I've been scratching my head: what would anyone have against Tom Daschle?

[Bicoastal]

I've been doing my homework on this one...

Let's see, no role in the Clinton Administration. (Boo! Hiss!)

No participation in the dreaded DLC (which everyone hates, even though DU favorites like Al Gore and Gavin Newsom are or were members)

A strong Liberal record inside the Senate and out--in fact, he's currently a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, which is familiar (and progressive) enough to those who listen to Air America...

Very few lobbyist ties that I could find...

What's the problem? That he's too old or something? Or do people just enjoy complaining?

[IndianaJones]

1. something new to whine about. nt.

[babylonsister]

2. His wife is/was a lobbyist, so we need to get that out of the way.

Otherwise, he's not Howard Dean, so he must be crucified!

I think Obama probably hired him for his connections to the hill and his organizational abilities. I'm fine with him.

And I like your post, but stand by. ;)

[sufrommich]

3. You last sentence says it all. Daschle is a great pick. nt

[Mass]

4. No problem with Daschle. Just remember some would have preferred somebody else.

[librechik]

5. I don't know--but somebody sent him anthrax

it just might be enough that he has a De by his name. Those Ds are all flamethrowing commies, don't you know, and have to be taken out and killed. So Rush tells me.

[NashVegas]

6. Daschle Is Perceived as a Pink Tutu Dem

Who was standing in the way of a progressive agenda. At least, that's my take.

[sufrommich]

10. What the heck is a "pink tutu Dem"?? nt

[NashVegas]

12. ...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=4gW&q=%22pink+tutu+democrat%22&btnG=Search

[Starry Messenger]

28. 246 results and the top three are DU posts!!

Wow. x(

[blm]

33. Yes, because of his IWR position, one he was advised to take by Bill Clinton who urged

senate Dems to support Bush on Iraq, using his own former access to Iraq info as his chief persuading force.

Funny how bartcop ignored the Clintons' role in that while he smeared senators who took Bill's advisement seriously.

[NashVegas]

47. I Was Thinking More Along the Lines of Ineffective Leadership

Such as failure to establish Senate Democrats as loyal opposition and put a stop to the Bush admin running roughshod over the constitution, and failure to hit back at Republican attacks on Dems' characters.

[Ishoutandscream2]

51. Excellent answer. Perfect.

And when he tried to hit back, he was so inept. He would try to portray outrage on the floor of the Senate, and I just couldn't help but laugh at him. It would look as though he was ready to cry rather than yell. As a matter of fact, he just seemed too docile. No fire in the belly.

[blm]

56. Media climate AND the fact that Clinton urged DC Dems to give Bush all the backup needed post 9-11

and Daschle and other Dems' biggest problem was trying to do their jobs in THAT media climate and with the last Dem president standing in back of Bush every step of the way. Clinton was getting Bush's back then, and certainly proved to be NO HELP to Daschle or the Dems in DC who, imo, he MISLED deliberately on what he knew about Iraq.

[jobycom]

7. He was blasted here for not single-handedly impeaching Bush and blocking all his efforts.

Sort of the way Pelosi and Reid get attacked now. "He's too nice, he needs to grow balls (somehow to these fuckwads "balls" means "courage"), he didn't stop the Iraq war and throw Bush into Gitmo while cleaning the public facilities at the roadside park outside Richmond--that place is nasty."

The usual. Form circle, open fire. It's why we lose. If Obama gets a second turn, it will be in spite of us.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

41. Wish I could k&r a post...

...because this one is so spot-on it's not even funny.

[GodlessBiker]

8. I don't see a great chorus of boo's. Some people will always prefer someone else. That's allowed.

[tularetom]

9. "very few lobbyist ties"- How 'bout being married to a lobbyist?

IIRC his wife is or at least was heavily involved in paid advocacy for the interests of the airlines.

But my biggest complaint about him involves his utter lack of a spine.

[Democrats_win]

18. Is it wrong to feel good about this appointment? It's like an FU to the GOP.

All I can really remember is how the GOP targeted him as speaker of the house. Of course I would have preferred a more political position for him so he could really do a number on the GOP. Then again, since the GOP's #1 goal is security, maybe his appointment is already doing a number on them. They really didn't like him.

