I actually just visited the Dean blog, and the comments I glanced through there are glad he's gone. This is also true of Deaniacs I know in RL, though they mix in wondering whether it was worth it.

I want to elaborate on what I said above. I just examined the Dean blog's thread further, and there was a lot of political calculation. I'm too into the Middle East and hoping for the best to see anything but the good here, but in fairness it is the Dean election blog, not the Iraq policy blog, and comments still run overwhelmingly in favor of Saddam's capture. In fact, further down the thread the person who made the NRO-cited comment is being attacked as a troll trying to make Dean look bad. I'm not a regular there, so I have no idea where the truth lies.

That said, the criticism could be made that if the U.S. were still supporting Saddam, I can see many people now attacking the war calling for it as a humanitarian gesture. I've actually posted to Dean Nation that I think Dean's statement that Saddam could be contained indefinitely is false. There is a deep cynicism about Bush among many Democrats, just as many Republicans are anxious to believe the worst about Dean and Co. This is unhealthy to the political climate, though it will likely only get worse until after the 2004 election.

As the anti-war candidate I actually look to see his reaction and that of his supporters. My main complaint is the utter inability of the current crop of candidates to say ANYthing positive about the President.

THAT is extremely unhealthy for the political climate. The Dems sound like a bunch of shrill, bitter whiners and nothing like world leaders. Dean is perhaps the worst of all in that respect. It may get him the nomination but will hand the election to Bush.

"It is a great day of celebration. President Bush deserves a day of celebration. We have our policy differences, but we won't be discussing those today." - Howard Dean, 12/13/03

That wasn't in his blog statement, but he said it in a press conference.

How comforting, a 24 hr respite, while he judges the political wind.

Sorry, I'm not sold, Jacques Chirac was more magnanimous, and seemingly sincere.