But on to the strategy. I agree that progressives need to get their act together by shaping and cultivating a coherent message. They also need to develop efficient mechanisms to distribute and promote it. The conservatives, masters of instrumental reason that they are, have had this down pat since the 70's. Progressives don't have think tanks and radio talk show networks, or the marketing mindset required to execute these tactics.

Then there's Dean. While W's blog rolls on like so many miles of astroturf in cyberspace, Dean's blog is making a real difference to his campaign. Even if Dean loses, he's still demonstrated that it's possible. The blogosphere of progressive thought is potentially the biggest progressive thinktank ever. It also happens to be a very efficient mechanism for getting the message out. The trick is how to turn this cacophany of opinions, positions and research into a coherent language within which to frame the progressive worldview. Then they need to infiltrate The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and turn him into their Bizarro-O'Reilly. (He's halfway there. I just couldn't believe it when he had Henry Kissinger on the show. What was up with the kid gloves? Ask him how his war crimes trial is going! No? Wuss. At least wait for him to make a bad joke that no one laughs at and then tell him "Man, you really carpet bombed on that one.")

Given Dean's recent backhanded outreach to lower class southern whites (props for not using the phrase "Nascar Dads" btw), I'll be suprised if any of us "drop the banjo and get off [our] sisters"* long enough to listen to anything else he has to say. That would be unfortunate, and I do hope he gets the white trash vote.

*Some guy on Tough Crowd said that last night.