Anti-Dean forces often cite the '84 or '72 election as best evidence that Dean doesn't stand a chance versus GWB. But here's my question- why did we lose so badly those years?? I guess 1984 is self-explanatory. Reagan, though unpopular on this blog, was personally popular and the economy was on the mend by the time the election came around. '72 isn't so easy to peg. McGovern was a bonafied liberal, but the economy wasn't all that great and Vietnam was still a divisive issue. Why the 60-38 drubbing? And it's not like we can blame the south for these election. All the states we Democrats hold near-and-dear to our hearts: California, New York, Mass., Illinois etc., were fair game for Republicans.