Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, appeared on Meet the Press yesterday. Tim Russert says, "Do you believe that Democrats have a clear message, a vision for the future? Fifty-two percent of independent swing voters say no. One in four Democrats say you have no clear vision, no agenda, no clear message."

Sounds good. This is Howard Dean's big chance to prove that the Democrats do have a clear agenda.

Dean responds:

We have an alternative agenda. We made it very clear. We want a strong national security based on telling the truth to our people at home, our soldiers and our allies. We want jobs in America that'll stay in America, and we believe that renewable energy is one of the areas where we can do that. We want a health-care system that covers everybody, just like 36 other countries in the world. We want a strong public education system. And most of all, we want honesty back in government. I think that's a pretty good agenda.

Okay, you've got an agenda. Russert asks, "What do the Democrats stand for?"

Dean replies, "Tim, first of all, we don't control the House, the Senate or the White House. We have plenty of time to show Americans what our agenda is and we will long before the '06 elections."

Okay, Howard Dean. Fair enough. I mean, right now you don't control the Senate or the House or the White House. But, I mean, you're on national television and you could persuade all those swing voters that your ideas are better than the Republicans' ideas. So, come on, humor us. What do Democrats stand for?

Right now it's not our job to give out specifics. We have no control in the House. We have no control in the Senate. It's our job is to stop this administration, this corrupt and incompetent administration, from doing more damage to America. And that's what we're going to do. We're doing our best. Look at the trouble they're having putting together a budget. Why is that? Because there's still a few moderate Republicans left who don't think it's OK to cut school lunch programs, who don't think it's OK to do some of the appalling things that they're doing in their budget. I saw a show last night which showed a young African-American man in California at the UC of Davis who hoped to go to law school. The Republicans want to cut $14 billion out of higher education so this kid can't go to law school. We're going to do better than that, and together, America can do better than that.

You're killing me, Howard Dean. I mean, it's great to talk about what the Republicans are doing wrong. We've been talking about that for years. Seriously; I want to know what the Democrats are going to do to fix the country. I mean, I don't like George Bush or the Republicans. I was going to vote Democrat, anyway. But what about all those people on the fence? How are you going to persuade them by merely criticizing the Republicans? You need to make a positive argument! Tell me why you're better than the Republicans! If you guys want to get elected in 2006, it sure is your job to give out specifics.

Okay, Howard Dean, you get one last chance. Tim Russert, lead the way.

MR. RUSSERT: But is it enough for you to say to the country, "Trust us, the other guy's no good. We'll do better, but we're not going to tell you specifically how we're going to deal with Iraq."

DR. DEAN: We will. When the time comes, we will do that.

MR. RUSSERT: When's the time going to come?

DR. DEAN: The time is fast-approaching. And I outlined the broad outlines of our agenda. We're going to have specific plans in all of these areas.

MR. RUSSERT: This year?

DR. DEAN: In 2006.

I give up. Howard Dean is as bad as any political pundit out there. This is why the Democrats can't get elected, even in the face of a corrupt and incompetent Republican party. Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote that if you "build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door." Howard Dean and the DNC are still trying to figure out how to make cheese.