Sorry, I don't mean for this to be an "all Dean all the time" blog. That's just what I've been thinking about a lot lately. Here's a quote by Russ Baker at TomPaine.com:

If anything, this affair is a kind of test. Dean seems too tough a customer to back out after such a setback. And the fact remains that he essentially still holds exactly the same constituency he did before. If his supporters keep their eye on the ball, if Dean refuses to be distracted or rattled, and if the media somehow manage to restrain their headlong rush into tabloid-land, this country may yet have a meaningful conversation on what really matters.

There was also a great "Top 10 List" on Letterman last night, delivered (via video) by Howard Dean himself:

Top Ten Ways I, Howard Dean, Can Turn Things Around

10. "Switch to decaf"

9. "Unveil new slogan: 'Vote for Dean and get one dollar off you next purchase at Blimpie'"

8. "Marry Rachel on final episode of 'Friends'"

7. "Don't change a thing -- it's going great"

6. "Show a little more skin"

5. "Go on 'American Idol' and give 'em a taste of these pipes"

4. "Start working out and speaking with Austrian accent"

3. "I can't give specifics yet, but it involves Ted Danson"

2. "Fire the staffer who suggested we do this lousy Top Ten list instead of actually campaigning"

1. "Oh, I don't know -- maybe fewer crazy, redfaced rants"

He can laugh at himself, and that's important. And I think people can laugh with him. But ... and I don't understand why this is ... so many people want to hate him. That's the part that might not be pull-off-able.

Then again, Clinton was the same way ... :)