I'm a day late with this, so I hope the person concerned will forgive me, but..............

[DFW]

Happy Birthday, Howard Dean!

November 17, 1948. Just after Harry Truman's unexpected election victory.

How time flies.

I already made my personal apology for the day late, and reminded him that 74 was the new.......oh, wait.

That's old, too. Never mind.

On Howard's last visit to my adopted home town of Düsseldorf, with the mayor:



And no, I NEVER wear that tacky tie when I'm in the States!! Whaddya think, I'm nuts?

[spooky3]

1. Nice tie! Nt

[tblue37]

2. If the Dems had listened to Howard about election strategy, the GOP would not have done

so we'll after he was pushed out.

[DFW]

11. Howard was pushed out of the Obama administration by Rahm Emmanuel, not out of the party

He fully planned to retire as DNC chair after we won the White House, the Senate AND the House. He told me that the reason was simple. When the Party does NOT control the White House, the DNC Chair is the party head. When we DO control the White House, the President is the party head, and he was perfectly willing to cede that role to Obama.

He was not a happy man to find that Rahm had been selected to be Obama's chief of staff, since that meant (as he suspected) that he would get frozen out of the Obama administration, and he would REALLY liked to have been appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services. The country had NO ONE better for that post than Howard. Tom Daschle and Kathleen Sibelius were poor substitutes, and Howard would have brought a dynamism to that post that had not then, and still today, has never been seen. The country lost out HUGELY there, and all because of Rahm Emmanuel's grudge from 2006. Obama may gotten himself a familiar figure for chief of staff, and I'm sure Rahm had some strong organizatorial skills, but he did us considerable harm with his hothead personailty and his grudge against Howard.

[Pinback]

27. Thanks for this perspective.

I hold Dean in high regard and wondered why he didn’t get the HHS post. I’ve long viewed Emanuel with suspicion (at best), and this confirms what I suspected.

[DFW]

28. A really rotten deal for the country

Last edited Sat Nov 19, 2022, 03:19 PM - Edit history (1)

Howard took it like a trooper, and never whined, but he had his heart set on that post. He gave every waking minute of his time which DNC chair, and was rewarded with a kink in the shins.

[karynnj]

70. I had originally thought it was because Obama wanted to give it to Daschle.

In 2005, Obama hired many people who were on Daschle's staff as he lost reelection. As a former Senate Majority leader, he had lots of helpful contacts in Congress. However, once he ran into problems from I think lobby, had it been that alone Dean would have been an obvious choice.

I remember in 2005, when the DCCC mailing had a vote for who the leaders of the Democratic party were. HRC, Bill Clinton, and Rahm were among the choices. Not included were DNC chair Dean or John Kerry who had just lost. DU changed that by freezing the poll to add the latter 2 to the Clinton's and other people, but not Rahm. I do not think he liked the results.

[DFW]

73. I think the result would have been vastly different after the 2006 midterms

Howard was hailed as our knight in shining armor after that. In May 2006, there was the big screaming match between Howard and Rahm. Howard wanted to try his 50 state strategy, and Rahm, as DCCC chair, wanted to stick to the tried and true "win the ones we know we can win" strategy. As the DNC had bigger purse strings, Howard had control over way more party money, and told Rahm to go shove it, since he was going to do it his way. When Howard turned out to be right, Rahm never forgave him for it. He got his revenge when Obama made him WH chief of staff, but he was the only one who won out--the country lost big time, and for what? For Rahm's personal satisfaction at winning a grudge fight against Howard.

Can you imagine Obama crafting the ACA with Howard's help, and having Howard on all the weekly TV talk shows, smashing all Republican arguments against it to smithereens?

[BlueMTexpat]

41. + a million!

I am not as gracious as Howard Dean!

Rahm Emanuel did all Dems a disservice with his petty grudge against Howard Dean!

[DFW]

44. I only met Rahm once

It was enough to be happy not to meet him again.

