Joe Conason makes a pretty convincing case for the vindication of Howard Dean in Salon today, but not everybody sees things the same way. The New Republic's Ryan Lizza says we should be watching for a "putsch" at the DNC by Beltway insiders who believe that the chairman's "stubborn commitment to the 50-state strategy and his stinginess with funds for House races cost the Democrats several pickup opportunities."

Hello?

Lizza quotes "anti-Deaniac" James Carville thus: "Suppose Harold Ford became chairman of the DNC. How much more money do you think we could raise? Just think of the difference it could make in one day. Now probably Harold Ford wants to stay in Tennessee. I just appointed myself his campaign manager."