[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Mary Lyon

After watching Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama slug it out and beat each other up, there is one name that shines for me and still gives me hope. It's neither of the above. It's Howard Dean.

The Pennsylvania primary results make me nervous. I'm in the midst of weighing staying strong for one candidate versus converting to the other, because this unfortunately still looks like a long, miserable, and divisive slugfest. Anyone hoping for a once-and-for-all settlement of who will represent Democrats going into November goes home bruised and disappointed. We're not any closer. On the other hand, it feels like we're farther away from that conclusion than ever. That in turn means Democrats still haven't been able to break through the starting gate and focus on the REAL business at hand: keeping John McCain out of the White House.

So, THANK YOU, Howard Dean. Thank you again. While we're stuck on hold waiting to be transferred either to Hillary or Barack, there is a voice that finally comes on the line. DNC Chairman Howard Dean steps into the void and gives us at least a little something - something more than just canned music while we're forced to wait.