Drudge is reporting that DNC Chairman Howard Dean refused to appear alongside his RNC counterpart Ken Mehlman on this morning's "Meet the Press" on NBC.

As Drudge points out, such heads-up interviews have been common in the past, with Dean's predecessor doing it five times -- just on "Meet the Press"!

Which brings up the question: "Why?"

I don't think he's afraid. I don't think that he's opposed to the very format.

I think he really believes the words that are coming out of his mouth.

"I hate Republicans and everything they stand for."

"This is a struggle of good and evil. And we're the good."

"I don't hate Republicans as individuals. But I hate what the Republicans are doing to this country. I really do."

"Hypocrisy is a value that I think has been embraced by the Republican Party. We get lectured by people all day long about moral values by people who have their own moral shortcomings."

Can you feel the hate?