Reply #71: A thoughtful analysis.

[Julien Sorel]

One problem is, 'the center' is an ill-defined, moving target. Where exactly 'the center' is is the real topic of debate here. Dean thinks it's to the left of where, say, Lieberman is, and personally, I tend to agree with him; you clearly think Lieberman is correct. It's a difference of opinion, not a defined fact; moreover, a strong, charismatic leader can change where the center is by the force of their personality. Reagan did it (like it, or him, or not), FDR did it.

Dean has defined himself as a centrist (A little dig for someone else: he must be dying with self-loathing, the poor man). You (and Lieberman) are continuing to try to paint him as a liberal. Ultimately, it's the voters who will decide where the center is. Looking at Dean's stands and record, the only really 'liberal' position I've seen him take is opposition to the war; everything else makes him a moderate Democrat. To me, that means it's up to him, his skill as a campaigner, to make certain the voting public sees him as he wants to be seen, and not how his enemies try to smear him.

As an aside, you would do well to keep in mind that leadership is about more than a collection of policy initiatives. You pointed out in another post how Lieberman's positions were similar to Clinton's. The problem is, Lieberman isn't Clinton. Clinton had a flair, and a story ('The Man From Hope') that Lieberman does not, and never will have. The public bought into Clinton the man, manifest flaws and all, as much as they bought into Clinton, the New Democrat. If you think the public will buy into Lieberman anywhere near to the same degree, you see something in him that I do not.