David Corn gets this much right: ...the leading contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination all ran as Dean-like crusaders, vowing to vanquish Washington special interests. Kerry said he would "stand up" to the special interests. Edwards spoke eloquently of "two Americas"--one where the wealthy receive quality healthcare and education and pocket most of the tax cuts; and another where corporations screw middle- and low-income families who have trouble paying their bills, saving money and obtaining decent education for their kids. Clark argued that as an outsider, not a politician, he would be able to "represent the American people, not pharmaceutical companies." In politics, swiping issues is a form of flattery. So Dean should feel complimented, small consolation as that may be. His "take back America" campaign--which he claimed was enlisting citizens in a grassroots effort to challenge the money-and-power ways of Washington--not only inspired hundreds of thousands of people to donate and volunteer but also persuaded Dean's rivals that anti-special-interests populism was the ticket to the White House, or at least the Democratic nomination. Whichever candidate gets the nomination, the challenge for the folks on the grassroots level who made it happen - and the others who shifted the terms of the debate - will be holding him to the rhetoric as he campaigns against Bush and God-willing governs America.