HOWARD, "THE MOUTH, " FALLS FLAT ON THE BUCK$

Despite his mouthing every chance that he gets and his ability during his Presidential bid in 2004 to raise internet funds, Howard Dean the DNC Chairman has fallen flat when it comes to raising funds nationally for the Democrat Party. Dean is under fire by Party officials as we enter an election year because the Democratic coffers are nearly dry with a sparse 5 million dollars available to help Democrat candidates in the 2006 mid terms. Compare that to 34 million dollars available to Republican candidates from the RNC with the coffers gaining funds daily and the true fund raising failure of Dean is evident. This puts the Dems in some what of a dilemma for an election year. First without funds from the party many Democrats will have trouble mounting a successful campaign when one considers the cost of advertising and the McCain/Fiengold Campaign Finance legislation that limits, "soft, " money. Since its passing help from respective national parties has become much more of a necessity. The second problem that Dean's failure with the funds causes is Dean himself. Personally I believe that he has been more help to the Republican Party and candidates with his far left wing rhetoric which finds very little if any basis in truth. Take for example Dean's appearance on, "The Today Show, " last week when Katie Coric questioned him about the Abromoff scandal and the fact that Democrats are involved as well as Republicans. Dean emphatically denied ANY Democrat involvement and nearly yelled that this was a Republican scandal only despite Coric's continual presentation of evidence to the contrary. With Dean being the chairman of the party in an election year the Democrats would face a perceived admittance of defeat if they were to replace him prior to election day. Add to this rumbling in Washington of the possibility of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid stepping down from his leadership position next month because of his PAC accepting more than $60,000 from Abromoff clients and their being unwilling to give it back or donate to charities would position the Democrats on a very precarious cliff this early in the mid term election year. As a Republican I say, "keep up the good work Howard. That and better will do!"

Ken Taylor