How the 'Radicals' Can Save the Democrats

A battle for the soul of the Democratic Party has broken out, pitting a predominantly liberal field of presidential hopefuls against moderate party leaders and political strategists. While Howard Dean and John Kerry have been stirring up crowds plainly eager to have at President Bush, Democratic officials have been trying to tamp the fervor down, warning that "extremists" will take the party back to the dark ages of 1972 and 1984.

True, with Mr. Bush looking formidable and the Republicans in control of Congress, the urge toward moderation may seem sensible. But it ignores a glaring fact: Republicans have repeatedly won elections in recent decades largely by taking the opposite approach: giving free rein to their raucous base and choosing candidates who excite the party's rank and file. And isn't that, after all, what political parties are supposed to do?

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http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/11/opinion/11TANE.html?ex=1061179200&en=e1828f835b0ae6c5&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

If I thought that Dean was an extremist, I wouldn't be supporting him. I see him as to the right of Sharpton, Kucinich, Braun, Kerry, Gephardt and to the left of Graham, Edwards and Lieberman.

The main thing that I see in him is the willingness to call it like he sees it.

"radicals" is in quotes for a reason.