Explaining Howard Dean

In a much ridiculed statement, Howard Dean said:

"I was recently asked about the difference between the Democratic and Republican parties," Dean said. "When it comes right down to it, the essential difference is that the Democrats fundamentally believe it is important to make sure that American Jews feel comfortable being American Jews."

That make more sense than it looks. The essential difference is that the Democrats fundamentally believe it is important to make sure that everybody feels comfortable in belonging to some collective or other until blown up by a member of another collective who wanted to be even more comfortable. (But you're comfortable before you're blown up.) The Republicans are supposed to believe that your feelings are your own business. (In practice, they don't, but that's another rant.)