Roundup: Howard Dean, Barack Obama and The Transition

"Dean Seeks Some Respect (and Credit) for Obama’s Victory" (Nagourney-NY Times):

Looking back at this presidential election, there is no question that Mr. Obama competed in — and won — states where Democrats had been shut out for years. But was this really the result of Mr. Dean’s 50-state strategy?

"Obama's debt to Howard Dean" (Salon):

As Dean leaves the helm of the Democratic National Committee, one thing is clear: He got it right with his controversial 50-state strategy.

"Five Lessons from Obama's Campaign That Aren't Marketing Pseudospeak" (Gawker):

Now that Obama hath ascended to America's throne, it's time for everyone to speak loudly about the Lessons Learned. Did we learn that Obama won because eight years of heinous mismanagement made everyone hate Republicans? Ha, no, that would be far too easy. The real lessons are all these crazy marketing strategies the Obama campaign used, allegedly! After the jump, we'll tell you five actual lessons of the Obama victory, and why things haven't changed as much as everyone says.

"The New Liberalism" (George Packer-The New Yorker):

How the economic crisis can help Obama redefine the Democrats....the old assumptions of free-market fundamentalism have, like a charlatan’s incantations, failed to work, and the need for some “new machinery” is painfully obvious. But what philosophy of government will characterize it? ...the power of Obama’s Presidency will ultimately hinge on how he chooses to interpret the “modern application” of liberalism in the twenty-first century.

"Barack Obama is looking more like a realist" (LA Times):

It's starting to look as though Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's family empire is living on, even though she lost the Democratic primary.

"Obama Looks To Harness Grass-Roots Support" (NPR-with audio):

Howard Dean, the outgoing chairman of the Democratic National Committee, says he's thrilled at the vast number of people Obama has brought into the party.

"He's changed all the rules — not just with the use of the Internet and the fundraising — but he's changed the rules in terms of how you ask people for their vote, and who you ask for your vote," Dean says.