He was/is a nasty, manipulative little piece of work. The fact that Howard's absence at HHS was an immense disservice to the whole nation couldn't have been less important to him. Selfish little bastard. Howard put up a brilliant façade of taking it in stride, but I knew him well enough to know he was huge disappointed that Obama went along.

I asked him in February, 2009, after Daschle dropped due to his undocumented household help, and Sibelius wasn't yet nominated, what he would do if he got frozen out of the Obama administration, which we both knew was a distinct possibility, if a shameful one for the Democratic Party. Howard said he would join some law firm on paper, for some name recognition for them and some steady income for himself, and then spend the rest of his time raising hell for causes he cared about.

He has been doing that ever since. Don't think his occasional appearances on MSNBC or CNN are anything like high importance to him. He's glad to do it, but those spots pay peanuts, if anything at all. He has always been a fervent environmentalist, going back decades all the way to fighting Bernie Sanders when Sanders was mayor of Burlington, to protect some land near the lake from being developed instead of being built up (Sanders was backing the developers).

+He has also been a strong family man, always going home on weekends, no matter where he was as DNC Chair. I don't know anyone besides Norm Ornstein who even knows his wife's name (they met while in Medical School, so his partnership has lasted at least as long as has mine, and I have been with my wife for 48 years). He also has been championing the fight against human trafficking, organizing and participating in a march from the Burmese border to Bangkok to shed some light on it. He has not been sulking, twiddling his thumbs since leaving the DNC chairmanship

That a man like that was NOT nominated for president when we could have done so, and that a man like was denied a cabinet position although he was by far the most qualified for the job--those are failings for which our party will have to answer to history for.

What could and should have been...............

[BlueMTexpat]

51. I had the very great honor

and privilege of meeting Dr. Dean in Geneva several years ago.

It was an experience I will never forget. And, like you, I mourn what could have been. For us all.

[DFW]

60. Was that by any chance in 2009?

He was in Geneva then, on the way back from the Davos conference. Most people thought he was there as a political authority, having just completed 4 successful years as DNC chairman. Instead, he was there as an environmental authority, and that was his principal reason for going. He stopped off in Geneva for an evening at the apartment of some Democrat Abroad living there. I THINK the guy's name was Adams, but this was almost 14 years ago, so I couldn't swear to that.

Howard is now sure he could have done the job of President, although he admits he was unprepared for the mechanics of the campaign in 2003 and 2004. It sure would have affected the course of my life, not only having a personal friend in the White House, but probably as an ambassador, either to Germany, or some other place where I speak the language. My employer would have gone nuts, and I would have had to cope with a serious salary cut, but I would have done it for Howard. In 2016, when he was helping Hillary in the early stages of her campaign, there were again some feelers about ambassador to Germany, but that would have been more complicated by then. I don't know if I would have accepted it or not, although my wife loves Berlin.

Obama not picking Howard as HHS Secretary was one of the biggest blunders he ever made, in my opinion. On THAT one, Obama should have told Rahm to stuff his petty grudges, and take one for the nation. I don't think he realized until later what a mistake it was letting Rahm have his way on that particular issue.

[2naSalit]

63. One of the biggest mistakes...

Last edited Sat Nov 19, 2022, 09:51 AM - Edit history (1)

Was following Rahm's advice on Cabinet picks. He should also have appointed Raúl Grijalva SOI but he didn't listen to those of us who lead a serious campaign for Grijalva.

Blunders were made indeed.

[DFW]

65. Rahm was from Chicago, and knew his way around Congress.

Obama gave more weight to that than he could/should have.

You meant Raúl Grijalva, right? If so, I agree, he should have been a source of wisdom that Obama could have put to good use as well. Grijalva is the only member of Congress I have spoken to, never once saying one word in English.

[2naSalit]

67. Yes!

Apologies for the mangled spelling of Raúl Grijalva's name! Ouch, will fix.

I am thrilled that you've met him and had meaningful conversations! I don't mind if it wasn't in English, in fact, I find it more impressive.

I have great respect for the man and his values. Nice pic, you sure do get around!

