Uh oh...

WASHINGTON - Howard Dean said Saturday that positive responses from supporters have reinforced his determination to keep talking tough despite suggestions from some congressional Democrats that the party chairman should tone down his rhetoric.

Umm, Howard? There's no doubt that anything you say is going to be greeted with a flood of adoring emails and the encouragement of cheering crowds. You have one hell of a fan base, there's no doubt about that.

But remember, those were the folks who told you the Iowa concession speech was great, too, because you fired up your base and took it to the other guys. So, how'd that work out for you?

"People want us to fight," Dean told the national party's executive committee. "We are here to fight."

Damn straight. Fight. Fight like hell. But please, fight a little smarter. That's all I'm saying. Kevin Drum is right about this...

I don't want Dean to go over a cliff with this kind of stuff, but his reputation as a straight shooter allows him to say things that other people are only thinking, and his role as party chairman forces the press to pay attention.

I hope he's right about this, too...

This is a good thing.

...and he may well be. But as DNC Chair, Dean's responsible to more than his DFA base and the liberal blogosphere. The Congressional Democrats and other Democratic elected around the country are an important constituency, too, ignored at the peril of the Chairman and the Party.

Fight hard, Howard, but fight smart.

On the other hand, what's up with this?

"Privately, people have said they don't want Howard Dean to become the story because we have more important issues to talk about," said Donna Brazile, who managed Al Gore's presidential campaign in 2004.

"But publicly we will continue to give Howard Dean our strong support," she said.

Conversations with AP reporters aren't private, Donna. You just dissed the Chairman in front of a very large public audience. I don't know if Ms. Brazile is a liar or a fool, but can't somebody make her go away?