Joe-

There was nothing wrong per se with what you've said. But, IF (for example) the fighting he does is all bitching, all anti- (and I'm as anti-George Bush/Dick Cheney as anyone in existence), he needs to keep that below 40% of what the public hears from him.....and make sure at least 50% is Positive: THEY ARE NOT ONLY WRONG AND DUMB AND INCOMPETENT...but here is the policy on this issue (X) that Democrats believe in (and there are many where he can say that; or where opinion is soft enough to 'lead' the party to an opinion) and keep on hammering home in every forum An Intelligent Alternative.

Remember, Churchill did not get selected PM because his predecessor merely failed; i.e, taken by Hitler et al. That wasn't enough; he got selected because his constant speeches in the Commons throughout the 30s were such that EVERYONE in Britain knew where he stood...and the second it was clear that his predecessor's policies had failed, and pretty much Churchill had been 'right' all along, is why he got the job. When opposition parties just bitch, and have no centeral set of causes to rally behind and actually support.....even if the party in power fails, the people won't think there is any intelligent alternative to go to.

That's what Dean needs to do, IMHO; and what neither Pelosi nor Reid appear able to do.

jp