I understand how you feel. But consider this:

If Dean loses the chairmanship to a backroom deal orchestrated by DLC types, he is going to be that much harder to stop in 2008. He'll be --- and we'll be --- the DLC's worst nightmare.

That dynamic, in addition to the potential financial and foreign policy calamities of the next four years will only further bolster Dean as the only politician telling the truth. We're talking somethin akin to Teddy Roosevelt and trustbusting --- except now the "trust" is the Democratic Party. And Dean is TR.

That's why I say this is a win/win. We'll know exactly where we stand on Feb. 12 and we'll be able to strategize for 2008 accordingly.

Now, if Dean runs for president in 2008 and he gets screwed again, then you have every justification to leave the Party on a "three strikes (2004, 2005, 2008) and I'm outta here" basis.

Change does not come easy. Just ask the abolitionists. Or the suffragists. Or the civil rights movement. So, let's see what Dean does if he loses the chairmanship. I suspect --- given how tremendous his grassroots support is --- that he'll come back stronger than ever and ask all of us to stick with him. I, for one, will have his back until 2008.