There was a time I could call the Dean campaign and actually talk with someone I knew or had met. Now I just bounce from one voicemail box to another. Sometime around September or so the campaign bureaucracy just got too big. (Sigh) But hey, this is our campaign, right? Just go to a meetup like everyone else...

There are three things (ok, a million things, but here are three) that could really undermine Dean when he faces Bush:

1) Ill-Defined Economic Plan Dean currently doesn't have a strong economic policy and has not addressed the trade issue in a meaningful way. His statements and briefs on the economy look like were written by policy wonks rather than someone with any business sense. Bush's economy is unlikely to sustain the artificial, tax-cut and credit-driven growth of the last 2 quarters, so Dean will have a real opportunity to jump on him for it. But you can only lead with a plan, so you need to be better prepared and arm yourself with a solid, practical economic plan. It probably needs some imagination, public investment, and should embrace Americas love of discovery.

2) Weak Stance on Health Care I'm puzzled by Dean's lack of a meaningful plan for addressing the health care crisis in this country. Kucinich is clearly the strongest candidate on this issue. Howard, how about asking Dennis to head HHS? You really need a more bold approach to health care if you are to inspire the country and truly challenge business as usual in Washington. And if the economy stays the same or improves, you're going to need to own this issue. Currently your stance makes you look like, well, a chump. And that's coming from a supporter.

3) Getting the Mix Wrong: 80/20 Positive Yes, you need to attack Bush, but you can also have others do the attacking for you. You don't need to attack the Democratic Party so much anymore; your own success outside of the Party speaks to the Party's deficiencies sufficiently. The last thing you want to do is bludgeon the Party into feeling better about suffering through another 4 years of Bush II than getting you elected. Attack, but only to frame the problem. Then give us your vision for America and your plan to get there. We want to feel hopeful again, we need something to believe in. Give it to us.

That's how it looks from down here in the cheap seats. What do you think?