Dean spars with Gephardt through reporters.

"Time after time, when faced with budget shortfalls, Howard Dean's first and only instinct was to cut," Gephardt said. "This is the measure of the man who would be president. I believe in a very different approach from Howard Dean."

First, my understanding is that Dean did not only restrain spending when dealing with Vermont's budgets. Regardless, the result is one of the only states not in a budget crisis at the moment. And your preference, Geppy, would be... what, exactly?

As Dean has surged in polls he has come under increasing fire, particularly from Gephardt's belittling of Dean's commitment to bedrock Democratic issues like health care and Medicare.

Which is, of course, completely bull-kaka. Dean is more committed to health care and solving the health care crisis in this country than any other candidate.

Speaking in a telephone interview from New York, Dean responded with his own assault on Gephardt's record in Congress.

"My response is this is a guy with no executive experience and who has never made a tough decision," Dean said.

Ouchie!

Dean said Gephardt, D-Mo., former Democratic leader in the House, has been talking about expanding health coverage for nearly 20 years, but nothing has happened.

"Dick is great at criticizing, but what has he accomplished?" Dean asked. "This is more Washington claptrap."

Gephardt said his remarks merely underscored fundamental differences between his record and Dean's.

"Howard Dean wears his bravado as a budget cutter like a badge of honor," Gephardt said. "There is no place for governance without compassion."

Compassion? Compassion?! Now, where have I heard that now-empty word before? I think you've been spending too much time with your buddy in the Rose Garden, Geppy.

Once again, with feeling: Adopting Republican rhetoric is a losing strategy for Democrats!