A mag divided against itself: The New Republic: Debating Howard Dean. Jonathan Chait and Jonathan Cohn begin a direct debate over Dean's suitability to be the D nominee.

Thank you for your concern...: AP: RNC Chair Downplays Drop in Bush Ratings

[Dean] was named by several RNC members as the Democratic presidential candidate who would give Bush the easiest race.

"He's way out there to the left on just about every issue," said Mitchell Lowe, executive director of the Arkansas GOP.

There was no consensus choice for which of the nine Democratic candidates would be the toughest... Bill Miller, an RNC member from Indiana, said he hopes Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut doesn't get the nod.

"He's the most conservative, moderate candidate in their field and would easily be our toughest opponent," Miller said...

Lieberman? Gosh no, don't make us run against him!

Taking advice from one's opponent is, uh, extraordinarily stupid. So one hopes the DLC won't hop up and down and point to this as evidence of Dean's unelectability. As if.