Reading notes

Howard Dean formally abandoned his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination Wednesday but vowed that his organization is “not going away” and would continue to seek change in the Democratic Party and the nation with the aim of defeating President Bush in the November election. …

“I am no longer actively pursuing the presidency,” Dean told about 250 supporters in a hotel ballroom here. “We will, however, continue to build a new organization using our enormous grass-roots network to continue to transform the Democratic Party and to change our country.”

I feel sad today. Over the last year Dean’s campaign reeled me into politics more than I’ve ever been before, giving me more hope for the future than I remember feeling in many years. And now that part is over. Now I have to be careful not to let my disappointment become disillusionment that reels me out of politics. What we have to move away from is a steaming pile of radioactive horsesh*t, but what we have to move to is now not nearly so bright.

Next up: Mr. Edwards.