Dean's new book will be coming out soon. NYCO's on top of some of the buzz. Someone got an advance copy. Disappointing quote from Bill at the end of this excerpt from the book:

"For me, in the end, the civil-union issue was a straight-forward question of getting people equal rights under the law. But it led to a painful debate in our state, with much more bitterness than we've seen in Massachusetts. Once the House had voted for the civil unions bill and we were getting closer to enacting it, there was an outpouring of anger and ugliness from all over the country. We had established, respectable churches coming to Vermont to tell us that we were all going to hell. Especially me."

"Which, of course, remains to be seen."

"It remains to be seen, too, just how much my support for the civil unions bill will hurt my chances to reshape Democratic politics. Some pretty important Democrats have shown they think it might. When former president Clinton was trying to drum up support for Wes Clark, just prior to Clark's entry into the presidential race a year ago, he called a friend in a large city and said, 'I need you to be for Wes Clark.' The friend demurred. Clinton said,'Look, I'm from Arkansas, and Wes is from Arkansas, we need to be for Wes.' The friend told Clinton he was a Dean supporter. 'Howard Dean,' Clinton said, 'forfeited his right to run for president when he signed the civil unions bill. He can't win.' It was a rare mistake for the president. The supporter was gay and called to tip us off."

NYCO on issues that we as a country will need to resolve and that the Democratic party's allergy to Howard Dean highlights:

To me, the DLC's "winning strategy" only works as long as America's basic direction and outlook does not change. It also clings to the curious assumption that America's tone is directed only from above (in Washington), not below (hence the need to adopt safe positions to win a 51-seat majority). God love Bill Clinton and give him a speedy recovery so we can hear his wit and intelligence on the campaign trail once more. But Clinton's comment, though hardly meant maliciously (and indeed, probably in all concern), quite clearly reveals the DLC's limitations. They, like the Republicans, owe the viability of their approach to greater social forces that no one can control. They are yesterday's heroes. (Clinton excepted, of course. His charisma and eight-year track record as president will always make him a Democratic hero.)

It really isn't about ideological positions at this point - Howard Dean is no ultra-progressive's dream representative - but rather about the party's orientation to very profound changes in America's direction (economic, social, geopolitical) which are already taking place. Simply put, I think the DLC is oriented toward a 20th-century projection of American strength which will not be reflected 21st-century reality. They don't seem to know it, which is sad rather than threatening.

Looks like Amazon is shipping the book now. I'll look for a copy this weekend and if I can't find one, will order it.