Dem Democrats: Joe Klein had a pretty good article this week in Time. His topic was the marketing of the Democratic front-runners, Dean and Kerry. He draws a nice contrast between the brow-beating, somewhat blustery style of Dean versus the patrician, "aloof" image that Kerry projects (and before that vein in Eno's head begins to pulse, I'm not entering into a debate bout Kerry....I'm not!) and what resonates with the public (meaning the media of course). Here's Klein's best line, however, spoken about a recent speech he gave to a group of supporters:

He spent most of his time talking about the need for a balanced budget. He defended his opposition to gun control and his support for the death penalty. He swung toward the protectionist left on trade, but most of his other positions could easily have been embraced by a "New" Democrat. The crowd seemed not to notice his shopworn moderation, though. Dean had been bold on the war—and so freshness was assumed on every other issue.

I thought that rather well-made. Take away the "war" issue, and what do you have Left?