In my earlier essay, I argued that Dean could have made a defensible statement that we are no safer with Saddam in custody, but in the context of a thoughtful op-ed piece rather than as a sound bite. He didn't get the message, delivering a sound-bite on Michael Powell's investigation of Boobgate rather than explaining himself. Here is what Dean might have written (James Pinkerton wrote it instead).

people should remember that there is such a thing as consumer sovereignty, including boycotts. Gotta problem with what you see? Fine. Tell it to the broadcasters and advertisers. Everyone involved will get the message. Bill Cosby, who never said or did a bad thing to anyone on the air, has carted home a lot more endorsement money than, say, Marilyn Manson. To be sure, not every boycott succeeds, but again, that's freedom in action.

Instead of investigating Boobgate, I'd like to see Michael Powell investigate the broadcast flag issue again. Or maybe he could combine the investigations: he could re-run the tape of the Super Bowl halftime show, while muttering to himself "Broadcast Flag This!"