Spin Meter: Dems Circle Dean

It was a quotefest yesterday, as the Dem's leadership snarled at the GOP and the media for daring to cover Chairman Howie as he called Republicans "liars," "evil," "corrupt," "brain-dead" and a party that doesn't have "folks" in it, a degrading euphanism for minorities.

Here's a parade of their quotes, courtesy of WashTimes:

Sen. Minority Whip Richard Durbin:

"The right wing has got the agenda moving. Fox [News Channel] and everybody's got the agenda. It's all about Howard Dean. You've bought into it. You can't let up on it. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves."

Spin Meter:
1 - Feel free to walk around the cabin
2 - Mild turblence
3 - Barely holding onto control
4 - Dangerous tailspin
5 - Crashed and burned

Even Hillary couldn't handle the "Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy" stuff, and Dick is no Hillary. He should remember the media's reaction to the White House making editorial content suggestions to Newsweek before he chastises them. They will not forget. They will eat him up.

Minority Leader Harry Reid:

"As all of you know, there isn't a single person, whether it's any of us in this room or Governor Dean or [Republican National Committee chairman Ken] Mehlman, that haven't misspoken. We're here today to talk about the American people. We're talking about common-sense reforms for the issues that they care about."

Spin Meter
1 - Feel free to walk around the cabin
2 - Mild turblence
3 - Barely holding onto control
4 - Dangerous tailspin
5 - Crashed and burned

This quote might have worked if the Dems had any common-sense reforms to talk about, but they have become so much the Party of No that a quote like this is as believable as Reid's Searchlight NV stories.

DNC Chair Howie:

"We're not going to let the Republicans set the agenda, and to be quite honest, we aren't going to let you set the agenda. The truth is that we need to focus on exactly the issues that Harry Reid just talked about, and we're going to. He called the fallout over his comments "a media circus" and "exactly what the Republicans want."

Spin Meter
1 - Feel free to walk around the cabin
2 - Mild turblence
3 - Barely holding onto control
4 - Dangerous tailspin
5 - Crashed and burned

Howie claiming to be able to set the media's agenda tips the "Newsweek meter" into deep red; claxtons are blaring. Blaming the media circus for his rhetoric just fuels the flame. Note to Dems: Keep this guy. PLEEEEEASE!

Senator Barbara Boxer

"The media wants to have some kind of a controversy, so they don't give the message of Howard Dean. We all know that the other side is bound and determined to hurt Howard Dean and destroy him, as they usually do with leaders of our party."

Spin Meter
1 - Feel free to walk around the cabin
2 - Mild turblence
3 - Barely holding onto control
4 - Dangerous tailspin
5 - Crashed and burned

This is the Dame of Created Controversy -- just look at the Bush judicial nominations. To take a word from Dick Durbin, she should be ashamed of herself.

Summing up, I'll leave it to the WashTimes, which had a mighty fine wrap-up quote:

Ron Bonjean, a spokesman for House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Illinois Republican, said: "Last week's scandal was Deep Throat. This week's scandal is Dean's Throat. And, apparently, Dean likes the taste of his own foot."