[Atman]

11. He was one of the first to go spineless after the antrhax blackmail...er, attack

After Cheney did the fake anthrax attack on the Hart Senate Office Building, Daschle became as spineless as Reid and Pelosi combined, x10. The way I figure, everyone was told to run like hell and get out of the building, and they did...leaving their offices unlocked and computers running. And they weren't allowed back in for weeks, while BushCo sent in their special ops to "clean" the place.

Who knows what they found in Daschle's office. Porn on his computer? Polaroids of his naked intern? They found something to use against Daschle, because he turned into a total spineless weasel after the "attack." The first of many. I think many of us still remember those days when our fearless leader became very fearful indeed, to the point of becoming mute.

.

[Bicoastal]

14. "After Cheney did the fake anthrax attack..."

I stopped reading after that point.

[Atman]

15. LOL!

Yeah...people love that one!

Have you ever asked yourself, though WHY only Democratic leaders were targeted? Why the DEMOCRATIC senate office building was targeted and subsequently left in the hands of BushCo for the next six weeks? With every office left unlocked, every computer left running, as BushCo's team "cleaned" the building? Did you know they even blacked out ALL the windows during the "cleaning" because they claimed light hurt the cleaning process?

Look up the long list of prominent now-spineless Democrats who had offices there. And look at who we bitch about so much here on DU as being worthless at standing up the GOP, and demand to know WHY? That entire office building was in the hands of the same Bush administration that wiretapped us, read our e-mail and copied our e-mails.

Sure, laugh it off. Not a chance in hell I'm right, right? Right?

.

[RollWithIt]

35. I worked in the offices in Florida that had Anthrax mailed to them.. AMI...

and they weren't fake. One died, several hospitalized. Several mail carriers also died.

So ya, not sure where you came up with the idea of them being fake.

[Atman]

49. Where did I say the Anthrax was fake?

I guess I should have been clearer. The anthrax was real. It was the "attack" that was fake.

.

[babylonsister]

23. Have you ever had anthrax sent to you? I wonder how I'd respond

if I thought that's what happened.

[jobycom]

46. James Patterson would be impressed!

This is one of those posts we'd find crossed over on Freeperville for a laugh.

And who knows, it could even be true. :shrug:

[HereSince1628]

13. How about lack of management experience and expertise in HHS?

The HHS is going to be one of the most important agencies in America as we slip into depression. Daschle has no idea how to manage resources to aid poverty, hunger, and homelessness.

Not only that, the guy has absolutely no fight in him. I don't see him as a guy the jobless and homeless need in their corner.

[EFerrari]

20. Hillary would be great in HHS but I guess it's not "big" enough for her. n/t

[HereSince1628]

26. Remember when everyone said Obama would shock the left?

He has. His outreach to get the "BEST" is turing out to be as comprehensive as an old HS Class secretary calling the officers of the old HS Student Council to help plan the 25th class reunion.

[babylonsister]

25. Too bad we didn't elect you. nt

[HereSince1628]

27. Yes, well ad hominem attacks are for those who have nothing to say.

So, here I am take your shots.

They will help you gain a false sense of moral superiority as a true loyalist.

[babylonsister]

29. I'm saying that I think Obama knows his credentials a bit more

than you might. Ya think? Do you think he's just slinging names around for the hell of it? Don't you think he might have researched this a bit?

[HereSince1628]

34. Actually you're "trusting" that Obama knows more.

This choice is so senseless I am forced to wonder who did Obama's research for him.

Daschle's only credentials for a cabinet posting is that he has existing experience as a campaign advisor to Obama. Policy advising was Daschle's chosen field after he left the senate.

One has to wonder if the advise was merely political or if it contained any material substance. There is no evidence available on the net to suggest Daschle ever developed expertise in public health or social services.

[FrenchieCat]

48. You are incorrect in this matter,

as Sen. Daschle wrote an entire book on the subject that was well received by many, including those in the academic community.

