!!!

#10 | Posted by fwthom

Actually, probably just the ones who are too partisan, or stupid to acknowledge the man's real accomplishments and try to denigrate him by refusing to recognize his significant role in a building a strategy that resulted in an electoral vote landslide.

No matter what though, everyone will forever remember his famous DEAN SCREAM!!!!

YOU BETCHA, ALSO!!

50 state strategy was brilliant, Dean destroyed the Republican Party. His ideas helped Obama raise huge sums of money. He was a better leader of the DNC than he was a politician. I doubt he ever could have been elected president.

#3 | Posted by danni at 2008

whoa just a minute

so you think that dean was actually in on the obama campaign??

I really think you are giving him WAY too much credit. I dont recall seeing him or hearing a single thing out of him from the convention until now............

I liked Howard Dean a lot, and supported him in the 2004 primaries (even though he dropped out before Super Tuesday). People will remember him for the Dean Scream, but I've always seen him as a good strategist and an energizing politician.

Thank you, Mr. Dean.

so you think that dean was actually in on the obama campaign??

I really think you are giving him WAY too much credit. I dont recall seeing him or hearing a single thing out of him from the convention until now............

#13 | Posted by bushlovertwo

The whole 50 state strategy was his. The concept of using the Internets to maximum benefit was his. Obama took those things and ran with them Dean DOES deserve a great deal of credit for the success of the campaign.

I just cant believe all of that.......I am sure that he had input but you wont be able to convince me of THAT much from him..........

and one reason you wont is because of what I said.
we never heard from him since the convention and he doesnt strike me as the kind of guy who relishes the background

"I just cant believe all of that.......I am sure that he had input but you wont be able to convince me of THAT much from him.........."

I think you misunderstand. No is saying Dean participated to any extent in Obama's campaign as it unfolded. We're saying he created the strategies that Obama employed ( and yes, improved upon).

"he created the strategies that Obama employed"

So nobody else had ever thought of using a "50-state strategy" or "the internet" in a campaign before? Dean created the idea of using these and Obama ran with them? Couldn't you just as easily say that Obama ran with anyone else's idea to use those things? I think you're giving Dean way too much credit here.

Oh, here come's old "if anyone one else says the sky is blue, I'll say its green", Joe.

Why can't you just answer the questions? Nobody's attacking you.

Because it is a well known fact that the 50 state strategy was originated by Dean, and that his was the first campaign to take the Internet to a whole new level. Obama took those things a ran with them successfully. Therefore, Dean deserves a lot of credit for building that foundation.

I suspect you knew that, but as usual felt called to argue the contrary with anyone you have disagreed with in the past.

Doctor Dean as head of HHS or a new health care taskforce? America's Tommy Douglas?

"it is a well known fact that the 50 state strategy was originated by Dean"

"I really think you are giving him WAY too much credit. I dont recall seeing him or hearing a single thing out of him from the convention until now............"

He was the first person on the left who called for Hillary to end her campaign and suport barack when it was obvious he was choice.

LM

I think he should have his own TV show. I loved his scream.

If you measure him by the accomplishments of the DNC in 2004, he didn't do very well. But when he took a "back seat" to the actual nominee and managed the party from the inside, he did an outstanding job.

it's payback time, and Rahm Emanuel is highly vindictive. That's why obamotopia selected him. Play by his rules, or suffer the consequences!

"The disagreement broke into open warfare in 2006, when Dean clashed over money and strategy with New York Sen. Chuck Schumer and Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel, who ran the party's successful effort to win back control of Congress."

He was the architect of the strategy that just carried Obama to an enormous electoral vote victory. -- SA

A lot of you seem to be forgetting that the race was tight until the financial crisis. Given Bush's unpopularity and McCain's shaky campaign, that's a stunning failure.