Dumbest argument ever made

This might or might not be true. I sincerely hope it isn't.

Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean is not a serious contender to be secretary of health and human services in the new Obama administration, sources said.

Dean’s name has appeared on short lists for the Cabinet post circulating throughout Washington, based largely on his party chairmanship and career as a doctor. Dean also passed health care reforms while governor of Vermont. And his allies said the Obama transition team has had some informal discussions with him about the job.

But the chief attributes President-elect Barack Obama is seeking in his HHS secretary will be an ability to work with members of Congress and shepherd reform legislation through the House and Senate.

That job description has turned out to be a particularly ill-suited one for Dean, given his partisan background and lack of congressional experience, sources inside and outside the transition offices say.

Dean never served in Congress and spent his Washington career trying to thin the ranks of congressional Republicans that the Obama White House will need to court during the expected debate on health care reform.

Boy, I hope Rahm Emanuel doesn't get a position in the administration, given that he was chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and spent a chunk of the last four years helping thin the ranks of Republicans in the House (and did a nice job of it, too!).

Oh, wait...

If Obama wants someone like Daschle to head up Health and Human Services because Daschle has Hill experience, that's one thing. But if the standard is now "partisanship", then Rahm better resign ASAP, because there are few dudes more partisan in Washington than Rahm.

In that questionnaire the transition team has for prospective administration employees, they might as well add another one: "Have you ever given money to a candidate for office attempting to thin the ranks of Republicans in office?" Who knew that engaging in the electoral process was now a bad thing?

Howard Dean helped pave the way for Obama's victory, as well as for the increased majorities in Congress and governorships. I don't give Howard all the credit -- our current majorities are the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people (you included) -- but it's beyond question that Dean was a major factor. Even his fiercest critics are admitting it. So to now penalize him for his success (assuming he wants HSS and assuming this article is correct) would be ridiculous.

I really hope the report isn't true.