[blm]

37. You're wrong - he recently wrote a book on healthcare. He has been part of Obama's rise

since 2005 and the ONLY reason he was perceived as not having any fight against Bush is because BILL CLINTON urged him and other senators to back Bush on Iraq, and Bill used his own access to Iraq info from his term to fortify Bush's claims.

Daschle and other Dems took the backlash for that, while Bill waltzed away backslapping Bush the whole way.

[HereSince1628]

40. Ok, he wrote a book on health care, I am corrected.

I will find it and read it.

[babylonsister]

42. See post #17-about the book. nt

[HereSince1628]

44. I did...he is a co-author among three. The author with the credentials is Jeanne Lambrew

Nonetheless I will read it.

[LisaM]

16. How about letting the IWR come to a vote just before the 2002 election?

Which forced a lot of Democratic senators into a box. A lot of them are still paying for that vote (although here at DU, apparently some senators can be excused for it, others can't).

[FrenchieCat]

24. That was Gephard that did the IWR double Cross, not Daschle.

And he won't be in charge of the Senate.

The Biden - Lugar measure was attracting support from both Democrats and Republicans. And, according to Biden, he and his allies were getting backdoor advice and encouragement from the administration's reluctant warriors, Powell and Armitage. The White House was worried about Biden's endeavor, and Bush was furious. "I don't want a resolution such as this that ties my hands," he told Senator Trent Lott. The president, according to Lott, gave him an emphatic order: "Derail the Biden legislation and make sure its language never sees the light of day.

it was Dick Gephardt, the Democratic leader in the House and past and future presidential candidate, who derailed the bipartisan effort.....At any moment, the House Republicans could put the president's bill to a vote on the floor, and it would pass - with a number of Democrats signing on......"This is a good as it gets," Gephardt recalled, "and I became convinced we couldn't get more."
Page 127:
Excerpts from the Book HUBRIS By Michael Isakoff and David Corn
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307346810

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

43. That's completely ignoring the rules of the game.

In the House, IWR was definitely as good as it was going to get. In the Senate, you have umpteen different ways to block or siderail bills, as well as ample opportunity to bring up alternative legislation. In the House, the Speaker is the law - that's about it. If you're in the minority, not a thing you do or say would ever matter. Gephardt wasn't exactly given a lot of options at his disposal.

[FrenchieCat]

45. That's not my understanding......on what happened. The White House went through Gephardt

and undercut the Senate who had many members working to temper the Resolution (which is why you ended up with so many amendments....there were 4), and put more pressure on the Senate to pass a resolution earlier than the Senate Leader was aiming for...as they were still negotiating the various proposals that ended up being offered.

Dick Gephardt co-wrote the Resolution in the House that was a Blank check; His counterpart, Tom Daschle was not the Democrat in the senate who wrote the Senate version; that was Joe Lieberman.


Bush spoke by telephone to Dick Gephardt, who had been seeking a few changes ... Rove's argument was that Iraq was an important front in the war on terror. ...
http://books.google.com/books?id=R3brydgkbg0C&pg=PA200&lpg=PA200&dq=dick+gephardt,+iraq+war+resolution&source=web&ots=NtuDMNedBl&sig=yjsrgu4mIFVKeZNg70Pdbh2D7HQ&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result

[MarjorieG]

57. Gephardt and Lieberman, again.

[FrenchieCat]

17. I've always liked Tom Daschle, although I think that he will be more

effective following the New President's directive than he was as Leader of the Senate. He seemed too meek for that Position, although Reid gives him a run for his money on the meekness factor. I will also keep in mind the fact that he was Leader of the Senate at a time when there wasn't a whole lot of power afforded to him.....as the Senate was a tied situation with a majority in the House.

I always believed him as being more liberal than the state that he represented...

and I like the fact that he has written a book on the health care situation,
and that he supported Barack Obama from day one and is not DLC, but more a part of the Kennedy/Kerry wing of the party.

