As the president cruises back toward 60 percent approval, Dean streaks ahead of his nearest competitor. Dean is now at 31 percent support – and no one else is in double digits. Someone will emerge, of course. My bet is Clark. But the odds are now overwhelmingly in favor of a Bush-Dean match-up in the fall. One interesting nugget:
The Post-ABC poll suggests that Dean’s recent surge has come disproportionately from Democrats who do not closely identify with their party. In mid-October, Dean claimed the support of one in six Democratic-leaning independents and an equal proportion of party rank and file. Today, he gets significantly more support from independent Democrats (35 percent) than he does from party faithful (26 percent).
Dean is remaking the Democrats. And it’s hard to see how the establishment stops him without tearing their party apart.
NEXT, SYRIA: The Blair government tries to build on its diplomatic success with Libya to put new pressure on Syria. Good luck talking France into it. Meanwhile, de Villepin is trying hard to spin his country’s complete marginalization with regard to Libya:
M de Villepin rejected suggestions that France lost face by being kept out of the diplomatic loop, arguing that it was a perfect example of his vision of an interdependent, multi-polar world at work. “It is only natural that those who are best placed at a given moment to use their capabilities to the common good do so, as long as their action is of an unquestionably multilateral nature.”… Even the normally pro-government Le Figaro described the Libyan deal as a “semi-failure” for France, which has been against tough action against rogue states. Annick Lepetit, the Socialist party spokesman, said it signified “the isolation of France and French diplomacy in an area where it is traditionally influential”.
as Glenn would say: Heh.
A CLASS ACT: More news about my hero of the year from 2002, Pat Tillman.
HOIST BY THEIR OWN PETARD: The American “Family” Association, a virulent anti-gay group, decided to hold an online poll in order to prve to members of Congress that the public was appalled at the idea that gay couples should have the right to marry the person they love. Then word got out and lots of people began to participate. Guess which side is winning …
SOUTH PARK REPUBLICANS: A lovely email I just received about boomer idiocy:
While having a beer at a neighborhood bar/restaurant in NYC’s West Village last weekend, I was party to a situation that I think you’ll find directly on point.
Three mid-50’s liberals were going on about the capture of Saddam; how it was a conspiracy, that the president knew where he was at all times and picked a politically opportune moment to capture him, it was all about the oil, etc.
The mid-20’s girl sitting next to them broke from her conversation to chime in with the following, “I wish 60’s sensibilities had stayed there. Someone points a gun in your face and you think ‘My Fault’, when you should be thinking ‘You just picked the wrong fight’. Get your heads out of your asses”.
They responded with dismissive claims about Republicans and tourists from the midwest.
She replied with, “One, I’ve grew up in Brooklyn. Two, I voted for Gore — but I’ll sure as hell take W. over someone who thinks the French are the height of moral authority and without ulterior motive.”
I asked her out on the spot, and have a date for this Friday. Foxy, Cunning, and Fearless — wish me luck!
Er, good luck!
The Dish 