Dr. Outsider

When I used to watch the now-defunct The Editors (a show that discussed Canadian-American issues once moderated by Keith Morrison), Howard Dean was frequently on the panel. I never got the impression Dean was a "natural" politician. He seemed so, so, Vermont. So when I heard he would for the Presidency (announced on The Editors) last time around I kinda thought it was, well, cute. I never thought he'd have any kind of impact.

He showed me.

I never really went for all that socialist stuff but he earned my respect over time. But I do love Vermont. I've been there so many times I've lost count.

Unfortunately, the Democratic party doesn't seem to have respect for him. To my mind, and I'm no expert, Dean was an integral reason (attributed to the 50-state strategy which is a strategy based on the successful GOP philosophy of grass roots political mobilization and growth. Without it, it's possible Obama would not have been able to compete in Republican areas) why the Democrats were restored as a national party. He took a bunch of sad, fractioned losers and gave them a shot at victory - even though it was tight.

That's why I was somewhat dismayed he was overlooked for Health Secretary.

Dean is an outsider. And the Democrats played politics with him.

If Obama was so "change" he would have rewarded Dean.

I guess Dean is a real dissenter/maverick. Next time I go to Vermont I think I'll seek him out and buy him a Ben & Jerry's ice-cream.