[DFW]

76. My path has crossed with a few others over the years

When you put the photos in a row, it may seem impressive, but consider that a lot of real-world life goes on in between the occasions. My dad was the one who was running up to Capitol Hill a couple of times a week for his work. I don't even get to D.C. more than 3 or 4 times a year these days. My job takes me to places spelled with letters like ü, à, ç, ø, ñ, etc. Not too many congresscritters in my neck of the woods--if Mohammed can't come to the mountain, then the mountain has to come to Mohammed. But if I get a "would you like to come?" and it's from someone I know and have a lot of respect for? OH, yeah, I'll jump on a plane, and I'll be there!

[BlueMTexpat]

78. My memory is very bad, but I think

that particular visit may have occurred even earlier than 2009.

I believe that Howard Dean actually had family in Switzerland and had been visiting them - he could indeed also have been at Davos, so it could have been in 2009. I know who "the guy" named Adams is and he is very active in Dem fundraising in Geneva, but his meet-and-greets are usually too pricey for me and this was NOT one of his fundraisers.

Instead, the event took place at the apartment of an amazing woman who was totally sold on Howard Dean. She convinced me and my husband to become "Dean Believers" at the Dem Caucus in Geneva in 2004 and that was that. Later, she became the Chair of Dems Abroad in Switzerland. Her enthusiasm and encouragement of younger people to become active in the group laid the foundation for the very active national group it has become today. In 2004, too many of us were 60+. Now we're even older.

My enthusiasm for Dean has never wavered. Unlike another Vermont politician who says a lot of the things I like to hear but mostly ends up spluttering fruitlessly, Howard knows how to deliver on what he says and, most importantly, brings people to his point of view rather than alienating them.

I totally concur that NOT choosing Howard Dean as Hic HS Secretary was one of President Obama's biggest blunders. Obama chose instead to rely on Rahm Emanuel's judgment, without realizing that his own victory in 2008, along with the Dem Sweep in BOTH Houses of Congress, was largely due to Dean's 50-state strategy, not only to the Obama charisma. In 2008, Obama won in states that have NOT voted for a Democratic Presidential candidate - including Obama in 2012 - since.

Too many Dems STILL do NOT "get" how powerful the 50-state strategy is. Unfortunately.

I also firmly believe that Dems certainly would NOT have lost the House in 2010, had Dean been HHS Secretary under Obama.

[Tetrachloride]

3. Gz Howard Dean.

While you are in Dusseldorf, maybe you can rebuild the airport terminals.

[DFW]

6. I've been here a long time, and that terrible fatal poison accident is now 25 years past.

They HAVE redone the security line disaster, but now there is a check-in line disaster. Like in the USA, the airlines are not hiring enough personnel to handle the huge rebound surge in passenger numbers. If you're willing to pay the extra money, getting into the priority line is a life-saver, and if it's only a small percentage, then I do. RHIP. But I can't justify telling my higher ups that I paid $400 extra for a $200 flight just because I didn't want to get up an hour earlier and stand in line. So I stand in line. A lot. I just can't justify it for a one or two hour flight. If it's an intercontinental flight, I'll pay the difference myself. I have knee issues, and refuse to fly 10 hours and then walk like someone from Monty Python's Ministry of Funny Walks was coaching me.

[Tree Lady]

4. Love the tie and Howard

I wanted to vote for him as pres years ago but the stupid scream thing happened and he was gone before my primary.

[DFW]

7. One thing Howard regrets mightily is that his run for president got so popular so quickly

He tells anyone who will listen, "we didn't know what the hell we were doing." He didn't have a Jim Carville, putting on a show for the cameras, and getting the nuts and bolts work done when they weren't on him.

[Tree Lady]

9. He tried and he got me more excited in politics

Than I had been in a long time. Why the others took him down.

I wanted to move to Vermont for a long time because of him and Bernie, couldn't get my hubby to go that far. We are west coasters.

