Howard Dean stepping down

I hope the DNC keeps Howard Dean around. His 50 state approach to Obama winning the presidential election and helping the House and Senate gain Dem seats was wise. Some red states turned blue. Why mess with a proven winner?

Whomever succeeds Governor Dean has a tough act to follow.

Unlike the new head of the RNC.

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Dean, who has been serving in the post since 2005, has said in the past that he would serve only one term
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I have nothing but respect for a man who keeps his word.

Let's see, Dean said he'd serve one term and he's keeping his promise. Funny I seem to remember a "Contract with America" many GOPers signed that included term limits. How many of them kept it? Conservatives take note, if you give your word, you should KEEP IT.

I think Dean did a modest job. For everything that he did right, there were more than a few screw-ups too. Extending this whole primary race has been a miserable failure, and I hope it gets reverted back. I also think he let the RNC get the best of him with the FL, MI penalty thing too.

As a former Vermonter now going to school in Chicago, I am proud of what Governor Dean has done, and how he has led the party. I always supported him as governor and sincerely hope he gets a Cabinet seat. His "Doctor Dinosaur" Program in Vermont was one of the first of it's kind in the nation to give all kids access to health care. He could do wonders for health care in this country and would be a great addition to the Obama administration.

Xcellentform: "Extending this whole primary race has been a miserable failure, and I hope it gets reverted back."

I respectfully disagree. First of all, you appear to harbor the mistaken notion that DNC Chair Dean could just pull the plug on the primaries and ordain a particular candidate as the nominee.

The extended primary season was the best thing that could have happened to a candidate who had heretofore never really been tested in an election campaign, save for the one for Congress that he lost in 2000.

The vigorous challenge from Hillary Clinton forged Barack Obama in fire as our nominee, and he emerged from those contests a far better candidate. Just look at the steady improvement he made over the course of numerous debates over a 20 month period. In the beginning, that was a glaring weak point.

Howard Dean did an outstanding job for Democrats, and his tenure was truly a meeting of a man and his moment.

Perhaps, Xcellent, but the Democrats won both Michigan and Florida; yet maybe next time around all states will pay attention to the party rules.

"Conservatives take note, if you give your word, you should KEEP IT."

I pledge to accept public financing, if I win my party's nomination.

I also pledge to remove my agenda from my website, so you can't hold me to it.

To this day I don't think Dean should have quit the 04 race when he did. He was the ONLY candie tuff enough to stand up to the Rove/Bush smear machine. Kerry proved it. By October he was staggering around like a punch drunk boxer at a rum shooters convention.

Anywho; Good job in 08, 'Crazy Man'.

Remember America; 'It just might be a lunatic you're lookin for.'

Ok, Donald, in all fairness, I did not say pull the plug on the primaries. I know that the longer the primaries are, the more money it takes and the more mud that flies. It was still not a 50 state election, as in the end, it was still all about the battleground states. I believe Obama was strong going in and strong coming out. Clinton just gave McCain a bunch of rubber bullets to use. It was also disgusting to see the first “christmas political commercials” and all kinds of other strange things. The only reason it got extended was because the RNC and the DNC did not make a stance soon enough when dealing with these greedy states. And Dean let the RNC outfox him by letting them only demerit FL and MI by 50% and not 100% like he did. Have all of you forgotten what a mess this was just a few months ago? Dean just stood there…..mute.

Kudos to Dean.

I still blame McCaulif, or whatever his name is, for Kerry's 2004 defeat.

That guy is lame.

The man is an unstable, drugged-up maniac. There's no way he just decided to step down on his own. HObama definitely had his hand in it.

oldcreaky,

the sweater vests v pinstripes on mtp.
mccauliffe and lockhart v cheney and fleischer.
dopey milquetoast v death and destruction in drag.
never stood a chance.
dean would have kicked the crap out of w if he could have pulled off the primary.
ok, forward looking now. the future is bright.
giant g&t's for all the right reasons.

Dean was great !

Tis guy was a real wack job. If he had the same demeanor as a doctor, I'm glad I was never a patient of his. Maybe he could get a job as a barker at a carnival.

Good bye Howard, but hopefully not for long. REMEMBER everyone, this was the man that woke us all up 5 years ago to this administration and we have not given Bush any quarter since and for that I thank you and applaude your efforts Dr. Dean. Job well done. Hopefully Obamalos will appoint him the health and human services chair. A Great fit for one of the truely good guys. He deserves it.
God Speed Gov. Dean, wherever you may land!

I wish Obama would put Howard Dean in charge of Universal Health Care, so we could have it here quickly in the USA. He is a great organizer, great manager, a doctor...and knows how important the issue is for every American. HE is perfect for bringing the change about that we need in health care.

Last week, veteran CBC reporter Henry Champ retired and in one of his last online stories he wrote about how fundamentally important Dean's 50 state strategy was to Obama's victory. How Dean built the frame work that Obama used so effectively. I hope Dean gets the recognition he deserves.