> Which supports boddi's basic point on Dean because he is highlighting not
> Dean's political positions, which are not any more liberal than any of the
> other competing Dems (except on the war), but his campaign is designed to
> build energy throughout society in a way that may change the dynamics of
> politics more thoroughly.
A similar point can be made about his one signature policy position besides anti-war, namely universal health care. His program by no means the most progressive. The most progressive would be single payer. His extends medicaid to cover the 42 million uncovered. But because he makes it a central plank -- it's part of his Dr. Dean persona -- and because it is the way to deliver results in the shortest time possible with the smallest immediate fiscal hit -- it might well be the best way to change the dynamics on health care. I think there is a good argument to be made that it will be easier to argue about how to deliver the best health care to all Americans at the best price after it's become an accepted fact of life that it's fully possible to get everyone some kind of health coverage.
Michael