[Rhiannon12866]

53. He absolutely did that for a lot of us - and is still the smartest guy in almost any room

[Lonestarblue]

14. I did too. I knocked on a bunch of doors for Howard in New Hampshire. I lived in New England

then. It’s warmer here in Texas, but then politics suck big time.

[DFW]

45. Don't we know THAT!! n/t

[crickets]

42. Same thing happened to me.

I was so disappointed I didn't get a chance to vote for him.

Anyway- Happy Birthday, Howard Dean!

Thanks for starting a fascinating discussion here, DFW. Nice tie. 😉

[marble falls]

5. Dean was robbed for the most nebulous of reasons.

[DFW]

8. I think he scared the living crap out of the Republicans

They were prepared for a John Kerry. With Howard, they were facing something completely new, and something they didn't know how to deal with. My old friend Helen Thomas once gave him her highest compliment: "He's not a politician!" She had known a few of them over the course of 50 years, so her word carried some weight.

[CaptainTruth]

10. Nice! And great tie!

[DFW]

34. I think the jury on the tie is deadlocked

As in, "hopelessly."

[CaptainTruth]

54. Well I like it!!!

[DFW]

61. Well, thanks!

But as Democrats, we are used to being in the minority..........

[Hekate]

12. Gov. Dean, or as he was sometimes called here, the good Dr. Dean...

I volunteered for him out here in SoCal and got to shake his hand. I really liked the guy.

Happy Birthday, Howard Dean!

[calimary]

20. I got to shake his hand at an event in L.A.

Last edited Fri Nov 18, 2022, 02:05 PM - Edit history (1)

I sat on the aisle hoping I could up my chances for that. It worked! A BIG moment for me!



For me it was political love at first sight.

I was hooked the first time I heard him speak.

He woulda been GREAT.

DAMMIT.

[Bristlecone]

13. You are the right kind of nuts in my book

Great pic!

[DFW]

29. Good thing I married a social worker

Talk about long-term difficult cases!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

15. Happy Birthday to Governor Dean

[czarjak]

16. Awesome tie!

[rubbersole]

17. I don't think you're nuts, DFW...

...but should you be, please send me a Porsche. I'll pay shipping. Thanks.

[DFW]

22. I'm probably nuts enough, but not highly paid enough.

I have driven a Porsche before, but it took me five minutes to get out of it. Never again. The fancy vehicle department belongs to my daughter. She makes something like four times what I do. Ask her.

Oh, rats, I forgot, She isn't nuts. Sorry!

[rubbersole]

43. Well, is she single?

And into old, out of shape, bald anarchists?

[DFW]

46. Ummm, I'm afraid not

She's living with the father of her two daughters, who is a very young 47 (she's 37) and a former gymnast, now a senior partner in her law firm (she "just" a partner). I'm probably the closest thing to an anarchist she'll tolerate. Being half German, she is very into getting "i"s dotted and "t"s crossed. When she visits our house, she scolds us for having food that is even a day past its "sell by" date.

We don't get it. "She sure doesn't get that from ME!" My wife and I always toss that back and forth at each other when she is here (mostly joking, but not entirely).

[rubbersole]

56. She's fortunate to have you both as parents.

And I'm sure she knows it. (As far as the sell by date - good for her. She's watching out for you. I had cheese in my fridge that had changed color several times but tasted great. My son suggested that I was growing my own penicillin.)

[DFW]

59. She was a LOT of work, let me tell you!

Already at age 2, my wife's girlfriends called her "Madame 10,000 Volts." My wife was at her wits' end more than once with her. She never took "no" for an answer, but gave it out all the time. The younger ones always want to be able to do what their older sisters want to be able to do, and are always more ambitious. What we did do was to try to impart a sense of independence and empowerment into both our girls, trying to convince them that there was nothing they should consider as impossible or off limits, if they set their minds to it.

