House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO), after Dean's recent comments:

"Howard Dean continues to throw some of the most below-the-belt political punches in recent memory. Leading Democrats tell the American people that they don't agree with the nasty rhetoric after each Dean cheap shot.

From a Republican, let alone a DeLay devotee, this is high comedy. Of course, it was quoted prominently and in full multiple times on CNN.

Then "Big Time" got into the act:

Cheney Criticizes Dean Over Remarks

"I've never been able to understand his appeal. Maybe his mother loved him, but I've never met anybody who does. He's never won anything, as best I can tell," Cheney said in an interview to be aired Monday on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes."

The Vice President appears to be losing his long-term memory and/or his faculties. Thankfully, some versions of the AP article followed up with facts:

Dean was elected governor of Vermont five times between 1992 and 2000.

(Some papers omitted that sentence, naturally.)

That same day, there was a decent rapid response from the DNC:

Karen Finney, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee, objected to Cheney's characterization of Dean.

"Governor Dean must be doing something right if the vice president of the United States would stoop so low as to use the governor's mother as a way to deflect from answering the concerns of the American people," Finney said Sunday. "It's no wonder President Bush's approval ratings are at an all-time low."

Dean said Saturday that positive responses from influential supporters have reinforced his determination to keep talking tough.

"People want us to fight," Dean told the national party's executive committee. "We are here to fight."

Addressing Iowa party activists later Saturday in Des Moines, he added: "We need to be blunt and clear about the things we're going to fight for. I'm tired of lying down in front of the Republican machine. We need to stand up for what we believe in."

On that note, today (June 15) is Support Howard Dean Day, on which supporters are encouraged to:

1. Give money to the DNC.
2. Call Democratic Elected Officials
3. Sign the Dean Speaks for Us Petition
4. Write Letters to the Editor

If you think he's on the right track, consider helping him out. It's easier for me to think of it as donating to Dean than to The Democrats; your mileage may vary.