Not quite...

...Quotations from Chairman Howard, but Carla has a nice summary of the Governor's recent debate with Richard Perle in Portland. I think her outline of the key points in Dean's opening statement is worth attention, and sends important signals about the message Dean will focus on as DNC Chair. Carla writes that...

Dean went on to say that he believes the Republicans are failing to take a long term view of defense in three ways:

1. It's weak defense policy to run up the national debt and have the debt held by foreign governments.
2. It's weak defense policy to continue to support policies that give the US energy resources that don't come from stable sources.
3. It's weak defense policy to continually cut the benefits of US veterans.

Economic security. Energy security. Responsibility to those who have served.

Dean has said he would look to Congressional leadership for policy development, and it seems that he's already strongly, if not completely, on message with the Senate Democrats' mantra, Security, Opportunity, Responsibility. I'm sure Dean will speak to the opportunity side of the Senate agenda soon and often.

Now the House D's need to sit him down with a copy of their New Partnership for America's Future for the rest of the story...