Our elder one wanted to work in the fashion field, interned all over the place, and ended up graduating from a fashion-business school in New York. It was known as sort of a party school, but no one told her, so she took the academic part seriously. Near the end of her last year, she called me up and asked what the English word "valedictorian" meant, and why did it mean she had to give a speech in English in front of two thousand people? When she was told, she was too embarrassed to tell the school that she had never heard the word before, and had no idea what it meant. In Germany, the schools are very Darwinian. They try to demean the students and weed out all but the strongest and most dynamic, which is not her nature. The schools here never tried to figure out that she was smart, and never told her she was. We did, but we were just the parents, so we were expected to say that. She wasn't prepared for an American school that was actually there for the students when they needed it. So, she was DEFINITELY unprepared for being the best in her class. They helped coach her for the speech, and she did fine.

The younger one, Madame 10,000 volts, never lost any of her charge. Always one to win an argument, Emily's List in Washington called her their best intern ever while she was an undergrad at GW, and Law School was a natural for her. She was named the youngest partner ever at her big international law firm, and is a star of their Frankfurt office.

Both our girls wanted to go to school in the USA, and I spent every cent of my modest inheritance on their educations there--not something everyone can do. However, it was the best investment I ever made, with the return being both tax-free and incalculable in monetary terms.

They both make sure that any cheese in our fridge never even gets the chance to turn colors.

[rubbersole]

64. Said the extremely proud dad...

This should be a post by itself.

[DFW]

66. We are happy with the way our daughters turned out. We make no secret of that

But I think DU gets to hear that often enough from me. I don't want to hear them quoting Popeye:

[highplainsdem]

18. Great tie and great friend! Thanks for posting this, DFW! I hope Howard had

a really lovely birthday yesterday.

[DFW]

25. I have known Howard for some twenty years now

He is the only man in politics with whom I share a deep appreciation of the music of Leo Kottke. One night, many years ago, we were both in Charleston, South Carolina, and Howard and I traded solos back and forth of Leo Kottke tunes on my twelve string guitar.

Those WERE the days!

A few years after that I got to do the same, doing duets of Russian songs with Theo Bikel. I have to be one of the luckiest amateur musicians in the world!

[rubbersole]

68. Al Franken closes his podcast with Leo Kottke.

The only place I hear him mentioned. In the '70s, the pickers in our circle listened to Leo and Doc Watson in a vain attempt to sound like him. He was the reason for 12 strings being popular. And metal finger picks.
Thank you for that pleasant flashback...

[DFW]

69. Al closes with a simplified 6 string version of "Julie's House."

This is how he used to perform it:

[rubbersole]

71. Wow. So young...

Thanks.

[DFW]

72. That recording is almost 50 years old.

Leo was born in 1945. He doesn't look like that any more.

[Peacetrain]

19. DFW you are adorable in that tie! and HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOWARD DEAN

Just love him

[PufPuf23]

23. I am all in on Howard Dean

Glad that the great heart and mind cares.

[Warpy]

24. Here is precisely where you need to be that tacky

Last edited Fri Nov 18, 2022, 02:50 PM - Edit history (1)

You'd look subtle compared with all the fascists wearing the US flag as clothing.

[DFW]

26. I knew there was a good reason I don't quit my day job................. n/t

[yardwork]

30. Love the tie - and I love Howard Dean!

[PlanetBev]

31. Proud to share a birthday with him

I almost forgot my own birthday. Turning 72 is not as much fun as turning 7.

[DFW]

40. Well, then, happy belated birthday to you as well!

Last I heard, 72 was the new 72. Plus ça change, as they say................

[GoneOffShore]

32. Great photo and Happy Birthday to Dr Dean.

I was speaking about him last night and what a boost he gave to our party.

[Sneederbunk]

33. Underappreciated to our detriment.

[DFW]

35. Second that!!

But I'm not an entirely objective person to query on that.......

[Sneederbunk]

36. You need only be a reasonable Democrat.

[DFW]

38. Well, I'm definitely a Democrat

I think you'd get some widely varying opinions here as to the "reasonable" part

[FakeNoose]

37. Awesome photo and cool stories about Dr. Dean

He could have been a great President, but ... anyway ...

He's lucky to count you as a friend. Belated good wishes to Howard Dean!

