The headline grabs the eye: one wants to learn what Dean means by his remark, and one assumes Hall accurately reports the main tenets of Dean's talk. But context needs to be established at the outset. What group hosted this meeting? What was the stated objective? Who else spoke, and did any other speakers make reference to Dean’s points? (A few more such facts are forthcoming, but not till the end of the story.) Dean seems to want to make a case for historical cycles in American politics and society. Fair enough. But was he delivering a prepared discourse or, as the garrulous wandering evidence suggests, winging it? Asking the RNC chairman for his opinion is SOP, and one gets the predictable reaction. But I would have ... More »

Hall presents both sides of this story (almost in the "they said/others said" mode) while reporting accurately on Dean's appearance and his references.

This article is generated by Howard Deans appearance before an unnamed religious conference in Washington DC. The comments Dean makes are unrelated and rambling. It is hard to say whether is is Dean or the reporter as we really don't know the forum. Deans memories of the 60's and the "age of enlightenment led by religious leaders" is different than mine. I remember well the sermons of Bishop Fulton J Sheen leaving and the fundraising of Jim and Tammie Baker, Oral Roberts, and Jerry Farwell taking over.