The Democrat candidates for president, with the probable exception of Sen. Joe Lieberman, are so mad at President Bush's policies that they find themselves saying really stupid things.

After Saddam Hussein's capture, Dean told reporters that he "supposed" that was a good thing, but it didn't make us any safer. That position is debatable. Dean's position is much more difficult to argue, but you could credibly attempt to make a case.

However, Dean has taken it one step further, and this one you can't honestly debate.

"You can say that it's great that Saddam is gone and I'm sure that a lot of Iraqis feel it is great that Saddam is gone," said the former Vermont governor, an unflinching critic of the war against Iraq. "But a lot of them gave their lives. And their living standard is a whole lot worse now than it was before."

Iraqis have a worse standard of living now that the rape rooms and the human body shredders and torture chambers are gone? Iraqis are worse off now that the government spends money on food and medicine instead of lavish palaces?

This is not a serious argument. It is born out of hatred of President Bush and nothing more.