[DFW]

39. I have a few friends with whom I could talk politics from dawn to dusk and never run out of subjects

Howard is one of them. He has a good sense of humor, too. I once broke him up 15 years ago when he, Norm Ornstein and I were discussing the upcoming 2008 primary season. Howard was wondering why Mark Warner of Virginia wasn't making any noises about getting involved, and Norm revealed that at the time, one of Warner's children was taking up his attention. I suddenly said that that was my reason for not running, too. He likes my Freedom Toast videos, too, so he HAS to be one of the good guys!

[shanti]

47. Yes

He's my birthday buddy! Joined the 67 club yesterday Happy happy one, Howard Dean!

[DFW]

48. Only 67?

My wife and I turned 70 this year--and we have lived to tell the tale!

[shanti]

57. Beautiful family, DFW

You are blessed!

[DFW]

58. I got lucky, I admit

My wife and I have been together for 48 years now, and I married into some serious genes for sure.

Fortunately for me, she is nearsighted! She could have had any man she wanted. She was offered a job as a model, and chose to become a social worker instead. That pic was taken last April on our 40th anniversary--we were together 8 years before we got married--, to which our younger daughter invited the whole family, including airfare (she makes a fortune) and hotel for us and her sister's family. Since it was literally halfway around the world for us, it was not a little deal. Our daughters are both socially and environmentally conscious, and since they are both U.S. citizens (my wife is not), they both always take the time to vote Democratic in U.S elections. We are very proud of both of them.

[RockCreek]

49. I vote for the tie's pattern, but on a Bow Tie, for New England wear! N/t

[DFW]

50. If we move back to the States, I'll consider it! n/t

[iemanja]

52. I like the tie

[BigmanPigman]

55. I always loved Dean.

I make sure to pay attention when ever he is on MSNBC. His opinion is valuable.

Happy Birthday Howard!

[DFW]

62. He usually is very insightful, and is not afraid to speak his mind. Never was.

I think that is what scared so many people back when he was a big factor.

When I first met him, some 20 years ago, I was told he was Governor of Vermont, and thinking of running for President. I said, WHO? But then we got to chat for a while, and I thought, WOW, this guy is on my wavelength, like TOTALLY. He and Andy (Tobias, former DNC Treasurer) have been friends ever since.

[BigmanPigman]

79. I envy your experiences!!!!!

[honest.abe]

74. Still love that guy. I was a Deaniac way back then.

BTW, DFW, I do enjoy reading about your life and family and experiences. Its so nice you are able to be so open and share those personal things about yourself. You certainly have a wonderful family and life.

Well done!

[DFW]

75. Knowing Howard when he was still Howard Who?

It was the first time for me having someone I knew as a friend on the cover of Time and Newsweek. Heady stuff. A brief, but very high flight.

None other than Stan Lee once called my family (other than myself) "your fabulous females." I think he had the best description. I hear from people's stories on DU how difficult things can be. We, too have our challenges. Little health things, but health things, my wife's mom's deteriorating health, things that may seem minor in the telling, but are major at the time. I have had serious heart issues, and still don't get enough sleep. My wife has a brutal case of restless legs syndrome, and it affects her every day. I deal with the downside of living in Europe as well as the advantages. My train down to Paris, normally a 4 hour trip, was 3 hours late on Wednesday, and the trip up to Brussels the next day was 1 hour late, which caused me to get home 3 hours late. I have to go back next week just for clean-up, where I was looking to a few days off, or a quick run down to Switzerland for the day. I'll have to try to squeeze that in some time in early December now.

I guess I tell about us to inspire, especially the younger generation. There will always seem to be limits on what you can accomplish. Try to ignore them or get past them as best you can. Some limitations are real, Some are imposed by artificial norms instilled by TV and magazines. Those are the ones to fight to overcome. Self-confidence makes for good Democrats.

[honest.abe]

77. That's really amazing.

Thanks again for sharing your stories. They are appreciated!

And yes we all have our challenges and blessings. Take care.