His Book:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51L7vZt1gWL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg

REVIEWS: Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
The U.S. is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee necessary health care to all of its citizens, and as former senator Daschle observes, Skeptics say we can't afford to cover everyone; the truth is that we can't afford not to because U.S. economic competitiveness is being impeded by the large uninsured population and fast-rising health costs. Daschle's book delineates the weaknesses of previous attempts at national health coverage, outlines the complex economic factors and medical issues affecting coverage and sets forth plans for change. Daschle proposes creating a Federal Health Board, similar to the Federal Reserve System, whose structure, functions and enforcement capability would be largely insulated from the politics and passion of the moment, in addition to a merging of employers' plans, Medicaid and Medicare with an expanded FEHBP (Federal Employee Health Benefits Program) that would cover everyone. There is no more important issue facing our country, Daschle asserts, than reform of our health-care system, and the book's health-care horror stories bring this immediacy home. (Feb. 19)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR CRITICAL
“I may not agree with some of the political statements but Senator Daschle is right on target on the need to start a serious dialogue on health care for Americans. His thoughtful health-care proposals will move the process forward. Senator Daschle and I agree on the need for nonpartisanship in coming to grips with this number one domestic problem.” —Bob Dole, former Senate majority leader
“The American health-care system is in crisis, and workable solutions have been blocked for years by deeply entrenched ideological divisions. Sen. Daschle brings fresh thinking to this problem, and his Federal Reserve for Health concept holds great promise for bridging this intellectual chasm and, at long last, giving this nation the health care it deserves.” —Senator Barack Obama (IL)
“This book provides real solutions for America’s broken health care system.” —Senator Harry Reid (NV), Senate majority leader
“Critical provides answers to one of the most vexing challenges of our time.” —John Podesta, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress and a former White House chief of staff
“It is a must-read.” —Jerome H. Grossman M.D., senior fellow and director of the Health Care Delivery Project at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government
“Senator Daschle adds to his reputation as a clear thinker and leader. Critical shows us not only why we must solve our health care crisis but that—with political will—we can.” —Judy Feder, professor and dean at Georgetown Public Policy Institute
http://www.amazon.com/Critical-What-About-Health-Care-Crisis/dp/0312383010

[Alcibiades]

19. God forbid we have someone in that job

who knows his way around Congress.

Daschle is an excellent pick to get Obama's agenda pushed through.

[Wetzelbill]

21. Daschle could be a little wishy-washy

sort of like Reid. He also has a mixed record on abortion issues, rated 50 percent by NARAL. But I actually like Daschle myself, he's not perfect and I don't agree with him on everything, but that goes for any politician, imho. He's a good pick.

[tigereye]

22. I've always liked Daschle - I was bummed when he got the boot before...

[OKNancy]

30. He's not Noam Chomsky?

:hide:

[RollWithIt]

32. BINGO!!! DING DING DING!!! WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!

Your gift certificate fo .94 cents is in the mail.

[phleshdef]

31. Its the difference between reasonable Democratic supporters and ideological purists who think their

..."you know what" doesn't stink.

[spanone]

36. whine and cheese

:toast:

[DesertFlower]

38. i'm not complaining.

i like daschle, but isn't his wife a lobbyist?

[BumRushDaShow]

39. Compared to the "undertakers" like Mitchell and Reid

I always thought Daschle was more of a firebrand and more forceful (which is why I figured he was targeted by the repukes and quickly disposed of).

My one concern is that the doesn't seem to have much in the way of a science background. That's why I and others thought that Dr. Dean might have been a better fit.

[SIMPLYB1980]

50. I'm outraged by this decision!!!

I don't have a reason to be yet, but I know I will find one on DU soon. As soon as I have it I will post non stop on here about why it is such a bad decision.

[FrenchieCat]

52. You know the drill! :)

[iamthebandfanman]

53. Al Gore got an awakening in 2000

about his dlc buddies.

id hardly group him with them still.

nor was he all that good of friends with the clintons..

[obreaslan]

54. TOM DASCHLE TOOK MY SHOE!!!!!!!!1!11!!!!1!!!111

;(

[Dr Fate]

55. I thought he was the definition of a wuss as to opposing Bush- but I trust Obama's judgement.

As long as he doesn't have to fight too many dishonest Republicans-something he clearly doesnt know how to do- I'll assume he can handle this job...

Knowing Obama's smarts, he must be a good choice.