Here's a question: Why does the GOP care so much about Howard Dean? I'm not being sarcastic - I'm really asking. Tonight they pounced on Dean for an interview he gave to a radio station in San Antonio. Dean compared the war in Iraq to Vietnam and said the "idea that we're going to win the war in Iraq is an idea which is just plain wrong." Cue Ken Mehlman:

In predicting that America will lose the war in Iraq, Howard Dean is the latest national Democrat leader to embrace retreat and defeat in the central front in the War on Terror.  His outrageous prediction sends the wrong message to our troops, the enemy, and the Iraqi people just 10 days before historic elections.  Democrats across the nation should stand up and reject the pessimism of their chairman and strategy of defeat by their Congressional leaders.

Let's look at this.

As Virginia's Republican not-governor gave his concession speech last night, some cameras grabbed a wide picture. Off to Kilgore's left, sulking and dejected, was Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman. What was Mehlman doing at probably the most depressing Republican party of the night?

Well ... he made it happen.