Howard Dean changed nothing. People matter? Of course; I knew that when I worked for George McGovern. I knew we were right and I knew we would win because we were right. Somehow things did not work out as well as I expected they would. You Deaniacs will learn that lesson soon. I just hope that you don't miss the big picture lesson here - George Bush must be defeated. If John Kerry or John Edwards emerge from the horrible soup that we call "the primary process" as the standard bearer, support him. Don't splinter the party because your precious sensibilities about what is "right" and who is "good" get bruised by the failure of a candidate who clearly cannot control himself well enough to matter when the chips are down.

Kerry is a long time warrior who stands on the right side of most of the issues that matter (to me). Is he perfect? Hell no. Is he a hack? Hell no, again. He is a politician with a real chance to win in November. Edwards should be his running mate. He, too, stands on the right side of the aisle. I think Kerry's longer record of service gives him the edge, and that he should therefore lead the ticket, but it wouldn't matter to me if their roles were reversed.

Remember that politics remains the art of the possible. What is possible is removing the current regime. If Dean isn't able to right his ship and get the nomination, those people who worked for him do him, his message and themselves a disservice by standing aside this fall and validating the status quo.