Dean is the Harry Truman of our time, at least stylistically. One might also compare him to Teddy Roosevelt, again on style points.

The only difference: Truman and TR didn't have a ravenous broadcast media licking its chops every time he picked up a microphone (or a uni-directional mic at a post-caucus rally ;-).

So, one might argue that perhaps Dean is a throwback --- a presidential candidate who would have "translated" better in a bygone era.

Or, as I'd like to hope, perhaps Dean is just ahead of his time. After all, the pendulum of history may swing back in Dean's direction, especially if he is given credit for the resurgence of the Democratic Party in 2006 and then 2008.